04/20/2024
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By Sonny Jones

Hope everyone weathered Ian with limited damage. The cleanup began Saturday. More to do in the days ahead, but, thankfully, Bladen County spared the worst. I know that I was fortunate when the worst part was being without internet and cable for about 24 hours.

Well, N.C. State’s run in the Top 10 football rankings lasted a week. The Wolfpack will fall a bit following Saturday night’s 30-20 loss at Clemson. Knew it would be a tough assignment for N.C. State. Still should have a great season.

Did I hear correctly during the N.C. State-Clemson broadcast that Wolfpack kicker Christopher Dunn received death threats via social media after he missed a potential game-winning field goal against Clemson last season in Raleigh? Sadly, I can believe it. Dunn missed three field goal attempts that game, but the Wolfpack won in double overtime.

Any doubt that Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State will be in the College Football Playoffs? Who will be the fourth team? Clemson? Mississippi? Michigan?

Wake Forest truly is a remarkable program. Challenged late at Florida State, the Deacons march down the field in 18 plays and kick a field goal that iced the game in their victory. You just knew they were going to do that.

If North Carolina can win at Miami on Saturday and Duke win at Georgia Tech, the rivals both will be 5-1 going into their Oct. 15 meeting in Durham. Who had that on their bingo card?

What lap will the “big one” take place today at Talladega? You know it’s going to happen. Might happen twice as the NASCAR Cup playoffs continue.

Four more days remaining in the Major League Baseball season. Can the Braves hold off the Mets to win the NL East? A win tonight would put them in good shape. A loss means the teams are tied with three games left.

Agriculture Scholarship Golf Tournament: Oct. 15, Shotgun start 10 a.m., Vineyard Golf at White Lake. Four-man Captain’s Choice. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Information: 910-247-6132.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

MONDAY
• Football: East Bladen at West Bladen, 6 p.m.
• Boys’ soccer: St. Pauls at East Bladen, 6:30 p.m.; Midway at West Bladen, 6:30 p.m.; Midway JV at West Bladen, 4:30 p.m.; St. Pauls JV at East Bladen JV, 6:30 p.m.; Cape Fear Academy at Emereau Bladen, 4:30 p.m.
• Volleyball: East Bladen at Clinton, 4:30/6 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: East Bladen at Clinton, 4 p.m.
• Girls’ soccer: Nakina at Bladenboro, 4 p.m.; Tabor City at Clarkton School of Discovery, 4 p.m.; West Columbus at Elizabethtown, 4 p.m.; Tar Heel at East Columbus, 4 p.m.
• Tot Soccer at Bladen County Park: Rocky vs. Skye, 6 p.m.; Tracker vs. Chase, 6 p.m.; Zuma vs. Marshall, 6:30 p.m.; Rubble vs. Everest, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY
• Volleyball: West Bladen at East Bladen, 4:30/6 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: West Bladen at East Bladen, 4 p.m.
• Football: West Columbus at Bladenboro, 6 p.m.; East Columbus at Clarkton School of Discovery, 6 p.m.; Elizabethtown at Whiteville, 6 p.m.; Tar Heel at South Columbus, 6 p.m.
• 5-7 Soccer at Bladen County Park: Thundercats vs. Silverbacks, 6 p.m.; Dynamos vs. Titans, 6 p.m.; Grizzlies vs. Hornets, 7 p.m.; Mutiny vs. Lightning, 7 p.m.
• 8-10 Girls’ Soccer at Bladen County Park: Arsenal vs. Fusion, 6 p.m.; Burn vs. Rapids, 7 p.m.
• 8-10 Boys’ Soccer at Bladen County Park: Thunder vs. Fury, 6 p.m.; Galaxy vs. Revolution, 7 p.m.
• 11-14 Boys’ Soccer at Bladen County Park: Spartans vs. Bolt, 6 p.m.; Fire vs. DC United, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
• Boys’ soccer: Clinton at West Bladen, 6:30 p.m.; Midway at East Bladen, 6:30 p.m.; Midway JV at East Bladen JV, 4:30 p.m.; Clinton JV at West Bladen JV, 6:30 p.m.
• Cross Country: East Bladen, West Bladen in Southeastern Athletic Conference meet at St. Pauls, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY
• Volleyball: Fairmont at West Bladen, 4:30/6 p.m.; Harrells Christian at Emereau Bladen, 4:30 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: Fairmont vs. West Bladen at Bladen County Park, 4 p.m.
• JV football: West Bladen at East Bladen, 6:30 p.m.
• Girls’ soccer: Bladenboro at Williams Township, 4 p.m.; Elizabethtown at East Columbus, 4 p.m.
• 5-7 Soccer at Bladen County Park: Cosmos vs. Mutiny, 6 p.m.; Hornets vs. Sharks, 6 p.m.; Quakes vs. Dynamos, 7 p.m.; Grizzlies vs. Raptors, 7 p.m.
• 8-10 Girls’ Soccer at Bladen County Park: Rapids vs. Arsenal, 6 p.m.; Burn vs. Fusion, 7 p.m.
• 8-10 Boys’ Soccer at Bladen County Park: Thunder vs. Galaxy, 6 p.m.; Revolution vs. RailHawks, 7 p.m.
• 11-14 Boys’ Soccer at Bladen County Park: Spartans vs. DC United, 6 p.m.
• 11-14 Girls’ Soccer at Bladen County Park: Courage vs. Spirit, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY
• Football: West Bladen at Fairmont, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY’S PICK TO CLICK

Austin Riley with a couple of hits, including a home run, as the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets to move 2 games ahead in the NL East race with 3 to play.

FRIDAY’S PICK: Aaron Judge hits No. 62 against Baltimore’s Jordan Lyles to set the American League season record and allow the New York outfielder to take a break prior to the playoffs. Judge is 5-for-14 with 2 homers against Lyles for his career. RESULTS: Judge was 1-for-2 and drew 2 walks, but did not homer.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

1994 — North Carolina’s 92-game winning streak in women’s soccer ends with a scoreless tie in overtime against Notre Dame.

WHAT TO WATCH TODAY

• DP WORLD TOUR: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, 6:30 a.m., GOLF

• FORMULA 1: Singapore Grand Prix, 7:55 a.m., ESPN2

• NFL: Minnesota vs. New Orleans, 9:30 a.m., NFLN

• NFL: Buffalo at Baltimore, 1 p.m., CBS

• LPGA: Volunteers of America Classic, 1 p.m., GOLF

• NBA PRESEASON: Charlotte at Boston, 1 p.m., NBATV

• MLB: Boston at Toronto, 1:30 p.m., MLBN

• NASCAR CUP: YellaWood 500, 2 p.m., NBC

• NHRA: Midwest Nationals, 2 p.m., FS1

• MLS: Los Angeles at Portland, 3 p.m., ABC

• PGA: Sanderson Farms Championship, 4 p.m., GOLF

• NFL: Arizona at Carolina, 4:05 p.m., FOX

• NFL: New England at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m., CBS

• MLS: Seattle at Kansas City, 5 p.m, FS1

• MLB: NY Mets at Atlanta, 7 p.m., ESPN

• TRIPLE-A CHAMPIONSHIP: Durham vs. Reno, 7:05 p.m., MLBN

• NFL: Kansas City at Tampa Bay, 8:15 p.m., NBC

Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com and follow on Twitter @FOSonnyJones.

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