The Bears avoided embarrassment at the end of an ugly game against the Texans when star linebacker Roquan Smith came through with an interception to set up the winning field goal. Four plays later, Cairo Santos sealed the 23-20 victory with a 28-yard field goal as time ran out.

The Texans had third-and-one at their own 26-yard line when quarterback Davis Mills threw left for running back Rex Burkhead, but Smith cut in front of him for the interception and returned it to the 12.

It salvaged a brutal game by quarterback Justin Fields, who completed 8 of 17 passes for 106 yards with two interceptions for a 27.7 passer rating. He also rushed eight times for 47 yards.

The Bears went up 10-0 in the first quarter, but quickly squandered that and were down 14-13 at halftime. They took a 20-17 lead midway through the third quarter on Khalil Herbert’s one-yard touchdown run, then the Texans tied it on a field goal at the end of the quarter.

Both teams threw away multiple chances to take control of the game in the fourth before Smith’s takeaway and Santos’ field goal ended it.

Herbert powered the offense with 157 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries after David Montgomery left with what the team called a “knee/ankle” injury in the first half.

Read More

Tennessee and North Carolina State broke into the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll Sunday, and Florida State is back in the rankings for the first time in four years.

Georgia remained No. 1 and received 55 of 63 first-place votes in the Top 25, presented by Regions Bank. No. 2 Alabama (four first-place votes), No. 3 Ohio State (four first-place votes), No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Clemson all held their places.

Oklahoma’s upset loss to Kansas State created room for teams to move up, like Southern California to No. 6 and Kentucky to No. 7.

Tennessee moved up three spots to No. 8, its best ranking since 2006 and first top-10 appearance since a few weeks at ninth in the first half of 2016. That was the last time the Volunteers started 4-0. The Vols knocked Florida out of the rankings by snapping a five-game losing streak in the rivalry.

Oklahoma State remained at nine and North Carolina State jumped two spots to No. 10. The Wolfpack have their best ranking since they were 10th in 2002.

Texas and Miami both dropped out of the rankings after being beaten by unranked teams to fall to 2-2. The Longhorns blew a 14-point lead second-half lead and lost in overtime at Texas Tech. while Miami, which started the season at No. 16, was upended by four-touchdown underdog Middle Tennessee State.

While the Hurricanes and Gators slipping out, No. 23 Florida State (4-0) moved in. The Seminoles are off to their best start since 2015 and in the AP Top 25 for the first time since beginning the 2018 season No. 19, snapping a streak of 69 straight polls unranked.

POLL POINTS

Florida State’s poll drought was remarkable considering how the Seminoles have been a Top 25 staple since the late 1970s.

Florida State’s streak of 211 straight weeks ranked from 1989-2001 is the third longest streak in the history of the poll and its streak of 42 straight seasons appearing in at least one poll from 1977-2018 is fourth all-time.

Before the current drought, Florida State had not gone consecutive seasons without being ranked for at least one poll since 1973-77, which was the late Bobby Bowden’s first season as coach.

IN

Two other teams are making their Top 25 debuts this week:

— No. 21 Minnesota enters the rankings after crushing Michigan State on the road. The Gophers are ranked for the first time since a short stay in 2020.

— No. 25 Kansas State upset a top-10 ranked Oklahoma team for the third time in the last four seasons. The Wildcats have been briefly ranked in each of the last three seasons, but never more than three weeks.

CONFERENCE CALL

SEC — 7 (Nos. 1, 2, 7, 8, 14, 17, 20).

ACC — 5 (Nos. 5, 10, 22, 23, 24).

Big 12 — 4 (Nos. 9, 16, 18, 25).

Big Ten — 4 (Nos. 2, 4, 11, 21).

Pac-12 — 4 (Nos. 6, 12, 13, 15)

Independent — 1 (No. 19).

RANKED vs. RANKED

No. 10 North Carolina State at No. 5 Clemson. The 87th meeting will be the first matching top-10 teams.

No. 7 Kentucky at No. 14 Mississippi. Wildcats and Rebels have played 44 times, dating back to 1944 and have both been ranked just once in 1958.

No. 2 Alabama at No. 20 Arkansas. Tide is 6-0 when both teams are ranked.

No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 16 Baylor. Cowboys and Bears played twice as ranked teams last season.

No. 22 Wake Forest at No. 23 Florida State. Only ranked meeting in 39 games was 2008, a Wake victory.

The Top 25

1. Georgia (55 first-place votes) 4-0

2. Alabama (4) 4-0

3. Ohio St. (4) 4-0

4. Michigan 4-0

5. Clemson 4-0

6. Southern Cal 4-0

7. Kentucky 4-0

8. Tennessee 4-0

9. Oklahoma St. 3-0

10. NC State 4-0

11. Penn St. 4-0

12. Utah 3-1

13. Oregon 3-1

14. Mississippi 4-0

15. Washington 4-0

16. Baylor 3-1

17. Texas A&M 3-1

18. Oklahoma 3-1

19. BYU 3-1

20. Arkansas 3-1

21. Minnesota 4-0

22. Wake Forest 3-1

23. Florida St. 4-0

24. Pittsburgh 3-1

25. Kansas St. 3-1

Read More

A freshman starting at quarterback is rare. Bolingbrook’s Jonas Williams is also unique because he beat out a talented senior for the job.

He’s a great athlete with a big arm, but Williams’ poise in the pocket and decision-making has been incredibly impressive through the first five weeks of the season.

Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar called Williams (6-3, 180 pounds) a phenom after he threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns in a loss to the Griffins on Friday.

“The last quarterback I saw like that was [Naperville Central’s Payton Thorne, now at Michigan State] and he was doing those things as a senior,” Zvonar said. “My only hope is [Williams] decides to go to IMG or somewhere. I’ll give him the brochure.”

Zvonar was joking about the brochure, but that is the big question surrounding Williams after five weeks of the season. Will he remain at Bolingbrook for the next three years or move on to a prep school?

“I’ll probably stick around,” Williams said. “It’s been great to come out here and do what I love every Friday.”

The Raiders have two very talented receivers that are just juniors, I’Marion Stewart and Kyan Berry-Johnson. Bolingbrook didn’t establish much of a running game in its losses to Simeon and Lincoln-Way East, but the passing game was so explosive that the Raiders still managed to score more than 30 points in both games.

“We haven’t beaten Lincoln-Way East in 11 years,” Williams said. “Not many teams put up a fight against them like we did. We will see them again.”

The actual football

A violent ending marred Morgan Park’s 22-13 win against Kenwood on Saturday at Lane Stadium, but it was an important football game.

The very young Mustangs were impressive. Sophomore quarterback Marcus Thaxton was 7-for-22 passing for 93 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. But he was clutch when it mattered.

Junior running back Tysean Griffin had 18 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown.

“We are young but we are not inexperienced,” Morgan Park coach Chris James said. “We have big flashes of talent but we have to keep developing and not make mistakes. We played well down the stretch and played physically against an older, talented team.”

What a quarter

The most interesting result of the weekend was Crete-Monee’s 48-42 win over Joliet Catholic. It snapped the Hilltoppers’ 24-game winning streak.

The teams combined for 44 points in the third quarter. The Warriors trailed by two when it began and led 42-28 heading into the fourth quarter.

Joshua Franklin, who plays multiple positions, is one of the state’s most thrilling talents. He spent a lot of time at quarterback last season, but Cory Stennis has stepped into the position this season. He threw for 457 yards and four touchdowns against Joliet Catholic.

Senior receiver Lynel Billips-Williams has become another major threat for Crete-Monee. He had a massive game against the Hilltoppers, finishing with 12 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

Upstate Eight update

There are a pair of undefeated teams worth keeping an eye on in the Upstate Eight: Glenbard South and South Elgin. They will face off on Friday in South Elgin.

Senior Jalen Brown set a school record for the Raiders in Week 5, rushing for 286 yards in a 47-6 win against Bartlett. Brown scored four touchdowns.

Read More

The Bears’ passing game didn’t look any better in the first half against the Texans than it did the first two weeks, and quarterback Justin Fields has struggled with accuracy and getting the ball out quickly.

The Bears were down 14-13 at halftime and got booed as they headed to the locker room after allowing the clock to run out on second down from their own 28. Coach Matt Eberflus had three timeouts available.

The Bears scored on their first two possessions to take a 10-0 lead, but it gradually unraveled. The only thing preventing it from being even worse was that safety Eddie Jackson stepped in with an interception in the end zone when the Texans had first-and-goal at the 5-yard line in the first quarter.

Fields has been awful so far and has completed just 4 of 11 passes for 45 yards with an interception for an 11.6 passer rating. He has been effective scrambling, though, and has six carries for 47 yards.

His best pass was a 24-yarder to tight end Cole Kmet on third-and-five late in the first half. That play got the Bears in scoring range at the Texans’ 27-yard line and, after allowing a sack on third-and-six at the 23, Cairo Santos hit a 50-yard field goal.

Fields was the least productive starting quarterback in the NFL over the first two weeks, throwing the fewest passes (28) and totaling the least yardage (191).

There seems to be some hesitancy from offensive coordinator Luke Getsy to let him wait in the pocket so long, and he called draw plays on two third downs in the first half.

When the Bears had third-and-10 at the Texans’ 35-yard line on their opening drive, running back David Montgomery got five yards on a draw to set up Santos’ 47-yard field goal. Getsy also opted for a draw for Tresten Ebner on third-and-six at the Bears’ 14-yard line in the second quarter.

Making a comeback will be tougher for the Bears after injuries to Montgomery and wide receiver Byron Pringle. Both are doubtful to return.

Montgomery had three carries for 11 yards before going down. Trainers appeared to be checking his right knee, but the Bears listed his injury as knee/ankle.

Pringle had one catch for 11 yards and left with a calf injury.

The Texans get the ball to begin the second half.

Read More

PITTSBURGH – With nine games left in the season, it’s still unclear which pitchers will finish the season on the Cubs active roster.

The team hasn’t ruled out Justin Steele (low back strain) returning from the 15-day injured list. Then, there are veteran lefties Wade Miley and Drew Smyly, who are dealing with tightness or fatigue but have not been placed on the IL.

Steele’s bullpen Saturday went well, according to pitching coach Tommy Hottovy.

“Really starting to look back to the guy that we are used to seeing,” Hottovy said. “Big thing for him today is recovering from the bullpen, making sure all that feels good, there’s no lingering issues from what he was dealing with.”

The Cubs plan to give him another high-intensity bullpen before evaluating his next step, which could be a live batting practice session or game action.

“I know timeline-wise we’re getting close here,” Hottovy said. “But our goal with Justin was to finish strong. ‘Finish strong’ can mean a lot of different things. Ideally, we would like to get him in a game. But again, he’s progressing and trending in the right direction, so we’ll have to see how these next couple days progress.”

Smyly was originally targeting Tuesday or Wednesday for his next start, after skipping his last scheduled outing due to left shoulder fatigue. Instead, Marcus Stroman, Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad are scheduled to pitch in the upcoming three-game Phillies series, in that order.

“I don’t like putting a timeline on something and when we have other options,” Hottovy said.

The Cubs’ off day Monday gave them that other option. Hottovy said he preferred adjusting the plan to the results of Smyly’s bullpen, rather than adjusting the bullpen to a rigid timeline.

“As long as he gets through that OK, probably looking at the ability to pitch in a game next week sometime,” Hottovy said. “The big thing for him is the fine line between where we are in the season – guys can pitch at 95%, but is it worth it?”

Miley, as of Sunday morning, needed further evaluation before determining next steps. He left the game Saturday with a tight left oblique, another injury in a season already cut short by elbow and shoulder injuries.

“The reports I’m getting are, he felt a little bit better than he thought he was going to feel coming out of yesterday,” Hottovy said. “… It’s been an up-and-down, roller-coaster a year for him. But he’s definitely put in the time and effort to want to go out there and compete. So, if he’s feeling good, we want to make sure we do what’s right by him there too.”

Hoerner returns

Nico Hoerner returned to the lineup Sunday against the Pirates, after being sidelined for two weeks by strained triceps. He served as the designated hitter.

Franmil Reyeshas been the Cubs’ primary DH since they claimed him off waivers in early August. But with Hoerner still working back to playing the field, Reyes started in right field for the first time in his Cubs tenure.

Read More

The Auditorium Theatre was packed Saturday night for the first of two performances by Ukraine’s Kyiv City Ballet. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine still raging, gold and blue Ukrainian flags hung in the lobby and the colonnade leading to the Auditorium.

But inside the theater itself, the atmosphere paid the highest compliment possible to a visiting ensemble. It was the first night of the Auditorium’s 2022-23 season, and the audience included devoted Auditorium and ballet fans as well as fervent Ukrainian-Americans. Since opening in 1889, the Auditorium has welcomed the world’s finest artists, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra before it moved to the newly built Orchestra Hall in 1904.Saturday’s program, repeated Sunday afternoon, was not a sentimental, rally-round-the-flag salute to beleaguered dancers stranded in Paris since war broke out Feb. 24 in their homeland. It was an evening showcasing a young ballet troupe, founded in 2012, that deserves attention. Chicago is its fourth stop on a U.S. tour running through late October.

The evening’s sampler program, performed to recorded music, was a Ukrainian-style dance smorgasbord.A contemporary ensemble piece, “Thoughts” by company member Vladyslav Dobshynskyi, opened the performance. Next came “Tribute to Peace,” a lighthearted work set to snippets of familiar music by Edward Elgar. Its two choreographers — Ivan Kozlov, Kyiv City Ballet’s founder and general director, and his wife, Ekaterina Kozlova, associate director — createdit for the U.S. tour.

The company showed off its 19th century classical style in “Classical Suite,” flashy, familiar pas de deux drawn from story ballets including “Don Quixote.” “Men in Kyiv,” a rambunctious finale added as a last-minute surprise, set the audience cheering.

Kyiv City Ballet is young in more ways than one. Many of its 30-plus dancers are in their late teens and early 20s, just beginning their careers. Since Feb. 24 they have found a temporary home for ballet classes and rehearsals at Paris’ fabled Theatre du Chatelet.(The company expected to be in France for two weeks, touring the country with “The Nutcracker” before moving on.)

But it is obvious the young dancers have thoroughly absorbed the grand Russian classical style, brightening it with youthful zest and buoyancy. Ballet has deep roots in Ukraine; the National Ballet of Ukraine celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018. Despite the current hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, Russian ballet style is justly revered around the world. Any young ballet company should be proud to channel it.

In “Classical Suite,” the effort behind those endless, whipping fouett? turns and flashy, racing leaps occasionally showed. But throughout the evening the dancers displayed something equally important as rock-solid technique. They looked at home and relaxed on the Auditorium’s vast stage, dancing with fierce precision and elan. From the corps’ gently curved, fluid arms in “Classical Suite” to their insect-like bent legs in “Thoughts,” they filled the air with sharply etched movement.

Though heartfelt, the choreography in “Tribute to Peace” was a trifle, a series of cliched vignettes of everyday life. Young couples danced happily, and haughty ladies spurned would-be lovers. But the Kyiv dancers know how to create vivid characters, and we couldn’t help but chuckle as the dandy wooed his indifferent lady with increasingly valuable gifts. Flowers? No. Bonbons? Oh please. Diamond necklace? Now you’re talking.

The most intriguing work was “Thoughts,” danced to a largely electronic score by various composers. Depicting a man (Dobshynskyi) hounded by unwelcome thoughts (the corps as an ever-shifting, aggressive mass), it had its own share of dance cliches. An elusive woman (Maryna Apanasenko) represented the man’s salvation, and the corps and Dobshynskyi spent a lot of time in agonized lunges and anguished twists. But every gesture, often frozen for a second in space, was powerful. Creating indelible images, they cut against the deep black backdrop like an artist’s X-Acto blade.

The performance ended on just the right, feel-good note with “Men in Kyiv,” an unabashed tribute to Ukraine’s centuries-old folk dance tradition. Sporting the colors of the Ukrainian flag, two teams of the troupe’s men — one in blue T-shirts, the other in gold — tore through the acrobatic runs, hops and spins of the Gopak.

Dating back to Ukraine’s 16th century Cossacks, the dance is familiar around the world thanks to folk troupes like Russia’s Moiseyev Dance Company and countless versions of the Russian Dance from “The Nutcracker.” But the Gopak was born in Ukraine, and its high-spirited, lightning-fast faceoff between friendly competitors is considered the country’s national dance. In choreographer Pavlo Virsky’s version, it was a showcase for the Kyiv City Ballet’s men, every one of them brimming with exuberance, skill and sheer joy in dancing. Propelled by rousing folk tunes familiar to any Ukrainian, they made it clear that Ukraine is indeed a distinctive nation, proud of itself and confident of its place in the world. The cheering audience heartily agreed.

Read More

The Chicago Bears offense needs help in the passing game

Quarterback Justin Fields has had limited options in the passing game during the Chicago Bears’ first two weeks. The Bears are ranked last in the NFL in passing this season. The Bears were able to look past poor stats in Week 1, as the team played in extreme rain. In Week 2, issues in the passing game were exposed to a national audience in primetime.

The Bears could only attempt 11 passes against the Packers on Sunday Night Football last week. The offensive line, which was great at run blocking, struggled to protect Fields in the passing game. Their wide receivers weren’t open much against the Packers’ secondary.

Fields finished with 70 yards passing. The national media expected the Bears to struggle to pass this season with their roster at the offensive line and wide receiver positions. But only being able to attempt 11 passes is something else.

An Analyst expects Chicago Bears to make a move before the trade deadline

Lead NFL insider for CBS, Jonathan Jones, thinks the Bears will try to improve the wide receiver situation for Fields. This morning, Jones said that he expects the Bears to be active for a wide receiver before the trade deadline.

Should the Chicago Bears go for a trade now?

This would be an interesting development for the Bears. Rookie Velus Jones Jr. is expected to return in the next week. The Bears should also have N’Keal Harry back later in the season. If the Bears wanted to help Fields compete this season, a big trade or move for an offensive weapon should have occurred before the season.

Let’s hope general manager Ryan Poles doesn’t panic and reach here in the regular season for a team that’s not likely to go far if they make the playoffs as a wild card team. But bringing in a wide receiver that can help Fields develop this season for a good price would be a welcome sight for Bears fans.

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Read More