The Manchester Youth Football League traveled to Lynchburg on Saturday in a league tripleheader.  The Raiders squared off against the three Moore County teams on a beautiful late summer afternoon.  The Raiders came home with a pair of wins in the 3 contests.

The Division 1 Raiders shut out Moore County on their way to a 38 to 0 win.  The Division 2 Raiders had a hard fought battle before pulling out the 13 to 6 win.  The Division 3 Raiders came up 2 points short to Moore County as they fell 42 to 38.

The Raiders will take off this weekend for the Labor Day holidays.  The Raiders will host their first home games on Saturday, September 8^th at Carden-Jarrell Field.   The Raiders will take on Shelbyville in a tripleheader.  The Division 1 game will kick off at 2 PM.

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota and the first team offense never really got in sync here on Saturday against the Steelers.

Four drives produced zero points, and too many mistakes.

“You have to give credit where credit is due, but we did miss some opportunities,” Mariota said after the team’s 16-6 loss to the Steelers. “It is good it is preseason, and we can learn from it. But it does leave a sour taste in your mouth.”

Mariota finished the game 5-of-8 for 43 yards and an interception on four possessions, and with the Titans trailing 7-0.

It was the first unsteady performance by the first team unit this preseason, after two games with impressive outings. The Titans scored two touchdowns on three drives combined in games against the Packers and Buccaneers.

In three preseason contests, Mariota has completed 11-of-18 passes for 165 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.

“We’ve shown flashes of stuff that we can do,” Mariota said. “We’ve shown flashes of potential. But potential means nothing. We have to go out there and continue to get better. Looking at this game, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. … It’s a process for us and we continue to build. But it’s all part of the process of getting ready for Week One.”

The Titans initially moved the ball well in their opening possession against the Steelers. Mariota connected with receiver Tajae Sharpe for a pair of third down completions, and both produced first downs, as the Titans moved the ball into Pittsburgh territory after taking over at their own eight-yard line.

But that drive ended with an incompletion, on a ball that landed short of receiver Corey Davis.

After the game, Mariota blamed himself for the missed opportunity. With the coverage, Mariota said Davis was thinking “home run shot” and “I should have been thinking the same thing because he was uncovered. That’s on me, and we’ll get it fixed.”

“I should have made that throw on third down, and given Corey a chance to go score,” Mariota said. “They busted a coverage, and we should have made the most of that one.”

Davis, however, insisted on taking the blame.

“Miscommunication,” Davis said. “I take the blame for that. It was definitely on me. It was my fault.”

Things never really looked good after that.

The Titans went three-and-out in their next possession, and the third drive failed to get going after Mariota was sacked for a seven-yard loss on the first play.

Mariota was sacked twice in the contest, and he was intercepted by Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds on a ball intended for receiver Taywan Taylor on the team’s fourth possession. Mariota was 0-for-2 targeting Davis.

Back-up quarterback Blaine Gabbert replaced Mariota late in the second quarter.

The Titans face the Vikings in preseason game No.4 on Thursday night at Nissan Stadium.

The Nashville Sounds used a balanced offensive attack and four relievers to beat the Memphis Redbirds, 7-3, on Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park. Eight of the nine Sounds hitters reached base safely, and five players drove in at least one run.

Anthony Garcia started the scoring with an RBI single in the first against Daniel Poncedeleon, and after the Redbirds tied the game in the fourth, Garcia drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth as part of a three-run rally. Dustin Fowler poked an RBI single, and Beau Taylor delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1. Then the Sounds broke open the game with three unearned runs in the seventh against reliever Tommy Layne. A two-out error scored Boog Powell, and Sheldon Neuse and BJ Boyd followed with consecutive RBI singles for a 7-1 advantage.

Reliever Danny Coulombe made his first professional start, working in place of the originally-scheduled starter Daniel Mengden, who was scratched from the outing. Coulombe tossed two scoreless innings, and Ryan Dull tossed three innings of one-run ball for the win. Dean Kiekhefer gave up two runs in two innings to make it 7-3, and Carlos Ramirez logged the final two frames to end it and pin the loss on Poncedeleon.

The Sounds and Redbirds conclude the four-game series on Monday night. Raul Alcantara (5-5, 5.26) will start for the Sounds, and Adam Wainwright is scheduled to start for Memphis on major league rehab assignment. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

The 2018 season is the Sounds’ 41^st in franchise history and fourth as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

In a scrappy, back-and-forth affair, Nashville SC lost a heartbreaker at home to Bethlehem Steel by a score of 2-1.

Justin Davis equalized the match late in the second half for a 10-man Nashville side, but Bethlehem scored on a pinballing ball in the box in stoppage time to earn all three points.

90 in a Nutshell

Both teams packed plenty of speed into their lineups and flexed it early on. Bethlehem was forced to make an early sub due to an injury to Matt Real, but quickly found an offensive rhythm. In the eighth minute, Chris Nanco found space down the wing and was home free against Matt Pickens, but the Nashville goalkeeper showed why he’s one of the best in the league and punched the chance away. Nashville responded quickly and pushed towards goal, culminating in a Ropapa Mensah chance on goal swallowed up by keeper Jake McGuire.

Bethlehem pushed and finally drew first blood on a seeing-eye shot by Nanco that fooled Pickens to put Steel FC in front 1-0. After Nashville worked back to the offensive attack, the club was dealt a blow when Ish Jome was sent off for a second yellow card. Despite being down a man, Nashville still generated some push in the offensive end, but couldn’t find an equalizer. The half ended with Bethlehem leading 1-0.

In the second half, Nashville continued to try and move forward even with a shorthanded roster. Bethlehem had a couple of chances, including one shot that curled just over the crossbar, but Nashville kept the road team at bay. Nashville SC winger Kris Tyrpak entered the match midway through the second half and made an immediate impact, generating lots of movement in the attacking third. Tucker Hume and Matt LaGrassa entered the match to try and generate more offensive push. Nashville earned numerous corner kick chances in the final 15 minutes of the match as the club pushed for an equalizer, and the goal finally came in the 84’ minute. Lebo Moloto slid the ball perfectly towards a streaking Davis, who powered it home to tie it up.

Both sides fought to the bitter end, and a chaotic play in front of Pickens’ net in the final minute led to an Adam Najem shot that just made it past the sprawling defenders and into the net to win the match for Bethlehem.

Goals

24’ BST – Chris Nanco (assist from Justin Chambers)

84’ NSH – Justin Davis (assist from Lebo Moloto)

90+3’ BST – Adam Najem

Quotable

Winger Kris Tyrpak

“I thought we played well. There were a couple of mental lapses in the first half, but we answered correctly in the second half and I thought we deserved, honestly, at least a point out of that game. It was disappointing. It was an honor to make by debut for this team. The atmosphere was crazy, the fans were amazing. But we let them down today. Hopefully we can remedy that Tuesday.”

Key Stat

Eight Corner Kicks – Nashville took eight corner kicks throughout the match, seven of which were in the second half. The repeated set pieces wore down the Bethlehem defense and allowed Nashville SC to score the late goal.

Standings Update

On a very active night in the Eastern Conference, ninth-place Nashville SC earned a gift from Penn FC as it took down eighth-place Ottawa Fury FC 2-0, meaning Ottawa and Nashville are still tied at 35 points with Nashville owning three matches in hand. Nashville is just two points behind seventh-place New York Red Bulls II and five points behind sixth-place Indy Eleven, owning at least a match in hand on both teams.

Up Next

Nashville SC won’t have much time to lament over this loss and the club welcomes the Richmond Kickers to town on Tuesday, August 28. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 PM at First Tennessee Park.

The Nashville Sounds led most of the way on Saturday night but got upended by the Memphis Redbirds in the bottom of the ninth inning and lost 4-3 at AutoZone Park. The loss officially eliminated the Sounds from playoff contention and clinched the American Southern division for the Redbirds.

The Sounds, who never led Friday night, grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning against Austin Warner. Matt Joyce singled to start the game, Boog Powell walked and Dustin Fowler singled home a run. Then in the fifth Joyce smacked an RBI double to plate Jorge Mateo and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

Starter Frankie Montas cruised early. He retired 11 in a row at one point and didn’t allow his first hit until the fifth. He ended up allowing one run on four hits in five-plus innings, leaving in line for a win and ending up with a no-decision. Josh Lucas gave up one run in the seventh to cut the Sounds’ lead to 3-2, and Jeremy Bleich worked a scoreless eighth to keep it 3-2 going to the final frame.

Liam Hendriks entered in the ninth looking for his seventh save and 15th consecutive scoreless appearance. He struck out his first batter but walked two of the next three hitters. With the Redbirds down to their last strike, Wilfredo Tovar singled to center to tie it, and Fowler bobbled the ball, allowing Lane Thomas to score from first with the division-clinching run for Memphis.

The four-game series and 10-game road trip continue Sunday afternoon. Daniel Mengden (4-1, 2.98) will make the start for the Sounds, and Daniel Poncedeleon (9-3, 2.15) counters for Memphis. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

The 2018 season is the Sounds’ 41st in franchise history and fourth as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

The Nashville Sounds fell in an early 8-0 hole against the Memphis Redbirds and never recovered, losing 9-3 on Friday night at AutoZone Park in the opener of a four-game series. With only 10 games left in the season, Memphis is now one win or one Sounds loss away from eliminating the Sounds from playoff contention and clinching the American Southern division.

Jesus Luzardo gave up one run in the first and then labored through a five-run, 38-pitch second inning. Down 6-0 in the third, he retired his first two batters before a single from Lane Thomas and a two-run homer by Randy Arozarena made it 8-0. Luzardo gave up a career-high eight runs on eight hits in three innings in the loss. It was only the fourth outing this season in 23 starts he’s allowed four-plus runs.

Anthony Garcia got the Sounds on the board in the fourth against Kevin Herget with a solo homer, his team-best 21^st of the year. Trailing 8-1 in the seventh, the Sounds inched closer against reliever Conner Greene. Sheldon Neuse moved his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-out single and later scored on Jorge Mateo’s RBI single. After Memphis got one run in the eighth against Chris Hatcher, Beau Taylor launched his third homer of the season with a solo shot in the ninth for the 9-3 final. J.B. Wendelken was a bright spot on the mound for the Sounds, retiring all six batters he faced, including five in a row on strikes.

The Sounds continue the four-game series and 10-game road trip Saturday night. Frankie Montas (4-5, 4.86) is scheduled to start for the Sounds, and Memphis will counter with Austin Warner (1-1, 3.33). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

The 2018 season is the Sounds’ 41^st in franchise history and fourth as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.