Coaches Poll

The South Jersey Soccer Coaches Tournament will be selected after the final of four polls are released. The cutoff date is Oct. 9, and the top 16 teams in the Coaches Poll will earn bids. If a team declines, the next highest-ranked team will be invited. Poll voters must submit their top-20 ballots each Sunday. Most of the voters are coaches, although this reporter votes in both the boys' and girls' poll. Here is the first poll. Girls' soccer: 1, Lenape; 2, Eastern; 3, Paul VI; 4, Williamstown; 5, Washington Township; 6, Gloucester Catholic; 7, Bishop Eustace; 8, Timber Creek; 9 (tie)

The South Jersey Soccer Coaches Tournament will be selected after the final of four polls are released. The cutoff date is Oct. 9, and the top 16 teams in the Coaches Poll will earn bids. If a team declines, the next highest-ranked team will be invited. Poll voters must submit their Top 20 ballots each Sunday. Most of the voters are coaches, although this reporter votes in both the boys' and girls' poll. Here is the first poll. Girls' soccer: 1, Lenape; 2, Eastern; 3, Paul VI; 4, Williamstown; 5, Washington Township; 6, Gloucester Catholic; 7, Bishop Eustace; 8, Timber Creek; 9 (tie)

Temple's loss to St. Joseph's was costly, just not as costly as some might have expected. The Owls (22-6) are ranked 23d in the Associated Press poll and 25th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, released Monday. They were ranked 22d in both polls before losing to the Hawks on Saturday night at Hagan Arena. "I'm kind of surprised," Temple guard Ramone Moore said of remaining ranked. "I thought we would drop out. "But that kind of shows you what type of team St. Joe's is. " It also show the respect that Temple is starting to receive from the media and opposing coaches.

Temple's loss to St. Joseph's was costly, just not as costly as some might have expected. The Owls (22-6) are ranked 23d in the Associated Press poll and 25th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, released Monday. They were ranked 22d in both polls before losing to the Hawks on Saturday night at Hagan Arena. "I'm kind of surprised," Temple guard Ramone Moore said of remaining ranked. "I thought we would drop out. "But that kind of shows you what type of team St. Joe's is. " It also show the respect that Temple is starting to receive from the media and opposing coaches.

Villanova maintained its position as the No. 2-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll. Villanova (3-0) received 627 points and trails top-ranked Richmond, which received 25 first-place votes and had 673 points. The Wildcats host Northeastern on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Penn, with seven points, is among other teams receiving votes. Owl honored Temple placekicker Brandon McManus earned Mid-American Conference special teams Player of the Week honors for the East Division.

The playoffs are clearly in sight for Villanova, which faces three top 25 teams in the next three weeks. The Wildcats are 6-2 (4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) and are tied for first with New Hampshire. "The biggest thing I discussed with our team is, rarely in life [do] you have an opportunity to claim your own destiny and determine your future, and I think right now we have control of our destiny as a football team," Villanova coach Andy Talley said. Villanova will face Towson, James Madison, and Delaware in its final three games.

Glassboro at Gloucester Catholic, Tuesday, 7 p.m (at 152 S. Delsea Dr., Glassboro). Gloucester Catholic won the first meeting by 1-0 in overtime, and this one is expected to be just as close. For Gloucester Catholic, it's a game that the Rams need in order to keep impressing the voters for a spot in the South Jersey Coaches Tournament. The Rams are ranked No. 13 in the Coaches Poll, with the top 16 teams earning invitations to the tournament. Other games to watch: Eastern at Cherry Hill West, Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.; Williamstown at Clearview, Wednesday, 4:00; Burlington Township at Cinnaminson, Thursday, 3:45; Delran at Rancocas Valley, Thursday, 3:45; West Deptford at Haddon Heights, Thursday, 3:45; Shawnee at Cherry Hill West, Friday, 3:30; Pitman at Schalick, Friday, 3:45; Timber Creek at Bishop Eustace, Saturday, 10 a.m.; Clearview at Moorestown, Saturday, 11; Eastern at West Deptford, Saturday, 7 p.m.; Rancocas Valley at Cinnaminson, Monday, 3:45; Haddon Heights at Haddon Township, Monday, 3:45; Lenape at Cherokee, Monday, 3:45; Bishop Eustace at Seneca, Monday, 7.

Now the college football world can argue over who's smarter - coaches or reporters. Penn State remained No. 1 in the USA Today/CNN coaches poll by a mere two points, but the Nittany Lions were voted out of the top spot and replaced by Nebraska in yesterday's Associated Press news media poll. It's a difference of opinion, and like it or not, opinion is all that really matters, because the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers will not settle the score on the field. These two undefeated teams can't meet in a bowl game.

A review of top-ranked Penn State's victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Offensive star Mike McQueary, quarterback. If he's the problem, this team is a lock to go unbeaten. All McQueary did in his first collegiate start was set school records for passing yards and total offense. He was 21 of 36 passing for 366 yards, breaking Todd Blackledge's record of 358 yards, set against Miami in 1981. His 370 yards of total offense broke John Hufnagel's record of 363, set against Boston College in 1972.

AGENDA What: Pittsburgh (3-10) at Soul (11-3) When: Sunday, 6:05 p.m. Where: Wells Fargo Center (19,500) TV: The Comcast Network Radio: None Internet: UStream.com or PhiladelphiaSoul.com Tickets: Team's website or 888-789-SOUL (ext. 3) About the Power: Only win in last eight games was a forfeit by Cleveland on June 8 … The Power's quarterback is Bryan Randall, who led Virginia Tech to the Sugar Bowl after the 2004 season?…?Former NFL quarterback Mike Tomczak was brought in midseason as the offensive coordinator.

The playoffs are clearly in sight for Villanova, which faces three top 25 teams in the next three weeks. The Wildcats are 6-2 (4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) and are tied for first with New Hampshire. "The biggest thing I discussed with our team is, rarely in life [do] you have an opportunity to claim your own destiny and determine your future, and I think right now we have control of our destiny as a football team," Villanova coach Andy Talley said. Villanova will face Towson, James Madison, and Delaware in its final three games.

Thanks to Saturday's 49-24 win at Georgia State, Villanova is 6-2 and tied for first place with New Hampshire in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 4-1 mark. The Wildcats, vying for a Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth, also are ranked in both the FCS coaches poll and the Sports Network FCS poll for the first time this season. Villanova made its debut in the coaches poll at No. 23 Monday after being in the "receiving votes" category last week. The Wildcats are 19th in the Sports Network FCS poll after being ranked 24th last week.

NEW YORK - Alabama and Louisiana State are back atop the Associated Press college football poll, holding down Nos. 1 and 2 the way they did most of last season. The Crimson Tide are No. 1 for the third straight week, and it was almost unanimous. Alabama received 58 of 60 first-place votes. LSU got the other two. The Southeastern Conference rivals were ranked first and second for eight weeks during last season before eventually meeting in the BCS title game. The difference last year was LSU was first and Alabama second - until the Tide won the national championship game.

DESPITE ITS lopsided loss to Alabama in last January's BCS national title game, LSU will open the 2012 season ranked No. 1 in at least one poll. LSU sits atop the USA Today Top 25 coaches poll released on Thursday, with Alabama second and Southern California third. LSU received 18 first-place votes, slightly fewer that the 20 first-place votes for the Crimson Tide and 19 first-place votes for the Trojans. Still, the Tigers narrowly had the most overall points in the poll, which awards 25 points for a No. 1 vote down to one point for 25th.

Agenda Who: Soul (14-3) vs. Utah (12-5) When: Sunday, 6:05 p.m. Where: Wells Fargo Center TV: None. Internet: www.UStream.tv/PhiladelphiaSoul About the Blaze: Needs a win to clinch the West Division, the toughest in the AFL?…?Offensive coordinator Matt Sauk and defensive coordinator Rob Keefe each once played for the Soul. Keefe was the head coach for Spokane's championship team in 2010?…?Quarterback Tommy Grady is a leading MVP candidate.

Villanova second baseman Tyler Sciacca won the Big Five player of the week honor on Monday and La Salle's Pat Christensen was named the pitcher of the week. Christensen (4-2), who got the win in a 12-inning, 2-1 victory at Fordham on Saturday, leads the Atlantic Ten with eight saves. The junior has struck out 44 batters in 331/3 innings while walking six. Widener's Josh Fox (Lower Merion) was named the Commonwealth Conference men's lacrosse player of the week after scoring eight goals in a pair of victories and Mac Nestler was named the league's goalkeeper of the week.

Saturday at 7 p.m., the Arena at Gwinnett Center, in Duluth, Ga Radio: ESPN (950-AM) Soul update: The Soul (2-1) are coming off a disappointing loss to Cleveland on Sunday. . . . Wide receiver Donovan Morgan has a fracture in his left wrist and will be out four to six weeks. Morgan leads the team with 23 receptions and eight touchdown catches. Emery Sammons will take his spot in the lineup. . . . Connor Hughes will be the team's kicker again this week as starter Phil Marfuggi continues to rehab a hamstring injury.

Temple's loss to St. Joseph's was costly, just not as costly as some might have expected. The Owls (22-6) are ranked 23d in the Associated Press poll and 25th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, released Monday. They were ranked 22d in both polls before losing to the Hawks on Saturday night at Hagan Arena. "I'm kind of surprised," Temple guard Ramone Moore said of remaining ranked. "I thought we would drop out. "But that kind of shows you what type of team St. Joe's is. " It also show the respect that Temple is starting to receive from the media and opposing coaches.

Temple's loss to St. Joseph's was costly, just not as costly as some might have expected. The Owls (22-6) are ranked 23d in the Associated Press poll and 25th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, released Monday. They were ranked 22d in both polls before losing to the Hawks on Saturday night at Hagan Arena. "I'm kind of surprised," Temple guard Ramone Moore said of remaining ranked. "I thought we would drop out. "But that kind of shows you what type of team St. Joe's is. " It also show the respect that Temple is starting to receive from the media and opposing coaches.