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High school football: Can pass-first teams succeed in Minnesota playoffs’ wintery weather? They think so

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

Temperatures will approach freezing in parts of the metro Friday night. Winds will be in the double-digits at kickoff for many of high school football’s Class 6A first-round playoff games.On Saturday, there is a chance of snow when all other classes compete in their respective section semifinal games.In other words, welcome to the Minnesota high school football playoffs.Bad weather has seemingly become synonymous with outdoor, postseason high school football games in this part of the country. It is those conditions that leave so many believing you must be able to run the ball to win games this time of year.And, depending on those conditions, that could be true.East Ridge has featured a pass-heavy offense in recent years with gunslinger Tanner Zolnosky at quarterback. But in its second-round playoff game in Maple Grove in 2021, the air game wasn’t much of an option.“I think it was a 40-mile-per-hour, gusting wind,” Raptors coach Dan Fritze recalled. “You couldn’t punt into the ...

High school football: Class 6A first-round playoff predictions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

Here are some of Friday’s most interesting high school football games in the East Metro and western Wisconsin. Teams are listed by section seeds:No. 5 White Bear Lake (3-5) at No. 4 Eagan (3-5), 7 p.m.White Bear Lake responded to a rough start this season by winning three of its final four regular-season games. The Bears were able to establish the ground game with Avian Atkins. Eagan, meanwhile, lost four straight games before downing rival Eastview in the regular-season finale. Free from the blender of their regular-season schedule, perhaps the Wildcats could regain form and make a run? OUR PICK: Eagan 24, White Bear Lake 14No. 5 Prior Lake (4-4) at No. 4 Mounds View (4-4), 7 p.m.Mounds View put together a strong season with a few impressive wins and very competitive losses to earn a home playoff game. Its reward? A date with Prior Lake, which has won three straight and is a team few higher seeds would want to see in the early rounds. OUR PICK: Prior Lake 24, Mounds View 16No...

Vikings defense has more celebrations planned. Now the hard part: More turnovers to unveil them.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

Maybe the most stoic person the Vikings have on their coaching staff, defensive coordinator Brian Flores always encourages his players to have fun. So much so that he recently appointed rookie cornerback NaJee Thompson as the defense’s celebration coordinator.As a result, the Vikings have started carving out a few minutes each week to discuss potential defensive celebrations. They got to bust out a couple of them on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, performing a variation of “The Limbo” using cornerback Akayleb Evans as the bar, then the classic “Duck, Duck, Gray Duck” with safety Josh Metellus taking center stage.It raises the question: What else do the Vikings have in store?“We’ll see what they come up with next week,” Flores said. “We’ve got to earn the right to do those things.”That isn’t lost on the Vikings as they prepare to play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. They h...

Maine Democrat calls for assault weapons ban after past opposition

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Me.) said he would pursue an assault weapons ban after a mass shooting killed at least 18 people in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday.The gunman, believed to be Army reservist Robert Card, is still on the run. Golden said the shooting Wednesday had forced him to change his mind on pursuing a ban, which he previously did not support.“Out of fear of this dangerous world that we live in, in my determination to protect my own daughter and wife in our own community, because of a false confidence that our community was above this and that we could be in full control, among many other misjudgments, I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war, like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime,” Golden said at a press conference Thursday.“The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles, like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing in m...

Pedaling for Parkinson's

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Imagine a drug that improves quality of life and symptoms for people living with Parkinson's Disease, and it's inexpensive. That's what many patients in the Capital Region are finding with a specific exercise class revolutionizing their treatment, slowing down their progression.Every spin class needs someone like Kevin, ready to rev up the heart rate and pedal. Every week, for about 60 minutes, Kevin McCarthy and his buddies push aside their symptoms and race toward a better day. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Ten years ago, the Y started this program," McCarthy stated. And he's been coming to class ever since. "There were about ten of us."Pedaling for Parkinson's got underway locally at the East Greenbush YMCA. McCarthy was diagnosed about 13 years ago with a disease that slowly robs people of their ability to move."The hardest thing I do every day is get dressed," he explained. "Some days, y...

UAlbany students protest department merger

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – UAlbany students gathered to protest on campus Wednesday and spoke out against the merger of some academic departments. Back in April, the university announced the Africana Studies and the Latin American, Caribbean and U.S. Latino Studies (L.A.C.S.) departments would be joining together to share resources. Students from several student organizations, even those outside of the two merging departments, rallied in solidarity and have a list of demands – including protections for current faculty, added investment to promote their programs’ majors and more communication and transparency.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Graduate teaching assistant, and Latino Studies PhD student, Marina Hernandez said initially there was no transparency from the administration.“We are students that face disproportionate injustice, both in academia and then society, so when we hear that the areas that we have found safety...

City SC painting St. Louis red ahead of its first playoff game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS – There are jerseys on statues, city monuments shining red, and new menu items at restaurants—all for City SC’s first ever playoff game.City SC’s Painting the City Red initiative is taking over St. Louis during the MLS playoffs.“I think we are going to go all the way, I think we have to,” Balkan Treat Box owner Emir Nalic said.Several partnered restaurants will be introducing new menu items, including Anthonino’s, Amighetti’s, Balkan Treat Box, BEAST Craft BBQ, Bold Spoon Creamery, Hank’s Cheesecakes, Ices Plain and Fancy, and Wally’s."We kind of went to the drawing board to see what we've been working on that's red, and we had some good stuff to pull it off,” Anthony Favazza said.Amaghetti’s, which partners with Hank’s Cheesecakes, is putting a spin on its Amaghetti Special sandwich and introducing a City Red raspberry cannoli and City Red raspberry cheesecake.At the Balkan Treat Box, it’s a spin on its CityPark beef kebab called the City Pride.“We figured we’d introduce ...

Casting call: Movie extras wanted in St. Louis for upcoming film

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - An upcoming feature film known as "On Fire" will start filming in St. Louis next month, and there's a call for locals to help. Organizers are searching for background extras, or people who could appear in a nonspeaking capacity within the film. Crews expect to shoot for the film in St. Louis between Nov. 6 and Dec. 9. Anyone interested in a potential big screen appearance should click here to apply. If chosen, extras will be notified between Oct. 27 and Dec. 6. Anyone interested is required to be at least 18 years old and apply by Nov. 6. Sex offender charged after being found with missing North Carolina girl "On Fire" is based on the book “On Fire: 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life,” which was written by St. Louis native John O’Leary and based on his experience as a burn survivor. Sean McNamara is the film's director. The cast includes Academy Award nominee William H. Macy and John Corbett. For a closer look at the upcoming film, click here.

Colorado Rapids part ways with striker Diego Rubio, making him a free agent

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

The Colorado Rapids have begun their offseason makeover.First, the team announced Thursday afternoon that captain Jack Price did not have his option for the 2024 season renewed. Then, an hour later, the club disclosed it did not intend to re-sign Chilean striker Diego Rubio, clearing the way for him to enter MLS free agency.Neither announcement came as a surprise after both players revealed on social media over the weekend that they were not returning in 2024.Rubio, 30, joined Colorado five seasons ago and made 114 appearances and 97 starts, notching 38 goals and 26 assists. He departs as the club leader in game-winning goals (14), and sits at No. 4 in MLS goals scored and sixth in assists. His best season came in 2022 when he set the single-season club record for most goal contributions with 23 and tied the single-season goal mark with 16.“We’re thankful to Diego for everything he contributed to the club during his five seasons in Burgundy and wish him all the best as he move...

Colorado Rapids decline team captain Jack Price’s contract option for 2024; return to England likely

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:52:52 GMT

The Colorado Rapids issued a heartfelt goodbye to a pillar of the club on Thursday.The team formally announced it declined midfielder and team captain Jack Price’s contract option for the 2024 MLS season. The decision makes Price a free agent, with a return to his roots in the English Football League probable.On Thursday, team president Pádraig Smith issued a statement calling Price the “heartbeat of our team.”“We’re incredibly grateful to Jack for everything he brought to our club over the last six years,” Smith said. “He was a selfless leader both on and off the pitch, quickly becoming the heartbeat of our team and a vital contributor to the success we saw during his time here. We wish him nothing but the best as he enters the next chapter of his career.”Price, 30, announced on social media Sunday, the day after the regular season ended, that he will not be returning. Price has dealt with significant injuries in the last two seasons and ra...