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sports Saturday 31 OctOber 2020
Do Not Score! How to avoid touchdowns defenses celebrate

By RALPH D. RUSSO "You have to have a system
AP College Football Writer in place to make sure that
When the defense is cel- you are giving the players a
ebrating having allowed a heads-up that that's the sit-
touchdown, something has uation we're in," Chizik said.
most definitely gone wrong Former Georgia and Mi-
for the offense. ami coach Mark Richt said
In two games last week- when a team is letting an
end, one college and one opponent score to get the
pro, the team with the ball ball back, ideally you want
scored when it was the to speak directly to your of-
last thing it wanted to do. fensive players. Preferably
Against a conceding op- during a timeout instead of
ponent, whose only hope signaling in a play.
was to take advantage of Most important, of course, is
a ball carrier's natural incli- the guy with the ball knows
nation to find the end zone, what to do. Richt said in
Penn State and the Atlanta lieu of calling timeout the
Falcons inadvertently took move would be to send in
the bait and ended up a running back off the side-
losing games they pretty line after a clear reminder
much had wrapped up. to be aware of a defense in
For teams around the coun- In this Oct. 25, 2020, file photo, Detroit Lions linebacker Jamie Collins signals touchdown as Atlanta surrender-mode and to get
try this week, the failures of Falcons running back Todd Gurley tries to stop short of the end zone to control the final minutes of down before the goal line.
the Nittany Lions and Fal- the clock in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Atlanta. "The most natural thing to
cons could be turned into Associated Press do for a running back is to
teachable moments about himself. Indiana tied the breaking through a half- odd scenarios. Plus, in col- score a touchdown," said
communication, prepa- game on their next posses- hearted tackle attempt lege, coaches don't have Richt, now with the ACC
ration, and why it can be sion and won in overtime. by a Lions defender and as much time with players Network.
tricky to ask a player to go Penn State coach James barely broke the goal line. to go over rare in-game Neuheisel said teams
against his instincts. Franklin said after the The Lions ended up scoring situations. should just let the quarter-
"One of the things coaches game the offense had the winning touchdown as Former Auburn coach and back handle the ball in
do best is learn vicariously," been made aware it was time expired. current SEC Network ana- those situations. The more
said former UCLA coach not supposed to score, "Yeah, you talk about those lyst Gene Chizik said what people involved, the more
Rick Neuheisel, now an an- but added it was on him if things and you've got to be happened at the end of people that have to be
alyst for CBS Sports. the message did not get really locked in in the game the Penn State and Atlan- told what to do, the more
The situations varied a bit across. in those moments, be- ta games are examples of possibility things can go
for Penn State and the Fal- The Falcons had the ball cause those are critical de- what he calls "atypicals." wrong.
cons. at the Lions 10 and were cisions at critical times both He said he would have his "It's like playing that game
Penn State had a one- down one with a little over as players and coaches," staff give players film cut- telephone or operator," he
point lead and the ball at a minute left. They wanted Clemson's Dabo Swinney ups straight from televi- said.
the Indiana 14 with 1:47 left. to advance the ball a bit, said. sion broadcasts of unusual Falcons interim coach Ra-
On the first play, Indiana burn the clock and set up It is all about communica- scenarios that could come heem Morris laid blame on
backed off and Nittany Li- a winning field goal with no tion. Especially at the col- up in pivotal moments of a himself for Gurley's touch-
ons running back Devyn time left. Quarterback Matt lege level, where the less game. It was a way to pre- down, and offensive co-
Ford ran into the end zone, Ryan told the huddle be- experienced players are pare players for what they ordinator Dirk Koetter said
taking a couple of hesitant fore the play to not score, more likely to get confused would need to do and how the-get-as-much-as-you-
steps just as he got to the but Todd Gurley had too because they might never it would be communicated can approach might not
goal line, too late to stop much momentum after have been in one of these during a tense moment. be the way to go.q
Roglic reclaims Spanish Vuelta lead after winning Stage 10

SUANCES, Spain (AP) — De- overall time as Carapaz. He no signs that the devastat-
fending champion Primoz started the stage 13 sec- ing defeat has affected his
Roglic retook the red lead- onds behind Carapaz, who competitive spirit. He led
er's jersey of the Spanish rides for Ineos. the Vuelta for the first five
Vuelta from Richard Cara- It looked like a day for the stages before Carapaz
paz after winning his third title contenders to avoid went in front to set up a
stage with an uphill sprint trouble and let the sprinters two-man challenge.
finish in Stage 10 on Friday. vie for victory. Instead, Ro- A breakaway of four riders
Roglic worked his way to- glic surprised Carapaz and opened up a 12-minute
ward the front of the pelo- the rest. lead on Friday, before it
ton before striking out on "It is never easy to win, but was reeled in by the group.
the final meters of the slight I had the legs," Rogic said. Dan Martin is third at 25
ascent to the finish line to "It doesn't really change for seconds back overall.
win the mostly flat 185-ki- our team. We just have to Saturday's 11th stage is a
lometer (115-mile) ride keep the momentum." 170-kilometer (105-mile)
bordering the Cantabrian Roglic lost the Tour de Jumbo's Primoz Roglic, celebrates after winning the eight stage ride up four category-one
coast in northern Spain. France on the penultimate of La Vuelta between Logrono and Alto de Moncalvillo, in Logro- climbs including a sum-
The Jumbo-Visma leader stage last month. But the no, northern Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. mit finish on the Alta de la
pulled level with the same former ski jumper is showing Associated Press Farrapona.q