Toledo rolls past Norfolk State behind two blocked-punt TDs

Sep 4, 2021, 9:34 AM | Updated: 10:26 pm

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) —

Toledo returned two blocked punts for touchdowns and the Rockets breezed to a 49-10 victory over FCS-member Norfolk State in a season opener on Saturday.

Toledo led 7-0 with 6:50 left in the first quarter when DeMeer Blankumsee blocked a Ryan Richter punt that was scooped up by Maxen Hook and returned 25 yards for a TD. The Spartans answered with a nine-play 75-yard drive that culminated with Juwan Carter’s 47-yard scoring strike to Justin Smith to make it 14-7. But lightning struck again when Maxen blocked a punt that was scooped up by Justin Clark and returned 13 yards for a score. Dequan Finn added a 24-yard TD run with 27 seconds left before halftime to make it 28-7.

Carter Bradley completed 8 of 11 passes for 183 yards and a TD — an 84-yard strike to Devin Maddox — for the Rockets. Finn finished with 82 yards on nine carries. Bryant Koback ran nine times for 52 yards and two scores.

Carter completed 8 of 18 passes for 125 yards with an interception for the Spartans.

Toledo piled up 441 yards of offense and held Norfolk State to 272. The Rockets were penalized 12 times for 140 yards.

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE - Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago