About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 2018)
SPORTS Bill Murphy Sports Editor | 770-718-3415 | sports@gainesvilletimes.com Unties gainesvilletimes.com Monday, December 10, 2018 PACKERS 34 FALCONS 20 MLS I Atlanta United Franchise in great shape TODD KIRKLAND I Associated Press Atlanta United team captain Michael Parkhurst (3) kisses the trophy as teammates celebrate during the trophy presentation after the MLS Cup championship soccer game against the Portland Timbers on Saturday in Atlanta. JOHN RAOUX I The Associated Press Atlanta United MLS soccer team head coach Gerado “’’Tata” Martino directs his players during the second half of a match against Orlando City on Aug. 24 in Orlando, Fla. MIKE ROEMER I Associated Press Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan drops back to throw against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Losing skid hits 5 games Atlanta flat after first-half mistakes Associated Press Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank watched coach Dan Quinn offer explana tions about another defeat. The boss then gave Quinn a hug before he walked out the door of a Lambeau Field media room. Blank still appears to have Quinn’s back as the losses keep piling up for Atlanta. In less than two years, the Falcons have gone from a trip to the Super Bowl to a losing record that was clinched with a 34-20 defeat on Sunday to the Green Bay Packers. It was Atlanta’s fifth straight defeat. Matt Ryan threw for 262 yards and three scores, including two to star receiver Julio Jones. But after an encouraging game-open ing touchdown drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jones, the Falcons (4-9) played mistake-filled football to fall behind quickly by double digits. By the time Ryan and Jones connected for another score, from 12 yards with 13:34 left in the game, Atlanta was still down by 20. In between, they hurt themselves too many times, including eight defensive pen alties. Thirteen flags overall cost the Fal cons 101 yards. “It’s definitely frustrating, maddening, disbelief, all of those things when we don’t execute on those,” coach Dan Quinn said. It wasn’t just the penalties that hurt, either. Bashaud Breeland returned an inter ception 22 yards for a score in the second quarter after jumping a sideline pass intended for Austin Hooper. Later, an ill-timed shotgun snap in the red zone epitomized the misfortunes of an injury-filled year. The hike from center Alex Mack hit Mohamed Sanu in the leg just as the receiver crossed in motion behind the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter. The Fal cons retreated from the ball for a moment, appearing to be unaware of what happened — just enough time for Breeland to sneak ■ Please see FALCONS, 3B Gerardo Martino’s final thoughts to the media after leading Atlanta United to a 2-0 win against Portland in the MLS Cup on Saturday may have been the most on- point since he was hired in Sept. 2016. “If I had to choose a way to leave some where, this is the best way,” he said. Martino will soon leave Atlanta, maybe to Mexico for his reported next job or per haps to Rosario in Argentina to be with his family. He will absolutely be satisfied with the job he did in helping take Atlanta United from an ambitious expansion club to champion in just two seasons. Playing a mix of soccer that evolved from a record-setting attack during the regular season to a lock down defense in the postseason, Martino won a Cup game, his first since leading Barcelona to a win in a season-opening tournament in Spain in 2014. “These are always special moments, just to culminate this amazing process that we have had in Atlanta,” he said. Martino’s decision to not exercise the option on his contract was announced by the club on Oct. 23. It wasn’t a surprise. Though Martino patiently and steadfastly denied rumors and reports tying him to other jobs, the speculation had persisted since Sep tember. Part of the speculation can be explained by his history. He has rarely stayed with any club more than two sea son. Part can be explained by the fact that he is very good at his job, a blend of tactical ability mixed with motivational skill and ability to communicate with players in an honest, direct way that is appreciated. Though he has consistently downplayed his role in recruiting, it became more clear during the days before the MLS Cup that Martino was more active than he has let on. Josef Martinez, who completed a trifecta of MVPS - All-Star Game, MLS and MLS Cup - said it was a call from Martino that sealed his desire to come to MLS. Miguel Almiron and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, among others, shared similar stories. “We need to give him something because he gave all for us,” Gonzalez Pirez said. “He’s a great man.” Martino appreciated many things about his time with the club. Among them were that club president Darren Eales and vice president Carlos Bocanegra never wavered from the plan they shared with him during a meeting in Rosario in Sept. 2016. Those included the $60 million training facility in Marietta and the trust showed in him. “It is what makes this club very suc cessful, is that the club had a plan and the directors have followed that plan to a T,” Martino said. Several players said after the cham- pagne-soak celebration Saturday that Martino’s last games on the way to the title were not a concern. “In professional sports things change,” goaltender Brad Guzan said. “Coaches change. Players change. There are going to be players in this locker room who aren’t here next year. There are going to be new players who come in. It’s part of professional sports. That’s why you enjoy these moments, you savor these moments much more. “It is what it is. There was more discus sion on the outside of our locker room about Tata (Martino) leaving than there was on the inside. He told us he was leav ing and it was simple, we got on with it. We knew what type of team we had. We wanted to make the most of it and here we are.” Blank Ryan Sanu With Martino leaving, Five Stripes remain hopeful BY DOUG ROBERSON Atlanta Journal Constitution COLLEGE FOOTBALL Tagovailoa enters as early 2019 Heisman favorite Associated Press Tua Tagovailoa will be the odds- on favorite to win the Heisman Tro phy next season after the Alabama quarterback had to settle for second to Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray. Murray is heading for profes sional baseball next year and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, the other Heisman finalist on Sat urday night, could very well enter the NFL draft. Assuming Haskins does go pro, along with a few other high-profile quarterbacks such as Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Michi gan’s Shea Patterson, who else can challenge Tagovailoa? Note: UCF quarterback McKen zie Milton would have made this list if not for a severe leg injury that makes his return to the field uncertain. TREVOR LAWRENCE, QB, CLEMSON: The strong-armed passer with the flowing blond hair became the Tigers’ starter four games into his freshman season and has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country since. Lawrence enters the College Football Playoff with 2,606 yards passing, 24 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. Clemson leaned on the running game and tailback Tra vis Etienne (1,463 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns) at times this season to take the pressure off Lawrence. Etienne is back next season, too, but expect the Tigers to let Law rence loose and the results to be spectacular. JAKE FROMM, QB, GEORGIA: Fromm got overlooked this season, with Tagovailoa, Haskins and Murray putting up crazy stats. But the Bulldogs’ sophomore threw 27 touchdowns and was third behind Tagovailoa and Murray in efficiency rating at 175.81. He’ll be a third-year starter for a preseason top-five team in 2019 — if he can hold off Justin Fields, the five-star freshman who served as his backup this season. And Georgia’s offense could flow through running back D’Andre Swift no matter who plays quarterback. JALEN HURTS, QB, TEAM TBD: Tagovailoa’s backup at Alabama is almost certain to transfer in the offseason after having graduated. That means he can ■ Please see HEISMAN, 2B Tagovailoa Fromm
