newsobserver.com blogs

Ward's injury has surreal feel to it

chipalexander — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:21:04 -0500

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's not good.

You could sense it by the somber looks on the faces, the tone of voice, the frowns around the Canes' locker room after Saturday's game. Cam Ward's leg injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets was serious -- certainly serious enough to shift a nightmarish season into the surreal.

Canes coach Paul Maurice called the injury "significant" and it is that. Ward suffered a laceration to the left leg when Rick Nash sprawled in front of the net and Nash's right skate appeared to nick Ward around the left knee area.

Maurice was almost ashen after the 3-2 loss to the Jackets. His voice almost broke when he was asked about Ward possibly being sidelined.

"That's going to be tough to take," he said. "But it's where we're at."

What now? The Canes may look to call up Justin Peters from the Albany River Rats (AHL) to back up Michael Leighton. Peters is 5-4-1 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.

Ward's injury is similar to the one he suffered against the New York Rangers in March 2007. Rangers forward Brad Isbister cut Ward's knee with a skate, and Ward missed just three games.

Will it be that kind of injury again -- three games and back in the lineup? Or will it force the Hurricanes into a major decision on a goaltender?

Ward has said a personal goal this season was to be selected to Team Canada for the Vancouver Olympics. Only time will tell how much the injury damages his chances.

Raleigh Venom playing in women's rugby national semifinals

teribb — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:15:22 -0500

The Raleigh Venom women's rugby team on Saturday advanced to today's Women's Division II National Championship semifinals in Houston.

The fourth overall seed after losing the pool championship 17-15 to the Pittsburgh Angels, the Venom was scheduled to play Providence in the semifinals this morning.

A victory would put the Venom in this afternoon's championship match.

The Venom started Saturday by rolling past the host Houston Herricanes 26-0. Win Amika Olchovik scored all four of the Venom tries, three of which were converted by fullback Sarah Foster, Venom representative Erin Krupa reported.

In the Pool A championship, the Venom took on the Angels in a pairing of well-matched and very agressive teams. The Venom lead 10-0 at halftime on tries by Jen Larimore and Amanda Winar. In the second half, Amanda Winar linked up to supporting Jen Larimore, who touched it down for the try. Pittsburgh broke through the Venom defense twice in the second half, scoring two converted tries. With just under five minutes remaining, the Venom led 15-14. Then, with time winding down, a penalty by the aggressive Venom set up an Angles penalty kick. The Angels kicker cleared the ball through the uprights, and Pittsburgh ended up with a 17-15 victory.

If you would like to help the Venom cover travel expenses for the Houston tournament, send a check payable Raleigh RFC to PO Box 6019 Raleigh, NC 27628. Or you may use Paypal by going to www.raleighrugby.org and clicking on "Donations"; put "Venom F4" in the memo box. Donations made by Nov. 15 would be appreciated, club founder Jim Kellenberger said.

Got more recreational sports news?

Report your own recreational sports news on the free community edition of Play!

Or post a photo of your team or an outstanding individual competitor.

You'll also find an extensive Play! calendar of tryouts, tournaments, camps, clinics and events, including the Triangle's many running events.

Looking for a team or league? Try the Guide to Triangle Recreational Sports.

Does your team need equipment or donations, or do you have equipment or facility time to donate? Check out the Play! Exchange.

- Teri Boggess
play@newsobserver.com

Triangle Pop Warner football and cheerleading teams advance

teribb — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:46:35 -0500

The Wilders Grove Wolfpack, the Capital City Steelers and the Cary Chargers saw their Consolidated Football Federation football teams advance to next week’s second round of the Pop Warner Little Scholars Mid-South Region playoffs with victories Saturday. Several organizations also saw their cheerleading teams advance to the Nov. 27 region championships. (Results are below.)

- In a Division II Junior Peewee game, Capital City defeated the Churchland (Va.) Tigers 6-0.
- In Division II Midgets, Wilders Grove defeated the Suffolk (Va.) Steelers 6-0.
- In Division III Junior Peewee, Wilders Grove defeated the Havelock Rams 18-12.
- In Division III Junior Midgets, Cary defeated the New Bern Warriors 31-6.

Other Triangle teams – North Raleigh, Durham and Orange County – were eliminated.
- In Division I Junior Peewee Division I, the Virginia Beach (Va.) Mustangs defeated the Durham Eagles 22-12.
- In Division I Peewee Division I, Virginia beach defeated Durham 14-12.
- In Division II Peewee, Churchland defeated the North Raleigh Bulldogs 6-0.
- In Division II Junior Midgets, the Bennetts Creek Warriors of Chesapeake, Va., defeated North Raleigh 28-18.
- In Division III Peewee, South Chesapeake (Va.) defeated the Orange County Tar Heels 28-0.

The Triangle's Consolidated Football Federation teams hosted 12 first-round games in the Pop Warner Little Scholars Mid-South Region playoffs.

Winners of the 29 overall first-round games advance to
second-round games on Nov. 14, and the winners of those games will
advance to the Nov. 28 Turkey Bowl region championships in Charlotte.

Regional champions advance to the Pop Warner Super Bowl to be played Dec. 5-12 at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL RESULTS
As provided by Consolidated Football Federation

Division II Junior Peewee, Capital City 6, Churchland (Va.) Tigers 0
Division II Peewee, Churchland (Va.) Tigers 6, North Raleigh Bulldogs 0
Division II Junior Midget, Bennetts Creek Warriors (Chesapeake, Va.) 28, North Raleigh 28-18
Division II Midget, Wilders Grove Wolfpack 6, vs. Suffolk (Va.) Steelers 0

Division III Junior Peewee, Wilders Grove 18, Havelock Rams 12
Division III Peewee, South Chesapeake (Va.) 28, Orange County Tar Heels 0

Division III Junior Midget, Cary Chargers, 31, New Bern Warriors 6

Division I Junior Peewee, Virginia Beach (Va.) Mustangs 22, Durham Eagles 12Division I Division I Peewee, Virginia Beach (Va.) Mustangs 14, Durham 14-12

Not reported
Peewee, New Bern Warriors vs. NWMFL (Northwest Midget Football League of Winston-Salem)
Junior Peewee, Coastal Panthers (Wilmington) vs. NWMFL
Peewee, Wilmington Colts vs. NWMFL
Junior Midget, Coastal Panthers vs. NWMFL
Midget, Wilmington 49ers vs. NWMF

CHEERLEADING
Below are the results of the local competition for Consolidated Football Federation cheerleading teams. All of the squads will be competing for the regional championships in Charlotte on Nov. 27 except the Midget Intermediate Small Cary Chargers.
Junior Pee Wee Novice Small
1. Apex Cougars
2. Garner Trojans
3. Wake Forest Titans
Junior Pee Wee Novice Large
1. Wilders Grove Wolfpack
Pee Wee Novice Small
1. Wake Forest Titans
2. Sanford Sting
3. Capital City Steelers
Junior Midget Novice Small
1. Garner Trojans
2. North Raleigh Bulldogs
Midget Novice Small
1. Capital City Steelers
2. Apex Cougars
Midget Intermediate Small
1. Cary Chargers
Midget Dance Small
1. Tri County Panthers

Got more recreational sports news?

Report your own recreational sports news on the free community edition of Play!

Or post a photo of your team or an outstanding individual competitor.

You'll also find an extensive Play! calendar of tryouts, tournaments, camps, clinics and events, including the Triangle's many running events.

Looking for a team or league? Try the Guide to Triangle Recreational Sports.

Does your team need equipment or donations, or do you have equipment or facility time to donate? Check out the Play! Exchange.

- Teri Boggess
play@newsobserver.com

Bowl picture: Good day for UNC, Clemson

jpg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:02:03 -0500

Clemson's 40-24 win over Florida State means the Tigers have to beat N.C. State, in Raleigh, and Virginia, at home, to win the Atlantic Division.

That's it and not even Tommy Bowden could screw that up (or only Tommy Bowden could screw that up).

Even if the spirit of Bowden possesses the Tigers, 4-2 in the ACC, and they lose once, they would still hold the tiebreaker over Boston College (3-2), which finishes with Virginia, UNC and Maryland.

That means Clemson and Georgia Tech, with a home win over Duke next week, will meet in Tampa on Dec. 5.

That's also good news on the bowl front for UNC, which improved to 6-3 with Saturday's 19-6 win over Duke.

Not only did UNC win, and get to within a win of its second straight bowl trip — and likely knock Duke (5-4) out of bowl contention — but Clemson's control of the Atlantic opens up the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 27.

Charlotte and San Francisco are the other possibilities for UNC.

If Boston College somehow wins the Atlantic, the Eagles could not fall further down the ACC bowl order than Nashville. If they don't win the division, BC would almost certainly go to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.

Florida State's loss also means the Noles can't finish better than 4-4 in the ACC and can't jump a 6-2 team, potentially Miami, Virginia Tech or Clemson, in the bowl order.

Notre Dame's loss was also good news for the ACC. The Irish, 23-21 losers to Navy, was effectively eliminated from a BCS bowl, possibly opening up a spot for a second ACC team, either Miami or Georgia Tech — if it loses to Clemson in the ACC title game. The Irish's loss also puts them in play for the Gator Bowl, against an ACC team.

Five ACC teams (Clemson, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech) are bowl eligible.

UNC needs one win while FSU (4-5) and Duke (5-4) need two wins. Wake Forest (4-6), Virginia (3-6) and N.C. State (4-5) need to win out while Maryland (2-7) has been eliminated from the postseason.

The ACC has nine bowl tie-ins but will likely only fill seven, leaving the EagleBank and GMAC bowls to choose from the at-large pool.

Tigers romp FSU; control Atlantic

jpg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33:31 -0500

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- C.J. Spiller had a career-high 165 yards rushing and his 20th touchdown of at least 50 yards and Clemson took its biggest step yet toward an ACC title with a 40-24 victory over Florida State on Saturday night.

Spiller, the Tigers’ star senior, caught a 58-yard TD pass from Kyle Parker and, with 312 all-purpose yards, surpassed the school record of 310 he set in Clemson’s 40-37 overtime win at Miami two weeks ago.

He also closed Clemson’s fifth victory over the Seminoles (4-5, 2-4) in the past seven meetings with a high-stepping, 5-yard scoring run as the orange-clad fans shook Death Valley.

Spiller and the Tigers (6-3, 4-2) are now in control of the ACC’s Atlantic Division with games against North Carolina State and Virginia left.

Clemson’s defense pitched in, too, intercepting ACC passing leader Christian Ponder four times.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who turns 80 on Sunday, and his team is in danger of missing out on a bowl bid. Those who have wondered if it was time for Bowden to step aside will likely start to grumble again, too.

A two-game winning streak muted the critics and put FSU back in the Atlantic Division race. Those hopes are gone now after the first Clemson-Florida State game that did not match Bowden against his son, Tommy, in years.

Fans rushed Frank Howard Field with a sense Clemson was closing in on a championship goal.

The Seminoles had hoped to get a rousing effort from a defense that had struggled all year after longtime coodinator Mickey Andrews announced he was leaving after the season.

Instead, Spiller ran through the Seminoles for a record performance. He’d earlier become the school’s all-time pass catcher among running backs and he and track partner, receiver Jacoby Ford, broke an NCAA mark for all-purpose yardage by teammates, bettering the 10,253 yards of Marshall Faulk and Darnay Scott of San Diego State from 1991-93.

With Florida State’s revived offense behind ACC passing leader Ponder and Clemson averaging almost 42 points a game the past three weeks, this one figured to be a shootout — and the teams didn’t disappoint.

After Dwayne Allen’s 17-yard catch put Clemson ahead 6-3 — Richard Jackson missed the team’s first extra point since the 2006 Music City Bowl— Ponder answered right back with a 49-yard scoring throw to Lonnie Pryor less than two minutes later.

Then the Seminoles defense got into the act, Jamie Robinson returning a Kyle Parker interception 52 yards to go up 17-6.

The fireworks slowed down in the second, largely thanks to mistake from both
offenses.

Ponder threw a pair of picks, one after driving to Clemson’s 21, after entering with just three all year.

Clemson tightened the game, taking advantage of Chris Thompson’s fumble in his own territory. Two plays later, Parker found a streaking Xavier Dye across the middle of the field who finished off a 43-yard touchdown.

Spiller converted the first 2-point conversion of his career to cut the Seminoles lead to 17-14.

Spiller’s 45-yard run late in the second half looked like it might bring Clemson more points. However, the Tigers came up empty after a first-and-goal from the 1. Parker was sacked by Marcus White and coughed up the ball the Seminoles.

Ward in stable condition after "significant" injury

kkeister — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:54:03 -0500

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward, who was taken to a hospital Saturday after being injured during the game with the Columbus Blue Jackets, received stitches and is expected to return to Raleigh on Sunday.

Ward suffered a laceration to his left leg in the first period when hit by the skate of the Jackets' Rick Nash. The injury was called "significant" by Canes coach Paul Maurice and Ward's return is not known.

Team officials said that Ward was in stable condition.

Prep football brackets now official

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:49:40 -0500

The NCHSAA football brackets are now official. Here are the games of note for the Garner and Johnston County area set for next Friday:

1-A Western Regional

(11) Hayesville at (4) Princeton

3-AA Eastern Regional

(16) Eastern Guilford at (1) South Johnston

4-A Eastern Regional

(10) Greenville Rose at (7) Southeast Raleigh

4-AA Eastern Regional

(9) Wakefield at (8) Garner

(16) Clayton at (1) Wake Forest-Rolesville

Smithfield-Selma (4-7), North Johnston (3-8) and West Johnston (3-8) did not qualify for the playoffs.

D.H. Conley eliminates South Johnston on penalty kicks

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:44:29 -0500

After 110 scoreless minutes of play, Greenville D.H. Conley eliminated South Johnston from the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A boys soccer playoffs by penalty kicks Saturday evening at Ronald Avery Stadium.

We'll wrap up the Trojans' memorable season in next week's edition of The Herald of Johnston County.

An N.C. State Fair fan in the making?

amweigl — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:42:27 -0500

Not likely.

Read this post about my review of the new foods at the N.C. State Fair.

The astute reader who sent this to me wrote: "I especially like the conclusion about deep-fried food not having caught on in Japan. I guess the writer hasn't heard of tempura, katsu, or any of the other beautifully executed fried foods at which the Japanese are so adept."

Restaurant owner declares victory in "Flamingogate"

amweigl — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:26:33 -0500

I wish this would happen in Raleigh. Go HERE.

Pack finally has reason to celebrate

kentysiac — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:49:25 -0500

N.C. State’s players hadn’t won in so long that they forgot how to react when they did.

Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and ran for another Saturday afternoon as the Wolfpack broke a four-game losing streak with a 38-31 defeat of Maryland at Carter-Finley Stadium.

“Normally we come in (the locker room), and it’s kind of a somber mood,” said N.C. State defensive end Michael Lemon.

Not this time.

Coach Tom O’Brien, who had told N.C. State’s players they were a bad football team after an error-filled win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 26, encouraged the players to celebrate this time.

The Wolfpack (4-5, 1-4 ACC) still made plenty of mistakes against Maryland. Wilson threw three interceptions, including one that Alex Wujciak returned 70 yards for a touchdown.

N.C. State’s wide receivers dropped three passes that should have been caught for touchdowns. Donald Bowens fumbled a punt, and the Wolfpack kickoff coverage team couldn’t stop Torrey Smith on an 82-yard return for a touchdown.

But winning, finally, was cause for celebration.

"We certainly don’t do anything easy,” O’Brien said. “That’s a heck of a win for our football team to hang in there.”

Maryland still had a chance to tie on its final drive despite losing starting quarterback Chris Turner to a left knee injury on a hit by Shea McKeen late in the second quarter.

Jamarr Robinson, a sophomore from Charlotte’s Myers Park High who had never attempted a pass in a game, replaced Turner. Robinson didn’t hurt the Wolfpack much with his arm, completing just five passes in 11 attempts for 27 yards.

He missed one wide-open receiver on a deep throw in the end zone in the third quarter. But on Maryland’s final drive, he scrambled for 11 yards and 19 yards to advance the ball to the N.C. State 34-yard line with 31 seconds remaining.

"In the two-minute drill, I thought he did some good things for us,” said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen.

Lemon finally gave N.C. State’s oft-criticized defense a finish to remember, though. He sacked Robinson for an 8-yard loss when Maryland had no timeouts, and then hit him while he was throwing, causing an incomplete pass on the final play.

The homecoming crowd roared its approval. Teammate Willie Young squeezed Lemon so hard that he couldn’t breathe.

"When we got in the locker room, everybody was looking for who was going to lead the excitement first,” Wilson said. “And I think the coaches did.”

While eliminating Maryland (2-7, 1-4) from bowl eligibility, N.C. State kept its slim bowl hopes alive. The Wolfpack would need to defeat Clemson, Virginia Tech and North Carolina in its final three games to finish with enough wins to play in a bowl game.

Every one of those opponents has a winning record. But N.C. State appears to have bounced back from its lowest point, when it lost to Duke by 21 points and Boston College by 32 in mid-October.

Behind Wilson and a re-invigorated rushing attack, the Wolfpack has averaged 40 points over the last two games. Despite an ankle injury that kept middle linebacker Ray Michel out for a second straight week, N.C. State’s defense turned in its best performance in ACC play Saturday.

Even though O’Brien wouldn’t say it, though, the Wolfpack still needs to cut down on mistakes to have any chance of making a late push toward a bowl.

"The bowl is still live,” said N.C. State wide receiver Jarvis Williams. “We know what we’re capable of doing. We know we’ve got to win out, so we’re going to keep fighting.”

Blue Jackets 3, Canes 2

chipalexander — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:44:30 -0500

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Carolina Hurricanes went into the game with an 11-game winless streak and without forwards Eric Staal and Ray Whitney.

And after the first 7 1-2 minutes Saturday, they were playing without goaltender Cam Ward, who suffered that coach Paul Maurice called a "significant injury" to his left leg.

That's asking a lot of a hockey team, and especially one that's struggling, mightily. It was asking too much this night as the Columbus Blue Jackets surged in the third period to take a 3-2 victory at Nationwide Arena.

Trailing 1-0 after two periods, the Jackets opened the third with a flurry of goals. Nikita Filatov scored 50 seconds into the period. Jared Boll scored at 2:55, and then Rick Nash just 36 seconds after Boll.

Just like that the Canes' lead was gone and the game, in essence, turned into another lost cause. The Hurricanes, who got goals from Erik Cole and Tim Gleason, fall to 2-11-3 and again failed to win a road game, falling to 0-7-2.

Ward was injured with 12:25 left in the first period and had to be helped off the ice. Ward was bleeding and appeared to have been hit on his left leg by Nash's skate after Nash was knocked down in front of the Canes goal.

Ward was taken to a hospital for further examination and treatment.

Michael Leighton is in the game for the Canes.

Cole scored his first goal of the season at 9:05 of the first on a Matt Cullen assist. ...

The Canes in pregame have no line changes from the Leafs game, and the defensive pairs remain the same. Cam Ward in goal.

Here are some numbers to ponder: since the start of last season, the Jackets are 15-3-3 against Eastern teams and have outscored them 62-39. Goaltender Steve Mason is 13-1-2 against East teams with a 1.41 goals-against average and .950 save percentage.

South Johnston gets top seed in 3-AA football bracket

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:24:16 -0500

South Johnston (10-1) is seeded No. 1 in the NCHSAA 3-AA football playoff bracket, which was released this afternoon. The Trojans will face Eastern Guilford in the first round.

The winner gets either Rocky Mount or South Central Pitt in the second round.

Smithfield-Selma left out of 4-A football playoffs

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:20:20 -0500

The preliminary listing of the state 4-AA and 4-A playoffs leave Smithfield-Selma on the outside looking in. The brackets should become official sometime tonight.

The Spartans finished the season 4-7 and were sixth, by virtue of tiebreakers in the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference.

Southeast Raleigh to meet Greenville Rose in 4-A playoff opener

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:17:15 -0500

Southeast Raleigh is seeded seventh in the NCHSAA 4-A football playoff bracket and will host Greenville Rose, the 11th seed. The winner of that game meets Harnett Central or Fayetteville 71st in the second round.

Garner seeded eighth in 4-AA football brackets, will host Wakefield

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:13:32 -0500

Garner, which finished 6-5 this season and third in the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference, will host Wakefield in the opening round of the NCHSAA 4-AA football playoffs. The Trojans are seeded eighth and Wakefield is seeded ninth.

The winner meets the winner of Wake Forest-Rolesville and Clayton in the second round on Nov. 20.

Clayton just makes 4-AA football playoff field, gets rematch with Wake Forest-Rolesville

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:10:39 -0500

Clayton earned the final spot in the NCHSAA 4-AA eastern regional brackets. The Comets (4-7) are seeded 16th and will take on top-seeded and 11-0 Wake Forest-Rolesville in the first round. The Cougars beat Clayton 16-14 earlier this season, winning on a touchdown pass on the last play of the game.

Princeton seeded fourth in 1-A West football pairings

dclaybest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:07:29 -0500

Princeton is seeded fourth in the NCHSAA 1-A football playoffs. The Bulldogs (8-3) will host Hayesville, seeded 13th, a first round western regional game next Friday night.

UNC 19, Duke 6

jpg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:47:52 -0500

CHAPEL HILL -- It's good day to be Ryan Houston, and Casey Barth, but not Duke.

Houston's career-best 164 yards, and Barth's four field goals, gave North Carolina a 19-6 win over the Blue Devils on Saturday at Kenan Stadium.

The loss ends Duke's three-game ACC winning streak and leaves them 1-19 in the Victory Bell series since 1989. The loss also derails Duke's pursuit of a bowl bid and bolster's UNC's, which has won two straight in the ACC after an 0-3 conference start.

Houston carried 10 times, on a 12-play drive, for 55 yards on the game-clinching touchdown, a 3-yard run by receiver Jheranie Boyd. Houston has a career-best 157 yards on a career-best 35 carries.

Houston out-gained Duke's vaunted offense by himself, 179 total yards to 125.

Charlie Brown's interception and 54-yard return set UNC up at Duke's 20 but a illegal block penalty on Greg Little on first down stopped UNC's drive before it started. Barth hit the 41-yarder on the last play of the third quarter for his third field goal.

Barth, who kicked the game-winner on the last play of last Thursday's 20-17 win at Virginia Tech, also hit from 40, 29 and 33 yards.

Nick Maggio hit two field goals in the first half to tie the game at 6 at the half. Maggio's hit a 26-yarder on the last play of the half and a 23-yarder as Duke's passing game has stalled after reaching the red zone twice.

The Tar Heels have leaned heavily on their running game, minus Shaun Draughn, and Barth's right leg with quarterback T.J. Yates struggling. Barth hit a 29-yarder, his second field goal, after Yates whistled a high and hard fastball over the out-stretched hands of Greg Little on the 4-yard line.

North Carolina scored first, on its first possession, running six times on a 10-play drive to set up a 40-yard field goal by Barth for a 3-0 lead at 11:25 in the first quarter.

A blocked punt helped Duke even the score near the end of the first. Jordan Byas' blocked punt set up Maggio's 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 3. Maggio is subbing for regular kicker Will Snyerwine, who is out with a leg injury.

The Heels, at least momentarily, lost starting running back Draughn who suffered a left shoulder injury on the fist play of the game.

Byas blocked Grant Shallock at UNC's 30-yard at 4:00 in the first quarter to give Duke the ball in UNC's territory. A 22-yard pass from Thad Lewis to Brandon King got Duke down to the 14 but the drive stalled.

Yates has badly missed at least four open receivers, including Erik Highsmith on a post route on the first possession. He has completed 15 of 26 passes for 112 yards.

Lewis, who has four straight 300-plus games, has been held in check for 96 yards on 13-of-24 attempts with the one interception.

Receiver Austin Kelly leads Duke with four catches for 22 yards.

Hitchcock: Canes a hard team to figure

chipalexander — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:22:10 -0500

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maybe Ken Hitchcock was being nice. Or coy. Or, perhaps, truthful.

The Columbus Blue Jackets coach said today he had watched tape of some of the Canes' recent games and has been surprised by what he saw.

"I can't figure it out," Hitchcock said after the Jackets' morning skate at Nationwide Arena. "I just don't see the poor play that usually comes with losing."

Hitchcock noted he found himself shaking his head a little when watching video of the Canes' 5-1 loss Sunday to the San Jose Sharks at the RBC Center.

"I thought they were playing great and dominating against a really good hockey club," he said. "I couldn't believe that game turned out the way it did.

"The game just turned. When things aren't going well for you the little things have such an impact. Then San Jose scored some goals and the game was over. I just think Carolina is playing better than its record."

No one can be sure what to expect tonight. The Jackets (8-5-2) have won two of their last three, sandwiching wins over Washington and Atlanta around an overtime loss to San Jose. Columbus topped the Thrashers 4-3 in Atlanta on Thursday in their last game.

The Canes (2-10-3), winless in their last 11 games, are in the second of a back-to-back after what may have been the toughest-to-swallow loss in a season that has had a number of them.

"You don't mind a back-to-back if they're playing the night before, too," Canes coach Paul Maurice said. "They're a tough defensive team and they skate well.

"You're going to have to work for everything you get. And for a team that's struggling, we have to be very conscious that we're not hoping to get something easy and when it doesn't happen it hurts you."

Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore has missed the last two games with a leg injury but will play against his old team. Today is Commodore's 30th birthday, and he scored a goal against the Canes in the Jackets' win last season.

"I still get a little extra jump when I play them," he said. "It's hard not to get up emotionally. I have a lot of respect for the organization and wish them the best, but at the same time you want to play your best and beat your former team."

N.C. State 38, Maryland 31

kentysiac — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:00:18 -0500

N.C. State finally has its long-awaited, first ACC win.

Quarterback Russell Wilson passed for three touchdowns, ran for another and survived a three-interception game as the Wolfpack defeated Maryland 38-31 on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

N.C. State (4-5, 1-4 ACC) still can become bowl eligible if it wins its remaining three games against Clemson, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

Wilson passed for 343 yards and scored on a 2-yard run, but also was intercepted three times for the first time in his career. Alex Wujciak returned a first-quarter interception 70 yards for a touchdown.

Earlier. . .

N.C. State turns the ball over on Downs when Owen Spencer drops a pass in the end zone with 59 seconds remaining.

Maryland trails by seven and has first -and-10 on its 31-yard line with no timeouts left.

Earlier. . .

Maryland still has a chance.

Nick Ferrara kicked a 31-yard field goal with 4:56 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut N.C. State's lead to 38-31.

Earlier. . .

A leaping, 38-yard catch by Owen Spencer over a Maryland defender on third down put N.C. State in position to score.

A pass interference penalty by Alex Wujciak against George Bryan on third down kept the drive alive. And Jamelle Eugene kept his legs churning for an N.C. State touchdown on a 2-yard run with 13:39 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Wolfpack leads 38-28.

Earlier. . .

Russell Wilson has thrown his career-high third interception of the day.

Wilson threw a pass right into the gut of safety Kenny Tate. Maryland took over first-and 10 at the N.C. State 35-yard line, but the Wolfpack defense held when Nick Ferrara missed a 47-yard field goal attempt with 4:02 left in the third quarter.

Earlier. . .

Just when N.C. State seemed to have momentum, Torrey Smith took it back for Maryland.

Smith returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown with 10:09 remaining in the third quarter to cut N.C. State's lead to 31-28.

Earlier. . .

N.C. State is up by more than seven points for the first time today.

On the opening drive of the second half, Russell Wilson went 5-for-5 passing for 53 yards and then rolled right for a 2-yard touchdown run to increase the Wolfpack's lead to 31-21 with 10:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Wilson has three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown.

Earlier. . .

Maryland QB Chris Turner is out for the remainder of the game with a left knee injury.

Charlotte Myers Park graduate Jamarr Robinson has replaced him.

Earlier. . .

Another forced pass by Russell Wilson robbed N.C. State of a scoring chance in the final minute of the first half.

Cornerback Richard Taylor intercepted Wilson in the end zone after the Wolfpack had driven to the Maryland 11-yard line. N.C. State still leads 24-21.

Earlier...

An excellent scoring opportunity for Maryland was quashed when N.C. State defensive end Audi Augustin blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt with 1:40 remaining in the first half.

Augustin preserved a 24-21 N.C. State lead.

Earlier. . .

Maryland quarterback Chris Turner left the field in obvious pain after injuring his left leg on a hit by Shea McKeen as the Terrapins prepared to punt.

N.C. State's Donald Bowens muffed the punt, giving Maryland the ball at the N.C. State 31-yard line. Backup quarterback Jamarr Robinson entered the game for the Terrapins.

Earlier. . .

A third-and-13 was no problem for the N.C. State offense and Russell Wilson.

Wilson stepped forward to escape pressure, waved to wideout Darrell Davis and delivered an 18-yard scoring strike to reclaim a 24-21 lead for the Wolfpack with 7:02 remaining in the second quarter.

Wilson already has three touchdown passes, plus a touchdown pass to the opponent if you count Alex Wujciak's 70-yard interception return.

Earlier. . .

Maryland has its first lead of the day.

N.C. State linebacker Dwayne Maddox whiffed on the tackle as he attempted to sack Chris Turner after getting a clean shot at the Maryland quarterback on third-and-4. Turner escaped and threw a 20-yard pass to Adrian Cannon.

On the next play, Turner scored on a 1-yard run to give the Terrapins a 21-17 lead with 12:52 remaining in the second quarter.

Earlier. . .

He didn't have much real estate to spare.

Nonetheless, Josh Czajkowski had just enough leg to drop a career-long, 48-yard field goal over the cross bar with 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He gave N.C. State a 17-14 lead.

Earlier. . .

Russell Wilson made a rare mistake.

On fourth-and-6, Wilson forced a pass into coverage that Alex Wujciak intercepted and returned 70 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 14-14 with 4:57 remaining in the second quarter.

Earlier on the N.C. State drive, Donald Bowens dropped what would have been a touchdown pass. The Wolfpack was forced to punt, but a running into the punter penalty on Maryland caused coach Tom O'Brien to try to get a first down on fourth-and-6 at the Terps' 33.

Earlier. . .

Apparently N.C. State isn't the only team with cornerbacks who can't make plays on the ball.

Donald Bowens was well covered by Maryland's Anthony Wiseman, but Wiseman seemed unaware that Russell Wilson's pass was coming. Bowens caught a 35-yard touchdown pass with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter, claiming a 14-7 lead for N.C. State.

Earlier...

Now this is what we've come to expect from the N.C. State defense.

After Willie Young's interception on the first series for the Wolfpack, Chris Turner made up for his mistake by efficiently driving Maryland downfield for a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Davin Meggett.

The score is tied 7-7 with 10;25 remaining in the first quarter.

Earlier. . .

It didn't take long for N.C. State's maligned defense to make a big play against Maryland.

On the first play from scrimmage, defensive end Willie Young dropped back into coverage and intercepted Maryland's Chris Turner.

The Wolfpack took over at the Terrapins' 21-yard line, and got a 17-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to George Bryan 52 seconds into the game for a 7-0 lead.

Boychuk's play earns praise, confidence

chipalexander — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:55:30 -0500

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Lost in all the gloom and dejection of the Canes' 3-2 loss Friday to the Maple Leafs was that Zach Boychuk made his NHL debut this season and played well.

Let's just say the winger, called up Friday from Albany (AHL), played well enough to make
coach Paul Maurice more than comfortable with what he saw on the ice.

"What you're hoping for, on a team struggling for offense, you're hoping for offense," Maurice said today. "At the same time, you want to be able to play the young player, so you want that confidence and comfort level as a coach.

"What he did was do all the things he needed to do to buy himself the ice time, and eventually his hand skills and his ability will come out. That's what you're hoping for."

Boychuk played on Matt Cullen's line with Erik Cole and had 15:11 of ice time and a team-high five shots on goal. In the final moments of the second period, he had Canes
fans roaring at the RBC Center when he shook free on a breakaway, only to be stopped by goaltender Jonas Gustavsson.

Maurice said Boychuk's play was much like Brandon Sutter's when he was brought up
from the River Rats and placed in the lineup for the Minnesota Wild game. Sutter scored his third goal of the season and had a season-high 17:29 ice time against the Leafs.

"You want to make the coach feel safe enough to play you, to give you the minutes, to have a chance to do the things that you know you can do," Maurice said.

Maurice indicated that Boychuk would stay on Cullen's line tonight against the Blue Jackets. No lineup changes are expected. Ray Whitney, who suffered an upper-body injury against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, missed Friday's game and did not make the trip.

Rihanna: Chris Brown beat me 'like he had nothing to lose'

adriennj — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:10:24 -0500

A couple of hours before "20/20" broadcast the interview of singer Rihanna by Diane Sawyer, I was involved in a three-way, sometimes loud, discussion about the Rihanna/Chris Brown incident.

The guy in the conversation, who is a good guy, basically said that it was odd that Chris Brown beat Rihanna for no reason, thus suggesting that somehow Rihanna was at fault somehow, and then said that he thought it unfair that Chris Brown was still a pariah. He feels that we (society) shouldn't hold celebrities to a higher standard, and, I guess, in real life Chris wouldn't be having it so hard.

Again, this is a good guy. And I hope he watched Rihanna's interview because she addressed all his issues.

The interesting thing about the interview was that it was basically structured as a public service announcement; Rihanna got to talk about her specific case, but it perfectly framed her story as one of many, and put her in a position as a strong voice against domestic violence, particularly against young girls.

Sawyer used fan reaction and domestic violence stats to tell a bigger story. Rihanna, we learned, grew up with a father who abused her mother, a common trait for those who abuse and get abused. (Oddly, her father was making all kinds of comments after the incident.)

Rihanna talked about how fast she and Brown fell for each other and described their relationship as "obsession."

And she detailed what happened the night of the beating. She saw a text from Brown's old girlfriend, catching him in a lie. She wouldn't let in go and he, caught, got annoyed that she wouldn't drop it. Rihanna made clear it was a verbal argument and that she never hit him. She said, in fact, she wasn't interested in hurting him. She just wanted the beating to stop.

His eyes were blank and she thought he was beating her "like he has nothing to lose." That's a pretty powerful description of blind rage.

She said that he had never hit her before, but after Diane pointed out other reports saying he did, Rihanna admitted that she meant he never beat her like THAT before. (Chris Brown denies that there were other incidents. Did he mean other 'bad' incidents? Does he really not remember? Is he really that sick?)

Rihanna also revealed the complex emotions a victim of abuse experiences; the stuff that makes the rest of us not understand their actions. It seems that once the swelling fades, you forget a bit and start to thinking. She describes herself initially wondering what she could have said to cause this. She became lonely, not wanting to be pitied as the victim by others, and so, shutting down. And then, she felt she had to protect Brown because if she felt that bad how bad must he be feeling.

That confusion is what sent her to their Diddy-sponsored rendezvous in Miami. And, it seems, that when we saw Chris Brown on that jetski, it may not have been exuberance on his face, but relief that everything was going to be OK again.

But Rihanna says she began to resent him; everything he did annoyed her. Soon after Miami, she broke it off.

Rihanna says she wants to hear nothing from Brown; she wishes him a good life. She wants him to accept what he did as a man and not feel sorry for himself. She acknowledged that she still had lingering love for him, he was her first great love, but having those emotions annoys her. She thinks it's possible for him to change.

What Rihanna says helped motivate her was the e-mails, texts and YouTube videos from fans. "My selfish decision for love could get a young girl killed."

That, I think, sums up my friend's problem with celebrities being treated differently than others. The fact is celebrities ARE different from us. And in this case, Rihanna, sooo much more mature and articulate than Brown, may have been saved by that difference.

Perhaps without the burden of a million eyes watching, she would have gone back to Brown.

What to Watch on Saturday: Stay up late for your TV tonight

brookecain — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0500

The Wanda Sykes Show (11pm, Fox) - Tonight is the debut of Wanda Sykes' new talk show, the first late night network talk show hosted by a woman since the Joan Rivers disaster of '86. Don't expect this one to go down in flames, though. Wanda Sykes is hilarious and it's a smart move to go for Saturday nights. Wanda's show will have an open bar for her guests (which should make things really interesting), and will include sketches, a monologue, and panel discussions about current events. Using Chris Rock's old HBO show as a blueprint, Wanda says she wants her to show to be fun and wants viewers to feel like they're "hanging out at my spot with me and my friends.” Her first guests include Mary Lynn Rajskub, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, and “Amazing Race” host Phil Keoghan. The show will air each Saturday night at 11pm on Fox.

Saturday Night Live (11:30pm, NBC) - SNL returns tonight after a couple of weeks off, and Taylor Swift is the host and musical guest. I'm expecting at least one Kanye West joke. Question is, who can play Kanye? Will they draw some crop circles on Fred Armisen's head and make him try that one too?

Lifetime's "Too Late to Say Goodbye": Think Michael Peterson

adriennj — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:33:57 -0500

Evil pretty people are extra scary, probably because we like to think that things that look good are good.

That's why Rob Lowe is well cast in "Ann Rule's Too Late to Say Goodbye" (Lifetime Movie Network, channel 47, 8 tonight).

Lowe uses his borderline feminine looks as Bart Corbin, a successful dentist whose wife Jenn, as the movie opens, appears to commit suicide. Her young son finds her with a gun in one hand and divorce papers in the other.

The chief investigator (Michelle Hurd) calls it a suicide and wants to leave it at that, but Jenn's sister Heather (Lauren Holly) doesn't believe it's suicide, yet she doesn't suspect her brother-in-law. At first.

That's because Jenn appears to have had some issues too; for one, she's been having an online affair. And also, the family thinks her cute husband is all good, instead of too good to be true.

The affair has a twist, and although the based-on-a-true-story case took place in Georgia, it has echoes of North Carolina's own Michael and Kathleen Peterson case in Durham. Except Bart Corbin is extra evil, and as played by Lowe, definitely a sociopath. (Not saying Peterson isn't, but he did show emotion.)

Lowe mostly acts by tightening that square jaw to show how tightly wound he is and smiling that pearly white smile when he's being charming. Holly (doesn't she look very different from how she looked on "Picket Fences"?) does fine as the won't-take-no-for-an-answer sister. Hurd basically does her old "Law & Order: SVU" role, down to the same pants.

It's not the best Lifetime movie ever, but it does the job.

Friday, Nov. 6 Area Prep Football Scores

dclaybest — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:03:25 -0500

South Johnston 21, Triton 14

The Trojans (10-1) clinch the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference Championship and have a chance at the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern 3-A bracket, based on their 10-0 record for seeding purposes.

Clayton 13, Smithfield-Selma 7

The Comets' Shaquille Mangum returns an interception 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown with just two seconds to play, giving Clayton a bit of hope for a playoff spot at 4-7. SSS finishes the season.

Harnett Central 34, Garner 9

Garner falls hard but gets the No. 3 seed from the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference when Knightdale upsets East Wake, 13-12.

Southeast Raleigh 27, West Johnston 7

The Bulldogs clinch the No. 2 seed from the GNRC, while West ends up out of the playoffs with a 3-8 mark.

Princeton 42, Rosewood 20

The Bulldogs finish off an 8-3 season, taking second in the Carolina 1-A Conference. It's likely the Dawgs will be hosting a first round playoff match up next Friday.

Franklinton 42, North Johnston 34

The high-scoring loss likely leaves the Panthers out of the playoff hunt after they finish with a 3-8 record.

Heels, Thompson topple Belmont Abbey in exhibition

rpickeral — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:24:51 -0500

CHAPEL HILL — After a performance last Sunday in a closed scrimmage at Vanderbilt that North Carolina coach Roy Williams dubbed "yucky," the Tar Heels had to feel better about their 107-59 exhibition victory over Belmont Abby on Friday night.

Senior forward Deon Thompson, right, led the Tar Heels with 23 points; reserve forward Tyler Zeller chipped in 17 and freshman forward John Henson posted four blocks.

The game began with spotlight introductions, a nod to the updated lighting system at the Smith Center and coach Roy Williams’ desire to add a little NBA-style sizzle to the season.

Junior Will Graves got the start at small forward, joined in the first lineup by sophomore point guard Larry Drew II, senior Marcus Ginyard at shooting guard, sophomore Ed Davis at one forward and Thompson at the other.

Henson was the first player off the bench for Carolina.

UNC opens the regular season Monday against Florida International.

Photo: ROBERT WILLETT - rwillett@newsobserver.com

Leafs 3, Canes 2

jpg — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:04:57 -0500

RALEIGH -- Good or bad teams, Eastern or Western Conference, American or Canadian, the Carolina Hurricanes do not discriminate when it comes to losing.

The Canes dropped their 11th straight on Friday night, a 3-2 disappointment to the equally generous Toronto Maple Leafs, who are riding high in 29th place in the NHL standings compared to the basement the Canes inhabit.

Jason Blake's power-play goal in the third period completed a two-goal comeback for the Maple Leafs, who doubled their win total at the hapless Canes' expense.

Carolina, which has won twice in 15 games — and not since Oct. 9 — after reaching the conference finals last spring, has dropped consecutive games to the two other teams drifting with flotsam and jetsam at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

The Canes started Friday's game, just their fourth home date in a month, like a team intent on jump-starting their season, or least giving Toronto the last-place anchor. Even without front-liners Eric Staal and Ray Whitney, the Canes scored the first two goals of the game and generally dominated the first period.

The 2-0 lead disappeared when Toronto returned the favor in the second period, which set the stage for Blake's game-winner at 11:36 in the third.

If there is a bright spot in the franchise's worst start (2-10-3) since moving to North Carolina in 1997, Brandon Sutter continued to be a bright spot in a gloomy fall for the Canes. The second-year center scored his third goal in four games, a sweet backhand finish at 7:51 in the first off a redirected pass from Rod Brind'Amour.

Sergei Samsonov made it 2-0 on a rebound of a Andrew Alberts slapshot from the left point at 17:22 in the first. Then the Canes' offense went on hiatus without Staal, who missed his second straight game with an "upper body" injury, and Whitney, who was still feeling the after effects of a cross-check from Wednesday's loss in Florida.

The Leafs cut into the Canes' lead just 72 seconds into the second period with center John Mitchell's one-timer from the right point.

Alexei Ponikarovsky's pass off the boards, around Canes defenseman Aaron Ward and winger Jussi Jokinen, gave the winger a head of steam into the Canes' zone and his centering pass hit winger Nikolai Kulemin on the tape in front of the net at 7:23 in the second to even the score.

The one-goal loss represented progress for the Canes, who had been out-scored 19-4 in the previous four losses, and none closer than three goals.

Dwane Powell's farewell interview

bwheeler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:17:57 -0500

N&O editorial cartoonist Dwane Powell retired Wednesday after 35 years (of slopping ink on himself and his desk and his floor), an immeasurable loss to this newspaper. Even when I didn't agree with him (if I had a nickel for every time I have heard Dwane Powell scream that George W. Bush should be in prison – that would be every time George W. Bush has been mentioned in an editorial board meeting, in fact), I found the way Dwane was able to get to the heart of the matter so well with pictures rather than words invaluable and often brilliant. He is the master of detail, and I enjoyed playing "Where's Waldo?" with his cartoons, searching for the small but priceless comic touches he added to nearly every drawing.

What I will miss more, though, is listening to him and his editor, Steve Ford, giggle like little girls when they finally got a cartoon over the bar. Sometimes, Dwane would be giggling all the way from his office even before he got to Steve. This would necessitate breath-holding on my part, hoping for Dwane's sake that Steve was going to think it was as funny as he already did.

There's going to be a lot less laughter around ye ol' opinion shop now, that's for sure.

Dwane sat down for an interview before he left Wednesday. You can find the results of that interview here, put together with a roundup of cartoons by our multimedia editor Scott Sharpe.

And the winner is ...

bwheeler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:37:19 -0500

Here's the winning caption for the last McClatchy contest cartoon, drawn by The N&O's Dwane Powell.

Expect more Thursday night football at UNC

eferreri — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:01:39 -0500

The Thursday night football game UNC hosted last month went well enough that the university expects to do it again.

The Oct. 22 game against Florida State was the first Thursday night game ever held on the UNC campus. For years, officials had opposed the idea due to fears of congestion and other campus disruption.

But this year's game was held over Fall break, and athletics director Dick Baddour and others were pleased with how things went.

For the story, check out our higher education blog.

BioDelivery Sciences passes milestone

davidranii — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:55:33 -0500

BioDelivery Sciences International posted a loss of $2.6 million in the third quarter -- its last quarter without product revenue.

The latest quarterly loss is roughly on par with the $2.7 million loss of a year ago, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Raleigh company had negligible revenue in the quarter, but that is about to change.

In July BioDelivery received federal regulatory approval for its first product, an oral pain patch for cancer patients called Onsolis.

Onsolis was launched on Oct. 12. That will trigger royalty payments from BioDelivery's Swedish partner, Meda AB, which is marketing Onsolis.

Meda expects U.S. sales of Onsolis to eventually top $200 million a year.

The FDA approval also triggered a $26.7 million milestone payment to BioDelivery in July. However, because accounting rules don't permit recognizing that revenue until the product registers its first sale, that payment won't show up until the fourth quarter, said CEO Mark Sirgo.

UNC to have future Thursday night football

eferreri — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:55:02 -0500

There will be more Thursday night football in Chapel Hill.

UNC's Oct. 22 game with Florida State went smoothly enough - aside from a loss for the home team - that campus officials now say they want to host another mid-week home game.

"It was a trial balloon and we were really pleased with what we found out," said Dick Baddour, UNC's athletics director. "We will do it again."

The Oct. 22 game was the first Thursday night game ever held at UNC. Kenan Stadium is squarely in the middle of a congested campus, and planners had long feared the gridlock that might accompany such a large event on a workday.

The UNC hospitals complex, which employs thousands, sits just south of the stadium and many workers get out around the same time as many fans would head into campus.

But this year's game was held during Fall break, which meant fewer students would be in town. And employees were dismissed at 3 p.m. that day, an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion.

UNC lost the game, 30 to 27. The following Thursday, they won a big, national TV game at Virginia Tech. So which brings the bigger payoff?

Said Baddour: " [At UNC] They're looking at the Carolina blue. They're looking at your fans. They're looking at, I think, the magnificence of your stadium, and your university is being talked about more. So I think there's a difference. If you ask me how you measure winning away vs. losing at home, I don't know. It's always good when you win. Maybe the difference is that your home crowd, your university, enjoys more exposure and you get a better sense, if you're John Q Public, of the university, the program, when you host at home. But there's no question that victory up at Virginia Tech speaks volumes as well."

Read more on this issue in Saturday's News & Observer.

440 Beltline traffic will get squeezed Sunday to allow striping

BruceSiceloff — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:54:24 -0500

DOT will close one lane in each direction on the I-440 Beltline this Sunday so a road contractor can put down stripes on new pavement.

That'll be welcome news for drivers who had a hard time seeing the temporary stripes. Several folks have complained to the Road Worrier. A couple of weeks ago, Trudy Kappel asked:

Do you know if the lines painted on the newly repaved section of I440 are the final work? They vanish on a dark rainy night.

Sunday's striping work will take place between Wade Avenue and Wake Forest Road, and between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Work-at-home scams using Google's name

marycornatzer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:10:53 -0500

Warning time: More Internet work-at-home schemes are popping up to take advantage of people who are trying to earn extra money for the holidays.

The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina warns of a Raleigh company that is using Google’s name to lure people. The Eco Venture Group is using several different Web sites including Google Profits Kit, MyBloggingNews.com and YourBlogProfits.com, according to the BBB.

"The Google name leads consumers to believe they are getting a job with Google that will provide huge money-making opportunities,” said Beverly Baskin, president of the BBB.

Nationally, the BBB has received more than 1,500 complaints about similar Web sites that falsely use the name of the search engine company.

Here’s what usually happens: You go to the site and sign up to receive a free trial or a free CD that promises money-making information. You’re asked for a credit card number to cover shipping costs.

People who have done this report they never received the CD, that their credit card was charged before the trial was over or that their card continued to be charged long after they cancelled.

The Federal Trade Commission and some state Attorneys General earlier this year went after two Web sites, Google Treasure Chest and Google Money Tree, after receiving several hundred complaints against each. Those sites were taken down but others popped up to replace them.

The Eco Venture Web site does not list a street address or phone number — which should be a red flag. Before signing on with a business, check them out at www.bbb.org.

If you want to work for Google, go to its own Web site to see what kinds of opportunities are available. Job postings are at: www.google.com/intl/en/jobs.

Cloud enhances company's horizon

davidranii — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:08:23 -0500

Data center company Hosted Solutions' new cloud computing service is attracting business from new and existing customers such as a regional department store chain and the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

The recent influx of business is expected to help push the Raleigh-based company's revenue to the vicinity of $50 million this year, up from $36.8 million last year, said Kip Turco, chief operating officer.

Hosted Solutions has five computer data centers that run and maintain computer servers for its customers; the servers may be owned by the customer or by Hosted Solutions. It also offers information technology services such as managing software applications and data recovery.

Hosted Solutions unveiled in June its Stratus Trusted Cloud service, which employs cloud computing technology that enables the company to access networks of computers over the Internet. As a result, Hosted Solutions can serve multiple customers with the same equipment -- and is charging then only for the computer power that they use.

That's a big plus for customers such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose Web site traffic experiences peaks and valleys, said Turco.

Hosted Solutions also is benefitting from customers who decided in the midst of the recession to turn to out-sourcing as a cost-saving measure, said Noreen Allen, vice president of marketing.

Hosted Solutions is among the rare companies that have continued to hire workers despite the ailing economy. Today it has about 125 employees -- including 90 in Raleigh -- up from 110 in June.

Recent hires include Jeff Kramer, vice president of technology. Kramer previously was senior vice president of engineering and technology operations at Raleigh-based Lulu.com.

Turco said Hosted Solutions plans to hire four to six additional employees in the next 30 days.

Duke breaks ground on new cancer center

eferreri — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:53:51 -0500

Duke broke ground today on a big new cancer center, one half of a $700 million construction project designed at least in part to enhance the health care system's global brand.

The cancer center, slated to open in 2012, follows a similar project at UNC Chapel Hill, which just opened its own cancer hospital.

The Duke facility will put cancer research and clinical services under one roof and will come as cancer rates continue to rise. The N.C. health department has predicted a 16 percent hike in cancer cases from 2006 to 2011, with a 21 percent hike in the Triangle over that same time period.

Jarring stuff, and sobering enough to prompt Gov. Beverly Perdue, who attended the Friday ceremony, to say "I don't ask if I'll be diagnosed, but when, because it's so prevalent among us."

For more, read Saturday's News & Observer.

South Johnston to host Conley on Saturday at 4 p.m.

dclaybest — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:45:30 -0500

South Johnston will host Greenville D.H. Conley Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A boys soccer playoffs. The winner moves onto next Wednesday's third round matches.

Chevy Chase earns a solid "B" (not a "C") for his rock band debut

brookecain — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:33:34 -0500

For my money, the funniest moment in NBC's two-hour comedy block last night came during Pierce's (Chevy Chase) college rock band debut, playing keyboards and singing backup to Vaughn's woeful song of heartbreak (and moving on), "Gettin' Rid of Britta."

The lyrics are clever, and Vaughn is easy on the eyes in that sensitive musician kind of way. Rocker Vaughn won me over with lines like, "It isn't like I would ever hit her, but I would sell her to the highest bidder." But it's Chevy chiming in with "she's a no good B" and "she's a G D B" while jamming on the keyboards that had me cracking up -- and watching over and over and over again.

Check it out below.

US Army Vehicles Under Attack

josephneff — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:30:58 -0500

Our DC colleague Jonathan Landay is one of the best national security reporters working that difficult beat. He just published this article on how Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have learned to cripple the expensive armored vehicle that give U.S. troops the best protection against roadside bombs.

Does Duke's passing offense look like the Colts?

egrobinson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:41:20 -0500

DURHAM - North Carolina coach Butch Davis earlier this week compared Duke's passing offense to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

That drew laughter from Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, who coached the Colt's quarterback Peyton Manning at Tennessee: "Well, let's see," he said. "I don't see Reggie Wayne out there nor Peyton."

Still, the Devils own the ACC's top passing offense, led by senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. They are averaging 325.1 passing yards per game.

Davis, the former NFL coach, has a squad with the league's top defense, holding teams to 16.5 points per game. The Heels will possibly have their hands full against a Devils' team that spreads the field with three to five receivers and throws all over.

But will the Devils look like the Colts?

"We do obviously some similar things," Cutcliffe said. "A lot of the things that they do are stuff Payton believes in and things we've done through the years. He's taken a lot of our pass concepts there with him. In actuality, [Davis has] seen it, a lot of it is the same routes."

Friday Freebie: MAC High-Light Powder in Golden Nectar

stsmith1 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:29:36 -0500

This powder is so visually appealing you may not ever want to use it! It's part of MAC's new Naked Honey line, so no wonder it has a honeycomb pattern on the powder. Golden nectar is the perfect way to describe the color. It's pretty sparkly, so be forewarned! This normally sells for $24.50 at department stores, but it's free here to the first person to leave an e-mail address.

Beer and Cheese Soup

lwh351 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Here is something you can do with part of that extra hour you earned when Daylight Saving Time ended; whip up some beer and cheese soup. You can't go wrong with a meal that serves four for around $12.00. I'm eating more meatless meals during these lean economic times and soups are always filling. Nonalcoholic beer is an option with this recipe.

Cutcliffe learns more about Duke-North Carolina rivalry

egrobinson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:59:09 -0500

DURHAM -- Everywhere he looks in the Bull City, Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said North Carolina light blue outnumbers Duke blue.

The Blue Devils' second-year coach, who lives in Durham, has found himself surrounded by North Carolina fans and Tar Heel blue. When he arrived he was amazed at the proximity of the two schools.

With North Carolina (5-3, 1-3) and Duke (5-3, 3-1) set to play for the 95th time on Saturday in Chapel Hill, Cutcliffe spoke earlier in the week about the rivalry between the schools and the re-energized competition between the football programs.

"My little places I go into in the off season are Target or Harris Teeter," he said. "It's nothing but North Carolina fans, everywhere. I think I realized quickly that I was reconnaissance, not coach. I was behind enemy lines sending out reports. It's amazing you're surrounded by so many fans of North Carolina."

He said everywhere he looks there's more North Carolina products than Duke, but added the Tar Heels had earned that distinction.

"It's a constant reminder," said Cutcliffe of the Heels' dominance in the football series, having won the past 18 out of 19 games since 1990. The Blue Devils last beat UNC in 2003.

With such a recent one-sided rivalry, it's expected that UNC fans would gloat a little bit. Duke's coach is often reminded of his team's standing in the series when he's out at the store.

"Yes I do get a lot of comments," Cutcliffe said. "I've never really had anybody be negative at all. My wife tells me next time I don't get to go."

Friday Freebie: Estee Lauder Golden Goddess nail polish

stsmith1 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:50:36 -0500

I don't know if I like the bottle or the polish more. The bottle is made of thick glass, while the polish is a nude-ish shade with a lovely gold tint. This was part of Estee Lauder's summer golden goddess line. The polish retailed for $18. Free to the first person to leave an e-mail address.

Project Runway: A predictable final three - with lots of crying

sadialatifi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:33:37 -0500

The second-to-last episode of a boring season has come and gone, and well, there were a lot of tears.

It'll be good to go back to New York City for the next season. L.A. never seemed like the right fit and most of the season's challenges were uninspired. This episode, however, did bring back some of our favorite things: an inspiration-in-a-museum challenge, sharp critiques from Nina and Tim, petty backbiting and, best of all, really awful clothes!

But first, the "drama: There's still some bad blood between Althea and Irina following last week's runway tattling. But these women prefer to keep the tension in the room thick without actually addressing it, so we don't see much. Everyone's just in agreement that Irina is mean.

In last night's final challenge, the gang of five were supposed to take inspiration in something at the Getty Center. Here's what they came up with:

Althea

She was inspired by the architecture of the building btu she wound up with what Heidi called, "a bit of a mess fest."

Judge Cynthia Rowley said the attempt was "a little ambitious." Heidi, agreed, adding, "You bit off so much more than you could chew.

Tim warned her before that her fabric choice was iffy. The whole skirt puckered, and you could see it down the runway. Althea's stiff gold number was genuinely awful and a real disappointment from what is usually a strong contender.

Carol Hannah

Carol Hannah's beautiful gown was inspired by an 18th century French bed. Can't you see the resemblance?

"You are playing it very safe," warns Nina. "It is a perfect dress but it is almost a safe perfection."

The dress fit perfectly on her model, but I don't see the Getty Center in there. Cindy Crawford, guest judge, didn't either.

Christopher

Christoper's algae-covered rock fountain dress did not go over well with the judges. The skirt was stiff, the top was nice and the random splashes of green (algae, get it?) were hideous.

Does Christopher understand what went wrong? "This piece speaks more about me than anything else I've done here," he cries. And cries. And cries. Oh, stop it. Even Heidi looks irritated at this point.

"Everyone else's inspiration was art. Mine was a rock with algae
on it. And not everyone would see the beauty in that. [sob sob sob]"

Christopher has been in the bottom for several weeks, and he should've been gone long ago (before Shirin, at least!)

Gordana

Taken from a Monet, Gordana made a beautiful dress that all the judges "got."

But did anyone else look at the front of this dress and see, erm, female genitalia? No? Okay, I'll stop.

Gordana was in love with this dress, and it made her think about her homeland, her family, her hard work. And so she also cried.

Cindy Crawford loved the dress, Nina loved the front, and Heidi said that Gordana hasn't taken any real risks.

Irina

"I love the color," Cindy Crawford says of Irina's dress. It was inspired by a painting but I saw Egyptian influence all over this outfit.

But it's too long and dowdy, Nina says. And they all agree the styling is awful. Heidi orders the model to take of her shoes, the bizarre cap.

"The length is very old lady," Nina agrees. This dress is so blah but at this stage, Irina is too good of a designer that it doesn't matter what she puts out.

In the end, Christopher and Gordana must leave and Althea, Carol Hannah and Irina are going to Fashion Week. (My predictions were right, but it was pretty easy to guess.)

And here's a bone I have to pick.

"I don't know who Gordana is as a designer. To not know at this point is a problem," Nina says. You haven't been around the whole season, Nina! Also, I thought it was unexcusable for Michael Kors not to be there at the final judging competition before Fashion Week. They made a mundane season worse by not being around.

A lackluster season is coming to a close, at least. Next week, we're finally at Fashion Week.

Friday Freebie: Redken All Soft Velvet Whip

stsmith1 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:13:45 -0500

If you've ever used anything from Redken's All Soft line, you know it's good stuff that does wonders to soften thick, unruly hair. This 5-ounce bottle normally sells at salons and other stores that carry Redken for $16, but it's free to the first person to leave an e-mail address.

Canes-Leafs prediction: one team has to win

chipalexander — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:57:19 -0500

The Hurricanes, winless in their last 10 games, are 30th in the NHL standings and the Toronto Maple Leafs 29th. So what kind of game will it be tonight at the RBC Center?

"9-8 tonight -- that's the prediction," Canes coach Paul Maurice said today after the morning skate. "They're trying to manufacture their goals the same way we are -- get as many pucks to the net as you can and drive the net. Unfortunately for both teams it just seems the bounces have just not been going.

"But clearly you can't look at these two records and say it's a matter of bounces. There's a reason where they're at. But I would expect a lot of scrums in front of the net, a lot of traffic in front of the net.

"I'm all for a 9-8'er. I'd like to come out on the right end."

The Canes (2-9-3) are 29th in the NHL in goals against and the Leafs 30th, so Maurice's prediction could be dead-on. But Carolina also is last in the league in penalties and tied for last in goals scored with the Nashville Predators after the Preds were shut out late Thursday night.

"It hasn't been any one thing other than the fact we're not scoring enough goals to take pressure off other areas of the game," Maurice said. "It has put a tremendous amount of pressure on our defense. We need to get that end going."

Canes forward Tuomo Ruutu said he expected a good, tight game with the Leafs (1-7-5) because "There will be two desperate teams are playing."

Many players use the word "desperate" but it applies with these two teams.

Ruutu, Boychuk ready to play

chipalexander — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:38:27 -0500

Tuomo Ruutu says he's playing tonight. Zach Boychuk says he was told he probably would be playing tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Coach Paul Maurice wasn't as sure, at least in his remarks after today's morning skate. He said the decisions on Ruutu, forward Ray Whitney and Boychuk, who was called up Thursday from Albany (AHL) , won't be made until just before game time.

Odds are, Whitney will not play because of an upper-body concern. Odds are Ruutu, who also missed Thursday's practice with an upper-body injury, will be in the lineup.

Where does that leave Boychuk?

"He will put me wherever he thinks I fit and I'll do my best to help the team," Boychuk said of Maurice. "Basically we're going to try to keep it simple and just try to get pucks to the net. That's going to be my goal.

"Maurice took me and said, 'Don't be worried about making the other veterans happy. You've got to put the pucks to the net.' I'm a young guy and don't have a lot of experience. I have to bring hard work and a lot of youthful energy."

Boychuk, who played two road games for the Canes early last season before being returned to the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL), has not played a game at the RBC Center. He said Maurice has not told him which line he would be playing with if in the lineup.

Boychuk was rooming with center Brandon Sutter in Albany before Sutter was called up Oct. 24. He laughed when he was told he was already two goals behind Sutter.

"Those were beauties," Boychuk said. "He's played great. Hopefully I can do the same and make an impression."

Friday Freebie: Clinique Quick Blush in Hurry Honey

stsmith1 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:29:54 -0500

I'm not too sure how well this blush system works. But the color is just gorgeous. Not too overpowering. Perfect for daily use. And it's by Clinique.

At department stores, it sells for $21.50. Free to the first one to leave an e-mail address!