ader easily beat goalkeeper Tim Melia.It was Valdezs first MLS goal since Oct. 28, 2015, against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the knockout round of last years

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Kevin Sumlin has been here before. This time, the Texas A&M coach believes his ninth-ranked Aggies can keep rising past September.Texas A&M (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) looks to start 5-0 for the third straight season when it plays at South Carolina (2-2, 1-2) on Saturday. But those marks have been the high points of the past two years when the Aggies were waylaid by the SEC Western Division schedule, finishing 3-5 down the stretch in 2014 and 2015.Sumlins a lot more confident the Aggies can improve upon last season. They defeated then 17th-ranked Arkansas 45-24 last week.Guys understand that, Sumlin said. Have different perspective on that than maybe they did as freshmen and sophomores. Maybe they handle it little differently as juniors and seniors.Sumlin acknowledged maybe winning came too fast and too easily for his young team in 2014 and 2015. So he emphasized staying strong and not fading throughout the offseason.Guarantee things change? Sumlin said. No. Performance guarantees change.On the field, the Aggies have shown all the right moves.Graduate transfer quarterback Trevor Knight leads an offense thats averaging 43 points a game, third best in the SEC. Defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall have combined for 10 tackles for loss and power a group thats held opponents to 16 points a game, also third best in the league.We remember nobody was talking about us at the beginning of the season, receiver Christian Kirk said. Now, everybodys talking about us. Were 4-0, top 10 in the country. But weve got to forget about all that.The Texas A&M offense may have a difficult task putting up big numbers against the Gamecocks, who have given up 17 points a game so far in coach Will Muschamps first season. South Carolinas offense, dead last in the SEC, struggled with freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain.Muschamp said McIlwain has played well and will continue to start.Im just trying to be very realistic; where we are and where were headed, Muschamp said. And moving forward with the guys that are going to do it the South Carolina way and thats with great effort, toughness and discipline, urgency and energy in everything we do.---Things to watch when No. 9 Texas A&M faces South Carolina.STREAKY STARTS: A victory by Texas A&M would make it 5-0 for a third straight season, something the program last accomplished in 1939-41. The Aggies are also looking to go 3-0 in conference playing, which they have not done since 2004 when they were in the Big 12.WHATS THE RUSH?: South Carolina has been slow to get its running game going. The Gamecocks are the lone SEC team averaging under 100 yards rushing this season (90.8 yards a game). The Gamecocks get some help with injured freshman Rico Dowdle expected to see his first college action.VAST DIFFERENCE: Part of Texas A&Ms success has come from its big-play attack while limiting the oppositions ability to make big plays. The Aggies have scored 11 touchdowns of 20 yards or more while allowing only one TD of 15 yards or longer this season.HOME STAND: South Carolina is done traveling for a while. The Texas A&M game starts a five-game home stand at Williams-Brice Stadium. The run includes the bye week, meaning the Gamecocks dont play on the road until Nov. 12 at Florida.OFFENSIVE POWER: Texas A&M is among three Football Bowl Subdivision teams with 1,000 yards passing and rushing. The Aggies have gained 1,107 yards through the air and 1,077 yards on the ground, joining No. 3 Louisville and Oregon in that productive club this season.---Online:AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org and AP-Top 25 Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-Top25Follow Pete Iacobelli at www.twitter.com/PIacobelli-AP Wholesale Air Force 1 Shoes . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. Wholesale Air Force 1 From China .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. http://www.airforce1cheap.com/ . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Air Force 1 Cheap Outlet . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Authentic Nike Air Force 1 Wholesale . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. SEATTLE -- Nelson Valdez scored his first MLS goal in nearly a calendar year on a header in the 88th minute to give the Seattle Sounders a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Thursday night in the knockout round of the MLS Western Conference playoffs.With Seattle pressing for a winner in the closing minutes of regulation, Joevin Jones cross found Valdez at the near post and his quick header easily beat goalkeeper Tim Melia.It was Valdezs first MLS goal since Oct. 28, 2015, against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the knockout round of last years playoffs. Valdez has had numerous chances during the season but finally got one in the net, even though it appeared on replay he may have been offside on thee winning goal.ddddddddddddSeattle will face FC Dallas in the Western Conference semifinals. Game 1 of the two-leg series is Sunday in Seattle.IMPACT 4, UNITED 2WASHINGTON -- Matteo Mancosu scored twice and Montreal beat D.C. United in a knockout match.The fifth-seeded Impact will host the top-seeded New York Red Bulls on Sunday in the first game of the two-leg Eastern Conference semifinals.Laurent Ciman scored early, and Ignacio Piatti made it 4-0 for the Impact in the 83rd minute.Lamar Neagle and Taylor Kemp scored for fourth-seeded United, both after the 89th minute. ' ' '