Sports briefs
W&J’s Zubik is Gagliardi semifinalist
Washington & Jefferson senior wide receiver Jesse Zubik is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2017 Gagliardi Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.
The Gagliardi Trophy recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The 25th Gagliardi Trophy will be presented Dec. 13, in Salem, Va., at a banquet kicking off the Division III championship weekend, which culminates in the Stagg Bowl Dec. 15. The four finalists, who will be announced Dec. 5, will be on hand for the announcement of the winner and presentation of the trophy.
Zubik, a 2016 unanimous All-American and four-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference selection, is third in Division III with 1,324 receiving yards and fourth with 16 touchdowns. He ranks first among all PAC wide receivers in yards, touchdowns and receptions (74). The four-year starter sits among the best receivers in Division III history with 281 receptions for 4,672 yards and 53 touchdowns. His yardage total is seventh all-time, while his touchdowns are tied for ninth and receptions rank 13th. All three are W&J records, with yardage and touchdowns also being PAC benchmarks.
Texas A&M beats PSU to win tourney
Robert Williams had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 16 Texas A&M to a 98-87 victory over Penn State in the championship game of the Progressive Legends Classic Tuesday night at Barclays Center.
Duane Wilson led the Aggies (4-0) with 22 points while Tyler Davis chipped in 15, Admon Gilder had 14 and Tonny Torcha-Morelos finished with 11.
Despite getting a career-high 31 points from Tony Carr, Penn State (5-1) lost its first game of the season. Lamar Stevens added 25 points for Penn State.
The Aggies took a 42-40 lead into halftime due to Williams’ two-hand follow jam with four seconds left in the half. Seven of the eight players who got into the game in the first half for Texas A&M scored, led by Williams’ 12.
And the Aggies needed every point, as Carr was a one-man offensive onslaught for the Nittany Lions. Carr had 21 points in the opening half on 7-of-8 shooting including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. He made 5 of 6 free throws.
Texas A&M took a 63-51 lead on Wilson’s scoop layup 6:41 into the second half. Wilson’s layup was the culmination of a stretch in which the Aggies outscored the Nittany Lions 21-11.
Following Wilson’s layup, Penn State coach Pat Chambers called time out. DJ Hogg hit a 3 for the Aggies, Gilder made two free throws and Williams finished a 2-on-1 break with a two-handed jam off an alley-oop pass which pushed the lead to 70-53.
Penn State used an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 70-61.
After a layup by Gilder pushed the lead to 72-61, the Nittany Lions scored the next five points on a layup by Carr and three free throws from Stevens. That was as close as they would get.
Lewis, Urlacher, Moss are hall semifinalists
First-year eligibles Ray Lewis and Randy Moss are among 27 semifinalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The hall said Tuesday that all ties for the 25th spot in the semifinals also advance.
Others in their initial year of eligibility who made this cut are Brian Urlacher, Richard Seymour, Steve Hutchinson and Ronde Barber.
Four previously eligible players made the semifinals for the first time: LeRoy Butler, Leslie O’Neal, Simeon Rice and Everson Walls. All others on the 2018 list have reached the semifinals in previous years.
Already chosen as finalists are Bobby Beathard as a contributor, and Robert Brazilie and Jerry Kramer as senior candidates.
The election for the class of 2018 will be held Feb. 3, the day before the Super Bowl, in Minneapolis. Induction ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, will be in August.