Sports – Monday, October 15th, 2012

The Packers flexed their muscles in front of a national TV audience last night in a 42-24 blowout of previously unbeaten Houston.  Aaron Rodgers was spectacular, throwing for 338 yards and a team record tying 6 touchdowns.  Three of those TDs went to Jordy Nelson who caught 9 passes for 121 yards.  James Jones also caught a pair of TDs for the Packers.  Alex Green was solid in his debut as the featured tailback rushing for 65 yards on 22 carries.  The Packer defense made a statement as well, never letting the Houston offense get into rhythm, picking off 3 passes, two by Casey Hayward and one by Sam Shields, and holding Arian Foster to just 29 yards rushing.  The win leaves Green Bay at 3-3 on the season as they wrap up a 3 game road trip at St. Louis next Sunday at noon..

 

The only negative from last night’s game was that the Packers lost a handful of players to what could be serious injury.  Linebackers Nick Perry and DJ Smith and RB Brandon Saine all left with knee injuries.  Cornerback Sam Shields left late after getting kicked in the shin.  All of those players will be evaluated today.

 

Alabama is #1 in the first BCS Rankings released over the weekend.  Florida is #2, followed by Oregon, Kansas State, and Notre Dame.  After Saturday’s blowout win at Purdue the Badgers are still unranked but received votes in both the AP and the Coaches Poll.  UW hosts Minnesota on Saturday at Camp Randall. The Kickoff is set for 11am on KFIZ.

 

Anaibal Sanchez gave up just three hits in seven innings worth of work as the Tigers blanked the Yankees 3-0 in the Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.  The win gives Detroit a 2-0 series lead heading back to Detroit.  Game 3 of the series is Tuesday night in Motown.

 

David Freese and Carlos Beltran each hit two run homers as St. Louis took Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night..  Game 2 is tonight in San Francisco.

 

The WIAA released their football playoff pairings for the first round this weekend.  In Division 6, St. Mary’s Springs gets a #1 seed and will host Algoma on Friday night at 7pm.  You’ll hear the game on KFIZ.  In Division 5, Laconia gets a #3 seed and will host Greendale Martin Luther on Friday night.  In Division 4, Chilton is a #1 seed and hosts Freedom on Friday night.  Also in D4, Campbellsport will travel to Brodhead-Juda on Saturday at 4pm.  In D2, Oshkosh North will travel to Green Bay Southwest on Saturday night at 6pm.