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.