Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork. Nmd_r1 Sko Hvit .com) - Its easy to have the so-called East Coast bias when it comes to some of the standouts on the initial Watch List for the 2014 Jerry Rice Award. The first two recipients of the four-year-old award that honors the FCS national freshman of the year were from CAA Football, Towson running back Terrance West and Villanova quarterback John Robertson. This year, an FCS-high four of the 21 players on the first Rice Award Watch List announced Wednesday are from the CAA. Add in that the candidates include Fordham running back/kick returner Chase Edmonds, who ranks fifth in the FCS in rushing yards per game and No. 1 in all-purpose yards per game, and its easy to see how the East stacks up with any part of the nation when it comes to first-year players making an impact. The top first-year player in the FCS, whether a true freshman or a redshirt freshman, will win the award named for the legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who played in the FCS (then Division I-AA) at Mississippi Valley State. The award will be voted on by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season. Linebacker is always a position of impact with freshmen, and there are six on the Watch List. The rest of the position breakdown is: one quarterback, two running backs, four wide receivers, one offensive tackle, one defensive tackle, one defensive end, two safeties, one cornerback and two place- kicker/punters. The four from the CAA are Albany wide receiver Josh Gontarek, Delaware defensive tackle Blaine Woodson, Towson linebacker James Simms and James Madison cornerback Jimmy Moreland. The Southern and Southland conferences have three nominees each, and 11 different FCS conferences have at least one representative on the list. Two emerging second-year programs have two nominees apiece, Houston Baptist with linebacker Garrett Nolan and punter Christian Guzman, and Mercer with running back Alex Lakes and wide receiver/return specialist Chandler Curtis. With freshmen, what you see today isnt necessarily what you see tomorrow, so the list can undergo revision during the season. The winner will be announced at The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation Dec. 15 in Philadelphia. I love to give back and it is amazing to be able to award a deserving freshman based on his accomplishments, Rice said. I think its important to recognize people at all levels for their hard work and dedication. The initial 20 players on the Jerry Rice Award Watch List: Mike Basile, Monmouth, Safety, 6-1, 185, Brick, N.J. 5 games: 32 TT, 25 Solo, 1 TFL, 3 INT, 4 PBU Preston Clark, Alabama State, Place-kicker/Punter, 6-1, 175, Jacksonville, Fla. 6 games: 10-for-11 FG, 44 long, 50 points; 44 punts, 33.8-yard average, 54 long, 3 TB, 15 FC, 14 I20, 2 50-plus Al Cobb, VMI, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Pulaski, Tenn. 6 games: 125-for-195 (64.1 percent), 1,351 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT, 129.0 passing efficiency, 225.2 ypg Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-10, 186, Calhoun, Ga. 6 games: 1 carry, 23 yards, 1 TD; 8 receptions, 213 yards, 3 TD; 9 kickoff returns, 30.6-yard average, 1 TD; 7 punt returns, 28.3-yard average, 2 TD; 118.2 all-purpose yards per game Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist, Linebacker, 6-2, 235, Mont Belveiu,, Texas 5 games: 49 TT, 35 Solo, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 SK, 1 PBU Chase Edmonds, Fordham, Running Back/Kick Returner, 5-9, 185, Harrisburg, Pa. 6 games: 128 carries, 910 yards, 7.1 ypc, 10 TD, 151.7 ypg; 7 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD; 212.7 all-purpose yards per game Josh Gontarek, Albany, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-11, 170, Mt. Airy, Md. 5 games: 22 receptions, 264 yards, 4 TD; 90.6 all-purpose yards per game Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist, Punter, 5-9, 160, Brookshire, Texas 5 games: 24 punts, 45.8-yard average, 61 long, 2 TB, 1 FC, 5 I20, 10 50-plus P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, Defensive End, 6-1, 270, Seguin, Texas 5 games: 26 TT, 13 Solo, 7 TFL, 2 SK, 1 PBU, 1 BLK Mario Jenkins, Idaho State, Linebacker, 6-1, 205, Nampa, Idaho 5 games: 50 TT, 35 Solo, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 QBH Alex Lakes, Mercer, Running Back, 5-10, 205, Newnan, Ga. 6 games: 94 carries, 600 yards, 6.4 ypc, 9 TD, 100 ypg, 3 receptions, 44 yards Justin Lea, Jacksonville State, Right Tackle, 6-4, 275, Henagar, Ala. Starter at right tackle for Gamecocks team that is ranked No. 9 nationally in rushing offense and No. 12 in total offense. Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Lake View, S.C. 6 games: 39 TT, 7 TFL, 3 SK, 1 PBU, 2 FR, 1 FF Octayvius Miles, Alabama A&M, Wide Receiver/Kick Returner, 5-10, 165, Mesquite, Texas 6 games: 10 receptions, 291 yards, 4 TD; 13 kickoff returns, 27.2-yard average, 1 TD Jimmy Moreland, James Madison, Cornerback, 5-10, 175, Royal Palm Beach, Fla. 6 games: 27 TKL, 22 Solo, 2 INT, 5 PBU, 2 FR, 2 BLK James Simms, Towson, Linebacker, 6-3, 190, Laurel, Md. 6 games: 64 TKL, 17 Solo, 4 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Linebacker, 5-11, 234, Scottsdale, Pa. 5 games: 37 TT, 21 Solo, 2 TFL, 2 SK, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF Emmett Tela, Weber State, Linebacker, 6-1, 220, Provo, Utah 5 games: 53 TKL, 35 Solo, 7 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 QBH Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Free Safety, 6-1, 190, Northport, Ala. 5 games: 22 TKL, 14 Solo, 0.5 TFL, 3 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 205, Maple Grove, Minn. 5 games: 19 receptions, 338 yards, 17.8 ypc, 3 TD; 1 carry, 52 yards Blaine Woodson, Delaware, Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 270, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 5 games: 25 TKL, 14 Solo, 6.5 TFL, 5 SACKS, 1 QBH THE NEW QB AT EASTERN WASHINGTON Some football teams will scale down their offense when the backup quarterback replaces the starter because of injury. Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin doesnt plan on taking that approach with little-used Jordan West, who is replacing the Big Sky Conferences most dominant player, Vernon Adams Jr., after the 2013 Walter Payton Award runner- up suffered a broken right foot against Idaho State last Saturday. He is expected to be sidelined for 3-6 weeks. I dont like using the term manage a game when it comes to the quarterback position, Baldwin said. I like to use the term go out and be great. Adams has been great for three seasons. Now second-ranked Eastern Washington (5-1) has gone to West, beginning with Saturdays visit to Southern Utah, the last Big Sky team to beat the Eagles two years ago. West is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound redshirt sophomore out of Maple Valley, Washington. He did not play in any games last season, but has appeared in three this season, completing 7-of-11 pass attempts for 62 yards as well as one touchdown in the opening win over Sam Houston State. He lost a fumble on his only rushing attempt. Jordan has a little more I think athleticism than some guys his size, Baldwin said. Hes a 6-4 guy but can get out and move. We even were joking that straight-ahead speed hes faster than Vernon. Weve had arguments in our quarterback room - Vernon doesnt necessarily agree - but hes got some abilities outside of just being a 6-4, tall guy with a live arm. Youre out there to make plays within our offense. Were going to stay attacking, were going to keep that mentality. Thats not going to change no matter who it is. FCS TOP 25 AND AWARDS The Sports Network FCS Top 25 can be found at http://tinyurl.com/88q2k7t. The FCS Awards package can be found at http://tinyurl.com/n5ysh8x. WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS Last Weeks Record: 42-16 (.724) This Seasons Record: 333-75 (.816) X-Predicted Winner Top 25 With four matchups between ranked teams, theres another dandy of a schedule on Saturday. Top-ranked North Dakota State is in jeopardy of losing for the first time in nearly two years (17-14 to Indiana State on Oct. 13, 2012). Saturday, Oct. 11 Rhode Island (0-5, 0-1 CAA) at X-No. 6 Villanova (4-1, 2-0), 1 p.m. After the injury to Adams at Eastern Washington, Nova quarterback John Robertson may have become the favorite for the Walter Payton Award. URIs defense is allowing 6.4 yards per carry. Thats not going to work against Robertson. Penn (0-3) at X-No. 14 Fordham (5-1), 1 p.m. The Rams offense (41.3 points per game) is in high gear and wont take pity on a Penn team with an unfathomable seven-game losing streak dating to last season. Wide receivers Tebucky Jones Jr., Sam Ajala and Brian Wetzel rank in the top four in the Patriot League in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game. But this is also a trap game considering the Rams are coming off two league wins and are stepping back out of conference. X-No. 3 Coastal Carolina (6-0, 0-0 Big South) at Presbyterian (3-2, 0-0), 2 p.m. Presbyterian is 3-0 at home, including a tight win over a Furman squad that just took unbeaten Coastal to overtime. Who said place-kickers arent football players? Chanticleers senior Alex Catron has five tackles on kick coverage this season after collecting eight stops a year ago. No. 12 Southern Illinois (5-1, 2-0 Missouri Valley) at X-No. 1 North Dakota State (5-0, 2-0), 2 p.m. Guess whos leading the Missouri Valley title race - its not three-time reigning FCS champion NDSU. The Salukis have enough firepower to outscore a NDSU offense thats been very good but not great, but the Bison defense might have had this assignment circled on its calendar. The Bison have won 29 straight games as well as 14 in a row in the Missouri Valley, tying the Salukis conference record for consecutive wins set in 2008 and 09. X-No. 15 Illinois State (4-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley) at No. 20 Indiana State (4-1, 1-0), 3 p.m. The unbeaten Redbirds, making their first trip off campus, lead the FCS in scoring defense (7.8 points per game). Indiana State is winning behind quarterback Mike Perish but without much of a run game or an ability to convert consistently on third downs. Such inefficiency is going to catch up to the Sycamores if it doesnt change soon. X-No. 8 Jacksonville State (4-1, 2-0 OVC) at No. 25 Tennessee State (4-2, 1-1), 3 p.m. Jacksonville State has had four different players rush for at least 100 yards in a game this season, the latest being Miles Jones with 150 yards against UT Martin. Inconsistent Tennessee State hopes to put the smaller confines of Hale Stadium (15,000) to good use. A potential difference maker: the Tigers are only 4-of-12 on field goal attempts and 20-of-23 on PAT tries. X-No. 2 Eastern Washington (5-1, 2-0 Big Sky) at Southern Utah (1-5, 1-1), 3:05 p.m. With EWU going West (Jordan West in for the injured Adams), the Thunderbirds and defensive end James Cowser (an FCS-high 15 tackles for loss) will apply pressure on the inexperienced QB. The T-Birds upset the Eagles at home two years ago, but the visitors have beaten 14 straight Big Sky opponents (12 were conference games) since then. Both teams allow 36.8 points per game. X-No. 22 Richmond (3-2, 0-1 CAA) at Albany (4-1, 1-1), 3:30 p.m. As far as CAA Football title hopes go, this appears to be a breaking point for one of these teams. Richmond wins with Michael Strauss passing and Albany wins with a ball-control offense and tight defense. The turnover margin doesnt get much more disparity than Albany at plus-12 and Richmond at minus-nine. FCS Game of the Week: No. 10 William & Mary (4-1, 0-0 CAA) at X-No. 4 New Hampshire (4-1, 2-0), 3:30 p.m. William & Mary has long been kryptonite to UNH and coach Sean McDonnell, who is 1-10 against the Tribe. But it doesnt matter if its Sean Goldrich (injured) or Andy Vailas (the starter) under center, UNHs offense is better than William & Marys and the Wildcats will win on Homecoming Day. X-No. 23 Southeast Missouri State (4-2, 2-0 OVC) at Murray State (1-4, 0-2), 4 p.m. Here come the red-hot Redhawks, whose three-game winning streak includes wins over two nationally ranked opponents (Southeastern Louisiana and Tennessee State). They better have cornerback Tim Hamm-Bey ready to deflect passes. Murray QB K.D. Humphries set the Ohio Valley Conference single-game completions record (48) against Tennessee Tech a week ago. X-No. 21 Northern Iowa (2-3, 0-1 Missouri Valley) at South Dakota (2-3, 0-1), 4 p.m. This is a pivotal road trip for UNI, whose margin for error in terms of gaining an FCS playoff bid is dwindling. UNI takes away the run and USD sophomore quarterback Ryan Saeger is still feeling his way along (Kevin Earl might return from a hand injury which has sidelined him for four games). For the host Coyotes, this makes an incredible eight straight FCS opponents which have been nationally ranked. X-No. 5 McNeese State (3-1, 1-0 Southland) at Sam Houston State (2-3, 1-0), 4 p.m. Sam Houston has won its last 10 Southland Conference home games and had a bye week to prep for this key matchup. Its been a while since McNeese faced a tough opponent (Sept. 6 at Nebraska). The Cowboys dont have a dominant pass rusher, but the host Bearkats have struggled to protect QB Jared Johnson. Howard (1-5, 0-3 MEAC) at X-No. 18 Bethune-Cookman (4-1, 1-0), 4 p.m. Bethune did a good job shaking off some recent doldrums by limiting Delaware State to 168 yards and seven points last Saturday. Leading tackler Tavarus Dantzler has a name that rings of a playmaker, and hes just that. No. 13 Chattanooga (3-2) at X-Tennessee (2-3), 4 p.m. The Mocs trail in the series, 35-2-2, as it resumes for the first time since 1969. With a run of Southern Conference games ahead, the Mocs want to play well but avoid injuries. Their special teams have been exceptional this season. X-Eastern Illinois (1-4, 1-0 OVC) at No. 17 Eastern Kentucky (5-0, 2-0), 6 p.m. The winner of this game has gone on to claim at least a share of the conference title in seven of the past nine seasons. Despite its 1-4 record, EIU has outgained its opponent in yards in all five games. EIUs opponents are a combined 16-10; EKUs are 4-23. As EKU has built its best start since 1990, transfer running back DyShawn Mobley has become the OVC rushing leader (530 yards) on 8.2 yards per carry. Western Illinois (2-4, 0-2 Missouri Valley) at X-No. 16 Youngstown State (4-1, 1-0), 7 p.m. The Penguins face a must-have win considering the second half of their schedule is brutally tough. WIU led North Dakota State through three quarters last Saturday and should go right back to giving the ball to running back J.C. Baker (105.8 ypg). YSU counters with its own terrific back in Martin Ruiz (106.6 ypg) X-No. 11 Montana State (4-2, 2-0 Big Sky) at UC Davis (1-4, 0-2), 7 p.m. With a second straight trip to California, the Bobcats would love for quarterback Dakota Prukop, The Sports Network National FCS Offensive Player of the Week, to pick up where he left off against Sacramento State in a 59-56 win. He can thank kick returner Gunnar Brekke and all-purpose back Shawn Johnson for helping to set up the offense. Missouri State (3-2, 0-1 Missouri Valley) at X-No. 19 South Dakota State (3-2, 0-1), 7 p.m. SDSU back Zach Zenners usual 100-yard game will push him into the top 10 of FCS career rushing leaders. Missouri State beat the Jackrabbits by two touchdowns a year ago. X-No. 9 Southeastern Louisiana (4-2, 2-0 Southland) at Lamar (4-2, 1-1), 7 p.m. An upset by Lamar would make the Cardinals season, so the visiting Lions have to be on guard. The Lions had four interceptions against Northwestern State last Saturday and an impressive 11 for the season. They face a tough assignment in Cardinals QB Caleb Berry. No. 24 Charleston Southern (5-0) at X-Vanderbilt (1-5), 7:30 p.m. It doesnt matter how strong (not this) or weak (this) CSUs level of opponents has been this season, the Buccaneers arent going to beat an SEC team (and theres another one on their schedule, Georgia). Still, coach Jamey Chadwell has done a phenomenal job in two seasons (a 15-3 record). Senior Christian Reyes has 1,604 career rushing yards and will become CSUs all-time leader. Non-Ranked Conference Division leaders face off in the Southwestern Athletic Conference as East front-runner Alcorn State (5-1, 3-0) visits Grambling State (3-3, 3-0), which has won its last three games after winning only two of its previous 26 games. Two of the four Ivy League teams tied for the early lead in the standings will push to 2-0 in league play. Harvard will have no trouble against Cornell, leaving Dartmouth and Yale to battle each other for another top spot (Princeton is playing out of league). No FCS team is averaging more points than Yale (51.3 per game) this season. Thursday, Oct. 9 Tennessee Tech (2-3, 1-1 OVC) at X-UT Martin (1-5, 0-3), 7:30 p.m. Hampton (1-4, 0-1 MEAC) at X-North Carolina A&T (4-2, 1-1), 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 Butler (3-2, 1-1 Pioneer) at X-Campbell (2-3, 2-0), noon X-Dayton (3-1, 1-0 Pioneer) at Marist (1-5, 1-2), noon Saint Francis (2-3, 0-0 NEC) at X-Wagner (2-3, 0-0), noon Robert Morris (0-5, 0-0 NEC) at X-Sacred Heart (4-1, 0-0), noon Towson (2-4, 0-2 CAA) at X-James Madison (3-3, 1-2), 12:30 p.m. Bucknell (4-1, 0-0 Patriot) at X-Lehigh (0-4, 0-0), 12:30 p.m. X-Duquesne (3-2, 0-0 NEC) at Central Connecticut State (2-3, 0-0), 1 p.m. Dartmouth (2-1, 1-0 Ivy) at X-Yale (3-0, 1-0), 1 p.m. Cornell (0-3, 0-1 Ivy) at X-Harvard (3-0, 1-0), 1 p.m. X-Jacksonville (4-1, 3-0 Pioneer) at Morehead State (2-3, 1-1), 1 p.m. North Carolina Central (2-3, 1-0 MEAC) at X-South Carolina State (4-2, 2-0), 2 p.m. Davidson (1-5, 0-2 Pioneer) at X-Drake (2-3, 1-1), 2 p.m. X-Southern (3-3, 2-1 SWAC) at Alabama A&M (2-4, 1-2), 2 p.m. Delaware State (1-5, 1-1 MEAC) at X-Norfolk State (2-4, 2-0), 2 p.m. X-Portland State (2-3, 1-0 Big Sky) at North Dakota (2-4, 0-2), 2:30 p.m. Mississippi Valley State (1-5, 0-4 SWAC) at X-Jackson State (3-3, 1-2), 3 p.m. X-Cal Poly (2-3, 1-1 Big Sky) at Weber State (0-5, 0-1), 3 p.m. X-Alcorn State (5-1, 3-0 SWAC) at Grambling State (3-3, 3-0), 3 p.m. X-Alabama State (4-2, 3-1 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (1-4, 1-3), 3 p.m. Elon (1-4, 0-1 CAA) at X-Delaware (3-2, 1-0), 3:30 p.m. X-Wofford (3-2, 1-0 Southern) at Western Carolina (3-2, 1-0), 3:30 p.m. X-Sacramento State (3-3, 0-2 Big Sky) at Northern Colorado (2-3, 1-1), 3:30 p.m. Georgetown (2-4, 0-1 Patriot) at X-Lafayette (2-3, 0-1), 3:30 p.m. Stetson (2-3, 0-1 Pioneer) at X-San Diego (3-1, 1-1), 5 p.m. Savannah State (0-5, 0-2 MEAC) at X-Florida A&M (0-5, 0-1), 5 p.m. X-Stephen F. Austin (3-2, 0-1 Southland) at Nicholls (0-6, 0-2), 7 p.m. Incarnate Word (1-5, 1-2 Southland) at X-Northwestern State (2-3, 0-1), 7 p.m. Maine (2-3, 1-1 CAA) at X-Stony Brook (2-3, 1-0), 7 p.m. Houston Baptist (1-4, 0-2 Southland) at X-Central Arkansas (3-3, 2-0), 7 p.m. Non-Ranked Non-Conference The Citadel (1-4) has been a victim of bad luck. Three of the Bulldogs four losses are against unbeaten teams, including Florida State, and they just lost by four points to Southern Conference rival Wofford on a game-ending goal line stance. But the Bulldogs triple option figures to provide fits for Charlotte on Saturday. Saturday, Oct. 11 X-Holy Cross (2-4) at Brown (1-2), 12:30 p.m. Columbia (0-3) at X-Monmouth (4-1), 1 p.m. X-Princeton (2-1) at Colgate (3-2), 1 p.m. Missouri Baptist (0-6) at X-Valparaiso (1-4), 2 p.m. Charlotte (3-3) at X-The Citadel (1-4), 2 p.m. Ave Maria (1-4) at X-Abilene Christian (3-3), 3 p.m. Austin Peay (0-5) at X-Mercer (4-2), 4 p.m. Simon Fraser (1-4) at X-Idaho State (2-3), 4:35 p.m. . Non-Ranked FCS-FBS After no FCS-FBS matchups took place a week ago, there are four on Saturday (two listed in Top 25 section). The best opportunity for the FCS is Liberty taking on former FCS powerhouse Appalachian State, now in the Sun Belt Conference. FCS teams are 7-88 against FBS opponents this season. Saturday, Oct. 11 VMI (1-5) at X-Navy (2-4), 3:30 p.m. Liberty (3-3) at X-Appalachian State (1-4), 3:30 p.m. Nmd r1 Norge .Y. - The New York Rangers have reached a one-year contract extension with goalie Cam Talbot, keeping Henrik Lundqvists backup away from unrestricted free agency. Nmds Norge . Its the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule. Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan. http://www.nmdnorgesalg.com/lite-racer-sko-norge.html . -- Blake Griffin scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds, DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 22 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers outlasted the Golden State Warriors 98-96 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.Oeiras, Portugal (SportsNetwork.com) - Top seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain beat two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia to capture her first WTA title at the Portugal Open, a clay court French Open tune-up. Suarez Navarro defeated Kuznetsova, the No. 7 seed, by a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 score in Saturdays final. The Spaniard battled back from 4-1 down in the third set to record her 26th victory of the season. "Im very happy I could finally win my first WTA title," Suarez Navarro said. "I was a little bit nervous today. It was a difficult match too -- it was windy today and we were both making mistakes, and we know each other well, but the most important thing for me today was just to be solid all the time. "On match ppoint I was only thinking to put the ball in, and thats what I did, and I felt so good when I finally finished the match. Billig Nmd Sko. . The ceremony was very special for me. I really love this tournament." The 25-year-old Suarez Navarro was runner-up here the last two years. She improved to 1-5 in career finals. Kuznetsova fell to 13-20 for her career in title matches. "I tried to fight, but unfortunately it didnt happen today, and I want to congratulate Carla on a great week," Kuznetsova said. "Its definitely an amazing feeling to win your first WTA title." The world No. 29 Kuznetsova entered Saturdays match with a 3-1 lifetime record against the Spaniard. Suarez Navarro took home $48,000 with the victory. ' ' '