Staunton River clinched its first playoff berth in more than a decade despite losing Friday night’s game to a Northside team that was an offensive buzzsaw.

The Vikings rolled up 601 yards of total offense in a 51-26 victory that sealed the Blue Ridge District title outright.

Coach Jim Grobe of Wake Forest sees redshirt freshman Joey Ehrmann as the kind of player who will grow on you.

In the past 30 years, the Washington Redskins have seen the best of times—three Super Bowl victories—and the worst of times, one playoff appearance between 1994 and 2004, including a 0-7 start in 1998 and a 0-5 start in 2001.

Defending champions the Philadelphia Phillies fell two wins short in their bid to become the first NL team in 33 years to win consecutive World Series titles. Their quest ended with a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees in Game 6 on Wednesday night.

Andy Pettitte against Pedro Martinez, with the Yankees one win from ecstasy. Now that’s a World Series matchup worth talking about.

By the ninth inning, Phillies fans were preparing for the worst. The New York Yankees were at it again, chipping away at a dwindling lead and threatening to take away the Phils’ World Series title right there at Citizens Bank Park. Desperate to hang on, somehow Chase Utley and the Phillies did.

PHILADELPHIA — Alex Rodriguez waited all game for this hit. Heck, he waited his whole career.

Kenny Scott already had two touchdowns by the end of the third quarter. Both of them came on the ground, the first from four yards out and the second from 15.

Still, the Gretna Hawks had held him mostly in check, limiting him to short carries and stifling the passing game. So when Scott stood over the ball on his own 20 after a Gretna punt, with the game tied at 20 in the fourth quarter, facing a Hawks team he had never beat, he must have felt the eyes of the home crowd watching him, silently pleading with him to make a play.

Scott did, breaking loose from a pack of defenders on first down for an 80-yard touchdown, putting the Raiders on top for good in a wild 28-26 shootout win on senior night at Appomattox.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees waited six long years for this.

NEW YORK (AP) — The ho-hum catch that tickled his teammates, the behind-the-back snag that looked so easy.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — DeSean Jackson scored on a 67-yard run and a 57-yard reception, both in the first half. His night might have been perfect if his tender right ankle hadn’t messed up his touchdown tap dance.

The New York Yankees, baseball’s biggest spenders, finally cashed in with their first pennant in six years Sunday night, beating the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 in Game 6 of the AL championship series behind the savvy pitching of that old October pro, Andy Pettitte.

I’m a peaceful guy, wishing nothing but happiness and harmony for everyone and everything.

Holy Cross’ boys soccer team couldn’t contain its excitement after beating Virginia Independent Conference rival Liberty Christian Academy 2-1, in its regular-season finale, Thursday at home.

The Gaels’ gave unsuspecting coach Randy Turille the traditional Gatorade shower, only with water, moments after the inspirational win, clinched by Joe Bruzek’s late penalty kick.

BLACKSBURG — Watching and learning, that’s basically what Logan Thomas is doing this season at Virginia Tech.

schools. After a frigid Monday, both heated up on a warm Tuesday.

Appomattox finished fourth in the Group A state golf tournament, shooting a 318 to finish 30 shots back of Giles County on Tuesday at Independence Golf Club.

Appomattox, thanks to solid play over the final nine holes, sits in fifth place after the first round of the two-day Group A state golf tournament Monday at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian.

One day, two fantastic finishes.

Displaying the spirit with which Flying Squirrels was picked as the name of Richmond’s new baseball team, the Double-A franchise’s general manager expressed outside-the-box approval yesterday.

Capsule previews for tonight’s high school football games involving area teams

BLACKSBURG — In high school, Jake Johnson basically had one responsibility on the football field — find the ball and tackle the person with it.

A look forward at Saturday’s Liberty-Coastal Carolina game with Myrtle Beach Sun News CCU beat writer Josh Hoke, and some extra notes from Tuesday’s Big South basketball media day.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — The 2009-10 Virginia men’s basketball media day on Monday afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena was a whole lot different than the one last season.

Mainly, because there wasn’t one.

Golf and rugby will be included in the 2016 and 2020 Summer Games, following a vote Friday by the International Olympic Committee.

At the age of 10, Maya Carter of Lynchburg demonstrated an uncanny ability to overcome adversity this past weekend.

Prep football preview capsules for Friday night’s contests involving area teams

LOS ANGELES (AP) — On a team without an ace starter, the Los Angeles Dodgers rely heavily on their bullpen. That strategy worked just fine in their NL playoff opener.

The Region III golf tournament that was hosted by Amherst at Winton Country Club on Monday was dominated by two groups of Cavaliers and a Terrier.

DURHAM — For many years, Virginia Tech has staked its reputation on running the football and playing shutdown defense.

The 2016 Olympics are going to Rio de Janeiro, putting the games in South America for the first time.