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GREEN BAY, Wis. — No need for ice and wind and record low temperatures. Even in relatively balmy conditions for Green Bay, and with a somewhat stationary All-Pro quarterback, the Packers survived against the Dallas Cowboys. Green Bay rallied from an 8-point deficit as Aaron Rodgers threw for two second-half touchdowns to beat Dallas 26-21 Sunday. The Packers (13-4), helped immensely by a video reversal with 4:06 remaining, went unde- feated at Lambeau Field this season. They head to Seattle next weekend for the NFC title game. The Seahawks (13-4) beat Green Bay in the season opener, 36-16. “I think I got 120 minutes left in me,” Rodgers said. Dez Bryant’s leaping, bobbling catch at the Packers 1 on fourth-and-2 was reversed by referee Gene Steratore after Green Bay challenged. Instead of first-and-goal for Dallas (13-5), the ball went over to the Packers. “Some people think throwing the red flag is fun,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “It was such an impactful play, you had to challenge. It was a confident challenge. And a hopeful one, too.” Green Bay closed it out before a Lambeau- record 79,704 on Randall Cobb’s diving 12-yard reception on third-and-11. That gave Cobb eight catches for116 yards and set off a raucous celebration at the iconic venue. “Well, I was happy it went the right way,” NFL PLAYOFFS Green Bay’s Andrew Quarless celebrates a first-quarter touchdown by jumping into the stands at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon. SMILEY N. POOL/DALLAS MORNING NEWS PHOTO Packers ‘O’ awakens in time to rally past Cowboys SPORTS MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 DALLAS — What Ohio State is attempting to pull off Monday night is, quite frankly, ridiculous. The Buckeyes have not merely advanced to the first College Football Playoff title game with a third-string quarterback. They actually think they can win it with a third-string quarterback. Cardale Jones, who started the season in cold storage, is 60 foot- ball minutes away from becoming a story on “60 Minutes.” “It’s unreal, like a movie or a book,” Jones said Saturday, two days before he takes the field at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium. “I can’t pinch myself any harder.” Jones’ story, as far as anyone knows, has no precedent. At least seven backup NFL quarterbacks have led their teams to Super Bowl titles, but the search continues to find a rise from so low on the totem pole. Late in the 1965 season, after injuries to Johnny Unitas and Gary Cuozzo, Baltimore Colts running back Tom Matte was forced to play quarterback. Coach Don Shula drew up some plays and had Matte tape them to his wristband, but that venture ended with a playoff loss to the Packers. Once, in a Barry Switzer fairy tale, freshman Jamelle Holieway led Oklahoma to a national title after starter Troy Aikman broke his leg. Way back in the spring of 1998, Florida State quarterback Marcus Outzen was third string behind Chris Weinke and Dan Kendra. Outzen moved up one peg when Kendra blew out his knee in the spring and then ended up starting COLLEGE FOOTBALL COMMENTARY REMARKABLE JOURNEY SET FOR FINALE Third-string QB: ‘I can’t pinch myself any harder’ By Chris Dufresne Tribune Newspapers Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones made his first two career starts in the Big Ten championship game and the Sugar Bowl. PHIL MASTURZO/AKRON BEACON JOURNAL PHOTO Monday’s title game Ohio State (13-1) vs. Oregon(13-1) When: 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPN See DUFRESNE/Page 4 WILLIAMSBURG — Winning was a tall order for William and Mary’s women’s basketball team. The Tribe needed to be darn near perfect against James Madison, the CAA’s gold standard, and receive some help from the Dukes. Didn’t happen. JMU’s pedigree prevailed in a 65-43 win Sunday at Kaplan Arena, while William and Mary continued the incremental build- ing process under Ed Swanson. “I thought we got better today,” Swanson said. “I thought we made some progress.” The Tribe (6-9, 0-4 CAA) has little to show for it recently after a sixth consecutive loss, the first four of which were one-pos- session affairs when W&M couldn’t close the deal. William and Mary had no answer for JMU post player Lau- ren Okafor (16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 blocks), and the Dukes’ defense gradually squeezed the Tribe into a 28 percent shooting effort in the second half and 23 turnovers. Still, W&M went toe-to-toe with James Madison (13-2, 4-0) for most of the first half and was within striking distance to start the second half. That against a program that swept the Tribe by a combined 66 points in two games last season. “We have bought more into the system, his system, than we had last year,” Tribe senior Kyla Ker- stetter said. “I think the first 10-12 minutes showed that, when we do what the system is meant to do and we trust each other. The first 20 points, we got the shots we wanted and they were good shots, but I don’t think we know how to maintain that for a whole game WOMEN’S HOOPS DUKES TOO MUCH FOR TRIBE William and Mary continues making strides under Swanson By Dave Fairbank [email protected] See W&M/Page 6 SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When Darion Atkins was being recruited, he took a visit to Notre Dame and enjoyed it so much he nearly committed. But the forward’s visit to Virginia was just a little more pleasant, and he ultimately chose the Cavaliers over the Fighting Irish. Atkins again enjoyed his trip to Purcell Pavilion late Saturday night. Third-ranked Virginia’s stifling defense successfully disrupted No. 13 Notre Dame’s prolific offense. Yet the Cavaliers found themselves trailing and in need of an offensive boost. Known for his consistent defensive pres- ence, Atkins provided an offensive spark, scoring a team-high14 points in a 62-56 win. “Just like this program prides itself on having a chip on its shoulder, I think Darion has a chip on his shoulder and wants to be a threat on the offensive end just like everybody else,” junior Malcolm Brogdon said. Notre Dame entered the game as the nation’s best shooting team at 54.8 percent, and though the Cavaliers (15-0, 3-0 ACC) beat the Irish (15-2, 3-1) by at least15 points in both meetings last season, Notre Dame was considered a trendy upset pick. Virginia’s defense rose to the challenge. The Cavaliers held the Irish to 33.9 percent shooting and their season low in points. Notre Dame’s leading scorer, Jerian Grant, was held to just six points with Brogdon guarding him most of the game. But in a game that saw10 lead changes, the Cavaliers didn’t take control until the final four minutes because of a disjointed offensive effort. “It was like we were stuck in mud,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “Part of our strategy against a team like this is they’ve got to work defensively and hope- COLLEGE BASKETBALL VIRGINIA 62, NOTRE DAME 56 Virginia’s Darion Atkins challenges a shot from Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste. JOE RAYMOND/AP PHOTO ATKINS PROVIDES SPARK IN SOUTH BEND By Isabelle Khurshudyan The Washington Post See CAVALIERS/Page 6 DENVER — Andrew Luck has his signa- ture NFL win, and it came against his predecessor, at that. Hardly pressured all afternoon, Luck threw two touchdown passes and led the Colts past Peyton Manning and the Broncos 24-13 Sunday. The Colts (13-5) advanced to the AFC championship game at New England (13-4), which beat Baltimore 35-31 Saturday night. “I think we’re playing good team ball,” Luck said. “We’re feeding off each other. Offensively, we’re making enough plays to put some points on the board. Great night. So proud to be a part of the Colts in this victory.” The Broncos (12-5) are left to deal with the hangover of yet another playoff debacle — and maybe questions about Manning’s future as well as that of coach John Fox. Luck shines in Denver; Colts earn date with Pats By Arnie Stapleton AP Pro Football Writer See COLTS/Page 3 Sunday’s conference championship games NFC: Green Bay I at Seattle When: 3 p.m., FOX J AFC: Indianapolis at New England When: 6:30 p.m., CBS By Barry Wilner AP Pro Football Writer See PACKERS/Page 3 MAKING THE LEAP MAKING THE LEAP
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Transcript of Leap cover
GREEN BAY, Wis. — No need for ice andwind and record low temperatures. Even inrelatively balmy conditions for Green Bay,and with a somewhat stationary All-Proquarterback, thePackers survivedagainst theDallas Cowboys.
GreenBayrallied froman8-pointdeficit asAaron Rodgers threw for two second-halftouchdowns to beatDallas 26-21Sunday.ThePackers (13-4), helped immensely by a videoreversal with 4:06 remaining, went unde-feated at Lambeau Field this season. Theyhead to Seattle next weekend for the NFCtitle game.
TheSeahawks (13-4) beatGreenBay in theseason opener, 36-16.
“I think I got 120 minutes left in me,”Rodgers said.
DezBryant’s leaping, bobbling catch at thePackers 1 on fourth-and-2 was reversed byreferee Gene Steratore after Green Bay
challenged. Instead of first-and-goal forDallas (13-5), the ball went over to thePackers.
“Some people think throwing the red flagis fun,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.“It was such an impactful play, you had tochallenge. Itwasaconfidentchallenge.Andahopeful one, too.”
GreenBay closed it out before aLambeau-record 79,704 on Randall Cobb’s diving12-yard reception on third-and-11. That gaveCobb eight catches for 116 yards and set off araucous celebration at the iconic venue.
“Well, I was happy it went the right way,”
NFL PLAYOFFS
Green Bay’s Andrew Quarless celebrates a first-quarter touchdown by jumping into the stands at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon.
SMILEY N. POOL/DALLAS MORNING NEWS PHOTO
Packers ‘O’ awakens intime to rally past Cowboys
SPORTSMONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
DALLAS—WhatOhio State isattempting to pull offMondaynight is, quite frankly, ridiculous.
TheBuckeyes have notmerelyadvanced to the first CollegeFootball Playoff title gamewith athird-string quarterback. Theyactually think they canwin itwitha third-string quarterback.
Cardale Jones,who started theseason in cold storage, is 60 foot-ballminutes away frombecominga story on “60Minutes.”
“It’s unreal, like amovie or abook,” Jones said Saturday, two
days before he takes the field atArlington’s AT&TStadium. “Ican’t pinchmyself any harder.”
Jones’ story, as far as anyoneknows, has no precedent.
At least seven backupNFLquarterbacks have led their teamsto Super Bowl titles, but thesearch continues to find a risefrom so lowon the totempole.Late in the1965 season, afterinjuries to JohnnyUnitas andGaryCuozzo, BaltimoreColtsrunning backTomMattewasforced to play quarterback. CoachDonShula drewup someplaysandhadMatte tape them to hiswristband, but that venture endedwith a playoff loss to the Packers.
Once, in a Barry Switzer fairytale, freshman JamelleHoliewayledOklahoma to a national title
after starter TroyAikman brokehis leg.
Way back in the spring of1998,Florida State quarterbackMarcusOutzenwas third string behindChrisWeinke andDanKendra.Outzenmoved up one pegwhenKendra blewout his knee in thespring and then ended up starting
COLLEGE FOOTBALL COMMENTARY
REMARKABLE JOURNEY SET FOR FINALEThird-string QB: ‘I can’tpinch myself any harder’
By Chris DufresneTribune Newspapers
Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones made his first two career startsin the Big Ten championship game and the Sugar Bowl.
PHIL MASTURZO/AKRON BEACON JOURNAL PHOTO
Monday’stitle gameOhio State (13-1)vs. Oregon(13-1)When: 8:30 p.m.TV: ESPN
See DUFRESNE/Page 4
WILLIAMSBURG — Winningwas a tall order for William andMary’s women’s basketball team.The Tribe needed to be darn nearperfect against James Madison,the CAA’s gold standard, andreceive somehelp fromtheDukes.
Didn’t happen.JMU’s pedigree prevailed in a
65-43 win Sunday at KaplanArena, while William and Marycontinued the incremental build-ing process under Ed Swanson.
“I thought we got better today,”Swansonsaid. “I thoughtwemadesomeprogress.”
The Tribe (6-9, 0-4 CAA) haslittle to show for it recently after asixth consecutive loss, the firstfour of which were one-pos-session affairs when W&Mcouldn’t close the deal.
William and Mary had noanswer for JMU post player Lau-ren Okafor (16 points, 9 rebounds,6 blocks), and the Dukes’ defensegradually squeezed the Tribe intoa 28 percent shooting effort in thesecondhalf and 23 turnovers.
Still, W&M went toe-to-toewith James Madison (13-2, 4-0)for most of the first half and waswithin striking distance to startthe second half. That against aprogram that swept the Tribe by acombined 66 points in two gameslast season.
“We have bought more into thesystem, his system, than we hadlast year,” Tribe senior Kyla Ker-stetter said.
“I think the first 10-12 minutesshowed that, when we do whatthe system is meant to do and wetrust each other. The first 20points, we got the shots wewanted and theywere good shots,but I don’t think we know how tomaintain that for a whole game
WOMEN’S HOOPS
DUKESTOOMUCHFORTRIBEWilliam and Marycontinues makingstrides under Swanson
By Dave [email protected]
See W&M/Page 6
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When DarionAtkinswasbeing recruited,he tookavisit toNotre Dame and enjoyed it so much henearly committed. But the forward’s visit toVirginia was just a little more pleasant, andhe ultimately chose the Cavaliers over theFighting Irish.
Atkins again enjoyed his trip to PurcellPavilion late Saturday night.
Third-ranked Virginia’s stifling defensesuccessfully disrupted No. 13 Notre Dame’sprolific offense.
Yet the Cavaliers found themselves
trailing and in need of an offensive boost.Known for his consistent defensive pres-ence, Atkins provided an offensive spark,scoringa team-high14points ina62-56win.
“Just like this program prides itself onhaving a chipon its shoulder, I thinkDarionhas a chip onhis shoulder andwants to be athreat on the offensive end just likeeverybody else,” junior Malcolm Brogdonsaid.
Notre Dame entered the game as thenation’s best shooting team at 54.8 percent,and though the Cavaliers (15-0, 3-0 ACC)beat the Irish (15-2, 3-1) by at least 15 pointsin both meetings last season, Notre Damewas considered a trendy upset pick.
Virginia’s defense rose to the challenge.The Cavaliers held the Irish to 33.9 percentshooting and their season low in points.Notre Dame’s leading scorer, Jerian Grant,was held to just six points with Brogdonguarding him most of the game. But in agamethatsaw10leadchanges, theCavaliersdidn’t take control until the final fourminutes because of a disjointed offensiveeffort.
“It was like we were stuck in mud,”Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “Part ofour strategy against a team like this isthey’ve got to work defensively and hope-
COLLEGE BASKETBALL VIRGINIA 62, NOTRE DAME 56
Virginia’s Darion Atkins challenges a shotfrom Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste.
JOE RAYMOND/AP PHOTO
ATKINS PROVIDES SPARK IN SOUTH BENDBy Isabelle KhurshudyanTheWashington Post
See CAVALIERS/Page 6
DENVER — Andrew Luck has his signa-ture NFL win, and it came against hispredecessor, at that.
Hardly pressured all afternoon, Luckthrew two touchdown passes and led theColts past Peyton Manning and the Broncos24-13 Sunday.
The Colts (13-5) advanced to the AFCchampionship game at New England (13-4),which beat Baltimore 35-31Saturday night.
“I think we’re playing good team ball,”Luck said. “We’re feeding off each other.Offensively, we’re making enough plays toput somepoints on theboard.Great night. Soproud to be apart of theColts in this victory.”
TheBroncos (12-5) are left to dealwith thehangover of yet another playoff debacle —andmaybequestionsaboutManning’s futureaswell as that of coach JohnFox.
Luck shines in Denver;Colts earn date with PatsBy Arnie StapletonAP Pro Football Writer
See COLTS/Page 3
Sunday’s conferencechampionship games
NFC: Green BayIat SeattleWhen: 3 p.m., FOX
JAFC: Indianapolisat New EnglandWhen: 6:30 p.m., CBS
By BarryWilnerAP Pro Football Writer
See PACKERS/Page 3
MAKING THE LEAPMAKING THE LEAP
