SPORTS
Bill Murphy Sports Editor | 770-718-3415 | sports@gainesvilletimes.com
Unties
gainesvilletimes.com
Monday, November 19, 2018
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
McIntyre leads Lakeview Academy
boys to win over No. 8 Starr’s Mill
Blake McIntyre scored a game-high 22 points with six
rebounds and three steals for Lakeview Academy in a
56-55 win against Class 5A’s No. 8 Starr’s Mill on Satur
day. Adam Cottrell had 13 points and five rebounds for
the Lions (1-0), while Holden Cooper chipped in 11 points
with eight rebounds and three steals.
On Monday, Lakeview Academy faces Drew Charter
at 5 p.m. in the semifinals of the Keller Williams Raider
Classic at North Forsyth High in Cumming.
BUFORD GIRLS 55, NORTH GWINNETT 46: Kate-
lyn Klein had 16 points and Tate Walters added 12 on Sat
urday for the Lady Wolves at the Dacula Thanksgiving
Tournament in Dacula.
High school scores can be reported by 10:30 p.m.
each night by calling 770-718-3415 or email sports@
gainesvilletimes.com.
NASCAR
LYNN SLADKYI Associated Press
Joey Logano holds the trophy after winning the NASCAR
Cup Series Championship on Sunday at Homestead-
Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
Logano earns
championship
at Homestead
Associated Press
Joey Logano busted up The Big Three and captured an
improbable first NASCAR title by soundly beating a trio
of champions.
Logano won the season finale Sunday at Homestead-
Miami Speedway to grab his first Cup
championship in a season in which he
barely contended until the playoffs
began. The year was dominated by Kyle
Busch, Kevin Harvick and reigning
series champion Martin Truex Jr., with
Logano calling the final-four field “The
Big Three and Me.”
But Logano kicked it into another
gear during the playoffs with two vic
tories and got eight top-10 finishes in
the postseason. He led a race-high 80
laps but the title was slipping away until Team Penske
teammate Brad Keselowski spun Busch teammate Daniel
Suarez for a race-changing caution.
He was fourth on the restart with 15
laps remaining but powered his way
alongside leader Truex, used a power
move in the outside lane three laps later
to take over the top spot and he pulled
away to win for Roger Penske.
“We were the favorite. We executed
down the stretch like nobody’s busi
ness,” Logano said. “I knew we had a
short-run car. I said it before the race
started that if it was anything longer
than 25 laps we were going to be in trouble. That showed
all day. But it came down to the short run and we are
champions. NASCAR champions.”
Logano won the title in his 10th season in NASCAR and
with his second team. He started with Joe Gibbs Racing as
a teenager, was pushed into the Cup Series prematurely
when Gibbs needed a replacement driver for Tony Stew
art, and was snagged by Penske when Gibbs let Logano go
after the 2012 season.
“I think it’s great for them and Joey,” Gibbs said.
“Great kid, great family. I’m sure he’s going to make a
great champion.”
He is the second Cup champion for Penske, the titan
of motorsports who has had a banner year. Penske also
this season was elected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame,
won the Indianapolis 500 for a record 17th time and cel
ebrated Team Penske’s 500th victory as an organization.
Team Penske has also been the cornerstone for Ford
the last six seasons and Logano gave the manufacturer its
first Cup title since 2004.
“He sure delivered for us,” Penske said. “I don’t want
him to change at all. He needs to do just what he did today,
beat all these guys and win fair and square.”
NASCAR’s final weekend concluded with three new
champions from three different teams representing all
three manufacturers. Brett Moffitt won the Truck Series
title in a Toyota for Hattori Racing, Tyler Reddick won
the Xfinity Series title in a Chevrolet for JR Motorsports,
and Ford finally got a title on what is officially called
“Ford Championship Weekend.”
Truex finished second in his final race with Furniture
Row Racing. The team is closing because it lost its pri
mary sponsor midway through Truex’s championship
reign.
“It’s a tough way to lose,” Truex said. “I had nothing
for him at the end. That’s just the way it goes. I don’t know
what else to say. It hurts a little, and I’m going to miss all
of the guys.”
Harvick was third and Busch fourth as the title
■ Please see LOGANO, 2B
Keselowski
Busch
COWBOYS 22, FALCONS 19
FRUSTRATING FINISH
Photos by DANNY KARNIKI Associated Press
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works out of the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of
Sunday’s game in Atlanta.
Atlanta’s playoff chances minimal after last-second loss
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a touchdown catch
against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) during the second
half of Sunday’s game in Atlanta.
Associated Press
Yet another last-minute loss might
be the one that ends the Atlanta Fal
cons’ playoff hopes.
Brett Maher’s 42-yard field goal as
time expired gave the Dallas Cow
boys a 22-19 win over the Falcons
on Sunday. Atlanta (4-6) has lost two
straight after reviving its season with
three straight wins.
The scenario at the end of the
game seemed depressingly familiar
for the Falcons. Four of the team’s
six losses have come either on the
opponent’s final possession or with
the Falcons denied on their final
opportunity.
“It’s aggravating at the end of the
day,” said cornerback Robert Alford.
“.. We did do some good things
today. We can’t just hold our heads
down. But at the end of the day we’ve
got to learn to finish games.”
Atlanta also was denied late in nar
row defeats to the Bengals (37-36),
Saints (43-37 in overtime) and Eagles
(18-12).
The close losses have come in a
season the team has lost both start
ing safeties and both starting guards
to season-ending injuries. Line
backer Deion Jones came off injured
reserve this week after missing two
months but was inactive against Dal
las. Running back Devonta Freeman
also is on injured reserve and may
Associated Press
No. 5 Georgia (10-1) remained in the
same spot for the third consecutive
week, following a 66-27 win against
Massachusetts.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs face
Georgia Tech to wrap up the regular
season. On Dec. 1, Georgia faces top-
ranked Alabama in the SEC champi
onship game.
Army is ranked for the first time
since 1996, moving into The Associ
ated Press college football poll at No.
23 on Sunday as it begins preparations
to face rival Navy on Dec. 8.
The Black Knights (9-2) have been
edging toward the Top 25 in recent
weeks, and they finally broke through.
The rankings were mostly unchanged
after a weekend with few big games or
return late in the season.
The Falcons might have to close
the regular season with six straight
wins to make the playoffs. That’s a
lot to ask, especially as they enter a
short work week before Thursday
night’s game at NFC South-leading
New Orleans.
The Falcons played in the Super
I Inside
Latest Top 25 poll, 2B
surprising results.
Led by unanimous No. 1 Alabama,
the top six stayed the same as last
week. Clemson was No. 2, followed by
Notre Dame, Michigan, Georgia and
Oklahoma.
Washington State moved up a spot
to No. 7 and UCF jumped three spots
to No. 8, season highs for both schools.
LSU tied Central Florida at No. 8 and
Ohio State was 10th.
Also debuting in the Top 25 this sea
son was Pittsburgh at No. 24.
Army being ranked has been a
rarity since the early 1960s. From
■ Please see POLLS, 2B
Bowl only two years ago and won a
playoff game last year. Now, only an
unlikely winning streak could extend
that modest streak of postseason
appearances.
“For sure it’s uphill,” Falcons
coach Dan Quinn said. “We know
■ Please see FALCONS, 3B
WOMEN’S TOP 25
Georgia Tech strolls past
No. 14 Georgia 63-53
Lorela Cubaj had 13 points, seven
rebounds and three blocks, Elizabeth
Dixon had her second straight double
double and Georgia Tech upset No. 14
Georgia 63-53 on Sunday for just its
sixth win in the 41-game series.
The Lady Bulldogs lead the series
35-6, including a 12-5 mark in Atlanta.
Cubaj converted 3-point plays on
consecutive possessions to give Tech a
53-44 lead with just over four minutes
left and Georgia trailed by at least six
points the rest of the way.
Dixon finished with 10 points and
11 rebounds, and Kierra Fletcher
and Elizabeth Balogun each scored
10 points for Georgia Tech (3-1).
Balogun and Dixon, Tech’s two fresh
men McDonald’s All-Americans,
entered with a combined 73 points,
35 rebounds, eight assists, eight steals
and eight blocks.
Georgia Tech went on a 9-0 run
to open a 24-11 lead and it was 31-23
at halftime behind Balogun’s eight
points.
Associated Press
COLLEGE FOOTBALL IAP top 25
Georgia remains No.
5 after 66-27 victory
