Pirate Galaxy » things.The Sparks also dont have major issues, but t

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabamas defense still seems to have a wall erected at the goal line, and Jalen Hurts remains unflappable enough to shrug off mistakes.The combination has been good enough every time so far.Hurts rebounded from two early interceptions to pass for 286 yards and the top-ranked Crimson Tides defense did the rest in a 30-12 victory Saturday over No. 16 Auburn to finish an undefeated regular season.We have bigger goals in mind, tight end O.J. Howard said.The Tide (12-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference, No. 1 CFP) led just 13-9 at halftime, dominating the stat sheet but only taking over the scoreboard in the second half. The defense pushed its string of quarters without allowing a touchdown to 14-plus and shut down the leagues top running game.Auburn (8-4, 5-3, No. 15) failed to muster much offense for the second straight SEC game. This time the Tigers were playing without injured quarterback Sean White and unable to reach the end zone despite starting several drives in Alabama territory.We had some really, really challenging field position situations in this game, and our players responded really well to it, Alabama coach Nick Saban said.Hurts displayed the same poise in overcoming two first-half interceptions that has helped him lead the Tide into the SEC championship game. He completed 27-of-36 mostly short and mid-range passes and threw for two touchdowns. Alabama has won three straight Iron Bowls for the first time since 1990-92.At halftime, I guess everybody thought I was going to throw a fit, but I told them, `Look guys, all weve got to do is go out there and play with some poise and confidence, Saban said.Hurts also ran for 37 yards and a touchdown, leading two straight touchdown drives in the third quarter to all but put the game away after a mistake-filled first half.He ran for a 4-yard score on a drive sparked by four Bo Scarbrough runs. On a fourth-and-4 play, he hit ArDarius Stewart, who spun away from a defender and made another move downfield en route to a 38-yard touchdown and a 27-9 lead.Stewart gained 127 yards on 10 catches and completed a 12-yard pass. Scarbrough ran for 90 yards, including 83 after the half.Auburns Jeremy Johnson, who started the second straight game in Whites place, completed 4 of 13 passes for 34 yards. John Franklin III connected on two downfield passes in the second half that totaled 85 yards. The Tide dominated in total yards, 501-182.Daniel Carlson connected on four field goals for Auburn.Offensively, we just didnt get first downs, we just didnt get it done, Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said. Two of 12 on third downs, I really think that caused the problem. Third downs, didnt hit explosive plays, defense was on the field too long was really the story of the day.Obviously weve got players in there that are hurting, coaches that are hurting, this is a tough one.THE TAKEAWAYAuburn didnt get a first down until nearly 25 minutes into the game and continues to have no passing game without a healthy White. Leading rusher Kamryn Pettway ran 12 times for just 17 yards after missing the past two games with a leg injury. The Tigers managed 66 rushing yards after coming in averaging a league best 298.Alabama still has to get more offense in the downfield passing game but remains dominant on defense.POLL IMPLICATIONSAlabama seems unlikely to drop from No. 1 in AP poll or playoff rankings, but No. 2 Ohio State could at least close ground after a double-overtime win over No. 3 Michigan. Auburn could fall from the top 20 after a second straight punchless offensive performance in SEC games.TARGETINGDefensive back Tony Brown was ejected for targeting for a block thrown on a punt return. Hell be available against Florida.FAREWELLSAlabamas senior class finished its final home game with a 49-5 record so far.UP NEXTAuburn awaits its bowl destination.Alabama faces No. 13 Florida in the SEC championship game for the second straight year.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. http://www.wholesalecheapchinajerseysnfl.com/ . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Cheap Jerseys From China . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Cheap Baseball Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. LOS ANGELES -- Thirteen years have passed since Sparks fans got to see their team play in a WNBA Finals game here in California. And the Sparks are expecting those folks to bring a lot of life Friday night to the Galen Center, the Sparks alternate home, for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals (ESPN2, 9 ET).But they arent counting on that being the deciding factor in this series with Minnesota. After all, the Lynx won both regular-season games in Los Angeles, June 21 and Sept. 6 at Staples Center.We just have to come out with a lot of energy, Sparks center Jantel Lavender said. But thats not about the fans. Its about us, and playing like we played all season to get here.[In Game 2], we were missing a lot of shots, and we missed boxouts. You cant do that against a team thats won championships. But you also cant get too down about mistakes, either. In that split-second of us worrying about a missed shot, and theyre running to a transition layup.In other words, the Sparks know their margin for error might actually be a little less than it is for the Lynx. Not a lot, but as Lavender said, the Lynx have a lot of players with WNBA championship experience, while the Sparks -- whose last Finals appearance was in 2003 -- dont.In the Sparks 78-76 Game 1 victory, Minnesota allowed a few too many easy baskets, sometimes after gambling a bit on defense, and then a buzzer-beating shot by Los Angeles Alana Beard to win it.Game 2, for the most part, was exactly how the Lynx want the rest of this series to go: with them dominating the boards, limiting Nneka Ogwumikes shots and making Candace Parker shoot a lot from the perimeter.That Sylvia Fowles-led defensive formula -- along with key offensive contributions from Maya Moore and Seeimone Augustus -- gave the Lynx a series-tying 79-60 victory Tuesday.ddddddddddddSo weve seen a close game play out in the Sparks favor, and a game that turned into a blowout for the Lynx. Asked how much she thought Minnesota would need to adjust for Game 3, Augustus said not much. Another game like Tuesdays would suit the Lynx just fine.We have some details that we need to clean up, but they are all minor, Augustus said. Its good to say we only have small things to address rather than major things.The Sparks also dont have major issues, but they must figure out how to prevent Minnesotas defense from dictating the game so much. Los Angeles 60 points Tuesday tied for their lowest output this season.The phrase back on our heels came up a lot from the Sparks players after Tuesdays game, and Los Angeles coach Brian Agler said that could be a big factor Friday -- especially for Ogwumike and Parker.Just being aggressive. Just being more on their front foot than their back foot, Agler said when asked what he hoped to see from that duo. Using the skills that they have, their athleticism, their basketball instincts and their intelligence. Theyre elite in those kind of ways.The reality is, against most teams this season, the Sparks were just so talented that they could win even when they didnt necessarily play well. That wont be the case against Minnesota.We have to play better defense. We shot terrible, Parker said, referring to the Sparks 32.9 shooting percentage Tuesday. I think a lot of that was because of our energy and effort. I dont think we were as focused as we were in Game 1. ' ' '