Cline looks elsewhere

DAYTON — Beaver Local High School graduate and Dayton University football player Austin Cline entered the transfer protocol on Friday.

Cline, who had 9,140 offensive yards in his high school career playing quarterback, was a tight end at Dayton and only saw action in two games in his Flyer career. Cline stated in his portal post on social media that he is seeking an opportunity to play quarterback again.

He has three years of eligibility left and already received an offer from Wheeling University on Saturday.

Crosby steps up

COLUMBUS (AP)– Sidney Crosby set up Ricard Rakell’s tying goal with 13.7 seconds left in regulation, then scored at 2:22 of overtime to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 5-4 comeback victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.

The Penguins overcame a three-goal deficit to win their fifth straight game overall and third in a row in the road. Ville Koivunen, Noel Acciari and Tommy Novak also scored, and Ben Kindel had two assists. Arturs Silovs made 25 saves.

After being outshot 12-9 in the first period, Pittsburgh outshot Columbus 34-13 over the final two periods and overtime.

Kirill Marchenko and Zach Werenski each had a goal and an assist for Columbus, and Dmitri Voronkov and Mason Marchment also scored as the Blue Jackets raced to a 4-1 lead. Denton Mateychuk added two assists, and Jet Greaves stopped 43 shots.

Werenski made it 4-1 47 seconds into the second with a shot through traffic.

Acciari cut it to 4-2 with 3:09 left in the second, and Novak made it a one-goal game on a power play at 3:28 of the third. Rakell tied it with Silovs off for an extra attacker.

Brungard wins Payton Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Youngstown State quarterback and Springfield Local graduate Beau Brungard won the Walter Payton Award as the Football Championship Subdivision offensive player of the year Saturday night at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show.

Brungard had 177 points, receiving 28 first-place votes from a national panel. Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens with 138 with 10 first-place votes, and North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton had 94 with six first-place votes.

Brungard edged fellow Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens and North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton in voting by a national panel.

The winner was announced two days before Montana State faces Illinois State in the FCS title game at Vanderbilt University. Former Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the award last year.

The first Youngstown State player to win the award that started in 1987, Brungard completed 277 of 403 passes for 3,230 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. The junior ran for 1,468 yards and 27 touchdowns on 242 carries. The Penguins finished 8-5, blowing a 35-7 halftime lead in a 43-42 first-round loss to Yale.

Mercer defensive tackle Andrew Zock won the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player. He’s in the transfer portal.