Pelicans travel to Orlando

The New Orleans Pelicans are off to a quick 2-0 start in the preseason as the new members of the
roster work together to become a fluid squad. Coach Monty Williams said recently his team has
to focus on playing better defense and keeping opponents out of the lane.
The Pelicans return to action tonight for their third consecutive road contest, facing off with
the Orlando Magic. The Pelicans opened the preseason Saturday night in Houston, earning a
116-114 victory over center Dwight Howard and the Rockets, following up with a 94-92 squeaker
over Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks on Monday.

St. Tammany Parish volleyball results

In local volleyball action, the Northshore Lady Panthers upped their district record to 5-1 and
8-9 overall, sweeping Slidell, 25-14, 25-20, 25-13 led by the consistent play of Hailey
Kirkpatrick, who polished off a match-high 20 kills with 9 digs, and 5 aces. Hannah Epperley
delivered 27 assists and 5 digs, while Adora Anadi contributed 6 kills with 2 blocks. Kacie
Brandt finished with 6 kills and Katherine Cognevich netted 5. Slidell's Erica Bennett
knocked down 6 kills followed by Jaslyn Bright with 5. Riley Herdliska connected for 18 assists
and Kacie Livingston pulled up 6 digs to pace the Lady Tigers, who slipped to 1-5 in district
play.
Mandeville's Lady Skippers evened their district mark at 3-3, topping the Covington Lady Lions,
by identical 25-9 scores in all three sets. MHS, 8-12 overall, was led by Caroline Hasse with 9
kills and 6 blocks. Marissa LeCompte netted six kills and added four blocks as the Lady Skippers
controlled play at the net. Sarah Rinaudo contributed 18 assists with four aces. Ali LeBlanc finished with 9 digs followed by Amber Sheffield with 5. Covington, 6-12, had 10 kills from Douglisha Hamilton with Bella Biondini passing off for 10 assists. Donna Montgomery added 8 digs for the Lady Lions.
Mandeville hosts the Ponchatoula Green Wave tomorrow afternoon at 5 in a Pink Game to benefit the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center fund.
The Lakeshore Lady Titans topped SSA, 25-18, 25-22, 25-17 at home yesterday. Lakeshore moved
to 24-4 and 3-0 in district. SSA, 16-9, suffered its first district loss and is  2-1.
Lakeshore's Raven Daniels, Madison Grapp and Skylar Pepper delivered five kills each, while
Grapp netted 14 assists. Brooke Blackshear served five aces and Daniels added 3. Daniels
also had 5 blocks and Grapp added 4. Kacie Freeman pulled up 17 digs with three aces. Julia
Dean contributed 6 blocks.
SSA's Maddie Morris topped the Doves with 5 kills, 5 digs and 3 aces. Alexis Barcia and
Jessica Lucio added four kills each. Emma Estapa totaled 18 assists with six digs, while Natalie
Helm pulled up 3 digs with 3 blocks.  Northlake Christian School 18-8 and 1-1 in district returns to action this afternoon on the road against District foe Archbishop Hannan. The varsity only match gets underway at
4 o'clock.

   

City of New Orleans invited to bid on 2018 Super Bowl

The National Football League has invited the city of New Orleans along with Indianapolis and Minneapolis to bid for the right to host the 2018 Super Bowl. If selected, the Crescent City would be on display as it celebrates its Tricentennial and would host its record 11th Super Bowl party. Being a host for the Super Bowl is something the Big Easy has had lots of experience doing and it would be a major party for all key players having another opportunity to showcase our wonderful sports town and avid Black & Gold fan base.
If selected as the 2018 Super Bowl host city much of the credit would go to Saints' owner Tom Benson, who continues to play a key role as an ambassador convincing the NFL owners to consider our city as a potential host. Benson made a pitch in front of the Super Bowl Advisory Committee Monday and again yesterday speaking to the other 31 NFL team owners  at the Washington, D. C. meetings.

Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation president and CEO Jay Cicero, whose organization partnered
with the Saints to garner the invitation said, "I've got to hand it to Mr. Benson. We are very happy and very proud to be partnered with the Saints on this bid. Hopefully, if we are successful, we will be able to host a record 11th Super Bowl here in New Orleans in 2018," added Cicero.
The Saints continue their preparations for this week's opponent, 4-1 New England, traveling to
Foxboro, Mass., doing battle with Tom Brady and the Patriots.
The Saints are only one of three remaining undefeated teams joining the Denver Broncos and
the surprising Kansas City Chiefs. The Saints don't face either of those two teams during the
regular season.
The Saints squad had a much deserved day off yesterday and are off to their fourth 5-0 start,
having done that in 1991, 1993 and the Black & Gold's memorable Super Bowl season of 2009.
   

LSU's Zach Mettenberger named SEC Offensive Player of the Week

                  LSU senior QB Zach Mettenberger. Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated.CNN.com

LSU's Zach Mettenberger has been tabbed as the SEC Offensive Player of the
Week for his solid performance in the Tigers' 59-26 road victory the over the Mississippi
State Bulldogs. Mettenberger completed a career-high 25 passes in 29 attempts for 340 yards with
a pair of touchdown passes to Odell Beckham, Jr.
Mettenberger's 25 completions is the most by an LSU QB since Rohan Davey completed 31 passes in
the 2002 Sugar Bowl victory over Illinois.
Mettenberger helped lead the Tigers to 563 yards of total offense and the 59 points were the most
scored a SEC game by LSU since putting up 63 in a win over Kentucky in 1997.
Mettenberger also became just the fourth Tiger quarterback to throw for 300 yards in back-to-back games, and the first since Matt Flynn did it in 2007.
Mettenberger is on a roll leading the Tigers to a 5-1 start and 2-1 in the SEC throwing for 1,738 yards and 15 TDs. LSU is averaging 45.5 points per game and 488.8 yards of offense per contest. The Tigers have totaled 30 or more points in all six games and have reached the 400-yard mark in total offense in each of their six games, another LSU first.
LSU returns home this week after two tough road games where they split falling to Georgia 44-41
and are coming off their big win over Mississippi State, 59-26.
The Tigers are in Death Valley Saturday hosting the Florida Gators. The game kicks off at 2:30
and will be aired on CBS.  

Atlanta Falcons drop Monday Night contest

The New Orleans Saints received some help in the NFC South race last night from the New York Jets
as they edged the Atlanta Falcons 30-28 in a down-to-the-wire Monday Night Football thriller.
New York rookie quarterback Geno Smith out dueled Matt Ryan sending the Jets home victorious on
Rick Volk's game-winning field goal as time expired in the Atlanta Dome.
Smith completed 16-of-20 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns leading the Jets to the
game-winning field goal on a late fourth quarter drive on the final possession after Ryan had
driven the Falcons down the field for a late TD to put Atlanta up 28-27. Ryan finished with 319
yards and two TDs, completing 36-of-45 attempts. Falcons' tight end Tony Gonzalez caught 10
passes for 97 yards, while Julio Jones hauled in eight receptions for 99 yards.
Atlanta slipped to 1-4 and trail the 5-0 Saints by four games in the NFC South race. The Saints
put their unbeaten streak on the line Sunday heading to Foxboro, Mass., to take on the 4-1
Patriots, who dropped their first game falling to Cincinnati 13-6 on Sunday.