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Deadspin | Duke rolls Wake Forest, to play Virginia in ACC title game

Deadspin | Duke rolls Wake Forest, to play Virginia in ACC title game

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Nov 29, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz celebrates Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah’s (10) touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Darian Mensah set Duke’s single-season record with his 27th and 28th passing touchdowns as the Blue Devils went on to beat Wake Forest 49-32 on Saturday at Durham, N.C., then advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game later in the day.

Anderson Castle and Nate Sheppard each ran for two touchdowns for the Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC), who will face Virginia for the ACC championship next Saturday after No. 21 SMU was upset by Cal.

Mensah was 24-for-35 for 268 yards, including a 30-yard TD strike to Sahmir Hagans in the third quarter for the school record. Earlier in the game, Mensah scrambled 4 yards for his first rushing touchdown of the season.

Wake Forest (8-4, 4-4) committed four turnovers without forcing any. Quarterback Robby Ashford threw for two touchdowns and 342 yards with an interception and ran for a touchdown and a 2-point conversion.

Duke broke away with the first two touchdowns of the second half, with Mensah throwing the scoring pass to Hagans and Castle plowing in from 2 yards out to take a 35-17 lead.

Ashford’s 10-yard run and ensuing two-point conversion run on the final snaps of the third quarter cut the deficit to 35-25.

Hagans returned the kickoff 80 yards to the Wake Forest 13 to begin the fourth quarter. Sheppard was in the end zone two plays later on a 13-yard run around the left end.

In the second quarter, Wake Forest’s fourth-down gamble from its 36 went awry when Duke’s Vincent Anthony Jr. tackled Ashford for a 2-yard loss with 4:02 to play in the half. The Blue Devils converted on Castle’s 1-yard run.

But the Demon Deacons responded, driving 75 yards in eight plays without a timeout – picking up a fourth-and-3 along the way — and scoring on Ashford’s 20-yard pass to Karate Brenson with 29 seconds left in the half.

Wake Forest was flagged for 58 yards worth of penalties — all on defense — in the first quarter. Both teams scored on their first two possessions.

Duke scored first-quarter touchdowns on Sheppard’s 5-yard run and Mensah’s 4-yard scramble, which came on the final play of the quarter for a 14-3 lead.

Wake Forest’s first points came on Connor Calvert’s 42-yard field goal. The Demon Deacons opened the second-quarter scoring when Ashford threw 22 yards to Sawyer Racanelli.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Timbers hand Sounders club-record sixth straight loss Aug 1, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder David Da Costa (10) controls the ball during the first half against Seattle Sounders FC defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (85) at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Brandon Bye scored in the 82nd minute as the Portland Timbers rallied for a 2-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup clash Saturday night. Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season for the Timbers (7-8-3, 24 points), who improved to 3-0-1 under interim coach Jack Cassidy. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored for Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points), which suffered its franchise-record sixth straight defeat. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was credited with three saves. The go-ahead goal came after Portland’s Cole Bassett passed to David Da Costa at the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Da Costa spun and sent a pass across the top of the penalty area to Bye, whose right-footed shot from 20 yards eluded a pair of defenders and a diving Thomas on its way into the lower left corner of the net. The Sounders opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Paul Rothrock’s cross from the left wing for Osaze De Rosario was headed away from the top of the 6-yard box by Timbers defender Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Kossa-Rienzi and his left-footed shot from 18 yards out found the lower right corner of the net. The Timbers tied it in the 41st minute after working the ball down the left wing. Kristoffer Velde’s cross from the edge of the penalty area was slightly deflected by Sounders defender Stuart Hawkins before glancing off Kelsy’s left thigh and into the net from close range. A video review determined Kelsy was just onside on the play. Rusnak had a chance in the dying seconds of the half, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box sliced into the side netting. Seattle’s Paul Arriola, getting the start at right back, had to come off in the seventh minute because of an apparent lower right leg injury and was replaced by Kossa-Rienzi. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Timbers #hand #Sounders #clubrecord #sixth #straight #lossAug 1, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder David Da Costa (10) controls the ball during the first half against Seattle Sounders FC defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (85) at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Brandon Bye scored in the 82nd minute as the Portland Timbers rallied for a 2-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup clash Saturday night.

Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season for the Timbers (7-8-3, 24 points), who improved to 3-0-1 under interim coach Jack Cassidy. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves.

Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored for Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points), which suffered its franchise-record sixth straight defeat. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was credited with three saves.

The go-ahead goal came after Portland’s Cole Bassett passed to David Da Costa at the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Da Costa spun and sent a pass across the top of the penalty area to Bye, whose right-footed shot from 20 yards eluded a pair of defenders and a diving Thomas on its way into the lower left corner of the net.


The Sounders opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Paul Rothrock’s cross from the left wing for Osaze De Rosario was headed away from the top of the 6-yard box by Timbers defender Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Kossa-Rienzi and his left-footed shot from 18 yards out found the lower right corner of the net.

The Timbers tied it in the 41st minute after working the ball down the left wing. Kristoffer Velde’s cross from the edge of the penalty area was slightly deflected by Sounders defender Stuart Hawkins before glancing off Kelsy’s left thigh and into the net from close range. A video review determined Kelsy was just onside on the play.

Rusnak had a chance in the dying seconds of the half, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box sliced into the side netting.

Seattle’s Paul Arriola, getting the start at right back, had to come off in the seventh minute because of an apparent lower right leg injury and was replaced by Kossa-Rienzi.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Timbers #hand #Sounders #clubrecord #sixth #straight #loss">Deadspin | Timbers hand Sounders club-record sixth straight loss Aug 1, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder David Da Costa (10) controls the ball during the first half against Seattle Sounders FC defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (85) at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Brandon Bye scored in the 82nd minute as the Portland Timbers rallied for a 2-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup clash Saturday night. Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season for the Timbers (7-8-3, 24 points), who improved to 3-0-1 under interim coach Jack Cassidy. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored for Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points), which suffered its franchise-record sixth straight defeat. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was credited with three saves. The go-ahead goal came after Portland’s Cole Bassett passed to David Da Costa at the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Da Costa spun and sent a pass across the top of the penalty area to Bye, whose right-footed shot from 20 yards eluded a pair of defenders and a diving Thomas on its way into the lower left corner of the net. The Sounders opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Paul Rothrock’s cross from the left wing for Osaze De Rosario was headed away from the top of the 6-yard box by Timbers defender Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Kossa-Rienzi and his left-footed shot from 18 yards out found the lower right corner of the net. The Timbers tied it in the 41st minute after working the ball down the left wing. Kristoffer Velde’s cross from the edge of the penalty area was slightly deflected by Sounders defender Stuart Hawkins before glancing off Kelsy’s left thigh and into the net from close range. A video review determined Kelsy was just onside on the play. Rusnak had a chance in the dying seconds of the half, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box sliced into the side netting. Seattle’s Paul Arriola, getting the start at right back, had to come off in the seventh minute because of an apparent lower right leg injury and was replaced by Kossa-Rienzi. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Timbers #hand #Sounders #clubrecord #sixth #straight #loss

World number four Felix Auger-Aliassime will be playing for local pride when the ATP Montreal Masters begins on Sunday in his hometown.

The Canadian returns as second seed to a tournament he attended frequently as a budding young player, when he used to watch and study his sporting idols up close in training between matches.

“There were several times when I didn’t have a ticket, so I would watch all the training sessions,” he said on Saturday at the event, where he is seeded behind Roland Garros winner and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev.

“I learned even more things during training since they (fans) have the chance to be very, very close to the players.”

Auger-Aliassime recently split with his longtime coach of 10 years, Frederic Fontang, after losing a frustrating Wimbledon five-set quarterfinal to Novak Djokovic.

He will have the bulk of the crowd support at an event which is missing major stars including top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who opted not to play in the wake of his Wimbledon triumph to send tournament organisers into crisis mode.

Joining the Italian on the sidelines with less than a month to go before the US Open begins are the 39-year-old Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, still testing and healing the right wrist injury which has kept him off court since mid-April.

Auger-Aliassime’s best performance at the Canadian event was a quarterfinal four years ago. Last year he lost in the second round.

Despite the hometown support, Auger-Aliassime said he will aim to stick to his usual routines and focus solely on his game.

“Already, my expectations or hopes are at the same level as the public’s. So already, there is no gap at that level,” he said.

“I have my work to do, I have my preparation, I have my routines, so all that doesn’t change.

“I try to change as few things as possible, even if I’m playing in Montreal. Yes, I’m a bit more in-demand obviously than at other tournaments, but I try to keep my routines.

“The brain is used to having its routines. And that helps to program oneself well or to prepare well for the tournament.”

All 28 seeds in the 128-strong field receive first-round byes, with Auger-Aliassime set for the second round against the winner from France’s Luca van Assche and a qualifier.

Top seed Zverev reached the Canadian semifinal in Toronto a year ago.

Australian Alex de Minaur takes the third seeding ahead of Daniil Mdevedev while defending champion Ben Shelton is seeded fifth.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#AugerAliassime #playing #hometown #pride #Montreal #Masters">Auger-Aliassime playing for hometown pride at Montreal Masters World number four Felix Auger-Aliassime will be playing for local pride when the ATP Montreal Masters begins on Sunday in his hometown.The Canadian returns as second seed to a tournament he attended frequently as a budding young player, when he used to watch and study his sporting idols up close in training between matches.“There were several times when I didn’t have a ticket, so I would watch all the training sessions,” he said on Saturday at the event, where he is seeded behind Roland Garros winner and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev.“I learned even more things during training since they (fans) have the chance to be very, very close to the players.”Auger-Aliassime recently split with his longtime coach of 10 years, Frederic Fontang, after losing a frustrating Wimbledon five-set quarterfinal to Novak Djokovic.He will have the bulk of the crowd support at an event which is missing major stars including top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who opted not to play in the wake of his Wimbledon triumph to send tournament organisers into crisis mode.Joining the Italian on the sidelines with less than a month to go before the US Open begins are the 39-year-old Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, still testing and healing the right wrist injury which has kept him off court since mid-April.Auger-Aliassime’s best performance at the Canadian event was a quarterfinal four years ago. Last year he lost in the second round.Despite the hometown support, Auger-Aliassime said he will aim to stick to his usual routines and focus solely on his game.“Already, my expectations or hopes are at the same level as the public’s. So already, there is no gap at that level,” he said.“I have my work to do, I have my preparation, I have my routines, so all that doesn’t change.“I try to change as few things as possible, even if I’m playing in Montreal. Yes, I’m a bit more in-demand obviously than at other tournaments, but I try to keep my routines.“The brain is used to having its routines. And that helps to program oneself well or to prepare well for the tournament.”All 28 seeds in the 128-strong field receive first-round byes, with Auger-Aliassime set for the second round against the winner from France’s Luca van Assche and a qualifier.Top seed Zverev reached the Canadian semifinal in Toronto a year ago.Australian Alex de Minaur takes the third seeding ahead of Daniil Mdevedev while defending champion Ben Shelton is seeded fifth.Published on Aug 02, 2026 #AugerAliassime #playing #hometown #pride #Montreal #Masters

Deadspin | Trade target Kevin Gausman pitches Jays past Cardinals Aug 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images In possibly his final start for Toronto, Kevin Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series. Gausman (5-10), a pending free agent who may be dealt by the trade deadline on Monday, scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out four. George Springer had two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won three in a row. Alejandro Kirk added a two-run single. Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan each had two hits for the Cardinals, who lost their third straight despite outhitting Toronto 11-9. St. Louis was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11. Gausman survived three singles in the third with the help of a double play grounder. The Blue Jays scored once in third against Quinn Mathews (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Davis Schneider led off with a walk, took second on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single to right and scored on Springer’s two-out single past shortstop Masyn Winn. Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ernie Clement singled to lead off and took third on a double by Myles Straw on a drive that popped out of the glove of diving center fielder Nathan Church approaching the warning track. With one out, Luis Urias lofted a sacrifice fly to center. The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth. Ivan Herrera doubled to left-center and scored on Winn’s one-out double to right-center. After Church grounded out, Gausman left to a long standing ovation and Braydon Fisher took over. Mathews was replaced by Luis Gastelum after Daulton Varsho’s bunt single opened the sixth. Matthews allowed two runs, six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five-plus innings. Toronto stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh. Gastelum plunked pinch hitter Andres Gimenez, Guerrero followed with an infield hit to shortstop and Springer sliced a double to the right field corner past a diving Walker. Peter Strzelecki came in and gave up Kirk’s two-run single to right. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Trade #target #Kevin #Gausman #pitches #Jays #CardinalsAug 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

In possibly his final start for Toronto, Kevin Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series.

Gausman (5-10), a pending free agent who may be dealt by the trade deadline on Monday, scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out four.

George Springer had two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won three in a row. Alejandro Kirk added a two-run single.

Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan each had two hits for the Cardinals, who lost their third straight despite outhitting Toronto 11-9. St. Louis was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.

Gausman survived three singles in the third with the help of a double play grounder.


The Blue Jays scored once in third against Quinn Mathews (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Davis Schneider led off with a walk, took second on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single to right and scored on Springer’s two-out single past shortstop Masyn Winn.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ernie Clement singled to lead off and took third on a double by Myles Straw on a drive that popped out of the glove of diving center fielder Nathan Church approaching the warning track. With one out, Luis Urias lofted a sacrifice fly to center.

The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth. Ivan Herrera doubled to left-center and scored on Winn’s one-out double to right-center. After Church grounded out, Gausman left to a long standing ovation and Braydon Fisher took over.

Mathews was replaced by Luis Gastelum after Daulton Varsho’s bunt single opened the sixth. Matthews allowed two runs, six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five-plus innings.

Toronto stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh.

Gastelum plunked pinch hitter Andres Gimenez, Guerrero followed with an infield hit to shortstop and Springer sliced a double to the right field corner past a diving Walker. Peter Strzelecki came in and gave up Kirk’s two-run single to right.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Trade #target #Kevin #Gausman #pitches #Jays #Cardinals">Deadspin | Trade target Kevin Gausman pitches Jays past Cardinals Aug 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images In possibly his final start for Toronto, Kevin Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series. Gausman (5-10), a pending free agent who may be dealt by the trade deadline on Monday, scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out four. George Springer had two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won three in a row. Alejandro Kirk added a two-run single. Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan each had two hits for the Cardinals, who lost their third straight despite outhitting Toronto 11-9. St. Louis was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11. Gausman survived three singles in the third with the help of a double play grounder. The Blue Jays scored once in third against Quinn Mathews (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Davis Schneider led off with a walk, took second on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single to right and scored on Springer’s two-out single past shortstop Masyn Winn. Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ernie Clement singled to lead off and took third on a double by Myles Straw on a drive that popped out of the glove of diving center fielder Nathan Church approaching the warning track. With one out, Luis Urias lofted a sacrifice fly to center. The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth. Ivan Herrera doubled to left-center and scored on Winn’s one-out double to right-center. After Church grounded out, Gausman left to a long standing ovation and Braydon Fisher took over. Mathews was replaced by Luis Gastelum after Daulton Varsho’s bunt single opened the sixth. Matthews allowed two runs, six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five-plus innings. Toronto stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh. Gastelum plunked pinch hitter Andres Gimenez, Guerrero followed with an infield hit to shortstop and Springer sliced a double to the right field corner past a diving Walker. Peter Strzelecki came in and gave up Kirk’s two-run single to right. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Trade #target #Kevin #Gausman #pitches #Jays #Cardinals

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