The Collegian, Feb. 26, 2021
Page 11
National Sports Column
Sports at a Glance
Wilson and Watson on the move?
News
Volleyball, men’s lacrosse and cross country are back. All three sports will be making their 2021 debuts this weekend.
Women’s Basketball
Kat Goetz has been on a roll. Last week Goetz averaged 13.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, had a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double week against Chatham. Currently, Goetz averages 9.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game this season. She ranks second in the conference in rebound average.
Swimming and Diving
ABC 13
Deshaun Watson does not plan to return to the Texans; hopes to be traded before next season.
Connor Schlosser Staff Writer
Dynasties rise and fall. Quarterbacks come and go. Much uncertainty surrounds the quarterback position across the league, but here are two field generals whose future with their franchises are truly obscure. Houston seemed to have all the right building blocks for a dynasty that could compete in the Super Bowl in a few years. A consistently elite wide receiver? Check. A defensive anchor and leader? Check. A young, athletic quarterback that can not only pass but also run the ball effectively? Check. In November of last year, Houston Texans head coach and general manager, Bill O’Brien, made the ill-advised trade that sent impressive wideout Deandre Hopkins to Arizona in exchange for injury-prone running back David Johnson. The Texans eventually fired O’Brien and finished with a disappointing 4-12 season. Fast forward to two weeks ago, five-time pro-bowl defensive end J.J. Watt posted a video on Twitter, thanking
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only lead of the day and kickstarted an 8-0 run. However, it wasn’t until the end of the quarter that the Wolverine scoring machine started to really warm-up. In the second half, the Wolverines dominated, going on a 23-3 run and outscoring Westminster 25-9, stretching the lead to 45-19 at half. Podkul paced the Wolverines in the first half with 10 points and Goetz added seven rebounds. The third quarter offered fans a glimpse at the future of the Wolverines, especially at the guard position. Bowen and senior guard Jordan McConnell only played a combined fourteen minutes while Vezzosi ran point and sophomore Meghan Kallock poured in nine points in eight minutes on her way to a career day. Kallock finished the night with a career high 14 points, knocking in three of four from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Logan
Houston for the memories. Released from the Texans and now a free agent, the defensive leader and captain will be in a different uniform at the start of next season. Without Hopkins and Watt, Deshaun is on an island in Houston, and rumors have already begun. Watson is at the top of half the league’s offseason wish list. Coming off a career-high year despite Houston’s woes, he led the 2020 season in passing yards ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady with 4832. Watson ranked seventh in touchdowns and third in completing percentage among starting quarterbacks at .702, barely behind MVP Aaron Rodgers and veteran Drew Brees. If Watson is that productive without an elite offense, imagine what he could do if he were to be surrounded with more talent. Former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson is still one of the league’s best. The Seahawks last Super Bowl appearance was in 2015, but Seattle has remained a playoff threat virtually each season with Wilson at the helm. Although the Seahawks finished at the top of their division with a 12-4 record, they fell to the Los Ange-
les Rams and their strong defense in the Wild Card round. Why has Wilson’s name been tossed around in trade talks? Earlier this month, Russell voiced his opinion on the Seahawks struggles particularly aimed at management. “I want to be able to be involved because at the end of the day, it’s your legacy, it’s your team’s legacy…” Wilson said. “…it’s the guys you get to go into the huddle with and at the end of the day, those guys you’ve got to trust.” The former champ has room to talk too. The offensive line has been an Achilles heel to Seattle’s system for a few seasons now. Wilson has been sacked 394 times throughout his nineyear career. His apparent frustration and or desire to “be involved” did not sit well with management, and many teams around the league have expressed interest in the 32-year-old signal caller. Wilson is a definite top-ten quarterback; he may even be top-five material to some. What jerseys Watson and Wilson will be wearing at the beginning of next season remains to be seen, but a blockbuster trade may already be in the works.
Fuss also contributed, recording her first two college buckets, scoring four points in two minutes. Saturday afternoon saw the Wolverines knock down a season high nine three-pointers and win the turnover margin by 17. Grove City’s depth once again proved to be far superior to their opponent, as four Wolverines scored in the double-digits and the bench outscored the Titans’ bench 41-22. McConnell finished with team highs in four steals and six assists. Goetz grabbed ten rebounds and Podkul scored a season-best fourteen. The junior forward is one of two Wolverines to have scored double figures in all five games this year along with Bowen. Grove City will face Franciscan at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Steubenville, Ohio as they aim to remain undefeated.
SHOOTOUT
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siderable playing time as the reserves racked up 46 points. Robinson scored 11 and swiped two steals and Rose scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds. As for Saturday’s game at Westminster the lead was exchanged numerous times in the first ten minutes before a six-minute drought for Grove’s offense gave the Titans the lead for good. Down 24-34 at half, Grove hung tough, matching Westminster shot for shot as both teams scored 44 in the second half. The Titans outrebounded the Wolverines 49-41 and knocked down 21 free throws. For the Wolverines, Rice scored 15, Robinson scored 12 in 14 minutes, and Rose grabbed eight rebounds. Now 2-2, the men’s basketball team looks to add to their win column as they face Franciscan at 1 p.m. tomorrow in the Grove City College Arena.
Freshman Liz Hasse has earned her third rookie of the week honor this season. Last week, Hasse won both 100 and 200 free, and assisted in the 200 free relay, which the Wolverines won in 1:40:09. Senior swimmer James Hancock earned PAC swimmer of the week in back-to-back weeks. Last week, Hancock won the 100 and the 100 free. He also assisted in Grove City’s winning 200 free relay.
Results
Women’s Swimming & Diving (5-0): W, Westminster (189-104)
Men’s Swimming & Diving (4-0): W, Westminster (201.5-90.5)
Woman’s Basketball (5-0): W, Thiel (103-49) W, Westminster (89-55)
Men’s Basketball (3-2): W, Thiel (61-59) L, Westminster (78-68)
Upcoming Volleyball:
Feb 26, 7:70 vs. W&J March 3, 6:30 at Bethany
Men’s Lacrosse:
Feb 27, 1pm at Westminster
Women’s Cross Country: Feb 27, 11:30 am at Bethany
Men’s Cross Country: Feb 27, 12:15 pm at Bethany
Men’s Basketball:
Feb 27, 1pm vs. Franciscan March 3, 5:30 pm vs. W&J
Women’s Basketball: Feb 27, 1pm at Franciscan March 3, 7pm at W&J
Softball:
March 3, 2pm vs. Saint Vincent
Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving:
PAC Championship Tournament March 1-5 at GCC
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
Liz Hasse Freshman Swimmer PAC Women’s Swim Rookie of the Week
James Hancock Senior Swimmer PAC Men’s Swim of the Week
Kat Goetz Freshman Forward PAC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week