By David Rogers. NEW YORK, N.Y. — Only 26 seconds separated first place from tenth place in the USATF Men’s 5k Road Championship race on the streets of Manhattan and in Central Park on Nov. 5. Of the 30 elite athletes qualified and invited to compete in the officially sanctioned national 5K championship, four represented Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance.
Abdihamid Nur of Nike captured top honors, completing the course that started in front of the United Nations and finished just outside Tavern on the Green in 13 minutes, 24 seconds. Second place honors went to Hillary Bors (13:29) of Hoka One One and third place to unattached Kirubel Erassa (13:37).
The On ZAP Endurance team capture three of the top 15 places, including two of the top 10. ZAP marathon and cross country specialist Andrew Colley was 7th (13:41), with teammate Eric van der Els making his pro debut with a 10th place finish, in 13:50.
Other ZAP athletes making their pro debuts were Ryan Ford (13:54) at No. 13, and Dan Schaffer (14:13), at No. 21.
The course started on First Ave. in front of the United Nations, turned west on 42nd Street, then north on 6th Ave and into Central Park.
The full list of results, team association, and times:
Abdihamid Nur, Nike, 13:24
Hillary Bor, Hoka One One, 13:29
Kirubel Erassa, Unattached, 13:37
Ahmed Muhumed, Unattached, 13:39
Alec Basten, Under Armour, 13:40
Brian Barraza, adidas Tinman Elite, 13:40
Andrew Colley, On ZAP Endurance, 13:41
Tai Dinger, Unattached, 13:45
Kasey Knevelboard, Under Armour, 13:50
Eric van der Els, On ZAP Endurance, 13:50
Graham Crawford, Reebok Boston Track Club, 13:51
Joe Berriatua, adidas Tinman Elite, 13:53
Ryan Ford, On ZAP Endurance, 13:54
Isaac Updike, Nike, 13:54
Ryan Drew, Unattached, 13:56
Colin Abert, Minnesota Distance Elite, 14:04
Craig Engels, Nike Union Athletics Club, 14:08
Ryan Kutch, Central Park Track Club Tracksmith, 14:08
Mason Ferlic, adidas, 14:10
Julius Diehr, Ocean State Athletic Club – New Balance, 14:11
Daniel Schaffer, On ZAP Endurance, 14:13
Jordan Mann, Ocean State Athletic Club – New Balance, 14:15
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Out of 32 men entered into one of the nation’s elite road running events on Nov. 5th after qualifying for it, four of them represent Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance. The local quartet that will be racing through New York City’s Central Park and beyond include ZAP’s three newest team members, all making their professional running debuts.
High Country Sports met with the ZAP runners following a recent workout around the Brookshire Park area and, as might be expected, there was a high level of anticipation for the upcoming event.
Eric van der Els of ZAP Endurance, preparing for the USATF 5k Road Championships in New York, being held on Nov. 5. Photo by David Rogers
“I am so excited to be making my pro debut just 40 minutes from my hometown of Norwalk, Conn.,” said Eric van der Els, one of ZAP’s rookies. “Coach Pete Rea has given me a lot of great guidance over the last eight weeks since I joined the ZAP team, so yeah, I am excited to mix it up with the pros for the first time.”
Since ZAP runners have historically focused primarily on marathons and longer cross country events, a 5k race is almost a sprint at only 3.10686 miles compared to the 26.2 miles of a marathon. All three of the ZAP rookies have shorter distance collegiate pedigrees.
“My distance specialties in college were the 5k and the 10k,” said Ryan Ford, another one of the ZAP rookies making his professional debut. “I am hoping as my career advances to move up in distance, though. It would be amazing to do some of the stuff that ZAP runners like Tyler Pennel and Josh Izewski have done at those longer distances. For me, the 5k and 10k are a good mix, sort of a meeting point of speed and endurance. There are a lot of opportunities at those distances in college, but I am looking for pro opportunities at longer distances with ZAP, too.”
ZAP’s third rookie making his pro debut at the USATF 5k Championships is Dan Shaffer, who put an insightful spin on this opportunity.
Ryan Ford of ZAP Endurance, preparing for the USATF 5k Road Championships in New York, being held on Nov. 5. Photo by David Rogers
“Being my pro debut, this is a special race. It is incredibly exciting to have this opportunity,” said Shaffer. “Not many men or women really have the chance in college to run at the Division I level and, when you think about it, not very many of those Division I athletes go on to run professionally. So, I am extremely fortunate to have this opportunity.”
Like van der Els, Schaffer was a sub-4 minute miler in college, putting them in elite company, globally. Having run a 4.05 in college, Ford (the longer 5k and 10k specialist) isn’t very far behind.
“Coming out of college, my distance specialties were the mile and 5k,” said Schaffer. “Moving forward, I want to focus more on the 5k and 10k.”
How about the 26k? asked High Country Sports with a smile.
Laughing, Schaffer quickly replied, “I tell you what, if I ever want to do that I am in the right place here at ZAP because I have a lot of guys on this team to learn from. And Coach Pete has coached countless successful marathoners.
“As a professional, I am so thankful to be here and to be a part of ZAP,” Schaffer added. “I have so many teammates from which I can learn. They have all had their own pro debuts, previously. They all have had a lot of experience and sharing those experiences and advice with myself, Eric and Ryan. It is making the transition from college to pro a lot easier.”
Dan Schaffer of ZAP Endurance, preparing for the USATF 5k Road Championships in New York, being held on Nov. 5. Photo by David Rogers
The “old man” of the ZAP quartet racing around Central Park on Nov. 5th is veteran road racer and cross country specialist, Andrew Colley.
“I didn’t know until last week that I was going to be able to run in the 5k national championships,” said Colley. “I was looking for another race and the coaches were able to get me in this one as a late addition because I have worked out well at this distance.”
How does running a 5k compare to his usual marathon runs?
“A 5k is a lot different than a marathon – a lot nicer!” said Colley. “I typically have done marathons and long distance cross country running with ZAP, but I am not in a marathon block right now. I am training for the U.S. Cross Country Championships, which is a 12k or about 7 miles. This U.S. 5k will be a good chance to get some speed work in. The distance is much shorter than a marathon, but much more intense, too, so it will be a good chance to flex different muscles.”
Expectations among the quartet for the Nov. 5 race in NYC are practical, to be sure.
“Being my pro debut, there is not a ton of pressure,” said Schaffer. “The No. 1 goal is to go out there and have fun. Since I have been here, I have learned that is a big part of ZAP. Running is fun, so job 1 is to enjoy what we are doing. I saw the field of runners the other day and I would be happy being able to finish in the top 15 among the 32 elite athletes entered. From a grading perspective, Top 15 would be a B-plus kind of day. If maybe I can finish in the Top 10, that would be an A-plus kind of day.”
While Colley is using the U.S. 5k Championships as almost a speed training run in prepartion for the upcoming U.S. Cross Country Championships, van der Els is similarly realistic.
“The field for the 5K championship was just released and there are guys on the list who have been in the professional circuit for a long time. They have a lot of experience. So I am excited about racing with and against the best in the U.S. for my debut. My goals are relatively modest, to get in there and compete and try to beat as many guys as I can. After this, we have a race on Thanksgiving morning up in Manchester, Conn., so I have another race close to home. That will be a little longer, about 4.7 miles. That will be a test, aerobically, to see where I’m at. Following that, I will racing on the track, in the 5k in Boston, Dec. 3.”
Andrew Colley of ZAP Endurance, preparing for the USATF 5k Road Championships in New York, being held on Nov. 5. Photo by David Rogers
Becoming a professional
“Being a professional athlete now is surreal. I feel like I am living the running dream, especially me, because I didn’t realize this could be a possibility until my final year of college. That is when I saw a lot of improvement, in the final stages of my college career. It has been a blessing for me to turn pro and I have really enjoyed it so far,” said Ford.
“I thought it was very cool that there is a pro team at this level on the East Coast,” added Ford. “Almost all other teams are in Colorado, Arizona, or other places out west. ZAP has found a unique location here and it is very beautiful. I just wanted to be a part of it. I live in Boone, but I am in Blowing Rock almost every day for practice.”
“I have a connection with Pete and (ZAP founder) Zika Rea in that Pete is a Connecticut native like myself. He also went to UConn. So I have known Pete for awhile and heard very good things about the program here and I liked everyone here on my visit. I really felt this team would really push me out of my comfort zone and get me to be where I want to be,” said van der Els.
“Blowing Rock and the High Country are a lot different from home, in Connecticut. It is more rural than I thought I might be, but I am really happy about the places we get to run. Having national park settings like the Moses Cone Estate and Bass Lake, those are great places where we train and do loops, as well as long runs. I am really happy with the environment I am in. I can be focused, to get the job done,” van der Els continued.
Colley is one of ZAP’s longest tenured team members as a professional, elite distance runner.
“ZAP is a completely different team now than when I joined,” said Colley. “Back then, we had that facility in the Blackberry Valley and it was all guys, so it was like a ‘Lord of the Flies’ scenario, kind of just living down there wildly in the valley. Now, it is a bit different. We don’t have that facility and we are all out on our own, residence-wise, but the team comes together every day. It is different, but it is great and we have these three new guys that just rolled in, in Eric, Ryan and Dan. They’ve got some really good energy about them so it has been a lot of fun.
“Besides energy, they are bringing different perspectives, too.” Colley continued. “Most of us on the team have been more on the marathon distance, but they are mostly focused on the shorter distances, the 1500, mile and 5k. So they are bringing some track speed, which is helping get us old guys whipped into shape!”
The top 10 runners earn prize money ranging from $12,000, $8,000 and $4,000, respectively, for the first, second and third place finishers, to $250 for 10th place.
Starting in front of the United Nations and Tudor City on First Ave., the race course travels west on 42nd Street, then north on Sixth Ave. to Central Park. The last, approximately 1200 meters of the course meanders through the park until its finish in front of Tavern on the Green, the same finish line as the New York City Marathon, which will be run on Nov. 6.
By David Rogers. ATLANTA, Ga. — It was one of those priceless, woulda, coulda, shoulda moments. In a 60-minute NFL game, it seems inherently unfair to blame a loss or credit a win on a single play, but that is probably small consolation to Carolina Panther fans after losing to the Atlanta Falcons, 37-34, in overtime.
After a “miracle” completed pass for 62 yards from Panthers QB P J Walker to D J Moore tied the game at 34-34 with just 12 seconds left on the clock in regulation, all placekicker Eddie Piniero had to do was chip the ball over the uprights for the PAT and Carolina would take over sole possession of the NFC South. But when Moore removed his helmet on the field and jumped into the stands to celebrate the TD, he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. The 15-yard penalty pushed Piniero’s PAT attempt back to the 38, officially making it a 48 yard kick, plus another seven or eight yards back from the line of scrimmage for the snap to the holder (technically making it a 55 yard attempt).
The kick was long enough, but it curled outside the left upright to leave the game at 34-34 when regulation time ended at the end of the fourth quarter.
“I’ve got to understand that there is still time on the clock,” Moore said to reporters later. “It was a natural reaction, but you’ve still got to know you can’t do that.”
D’Onto Foreman (33) is tackled after a lengthy gain on Oct. 30. He has been productive since the Christian McCaffrey trade to San Francisco. Against Atlanta, he gained 118 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. Photo courtesy of the Carolina Panthers
Not to worry, Panther fans were thinking when defensive back C J Henderson intercepted a Marcus Mariota pass and returned it 54 yards. From 32 yards out — slightly closer than a normal extra point attempt — Piniero could again put the game away with a single swing of his leg. And yet, he managed to yank a wobbler just left of the uprights again, giving the last opportunity back to the Falcons.
“I just missed the kick,” said Piniero, later. “I’ve got to make the kick. It hurts. You know, I love this team and I know they’ve got my back and I know it’s not going to define me as a kicker. Everybody misses kicks. Unfortunately mine was today.”
So, given another improbable chance to redeem himself after hurling the earlier INT, Mariota took charge. Of course, he rambled for a 30-yard run around the left side and up the sideline, giving Falcons placekicker Younghoe Koo an opportunity to boot a 41-yard, game-winning field goal.
Carolina’s third QB this season, P J Walker (11) may be cementing himself in a starting role for the rest of the season with two good outings as the starter. Photo courtesy of the Carolina Panthers
Mariota was celebrating his birthday on Oct. 30, and gave himself the best of presents.
“There’s not many guys who can make that play,” Atlanta coach Arthur Smith said during his press conference after the game.
In spite of the late game gaffes by both sides, it was a game of good numbers. Walker, the unlikely starting quarterback when the 2022 campaign began with a battle between incumbent Sam Darnold and late summer arrival Baker Mayfield, completed 19 of 36 passes for 336 yards and a passing TD (to Moore) vs. 1 interception. On the other side of the ball, Mariota was 20-of-28 passing for 253 yards and 3 touchdowns, but two INTs.
In his second stint as “Mr. Replacement,” D’Onta Foreman may soon be shedding any such suggestion after carrying the ball 26 times for 118 yards and 3 TDs for the Panthers, his second big performance in as many weeks since being asked to fill the shoes of Christian McCaffrey, who was traded to San Francisco. Being a productive understudy is nothing new for Foreman, who filled in admirably last year for Tennessee when star running back Derrick Henry was injured and missed significant time.
Except for doffing his helmet at an inappropriate time, D J Moore put an exclamation point on his best outing in 2022, with 6 catches for 152 yards and a TD.
It was also a big day for second year wide receiver Terrace Marshall, Jr., who caught four passes for 87 yards. Midseason arrival (from Jacksonville) Laviska Shenault, Jr., added four receptions for 26 yards.
On the winning team’s side, much heralded tight end Kyle Pitts enjoyed his best outing since a 5-catch, 87 yard performance in Game 3 vs. the Seattle Seahawks. Against the Panthers, he caught five Mariota passes for 80 yards, including a TD.
Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith had a key decision to make when Moore was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the game-tying TD, to enforce the 15 yard penalty on the point after attempt and make it a longer kick for Piniero, or enforce the 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff to get better field position. Had Piniero made the longer kick, the Panthers would have had a one-point lead with 12 seconds left and that field position could have been important for a potential Koo field goal try to win the game with the clock winding down.
“That situation there. I mean, that was one of those decisions you get paid to make,” said Smith of the decision-making process. “Whether you take the penalty there, move them back, which is a longer extra point, or – because, again, if he makes it, if you don’t take it, it’s a one-point game and do you think your odds are better with 12 seconds and a time out to get a chunk and see if Koo could go win it? You’re weighing those, and then obviously we made the right call because it went our way. I’m sure you guys had a million stories you could have gone with. Good luck tonight. Probably had to delete a lot of different stories there.”
Panthers cornerback Keith Taylor, Jr. breaks up a pass intended for 2nd year pro tight end Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons. Photo courtesy of the Carolina Panthers
On the other side of Mercedes Benz Stadium’s team facilities, the Panthers’ interim head coach Steve Wilks was matter of fact in assessing the outcome.
“We didn’t find a way to finish. We had too many opportunities to win this football game, and we didn’t find a way to get it done and that falls on me,” said Wilks. “We’ve got to make sure we’re smart enough, something to learn from, celebration penalty, a big play like that we’ve got to keep our poise. It was a great job with DJ [Moore] coming up with the big play, great pass by PJ [Walker], but as a team we just got to make sure we’re smart and ready to take it to the next level, next step. When you look at the comparisons for us rushing the football, I thought we did a great job, 169, they had 167 which was too much. We’ve got to stop the run. We knew that coming into the game. Pretty balanced when you look at third down conversions, they were 6-of-12, we were 5-of-13. We’ve got to find more opportunities to be able to convert and move the chains and keep the drive alive.”
Wilks was quick to point out that one or two missed opportunities don’t make a football game, even if painful at the time. Of Piniero’s two missed kicks, he was quick to say, “It didn’t come down to that. Of course they would’ve given us the opportunity to win, but offense, defense, and special teams, we could’ve had it way before then. With me, I’m encouraging him and trying to build him up. I told him, ‘Hopefully we give you the opportunity to come back and win it for us,’ and unfortunately, we didn’t.”
The Panthers, 2-6 as the NFL approaches the halfway point in its 2022 season, would have been 3-5 with a win and an improbable division leader. Instead, they are in the last place within the division, and with only the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions sporting worse won-loss records. They will try to build on their last two weeks’ momentum on Nov. 6 when the travel to Cincinnati to face last season’s runners-up, the Bengals.
By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A more diverse offensive attack that spread the ball around to several previously “hidden” playmakers might well be just what the pro football doctor ordered for the Carolina Panthers. In spite of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady passing for 290 yards (32-of-49) with no interceptions, the Carolina defense bent but did not break as the Panthers won, 21-3.
Appalachian State alum Steve Wilks earned his first win as interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 23, a decisive 21-3 defeat of NFC South rival, Tampa Bay. Photo by Chanelle Smith-Walker, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers
It has been a tumultuous past couple of weeks for the Panthers. First the firing of head coach Matt Ruhle after a 1-4 start to his third season at the helm, then there was the dispatch of fleet wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals after some sideline discord involving his position coach. The final stunner was the Oct. 20 announcement of the team’s trading star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a boatload of future draft picks. That transaction had fans, talking heads, and newspaper pundits thinking the organization had already given up on the 2022 season. Surely, the Panthers were in rebuilding mode, some even saying out loud that the organization was “tanking” to possibly secure a top first round draft pick in 2023.
Someone forgot to tell the Panther players and coaches that they were supposed to lose from here on out with their fourth quarterback, an “interim” head coach, a wide receiver corps with only one big name, and a depleted running back room.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore stayed inbounds long enough to complete this TD catch against Tampa Bay on Oct. 23. Photo by Jacob Kupferman for the Associated Press, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers
In defeating the Buccaneers, Carolina’s D’Onta Foreman rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries while collecting a couple of pass receptions for another 27 yards for a total of 145 scrimmage yards on the day. Oklahoma State alum Chuba Hubbard, now in his second year in the NFL after being drafted by the Panthers in 2021, added another 73 scrimmage yards (63 rushing). The duo helped Carolina to 343 yards of total offense on the day. For his part, Foreman has a good start on replicating what he did for the Tennessee Titans last year in “filling in” for an injured Derrick Henry. Now he is replacing another star running back gone bye-bye, McCaffrey.
Quarterback P J Walker — the former undrafted free agent out of Temple signed by the Indianapolis Colts in 2017, and who later starred with the Houston Roughnecks of the upstart XFL league in 2020 — completed 16 of 22 passes for two TDs and no interceptions.
In a game with few penalties, no turnovers by either team, and nearly dead even in time of possession, the point differential is somewhat surprising. It is perhaps best explained by saying that Carolina capitalized on its opportunities and Tampa Bay didn’t — thanks largely to the Panthers’ punishing defensive efforts.
The Carolina Panthers’ defense put pressure on Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady all afternoon, including this sack by defensive lineman Frankie Luvu. Photo by Rusty Jones, Associated Press, courtesy of Carolina Panthers
Although Brady and the Bucs rolled up a lot of yards through the air without scoring, the Panthers were efficient. Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans caught nine passes for 96 yards, one of four Buccaneers with at least 39 receiving yards, but nothing to show for it. Meanwhile, Carolina’s D J Moore caught 7 passes for 69 yards and a TD. Young tight end Tommy Tremble only caught one pass for 29 yards, but it was for a TD. And promising wide receiver Terrace Marshall, Jr. brought his season alive with two catches for 31 yards.
After giving interim head coach Steve Wilks, who played defensive back for App State from 1987 to 1991, his first win of the season, the Panthers head to Atlanta next week to play the Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are no shockwaves rippling around the NFL, because it has been widely bandied about in the last several days that the Carolina Panthers would entertain offers for trading star running back, Christian McCaffrey. Late Thursday night (Oct. 20), the San Francisco 49ers were successful in putting together a winning bid for the versatile McCaffrey: reportedly, second-, third-, and fourth-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft and a fifth-round pick in 2024, pending McCaffrey’s passing the requisite physical exam.
These are two teams going in different directions. The 1-5 Panthers are obviously pulling the plug on the 2022 season and crafting a rebuild scenario. They traded arguably their fastest wide receiver in Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals earlier this week and McCaffrey to San Francisco this week. We get it that Anderson was in an emotional dustup with his position coach, but those “sideline things” happen at just about every level of athletics and none of us outsiders will ever know the full story. People simply have different perspectives and viewpoints. Maybe there was good reason for Anderson’s obvious frustration, but in the middle of a game on national TV is rarely the best place to express it if team harmony is an organizational priority.
At 3-3, San Francisco on the other hand is tied atop the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams and are making a strong case for a Super Bowl run. Putting McCaffrey on the field with wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, as well as tight end George Kittle, might very well cause nightmares among the defensive coordinators of the 49ers’ future opponents.
Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey runs around the left side on Oct. 16 against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Photo by Craig Weston for High Country Sports
McCaffrey, who is a native of Castle Rock, Colo., will be going back to familiar territory since he played college football at Stanford University, just 13 miles from where he will be plying his trade with the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
Although McCaffrey, the 2017 first-round pick by Carolina, has played all six NFL games on the 2022 Panthers schedule this year, he is now in his sixth year playing one of pro football’s most physically demanding positions. He was one of the NFL’s brightest stars during his first three seasons, culminating with his leading the league in yards from scrimmage with 2,392 in 2019, while running for a career-best 1,387 yards and adding another 1,005 receiving.
In 2020 and 2021, the wear and tear of playing professional football appeared to be catchin up to him. Because of four separate injuries, he was limited to playing in just 10 games the past two seasons.
The 26-year-old McCaffrey was off to a strong start this season, with 670 yards from scrimmage, fourth in the league behind only Saquon Barkley (771), Tyreek Hill (719), and Nick Chubb (700).
That performance was apparently good enough for the 49ers, that McCaffrey is back and can be a big contributor to a 49ers team with uncertainty at the running back position. The early season starter was Elijah Mitchell, who went down with an early season injury. The lead role is currently occupied by Jeff Wilson, Jr., now in his fifth pro season after playing collegiately at North Texas. Tevin Coleman, an 8-year veteran out of Indiana University who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, played with San Francisco in 2019 and 2020, and with the New York Jets in 2021, before landing back in San Francisco this season. Two promising rookies are also in the 49er running back room, Tyrion Davis-Price (Louisiana State) and Jordan Mason (Georgia Tech). Marlon Mack, who starred at South Florida before being drafted by Indianpolis in 2017, had some good years with the Colts before injuries derailed his career. He was initially signed by Houston this season, then released before the season opener and on Sept. 14 signed by San Francisco. With McCaffrey’s signing, Mack’s future seems more uncertain, even on the practice squad where he currently is listed.
The Panthers currently have D’Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard, and Raheem Blackshear on the roster at running back, and earlier this week signed Spencer Brown to the practice squad. It is believed that Foreman, who played well for the Tennessee Titans last season in place of the injured Derrick Henry, will take on the lead running back role, with former Oklahoma State star Hubbard in the change of pace role. Although Blackshear has served primarily as a return specialist this year, his role may also be elevated with McCaffrey’s departure.
INTERESTING TIDBIT: McCaffrey, who played for Carolina against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 16, will potentially face them in consecutive games when the 49ers visit SoFi Stadium on Oct. 30. It is unlikely that he will be available when the 49ers face the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 23.
By David Rogers. INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Going without an offensive touchdown rarely earns a win in the NFL. On Oct. 16, the Carolina Panthers’ mostly stagnant offense managed only an early field goal in losing to the Los Angeles Rams, 24-10, at SoFi Stadium.
With the team’s third starting quarterback of the 2022 campaign in P J Walker, who played college ball at Temple and starred with the XFL’s 2020 edition of the Houston Roughnecks, the Panthers repeatedly used check-down and other short passes to star running back Christian McCaffrey, as well as occasional runs by the versatile athlete. Still young at age 26, the former first round pick in 2017 out of Stanford University didn’t disappoint. McCaffrey came into the game tied for the NFL lead with the most consecutive games producing at least 100 scrimmage yards — and kept that string going with 69 yards rushing on 13 carries and 89 yards on 7 pass receptions against the Rams
But no touchdowns for McCaffrey, nor for anyone else on the Panthers’ offensive side of the ball.
Allen Robinson II high points this TD pass from Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford on Oct. 16, vs. the Carolina Panthers at SoFi Stadium. Rams won, 24-10. Photo by Craig Weston for High Country Sports
The game started promising enough for Carolina, with Walker and McCaffrey leading the offense’s march of 51 yards in 12 plays and taking more than six minutes off the game clock. They didn’t score a touchdown, but got points on the board with a 42-yard Eddie Piniero field goal.
Los Angeles went ahead early in the second quarter with a 5-yard pass from veteran QB Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Allen Robinson II to finish off a 13-play drive that gained 73 yards and took almost 8 minutes off the clock, shrinking the time available for the Panthers’ offensive opportunities.
Carolina’s defense played well for most of the day, none better representative of that than defensive back Donte Jackson’s 30-yard “Pick 6” interception return that, with Piniero’s PAT kick, tied the game at 10-10 going into halftime. And yet, as the time of possession advantage swung the Rams’ way, the Panthers defense began to falter.
The second half belonged solely to the Rams, who scored a field goal (12 plays, 87 yards, 6:46) and touchdown (5 plays, 80 yards, 2:50) in the third quarter, then put an exclamation point on the win with a 4th quarter TD (10 plays, 61 yards, 5:17) and an intercepted pass thrown by the Panthers 4th quarterback of the season, Jacob Eason, recently called up from the practice squad.
Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey runs around the left side on Oct. 16 against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Photo by Craig Weston for High Country Sports
The former Georgia and Washington QB has a backhanded relationship with the High Country. He was a five-star recruit with offers from many Power 5 schools before enrolling at Georgia. After a memorable year leading the Bulldogs as a freshman in 2016, Eason started the first game of 2017 against Appalachian State, but injured a knee on an out-of-bounds tackle by Mountaineer defensive tackle Myquon Stout. The backup Georgia QB, freshman Jake Fromm took over the reins of the offense and never relinquished the No. 1 QB role even when Eason returned, so the 6-5, 207 lb. native of Lake Stevens, Wash. returned to his home state, transferring to the University of Washington. After sitting out the requisite year, he played all 13 games for the Huskies in 2019, passing for 23 TDs vs. 8 INTs, before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 4th round of the 2020 draft.
The Panthers now return to Charlotte for a home game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were upset by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, 20-18, in a game widely predicted to be a landslide win for the Florida team led by future Hall of Fame member, Tom Brady. The Oct. 23 matchup is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Bank of America Stadium. Then Carolina goes on the road for consecutive games against the Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 30) and Cincinnati Bengals (Nov. 6).
Carolina defensive back Donte Jackson reaches for the ball on this first half interception of a Matthew Stafford pass on Oct. 16, at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. Jackson returned the INT 30 yards for a ‘Pick 6’ touchdown. Photo by Craig Weston for High Country Sports
SELECTED TEAM STATS
Total Offense – CAR 203, LAR 360
Yards Passing – CAR 110, LAR 249
Yards Rushing – CAR 93, LAR 111
Red Zone – CAR 0-1, LAR 3-4
Penalties – CAR 3-30, LAR 7-49
Turnovers, INTs – CAR 1, LAR 1
Time of Possession – CAR 22:55, LAR 37:05
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Passing
LAR Matthew Stafford 26/33, 252 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
CAR P J Walker 10/16, 60 yards
CAR Jacob Eason 3/5, 59 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
CAR Christian McCaffrey 13 carries, 69 yards
LAR Darrell Henderson, Jr. 12 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD
By David Rogers. LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Sitting at the bottom of the NFC South with a 1-4 overall record, the Carolina Panthers fired head coach Matt Ruhle last week and overhauled the assistant coaching staff. Now, with reports flying around major media outlets, including Sports Illustrated, CBSSports, and ESPN that the team will consider trade offers for star running back Christian McCaffrey as well as its defensive standouts, one has to wonder whether the organization has given up on the 2022 season as we enter just Week 6 of the campaign.
Have the Panthers already started a rebuild as they prepare to face the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams tonight, Oct. 16, at SoFi Stadium? How will the news of potential trades for star players affect team morale and performances in the current season?
Certainly, those are concerns. NFL players are, first and foremost, professional athletes who know that at the foundation of their sport is a business. They know that they are “businessmen,” as are the guys using the lockers next to them. Personal friendships developed can quickly be reshaped as rivalries with the stroke of two general managers’ agreeing pens.
On Fox Sports’ pregame show on Oct. 16, NFL Media’s Peter Schrager suggested that it would take multiple first round picks for the Panthers to even consider a deal for McCaffrey or any of the team’s other top players. A CBS Sports report on Oct. 16 said that a fire sale after Rhule’s firing is unlikely. Quoting Schrager, “They will listen, though, and that includes Christian McCaffrey, that include the stars on defense. But it’s going to [take] multiple picks, and multiple round picks before they even start listening about trading off their prime assets.”
According to the CBS report, the Panthers have already rejected two trade offers for McCaffrey this year and that they seek high draft picks for their multi-talented, multi-dimensional running back who has four years and $63.338 million remaining on his contract.
The trade deadline is Nov. 1. McCaffrey, who is only 26 years old, is the fastest player in NFL history to total 3,000 career rushing yards and 3,000 career receiving yards. While hampered the past two seasons with injuries, he has so far played in all five games this season, rushing 72 times for 324 yards (4.5 yards per carry average), including two touchdown runs. He has also caught 26 passes for 188 yards and a TD.
It is a business, after all, even if many fans either don’t agree with the business decisions or simply don’t understand them. While it is a little surprising that the club would give up on current season not even a third of the way into it, the entrepreneur in us wouldn’t blame the Panthers for “selling high” and receiving a boatload of future in return.
Special Report.CHARLOTTE — The Panthers on Monday parted ways with head coach Matt Rhule, after the team fell to 1-4 with a home loss to San Francisco.
He leaves with an 11-27 record (.289 winning percentage).
The 47-year-old Rhule had generally turned his college teams at Temple and Baylor around in his third season, but that bounce hadn’t happened here so far.
He will be replaced on an interim basis by defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach Steve Wilks. The 53-year-old Wilks spent one year as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, and six years on the Panthers staff from 2012-17.
By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There were some big plays by Carolina, but three field goals by Eddie Piniero and a single TD scored by running back Christian McCaffrey were not enough in the Panthers’ matchup with San Francisco. The 49ers found gold in Bank of America Stadium, 37-15.
SFO was able to produce in a way the Panthers couldn’t: running the football. Jeff Wilson, Jr. led a trio of rushing 49ers, rolling up 120 yards on 17 carries and scoring one TD. Even with Christian McCaffrey carrying the ball 14 times, he only managed 54 yards rushing against San Francisco’s defense.
Recently returned to the red and gold garbed 49ers after some time wearing the green and white of the New York Jets, running back Tevin Coleman carried the ball 8 times for 23 yards, but got into the end zone on one of those touches. The 8-year veteran out of Indiana also proved valuable in San Francisco’s aerial attack, catching three passes for 44 yards. His first reception finished off the 49ers’ opening drive with a 9-yard TD pass on the right side from QB Jimmy Garoppolo, but none was bigger than Coleman’s 30-yard reception down the left sideline with 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The drive stalled in the face of Carolina’s early defensive pressure, but the long reception set up a 49-yard Robbie Gould field goal to put the visitors from California up, 10-0.
Photo courtesy of Carolina Panthers
Carolina head coach Matt Ruhle admitted later that what followed was a “gut punch.” The Panthers had just started a promising drive at the end of the first half when a Baker Mayfield pass intended for McCaffrey was intercepted by Emmanuel Moseley and run back 41 yards for a “Pick 6” TD. Instead of the Panthers going into the locker room at intermission with a 10-10 tie or a manageable, 10-6 deficit had they scored a TD or field goal before the clock clicked down to zero, they went to halftime looking at a 17-3 disadvantage.
Carolina rookie running back and Virginia Tech alum Raheem Blackshear made things interesting coming out of halftime, collecting the kickoff at the Panthers’ 4 and returning it 45 yards to the Carolina 49. It was a stirring start to the Panthers’ first offensive possession and they took advantage seven plays later when McCaffrey carried the ball around the right side on 4th-and-1, getting more than first down yardage with a 19-yard TD run. McCaffrey’s 2-point conversion attempt from the one-yard line (after a San Francisco blocking penalty) failed, leaving the score at 17-9. Rhule explained later that if it had been 2 yards, they would not have attempted the 2-point conversion, but with only one yard, a back like McCaffrey, and the prospect of making it a one score game made it the right call.
San Francisco 49ers’ veteran tight end George Kittle (85) makes a catch against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 9 at Bank of America Stadium. Photo by Jacob Kupferman of Associated Press, courtesy of Carolina Panthers
While Carolina was kicking field goals and punting in the second half, San Francisco was scoring touchdowns, three of them in fact, vs. a single punt. The Panthers had the one McCaffrey TD and two Piniero field goals in the second half, but otherwise was turning the ball over on downs late in the game as they tried to catch up. It took just 51 seconds for San Francisco to score their final TD with 3:15 left on the clock when Carolina turned the ball over on downs, on their own 10-yard line.
Mayfield injured his ankle late in the first half, but bravely continued to play into the 4th quarter before being replaced by P.J. Walker. Sacked 4 times, Mayfield completed 20 of 36 pass attempts, with no TDs and the one “Pick 6” interception. Walker was 5 of 6 for 60 yards during his short time, but still getting valuable reps in case he is needed.
Carolina wide receiver Robbie Anderson (3) fights for a Baker Mayfield pass, defended by San Francisco cornerback Charvarius Ward. Photo by Chanelle Smith-Walker, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.
San Francisco’s Garoppolo completed 18 of 30 passes for 253 yards, 2 TDs and no interceptions. Overall, the 49ers’ offense was balanced, with Wilson, Coleman, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel combining for 27 carries and 155 yards rushing, including the two TDs.
A difference maker in this game was the success San Francisco had in converting on third down vs. the lack of success by the Panthers. The 49ers converted on third down 58.3 percent of their chances (7 of 12), while Carolina converted on only 20 percent of its opportunities (3 of 15).
San Francisco was able to get the ball into the red zone four times, producing points each time. Carolina, by comparison, struggled to get the ball into the end zone, producing points on only 1 of three opportunities after getting inside the 20-yard line.
Now 1-4 for the young season after having four home game opportunities, the schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Carolina Panthers, with three out of four being on the road — and two of those being last season’s Super Bowl opponents — at Los Angeles (Oct. 16), at Atlanta (Oct. 30), and at Cincinnati (Nov. 6). The lone home game during that stretch is Oct. 23, vs. Tampa Bay.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR announced today that Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider and the Official Auto Parts Retailer of NASCAR, will serve as the primary sponsor of the Advance Auto Parts Drive for Diversity Combine.
The entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (NAAPWS) and Advance My Track Challenge, Advance has dedicated its resources to developing NASCAR at the grassroots level. As partner of the Advance Auto Parts Drive for Diversity Combine, the retailer continues to expand its presence in the sport.
“This program has been advancing careers for many years, with so many talented drivers getting the opportunity to showcase their abilities,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and e-commerce. “Increasing diverse representation within the motorsports community is paramount, and our Advance team is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with NASCAR to create a pipeline for tomorrow’s racing stars.”
“We’re excited to welcome Advance Auto Parts as our combine partner,” said Brandon Thompson, NASCAR’s vice president of diversity & inclusion. “Their commitment to our industry diversity & inclusion efforts, and specifically their commitment to advancing the next generation of NASCAR drivers will aid us in identifying, attracting and developing young, diverse talent.”
NASCAR and Rev Racing also announced the names of 13 drivers who will be participating in the Advance Auto Parts Drive for Diversity Combine.
These drivers from around the world went through a rigorous selection process and will be evaluated by judges from across the NASCAR industry. Each participant will be assessed in different areas from physical fitness and on-track performance to media and marketing skills.
The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program was created in 2004 to develop and train ethnically diverse and female drivers both on and off the track. NASCAR Cup Series drivers Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suárez and Kyle Larson are alumni of the program, which is operated by Rev Racing in Concord, N.C.
“We are thrilled that we are in a position to return to an in-person evaluation for this year’s Advance Auto Parts Drive for Diversity Combine,” Rev Racing CEO Max Seigel said. “We are energized by the high-level of participating athletes and look forward to building the best driver class for 2023. As an organization, we have never been more positioned for success and future growth.”
Following the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 combines due to the impact of COVID-19, this year’s candidates were evaluated based on applications, references, historical success and previous on-track performance by a panel comprised of NASCAR executives and professionals. To apply, interested drivers submitted a racing resume and video highlights to NASCAR and Rev Racing.
The 2022 combine features the following drivers:
Name (Age) Hometown
Justin Campbell (17) Griffin, Ga.
Quinn Davis (13) Sparta, Tenn.
Eloy Sebastián López Falcón (17) Mexico City, Mexico
Katie Hettinger (15) Dryden, Mich.
Caleb Johnson (15) Denver, Colo.
Nathan Lyons (13) Concord, N.C.
Andrés Pérez de Lara (17) Mexico City, Mexico
Jaiden Reyna (16) Cornelius, N.C.
Jordon Riddick (17) Sellersburg, Ind.
Paige Rogers (19) New Haven, Ind.
Lavar Scott (19) Carney’s Point, N.J.
Regina Sirvent (19) Mexico City, Mexico
Lucas Vera (15) Charlotte, N.C.
