Newcomers Wilson and Bogavac power No. 25 North Carolina to a 94-54 rout of Central Arkansas

Newcomers Wilson and Bogavac power No. 25 North Carolina to a 94-54 rout of Central Arkansas

By BOB SUTTON Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Caleb Wilson scored 22 points and Luka Bogavac added 10 points and five assists in their North Carolina debuts as the No. 25 Tar Heels beat Central Arkansas 94-54 in the teams’ season opener on Monday night.

Kyan Evans hit four 3-pointers and scored 15 points, Henri Veesaar added 14 points and 10 rebounds and Seth Trimble scored 12 points as the Tar Heels won their opener for the 21st consecutive season.

Cole McCormick led Central Arkansas with nine points, though he went to the bench with his fourth foul early in the second half and fouled out with 4:56 left.

The 22-year-old Bogavac, a 6-goot-6 guard from Montenegro whose eligibility clearance was announced by the university about 30 minutes before tipoff, entered as the game’s first substitute and piled up eight points and three assists by halftime.

Wilson shot 8 for 10 from the field with a variety of dunks and made his only 3-point attempt. Wilson and Evans had 12 points apiece in the first half, which ended with North Carolina holding a 51-23 lead.

North Carolina’s 18-0 first-half run stretched the margin to 39-13 as the Bears went almost eight minutes without a point. The Tar Heels grabbed 10 offensive rebounds before the break and outscored Central Arkansas 11-0 on free throws.

Central Arkansas, playing the first of four nonconference matchups against power-conference opponents in the first two months of the season, shot 31.3% from the field. Eight of the Bears’ 20 field goals were 3-pointers.

Up Next

Central Arkansas: At home against Champion Christian on Saturday.

North Carolina: Hosts No. 19 Kansas on Friday.

Panthers may be potential playoff contender after 7 straight seasons of missing postseason

Panthers may be potential playoff contender after 7 straight seasons of missing postseason

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has waited seven years for a playoff contender.

He might finally have one after the Panthers’ 16-13 win over the heavily favored Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Packers came in with the NFC’s best record and only one loss, but it was the Panthers who controlled the game from the onset and rode Rico Dowdle and the run game and a tough defense to their fourth straight victory with 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young — who didn’t play last week in a loss to Buffalo — under center.

This is the deepest in the season the Panthers have been above .500 since 2019, when they were also 5-4, but proceeded to lose their final seven games.

Tepper has not been to the playoffs since purchasing the team in 2018.

This year, the Panthers have a chance to surprise some around the NFL with Sunday’s win leaving them just one game behind Chicago and Detroit (both 5-3) in the race for an NFC wild-card spot.

Commentator Julian Edelman quipped on Fox that the Packers were “playing with their food” after the Panthers took a lead into halftime.

But Carolina’s defense never allowed Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs to get on track in the second half and used a last-second field goal by rookie Ryan Fitzgerald to pull off their biggest win in Dave Canales’ two seasons.

Now the question becomes whether the Panthers can sustain the momentum.

“Can we capture this style of football? It didn’t show up for us last week,” Canales said. “It showed up for us today, to get back to our basics and execute. These are the things you need to know what to expect when we get into close games like this.”

What’s working

Canales made the right decision by ditching his split-carry backfield approach and riding with the hot hand in Dowdle on Sunday. Dowdle rewarded Canales’ decision with yet another magnificent performance, carrying 25 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

It had become obvious that Dowdle was the faster and stronger of the two backs after he spent two weeks splitting carries with Chuba Hubbard.

“From carry one, it was attitude, it was aggression and violence at the end of it, and it really does affect the group,” Canales said. “It affects the whole sideline when they see that kind of energy and that kind of violence. It gives them confidence and it’s who we want to be. So, I just really loved what he was able to do.”

Hubbard only got five carries.

What needs help

The Panthers still need to eliminate silly mistakes, particularly those in the red zone.

Young threw one interception in Green Bay territory and would have had another had a Packers defender been able to get two feet down in the end zone.

What’s surprising is that rookie Tetairoa McMillan, the team’s leading receiver, has not been a bigger factor near the end zone. After hauling in 26 touchdown passes in three seasons at the University of Arizona, this year’s No. 8 overall pick has just two this season — both coming against Dallas in Week 6.

Stock up

General manager Dan Morgan had a tough decision to make in the offseason on whether to keep unrestricted free agent kicker Eddy Pineiro after he had climbed the ranks to become the NFL’s third-most accurate field goal kicker. But the team privately had concerns about Pineiro’s leg strength — as well as his salary demands— and decided to roll the dice and go with undrafted rookie Ryan Fitzgerald.

The 2024 All-American from Florida State has already made some big kicks for Carolina, but none bigger than a difficult 49-yarder in the swirling wind at Lambeau Field to win Sunday’s game.

Fitzgerald is 14 of 16 on field goal attempts, although one of those misses is hard to pin on the rookie. Last week, Andy Dalton took a ill-advised sack on third down at the end of the first half and didn’t leave Fitzgerald and the kicking team enough time to run on the field and get set, resulting in a hurried miss.

Stock down

Dowdle has been terrific for the Panthers, but he and his teammates may want to tone down their touchdown celebrations.

On Sunday, Dowdle tested out his Hingle McCringleberry celebration from a “Key & Peele” skit by giving two thrusts of his hips. In the skit, “two pumps” is OK, but three is a penalty. In real life, it only took two for the officials to throw a flag on Dowdle for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The penalty backed up the Panthers 15 yards and Fitzgerald missed the ensuing extra point. Carolina led 13-6 instead of 14-6, which turned out to be important after the Packers tied it at 13.

Injuries

The Panthers reported no major injuries.

Key number

735 — The number of yards rushing for Dowdle this season, which ranks third in the league behind only Jonathan Taylor and James Cook. That’s rather remarkable considering Dowdle has only started three games.

Next steps

The Panthers return home to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and have been listed as a 4 1/2-point favorite, marking the first time this season they’ve been favored.

Tylenol, Kleenex, Band-Aid and more put under one roof in $48.7 billion consumer brands deal

Tylenol, Kleenex, Band-Aid and more put under one roof in $48.7 billion consumer brands deal

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

Kimberly-Clark is buying Tylenol maker Kenvue in a cash and stock deal worth about $48.7 billion, creating a massive consumer health goods company.

Shareholders of Kimberly-Clark will own about 54% of the combined company. Kenvue shareholders will own about 46% in what is one of the largest corporate takeovers this year.

The combined company will have a huge stable of household brands under one roof, putting Kenvue’s Listerine mouthwash and Band-Aid side-by-side with Kimberly-Clark’s Cottonelle toilet paper, Huggies and Kleenex tissues. It will also generate about $32 billion in annual revenue.

Kenvue has spent a relatively brief period as an independent company, having been spun off by Johnson & Johnson two years ago. J&J first announced in late 2021 that it was splitting its slow-growth consumer health division from the pharmaceutical and medical device divisions.

Kenvue has since been targeted by activist investors unhappy about the trajectory of the company and Wall Street appeared to anticipate some heavy lifting ahead for Kimberly-Clark.

Shares of Kimberly-Clark, based in just outside of Dallas, slumped 13% Monday. Kenvue’s stock jumped more than 15%.

Kenvue and Tylenol have been thrust into the national spotlight this year as President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted unproven and in some cases discredited ties between Tylenol, vaccines and the complex brain disorder autism.

Trump then urged pregnant women against using the medicine. That went beyond Food and Drug Administration advice that doctors “should consider minimizing” the painkiller acetaminophen’s use in pregnancy — amid inconclusive evidence about whether too much could be linked to autism.

Kennedy reiterated the FDA guidance during a press conference last week. He said that there isn’t sufficient evidence to link the drug to autism.

“We have asked physicians to minimize the use to when its absolutely necessary,” he said.

Kenvue has continued to push back on the Trump administration’s dialogue.

“Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products,” Kenvue said in a statement on its website. “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with allegations that it does and are deeply concerned about the health risks and confusion this poses for expecting mothers and parents.”

In July Kenvue, announced that CEO Thibaut Mongon was leaving in the midst of a strategic review with the company under mounting pressure from activist investors.

Kimberly-Clark Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu will be chairman and CEO of the combined company. Three members of the Kenvue’s board will join Kimberly-Clark’s board at closing. The combined company will keep Kimberly-Clark’s headquarters in Irving, Texas, but there will be significant operations around Kenvue facilities and locations as well.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of next year. It still needs approval from shareholders of both both companies.

Kenvue shareholders will receive $3.50 per share in cash and 0.14625 Kimberly-Clark shares for each Kenvue share held at closing. That amounts to $21.01 per share, based on the closing price of Kimberly-Clark shares on Friday.

Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue said that they identified about $1.9 billion in cost savings that are expected in the first three years after the transaction’s closing.

___

AP Health Writer Tom Murphy contributed to this report.

Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded after judges’ rulings

Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded after judges’ rulings

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday that it will partially fund SNAP after a pair of judges’ rulings required it to keep the food aid program running.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program starting Nov. 1 because it said it could no longer keep funding it due to the shutdown. The program serves about 1 in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. It costs about $8 billion per month nationally.

It’s not clear how much beneficiaries will receive, nor how quickly beneficiaries will see value show up on the debit cards they use to buy groceries. The process of loading the SNAP cards, which involves steps by state and federal government agencies and vendors, can take up to two weeks in some states. The average monthly benefit is usually about $190 per person.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the nation’s largest food program, said last month that benefits for November wouldn’t be paid out due to the federal government shutdown. That set off a scramble by food banks, state governments and the nearly 42 million Americans who receive the aid to find ways to ensure access to groceries.

Most states have boosted aid to food banks, and some are setting up systems to reload benefit cards with state taxpayer dollars.

It also spurred lawsuits.

Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled separately but similarly Friday, telling the government that it was required to use one fund with about $5 billion to pay for the program, at least in part. The benefits and administration cost over $8 billion per month.

The judges gave the government the option to use additional money to fully fund the program and a deadline of Monday to decide.

Judge John J. McConnell Jr., in Providence, Rhode Island, said if the government chose full funding, it would need to make payments Monday. With a partial version, which would require recalculating benefits, the payment deadline is Wednesday.

Trump said on social media Friday that he does “NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.” He said he was telling government lawyers to prepare SNAP payments as soon as possible.

Benefits will be delayed in November because many beneficiaries have their cards recharged early in the month and the process of loading cards can take weeks in many states.

Democratic state attorneys general or governors from 25 states, as well as the District of Columbia, challenged the plan to pause the program, contending that the administration has a legal obligation to keep it running in their jurisdictions. Cities and nonprofits also filed a lawsuit.

The USDA has a $5 billion contingency fund for the program, but the Trump administration reversed an earlier plan to use that money to keep SNAP running. Democratic officials argue that the administration could also use a separate fund of about $23 billion.

U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, said SNAP must be funded using at least contingency funds, and he asked for an update on progress by Monday.

In an additional order Saturday, McConnell said if the government makes full payments, it must do so by the end of the day Monday. If it chooses partial ones — which involve recalculating how much recipients get — those would need to be issued by Wednesday.

That does not mean people would necessarily see the payments that quickly, because the process of loading cards can take up to two weeks in some circumstances.

McConnell also ruled that all previous work requirement waivers must continue to be honored. During the shutdown, the USDA has terminated existing waivers that exempted work requirements for older adults, veterans and others.

In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled the suspension was unlawful and said USDA has to pay for SNAP. Talwani ordered the federal government to advise by Monday whether they will use emergency reserve funds to provide reduced SNAP benefits for November or fully fund the program using both contingency funds and additional available funds.

Advocates and beneficiaries say halting the food aid would force people to choose between buying groceries and paying other bills. The majority of states have announced more or expedited funding for food banks or novel ways to load at least some benefits onto the SNAP debit cards.

Rhode Island officials said Monday that under their program, SNAP beneficiaries who also receive benefits from another federal program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, received payments Saturday equal to one-fourth of what they typically get from SNAP. Officials in Delaware are telling recipients that benefits there won’t be available until at least Nov. 7.

To qualify for SNAP in 2025, a household’s net income after certain expenses can’t exceed the federal poverty line. For a family of four, that’s about $32,000 per year. Last year, SNAP assisted nearly 42 million people, about two-thirds of whom were families with children.

___

Associated Press reporter Kimberlee Kruesi in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed.

ESPN icon Dick Vitale is back for start of another college basketball season after cancer fight

ESPN icon Dick Vitale is back for start of another college basketball season after cancer fight

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer

The college basketball season has arrived, and broadcasting great Dick Vitale has taken a long journey to again meet the sport at its starting line.

Surgeries, radiation treatments and chemotherapy amid a cancer fight kept him off the airwaves for two years until his return shortly before March Madness. But on Tuesday, the 86-year-old Basketball Hall of Famer will call a marquee opener between No. 6 Duke and Texas in a new event named in his honor.

His fight to get here — armed with a contract through the 2027-28 season — has forced Vitale to change routines to best ensure his health. That includes learning to say “no” more often and talking less on the day of a game, all antithetical to Vitale’s full-blast persona.

Yet there’s no dampening the familiar zeal in everything he does, from breaking down a pick-and-roll or defensive rotation to raising money for pediatric cancer research. And as he inches closer to five decades with ESPN going back to its 1979 launch, he looks at being courtside as “like medicine, man.”

“I’ve been lucky,” Vitale said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’m 86 years old. And to be going on TV and go on after four cancer battles, I’m pinching myself. I really do. I mean, I find it amazing to be honest with you.”

Impacting the sport

Tuesday’s Duke-Texas game in Charlotte, North Carolina, is officially designated as the Dick Vitale Invitational. ESPN Events announced it in June as a tribute to the man whose exuberant style and enthusiastic catchphrases — Diaper Dandies! Better get a TO, baby! — have been a fixture in the sport, all the way back to him calling the network’s first college basketball broadcast.

“I’ve had critics over the years: obviously ‘he talks too much, he’s loud,'” he said. “You laugh about that because you can’t please everybody, you just can’t. But the one thing nobody’s ever criticized me about — ever — in 46 years: he wasn’t prepared. I believe in that so much.

“You know, people are entitled to opinions. People don’t all love you. But I try to do things the right way, I really do.”

Longhorns coach Sean Miller remembered being a high school player from Pennsylvania when Vitale worked one of his all-star games at the famed Dapper Dan Roundball Classic. He recalled the thrill of “what it feels like to have him say your name and talk about the game you’re in.”

Now, pushing 40 years later, Vitale will work Miller’s Texas debut.

“His passion for college basketball, his knowledge, he made the game better and certainly impacted coaches, players and teams,” Miller said. “I think he really created excitement with the fan base around the world to point them toward college basketball.

“The impact is immense. I look at him as a Hall of Famer. I’m honored, and I think we are honored as a program to be a part of this game.”

An open journey

Vitale’s fight started in 2021 with melanoma, followed by treatments for lymphoma. There were also chemotherapy treatments, radiation for vocal-cord cancer and surgery by summer 2024 to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck.

He has shared candid updates about his fight on social media and in interviews. That has included about how he felt “trapped” not being able to speak after the vocal-cord surgery, leaving him to scribble eraser-board messages to communicate. Or describing how much it helped getting support from family and friends, including from ESPN and network Chairman James Pitaro, he described as “my second family.”

And Vitale frequently uses his own story to shine a spotlight on others facing similar battles.

Vitale announced he was cancer-free in December and said recent scans continue offering good news, though he acknowledged the inherent anxiety that comes with living “scan to scan.” He returned to the airwaves in February, then became emotional during the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in March when telling colleagues live that it felt “like a miracle to sit here with you guys.”

Longtime ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas said Vitale deserves credit for how he handled “all that’s been thrown at him.”

“He’s been kind enough to be transparent and bring us all along on this difficult and inspiring journey that he’s been handling,” said Bilas, who will work alongside Vitale on Tuesday.

“But it’s been heartwarming that he’s confirmed for us that nobody goes through this alone. So it’ll be great to not only see him, but see him doing what he’s spent so much of his life doing, and experiencing what we all feel about him.”

New tweaks, same enthusiasm

Still, changes await.

He’s having to work on doing less in terms of podcasts, radio appearances or interviews to reduce the strain on his vocal cords, noting “I used to say yes to everybody.” He’ll be selective with how many games he takes on. He also expects to work in three-person broadcasting crews, rather than two, since it would require him to talk less.

And on game days, he’ll try to minimize how much he talks at all compared to days of going to shootarounds and gabbing with media colleagues.

Still, at least one thing won’t change: his “No. 1 obsession” to raise money for pediatric cancer research. The V Foundation announced earlier this year that the annual gala in Vitale’s name had raised more than $105 million in its 20-year history. And even in a brief AP interview, Vitale repeatedly went back to that topic — excitedly promoting the current V Foundation $100-per-chance raffle to win a 2026 BMW Z4 convertible at http://v.org/vitaleraffle and http://dickvitale.com.

That and his gratitude to be working Tuesday, calling his namesake event at the start of another season.

“It really moved me to tears,” Vitale said of the event’s launch. “I hope I don’t get emotional like that Tuesday, but who knows?”

___

AP Sports Writer Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.

Spinach and Cheddar Quiche

Spinach and Cheddar Quiche

This recipe is a lifesaver on busy nights. It’s fast, flavorful, and uses ingredients most of us already have on hand. Think stir-fried chicken, veggies, egg, and rice all in one pan.

Ingredients

  • 1 refrigerated pie crust
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cups fresh spinach (or 1 cup frozen, thawed and drained)
  • Optional: other veggies like tomato, chives, or green peppers
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (plus a little extra for topping)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: pinch of nutmeg or red pepper flakes for flavor

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2. Prepare the crust
Place the pie crust in a 9-inch pie dish. Press gently to fit, trim excess edges, and prick the bottom with a fork.

3. Sauté the filling
In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until soft. Then, stir in the spinach until wilted (or just warmed through if using frozen). Remove from heat.

4. Make the egg mixture
In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and other spices of your choice.

5. Assemble the quiche
Spread the spinach-onion mixture evenly in the crust. Sprinkle cheese on top. Pour the egg mixture over everything. Top with a little extra cheese.

6. Bake
Bake for 30–35 minutes, until the center is set and lightly golden. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing.

7. Serve and enjoy
Serve hot and enjoy this delicious, balanced breakfast dish!

November 3rd 2025

November 3rd 2025

Thought of the Day

Photo by Getty Image

An inch of time is an inch of gold but you can’t buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.

American Top 40, Brought to You by HearingLife

American Top 40, Brought to You by HearingLife

KIX 102FM is your home for the Original American Top 40 Countdown Shows with the legendary Casey Kasem. Saturdays at 6am and 8pm you can hear the 80s version and Sunday mornings at 9 it’s a trip back to the 70s. Brought to you this week by HearingLife of Apex. Your hearing keeps you connected to all you love, and it helps you to keep being you! While your hearing may change over time, don’t change with it.

Care for your hearing health and LOVE YOUR EARS. Call HearingLife today at 888.403.1949 to schedule your free hearing test. Our licensed hearing experts provide personalized care to meet your specific needs. We’ll even give you a $20 gift card when you complete your free test.

Visit HearingLife for more information.

Saturday on KIX 102 FM’s “American Top 40,” hear the hits from this week in 1982. Then calling himself “John Cougar,” Mr. Mellencamp is in the Top Five with “Jack & Diane.” Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes are looking strong for the #1 song, “Up Where We Belong.” Enjoy classic “American Top 40” on KIX 102 FM this Saturday from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m., with an encore presentation from 8 p.m. – midnight.

Sunday on KIX 102 FM, Casey Kasem hosts an “American Top 40” show that originally aired during this week in 1977. Linda Ronstadt has two songs in The Countdown. Plus, Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does it Better” hopes to knock off Debby Boone and “You Light Up My Life,” which has already spent three weeks in the Top Spot. Listen to The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX 102 FM!

Rico Dowdle’s big day and Ryan Fitzgerald’s big kick give Panthers 16-13 win over Packers

Rico Dowdle’s big day and Ryan Fitzgerald’s big kick give Panthers 16-13 win over Packers

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Rico Dowdle rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns, and his big run in the final minute set up Ryan Fitzgerald’s last-second 49-yard field goal as the Carolina Panthers beat Green Bay 16-13 on Sunday to snap the Packers’ three-game win streak.

The loss could prove costly for Green Bay (5-2-1). Packers star tight end Tucker Kraft was carted off the field with a knee injury in the third quarter.

Carolina (5-4), a two-touchdown underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook, bounced back from a 40-9 home loss to Buffalo to get back over .500.

Dowdle had been splitting time with Chuba Hubbard, but Panthers coach Dave Canales said Dowdle would get the bulk of the carries, and the move paid off.

Running behind an injury-riddled offensive line, Dowdle responded with a brilliant 25-carry performance that included one big mistake.

His second touchdown of the day gave the Panthers a 13-6 lead late in the third quarter. But he celebrated that score by thrusting his hips twice, an apparent reference to a “Key & Peele” sketch, and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Fitzgerald’s ensuing 48-yard extra-point attempt into a swirling wind was well short, keeping Carolina’s lead at 13-6.

Dowdle and Fitzgerald both redeemed themselves after Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs scored a tying touchdown from 2 yards out on third-and-goal with 2:01 left. Rather than having to go for 2 to tie the game, the Packers evened the score on Brandon McManus’ extra point.

After Carolina got the ball back, Dowdle’s 19-yard carry on second-and-10 from midfield got the Panthers in field-goal position, and the rookie kicker from Florida State came through as time expired.

Before Jacobs’ touchdown, the Packers had marched inside the Carolina 35 on five of their first six possessions but had only twe field goals to show for it.

Green Bay entered the day with just three turnovers all season, matching Philadelphia for the lowest total in the league. Savion Williams had a red-zone fumble that thwarted a scoring opportunity, and Jordan Love threw an interception that led to a Carolina touchdown Sunday.

McManus converted from 49 and 27 yards out but also missed a 43-yarder that would have put Green Bay ahead in the third quarter. Dowdle’s second touchdown came after Green Bay’s Keisean Nixon was called for pass interference on a third-and-goal incompletion.

Green Bay also passed up a short field-goal attempt while trailing 13-6 in the fourth quarter and went for it on fourth-and-8 from the Carolina 13. Love rolled to his right, couldn’t find anyone open, headed way to his left and then threw across the field. Carolina’s Mike Jackson dropped the ball in the end zone.

Love was 26 of 37 for 273 yards with one interception on his 27th birthday. Jacobs had 17 carries for 87 yards.

Injuries

Panthers: OG Chandler Zavala (elbow) departed in the first half. LB Trevin Wallace left late in the fourth quarter. C Cade Mays (ankle/knee) and OLB Princely Umanmielen (ankle) didn’t play.

Packers: Along with the injury to Kraft, WR Matthew Golden (shoulder), OG Aaron Banks (stringer) and DL Colby Wooden (shoulder) all left the game. WR Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and DE Lukas Van Ness (foot) were out for a second straight game.

Up next

Panthers: Host New Orleans next Sunday.

Packers: Host Philadelphia on Monday, Nov. 10.

Smith’s homer in 11th lifts Dodgers over Blue Jays 5-4 to become first repeat champion in 25 years

Smith’s homer in 11th lifts Dodgers over Blue Jays 5-4 to become first repeat champion in 25 years

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer

TORONTO (AP) — Will Smith homered in the 11th inning after Miguel Rojas connected for a tying drive in the ninth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in Game 7 Saturday night to become the first team in a quarter century to win consecutive World Series titles.

Los Angeles overcame 3-0 and 4-2 deficits and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to become the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, and the first from the National League since the 1975 and ’76 Cincinnati Reds.

Smith hit a 2-0 slider off Shane Bieber into the Blue Jays’ bullpen, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw 96 pitches in the Dodgers’ win on Friday, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and pitched 2 2/3 innings for his third win of the Series.

He gave up a leadoff double in the 11th to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was sacrificed to third. Addison Barger walked and Alejandro Kirk grounded to shortstop Mookie Betts, who started a title-winning 6-4-3 double play.

With their ninth title and third in six years, the Dodgers made an argument for their 2020s teams to be considered a dynasty. Dave Roberts, their manager since 2016, boosted the probability he will gain induction to the Hall of Fame.

Bo Bichette put Toronto ahead in the third with a three-run homer off two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who was pitching on three days’ rest after taking the loss in Game 3.

Los Angeles closed to 3-2 on sacrifice flies from Teoscar Hernández in the fourth off Max Scherzer and Tommy Edman in the sixth against Chris Bassitt.

Andrés Giménez restored Toronto’s two-run lead with an RBI double in the sixth off Tyler Glasnow, who relieved after getting the final three outs on three pitches to save Game 6 on Friday.

Max Muncy’s eighth-inning homer off star rookie Trey Yesavage cut the Dodgers’ deficit to one run, and Rojas, inserted into the lineup in Game 6 to provide some energy, homered on a full-count slider from Jeff Hoffman.

Toronto put two on with one out in the bottom half against Blake Snell, and Los Angeles turned to Yamamoto.

He hit Alejandro Kirk on a hand with a pitch, loading the bases and prompting the Dodgers to play the infield in and the outfield shallow. Daulton Varsho grounded to second, where Rojas stumbled but managed to throw home for a forceout as catcher Smith kept his foot on the plate.

Ernie Clement then flied out to Andy Pages, who made a jumping, backhand catch on the center-field warning track as he crashed into left fielder Kiké Hernández.

Seranthony Domínguez walked Mookie Betts with one out in the 10th and Muncy singled for his third hit. Hernández walked, loading the bases. Pages grounded to shortstop, where Giménez threw home for a forceout. First baseman Guerrero then threw to pitcher Seranthony Domínguez covering first, just beating Hernández in a call upheld in a video review.

The epic night matched the Marlins’ 3-2 win over Cleveland in 1997 as the second-longest Series Game 7, behind only the Washington Senators’ 4-3 victory against the New York Giants in 1924.

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