t couple years is beneficial going into this situation, in terms of knowing how to attack a game plan and move forward to be successful on Saturd

ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech has already locked up its spot in a bowl game.Thats not enough for the Yellow Jackets.Coming off an upset at Virginia Tech, coach Paul Johnsons team is eager to keep pushing toward a nine-win season. The Jackets (6-4, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) will need to win out to accomplish that goal, beginning with Saturdays game against Virginia.Johnson noted that Georgia Tech has reached nine wins only seven times in the last three decades.I dont think anybody on our team wanted to be 6-6 when the season started, he said. You have goals and you try to play for them. My job as a coach is when it looks like those initial goals are gone, try to find a carrot to stick in front of them to say, `Hey, heres what were trying to do now.Virginia (2-8, 1-5) doesnt have much left to play for except pride. The Cavaliers are mired in a five-game losing streak under first-year coach Bronco Mendenhall.These kids are resilient and theyre tough, said Mendenhall, who is assured of his first losing season in 12 years as a head coach. The outcome and the record at this point doesnt show. But my internal day-to-day with these guys is really, really enjoyable. I think theres a super foundation being laid at least in terms of expectation.---Some other things to watch for when Georgia Tech hosts Virginia at Bobby Dodd Stadium:NEW QUARTERBACK: Virginia is going back to a familiar name at quarterback. Fifth-year senior Matt Johns is getting a chance to close out his up-and-down career as the starter, taking over for struggling Kurt Benkert. Johns started 15 games the past two years but had not played any quarterback this season until he took over for Benkert in last weeks loss to Miami. This is a little bit different experience, because I havent played all year, Johns said. But I think having the experience from the past couple years is beneficial going into this situation, in terms of knowing how to attack a game plan and move forward to be successful on Saturday.THOMAS RETURNS: Justin Thomas is set to return at quarterback for Georgia Tech after sitting out last weeks game with an injury. Thomas ranks second on the team in rushing with 561 yards and five touchdowns, and hes thrown for 1,168 yards with seven TDs and only one interception. While backup Matthew Jordan did a brilliant job running the offense against Virginia Tech, rushing for 121 yards and two scores, Thomas is the teams unquestioned offensive leader and provides more of a threat in the passing game.MENDENHALL VS. TRIPLE OPTION: The Virginia coach is familiar with Georgia Techs unique triple-option offense, having coached against it twice -- and easily winning both meetings -- in his previous post at Brigham Young. Also while at BYU, he had plenty of experience facing a similar scheme at Air Force, going 5-1 against the Falcons. Hes proven that he knows what hes doing stopping the option offense, Cavaliers linebacker Zach Bradshaw said. Im sure whatever we do this week, if we execute it like were supposed to, will work.IMPROVED DEFENSE: After getting torched for 1,195 yards and 83 points in its two previous games, Georgia Tech came up with a stout defensive effort against Virginia Tech. The Yellow Jackets forced four turnovers and shut down the Hokies until giving up meaningless touchdowns on their final two possessions. We got a little juice going. I hope we can carry it over, Johnson said. Im sure they were tired of hearing about their struggles.JOHNSONS FUTURE: There has been speculation about Johnsons future, especially with Georgia Tech bringing on a new athletic director, Todd Stansbury. The Yellow Jackets went 3-9 a year ago, and a three-game losing streak knocked them out of contention for the ACC title this season. Johnson said hes proud of his record in nine years at Georgia Tech and doesnt worry about his job security. If they think they can get somebody better, they ought to go get `em, he said. Thats certainly their right.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---For more college football coverage: www.collegefootball.ap.org Devin Smeltzer Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Marcos Diplan Twins Jersey . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. https://www.cheaptwins.com/832t-terry-steinbach-jersey-twins.html . LUCIE, Fla. Kohl Stewart Twins Jersey . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Sam Dyson Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. NEW YORK -- With the first part of the WNBA season winding down, the New York Liberty want to head into the Olympic break on a roll.Swin Cash scored a season-high 16 points and Tina Charles and Sugar Rodgers each added 14 to help the Liberty beat the Sun 83-76 on Sunday.We have two games left and you can either head into the Olympics on a high or on a low, Cash said. We want to get there rolling.New York trailed 66-65 midway through the fourth quarter before Brittany Boyds three-point play gave them a two-point lead. The Liberty (17-7) wouldnt relinquish that advantage the rest of the way.The Liberty, who are third in the AP WNBA power poll, were down 51-44 early in the third quarter before they got going. New York scored the first nine points during a 17-2 run, spanning the end of the third and the start of the fourth quarter.Connecticut went without a field goal for 8:30 during that stretch. The Liberty reserves played a big part in the burst as Amanda Zahui B. and Boyd were effective on both ends of the floor, scoring, blocking shots and stealing the ball. Boyds three-point play with 8:45 left in the fourth quarter capped the burst and gave New York its biggest lead of the second half -- 61-53.She found her stride. Knows her speciialty is transition.dddddddddddd She provided a spark for us in the second half, Charles said of Boyd. She came up with some big plays to help us take the lead.Connecticut (6-16) wouldnt go away, going up 66-65 on Jasmine Thomas runner with 5:07 left in the game.Chiney Ogwumike had 18 points and 10 rebounds for 11th-ranked Connecticut. Thomas added 16 points.The third-quarter players off the bench for New York made impacts. They were physical around the rim, Ogwumike said. They flexed their muscle and we didnt flex our back.The Liberty built a 24-16 lead early in the second quarter before the Sun scored 19 of the next 22 points to take a 35-28 advantage. Thomas shot just before the buzzer gave Connecticut a 39-36 advantage at the break.New York has two games left before the Olympic break playing a matinee game in Washington on Wednesday followed by a home matchup against Indiana on Thursday. Connecticut visits Dallas and Chicago before it goes on break.Its huge. We saw after the game that LA lost, Charles said. We know we can still get into the first one or two seeds. To win out would be really big for us. ' ' '