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Austin FC overhauls scouting, player personnel departments after missing MLS playoffs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A day after they were eliminated from the Major League Soccer playoffs, Austin FC announced changes within its scouting and player personnel departments.Manuel Junco, who has been the club's chief scout since 2020, has left and Sean Rubio, the senior vice president of player personnel, has accepted a job with another MLS club. Rubio also filled in as sporting director after Claudio Reyna resigned. Austin FC eliminated from playoff contention after 4-2 loss to LAFC at home Austin FC also added five new full-time scouts who are "stationed throughout Europe and South America." Coming off a disappointing season where Austin FC failed to make the postseason after making the Western Conference finals last season, Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell reaffirmed his faith in head coach Josh Wolff."Identifying global and national talent is an essential ingredient to achieving long-term success within MLS as it is anywhere else and it is important for Austin FC to view player s...

After 2 debates, does Burgum have a path to the presidency?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

FARGO — After four months of campaigning, millions of dollars on advertising and two debate appearances, Doug Burgum’s presidential campaign presses on with little sign of breaking through.The North Dakota governor continues to lag behind virtually all of the other candidates in national polls, with an average of less than 1% support. His peak was 3% in one late September poll, but he hasn’t repeated that success in the following weeks.Candidates at the rear of the pack will often say it’s the voters who choose the presidential nominee, not polls. But single-percent support levels are not typically predictors of electoral success, and in a typical election, it’s often around this time the field starts becoming significantly less crowded.So with another four months until the official kickoff for the GOP presidential primaries, what’s next for the North Dakota governor’s presidential campaign?If you ask Burgum, it’s steaming ahead to the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire pri...

Broncos rookie WR Marvin Mims Jr., a playmaker early in season, laments two fumbles in loss to Jets

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

Marvin Mims Jr. had a rookie moment in Week 4 against Chicago, but he hit his first real adversity as a professional Sunday against the Jets.The Broncos’ dynamic rookie wide receiver played a key part in two of Denver’s three turnovers in a 31-21 loss to New York, fumbling a first-quarter punt return and mishandling a third-quarter flip from running back Samaje Perine on a trick play.After the Denver defense started the afternoon with a stop, Mims should have called fair catch on a high punt from Thomas Morstead. Instead, he got hit almost immediately and the ball popped out. The Jets only got a field goal out of the ensuing chance, but even still it set an ominous tone.“I mean, I thought I had a little bit of room and just misjudged it, basically,” Mims told The Denver Post. “Just the speed of the game and all that stuff. As soon as I got my hands on it he hit me and it just fell out.”Then later he tried to take a pitch on an end-around from Peri...

Tenants return to the street after clash with police in Boyle Heights

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

Just a week after police and protesters clashed in Boyle Heights during a rally against a proposed 9% rent increase in rent-controlled apartments in Los Angeles that injured at least one police officer, demonstrators were back on the streets again this Sunday. So far, one arrest has been made in connection with the Oct. 1 march in which the Los Angeles Police Department said several members of the group were engaging in criminal activities prompting officers to intervene.  “As Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck officers attempted to initiate the arrest for the criminal activity, several members of the crowd engaged in a violent altercation with officers attempting to free the individual under arrest,” LAPD said in news release last week.  However, Uniôn de Vecinos, the Eastside Local of the Los Angeles Tenant Union, disputes the department’s report of the incident.  LAPD Hollenbeck Division officers at the scene of a planned tenants rights demonstration where pr...

Jalen Hurts and a tough defense carry the Eagles to a 23-14 victory over the Rams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

Philadelphia went 74 yards in 30 seconds and lined up at the Rams 1 for one final snap before halftime. Just about everybody in SoFi Stadium knew that last play would be the “tush push,” the “Brotherly Shove," or whatever Jalen Hurts' secret name is for the Eagles' signature short-yardage surge.Los Angeles knew it was coming, but still couldn't keep Hurts from scoring a touchdown that put Philly ahead for good.That's what it's like facing the powerhouse Eagles these days: They don't always execute perfectly, but they just keep moving forward.Hurts passed for 303 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 72 yards and another score, and Philadelphia outlasted the Rams 23-14 on Sunday to remain unbeaten.Dallas Goedert had eight catches for 117 yards and an early TD for the Eagles, who are off to consecutive 5-0 starts for the first time in franchise history despite never pulling away in this meeting of the last two NFC champions. Philadelphia has won 22 of its last 23 regular...

Desperate people dig out dead and injured from Afghanistan earthquakes that killed at least 2,000

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Men dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels in western Afghanistan Sunday in desperate attempts to pull victims from the wreckage left by powerful earthquakes that killed at least 2,000 people. Entire villages were flattened, bodies were trapped under collapsed houses and locals waited for help without even shovels to dig people out.Living and dead, victims were trapped under rubble, their faces grey with dust. A government spokesman said Sunday that hundreds were still trapped, more than 1,000 hurt and more than 1,300 homes destroyed. “Most people were shocked ... some couldn’t even talk. But there were others who couldn’t stop crying and shouting,” photographer Omid Haqjoo, who visited four villages Sunday, told The Associated Press by phone from Afghanistan’s fourth largest city, Herat.Saturday’s magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit a densely populated area near Herat. It was followed by strong aftershocks. A Taliban government spokesman on Sunday provided t...

Watch: Kittle scores on trick play for 2nd TD vs. Cowboys

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

The 49ers went into their trick bag for the second touchdown of Sunday night’s big showdown with the Cowboys, and the score involved two of their multi-talented stars showing off their ball skills.After a nice punt return by Ray-Ray McCloud, the 49ers had a short field to go, leading 7-0 early in the second quarter.On the first play of the drive from the Dallas 38-yard line, Brock Purdy handed the ball off to Christian McCaffrey, who ran right and pitched it to Deebo Samuel. Then Samuel quickly pitched it to a right-rolling Purdy to complete the flea-flicker.It's tricky @gkittle46 scores his 2nd TD of the night! #DALvsSF on NBC NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/tAUa8Ny2Jo— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 9, 2023Purdy, with plenty of protection from the offensive linemen who had rolled right along with him, hit tight end George Kittle down the right sideline at the 20-yard line, and Kittle did the rest.Kittle sold a block before breaking downfield ...

49ers-Cowboys live blog: McCaffrey extends TD streak before halftime

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

The 49ers host the Cowboys on Sunday night in their biggest test so far this season.San Francisco has beaten Dallas in each of the last two postseasons, and they are two of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII next February in Las Vegas.Here is our live blog from the game:2Q, 2:36: 49ers 21, Cowboys 7: The Niners respond to Dallas’ scoring drive with one of their own, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Christian McCaffrey. The running back was involved in two key plays earlier on the drive: A third-down incompletion in which he drew an unnecessary roughness penalty, and a 19-yard screen pass on second-and-12.2Q, 7:45: 49ers 14, Cowboys 7: Dallas picks up its initial first down of the game, then establishes some offensive rhythm before Dak Prescott found the speedy KaVontae Turpin at the goal line for an athletic catch and a 26-yard touchdown.2Q, 13:16 – 49ers 14, Cowboys 0: A handoff to Christian McCaffrey turns into a Deebo Samuel reverse and pitch ...

Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson leaves in the 4th quarter with a hamstring injury

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson was forced out of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter due to a right hamstring injury and the team isn’t sure when he’ll return.Jefferson slipped on the turf while trying to make a cut on his route during a third-down pass deep in Kansas City territory and limped slowly to the sideline after grabbing the back of his right leg. The Vikings scored a touchdown two plays later, but ended up losing 27-20 to fall to 1-4 this season.“Still very early,” coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game. “See where he’s at as we move along here and diagnose exactly what that injury is, and what that timeline looks like.”The Vikings have a road game next Sunday against the Bears in Chicago.Jefferson was announced as questionable to return, but he watched the remainder of the game from the sideline with a towel draped over his head. The All-Pro who led the NFL in receptions ...

Stoppage-time goal keeps Angel City in the playoff hunt with 2-1 win over the Dash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Savannah McCaskill scored the game-winner in stoppage time and Angel City stayed alive for the playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League on Sunday. Andressa scored for the Dash in the 44th minute with a shot from the top of the box that went through Jun Endo’s legs and into the goal. It was her first NWSL goal. Alyssa Thompson came into the game as a substitute and moments later outmaneuvered Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell for a goal in the 68th minute to pull Angel City even. McCaskill got the game winner about a minute into stoppage time. Angel City (7-7-7) faced elimination from the playoffs with the loss but instead moved into eighth in the standings. Houston (6-7-8) dropped to 10th with the loss. The San Diego Wave and the Portland Thorns are the only two NWSL teams to clinch playoff berths, with four spots still undecided. The Kansas City Current and the Chicago Red Stars have been eliminated. With the pla...