NORTH DAKOTA STATE EXTENDS FCS REIGN
frisco, texas» Carson Wentz threw for a touchdown and ran for two more scores in his first game since mid-October, helping North Dakota State win an unprecedented fifth consecutive FCS championship with a 37-10 victory over top-seeded Jacksonville (Ala.) State on Saturday.
Wentz, a potential first-round pick in the NFL draft April 28-30, hadn’t played since suffering a broken right wrist in a loss to South Dakota. He was playing five days after a CT scan showed the wrist was completely healed, and he went 16-of-29 passing for 197 yards with two interceptions.
The Bison (13-2) won its 20th consecutive playoff game.
Jacksonville State (13-2) was playing in the title game for the first time. It had won 12 games in a row since an overtime loss Sept. 12 at Auburn.
• Florida State quarterback Sean Maguire will have ankle surgery and is expected to miss spring practice.
Blatter, Platini appeals expected B
zurich» Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini can now launch appeals against their eight-year bans from soccer-related activities after FIFA ethics-committee judges sent them full written reasons for the verdicts.
Lawyers for Blatter and Platini needed the documents received Saturday to file formal appeals with FIFA, soccer’s global governing body.
FIFA refused Platini’s request last month to bypass its process and appeal directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hernandez lawyers get stop sign B
providence, r.i.» The judge who oversaw the high-profile murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez denied his lawyers from further questioning under oath an anonymous tipster who exchanged about 20 letters with the convicted murderer as he awaited trial.
The tipster, who was not identified, raised concerns about one of the jurors who convicted Hernandez last year in the April 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez is awaiting trial on a separate murder case in Boston.
The tipster contacted Hernandez’s lawyer, James Sultan, the day after Hernandez was found guilty to tell him that a juror was involved in a discussion about the Boston killings at a 2014 party, according to court documents. Mention of that case was barred at the trial for Lloyd’s murder.
Panasonic propels Rio Games B
rio de janeiro» Facing severe budget cuts in almost all aspects of the Games this summer, the Rio de Janeiro Olympics were boosted by Panasonic signing on as a sponsor of the opening and closing ceremonies.
The Japanese electronics company said it would provide an array of equipment to project visual images and sound for the ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
New set of U.S. captains selected B
chicago» Midfielder Carli Lloyd and defender Becky Sauerbrunn were chosen captains of the women’s U.S. soccer team. They were selected by Team USA coach Jill Ellis.
Lloyd and Sauerbrunn take over from Christie Rampone, who is sidelined four to six weeks after having knee surgery before Christmas, and from Abby Wambach, who retired.
Djokovic dominates Nadal B
doha, qatar» Novak Djokovic won his first tournament title of the year, sweeping Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-2 in the Qatar Open final.
The match was Djokovic’s 16th consecutive final since the Serb lost in the Qatar Open quarterfinals last year.
Djokovic and Nadal were previously tied at 23 wins apiece in their all-time meetings, the most between any players in ATP Tour history.
Road rally helps Mammoth win B
rochester, n.y.» The Mammoth beat the Rochester Knighthawks 16-14 after trailing 4-0, and improved to 2-0. Jeremy Noble scored Colorado’s first goal. Adam Jones contributed two goals and two assists.