JUDGE DELAYS PREP GAME IN OKLAHOMA PENDING PROTEST

oklahoma city An Oklahoma judge said a high school football semifinal will not be played Friday so he can consider whether a team that lost in the quarterfinals is entitled to a replay.

Locust Grove’s Class 3A semifinal against Heritage Hall was postponed until next week at the earliest.

The little school from northeastern Oklahoma beat Oklahoma City’s Douglass High last week after game officials misapplied a penalty with about a minute to go. The crew mistakenly erased a touchdown that had given Douglass a 25-20 lead.

The state board that oversees high school athletics rejected a Douglass protestWednesday, so the school went to court Thursday.

Douglass wants to replay the entire game or the final minute. The judge said he wouldn’t rule on Douglass’ complaint until next week.

Wingard wins Gatorade award.

Ralston Valley running back and defensive back AndrewWingard was named the Gatorade Colorado high school football player of the year after helping the Mustangs reach the Class 5A state semifinals.

Wingard rushed for 1,653 yards and 28 touchdowns, and had 96 tackles and three interceptions on defense.

UCF claims share of AAC crown

greenville, n. c. » Breshad Perriman hauled in a 51-yard touchdown pass on a Hail Mary from Justin Holman on the final play of the game, lifting Central Florida over East Carolina 32-30 to claim a share of the American Athletic Conference title.

• Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty is making progress in his recovery from a concussion.

Petty was a full participant in practice Thursday, but he is still progressing through the concussion protocol. His status for Saturday night’s game is still undetermined. The fifthranked Bears play ninth-ranked Kansas State, with the winner guaranteed at least a share of the Big 12 title.

Mesa men’s soccer season ends.

All-American AugustoMaciel scored in the seventh minute, and No. 1ranked Charleston (W.Va.) added another goal in the second half to defeat ColoradoMesa 2-0 in a Division II national semifinal match in Louisville, Ky.

TheMavericks, ranked No. 11, outshot the Golden Eagles 10-9 in the second half but could not find the back of the net.

• Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard won the U.S. player of the year award.

It’s the first time Howard has won the honor, given to a U.S. team member by Futbol de Primera.

A nationwide panel of journalists gave Howard a total of 363 points to beat MLS players Jermaine Jones, who had 160 points, and Clint Dempsey (147).

Howard, 35, had some spectacular performances at theWorld Cup, including 16 saves in a 2-1 loss in extra time to Belgium in Brazil.

Bowe, Mancini to boxing Hall

canastota, n.y. » Riddick Bowe, who beat undisputed champion Evander Holyfield to win the heavyweight title in 1992, and popular lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini were selected for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Longtime coach in NFL dies.

Pete Rodriguez, who twice was named special-teams coach of the year by his NFL peers after starting his playing and coaching career in Colorado, died Sunday in San Diego of a rare complication from routine surgery, his family said. He was 75.

Rodriguez played forWestern State during the early 1960s, then started his coaching career as an assistant at Stratton High School. He was the head coach at Harrison High in Colorado Springs for two years before moving to the college ranks, where his stints included time at Florida State and Iowa State. He started a 19-year, five-team career in the NFL in 1988.