Nov. 30, 2013

By Erik Hall

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri defense had the necessary response to Texas A&M and quarterback Johnny Manziel on Saturday.

Manziel guided his team 98 yards for a score-tying fourth-quarter drive. The Missouri defense responded by allowing Manziel and the A&M offense 1 yard their final three drives of the game.

So when Missouri running back Henry Josey scored with 3 minutes, 34 seconds to play, it was the winning touchdown in Missouri's 28-21 victory Saturday.

"Our defense did a great job," Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy said. "Our defensive line did a great job pressuring them. Our secondary did a great job matching their receivers. We did a great job wrapping up and taking shots at them. We came out with three and outs, and our offense got the ball back."

Nov. 11, 2013

By Erik Hall

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The City of Columbia held its 28th annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony Sunday.  Events started with a parade down Eighth Street from the columns and ended at the Boone County Courthouse.

Patriotic songs were played by the Missouri Military Academy band and the Boone County Fire Protection District Pipes and Drums during both the parade and the ceremony. The parade also included the local ROTC.

Air Force ROTC Cadet Patrick Stark was the emcee for the event at the courthouse. The featured speaker was retired Air Force Colonel Bill Boston.

“No one has a greater appreciation for peace than a person who has been in combat,” Boston said. “General Douglas MacArthur said, ‘The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.’”

June 28, 2013

By Erik Hall

DETROIT — Dan Jenkins now joins the company of six close friends.

The legendary writer is the  2013 Associated Press Sports Editors’ Red Smith Award winner.

Jenkins received the award during Friday’s APSE luncheon at the Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center. The luncheon was part of the 40th annual APSE Summer Convention.

The 83-year-old Jenkins had six friends previously win the Red Smith Award. Jenkins told the story Tuesday that when he learned he was this year’s recipient that he sent an email to some of them saying, “Seventh geezer nabs Red Smith Award.”

The previous six “geezers” that Jenkins mentioned were Jim Murray (1982 winner), Blackie Sherrod (1985), Furman Bisher (1988), Edwin Pope (1989), Dave Kindred (1991), and Bill Millsaps (2011). 

“I was all pretty envious of that,” Jenkins said.

May 12, 2012

By Erik Hall

CHARLESTON, Ill. — More than individual glory was decided Saturday during the girls badminton singles state final at Eastern Illinois University.

Naperville North senior Ellen Lin and Stevenson senior Wan Wan Liu determined the state's top individual and the state's top team in one match.

March 3, 2012

By Erik Hall

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The house is at the end of a street tucked away in a Bloomington subdivision.

On Feb. 19, it doubled as the happiest place on earth. Four 4-year-olds dressed as Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Buzz Lightyear made the Michaels’ household feel like Disney World landed in Central Illinois.

The Walt Disney explosion was a celebration as Jon and Tiffany Michaels’ quadruplets turned 4 years old.

“It’s gone by really fast,” said the quadruplets’ aunt, Risa Thorburg, says. “They’re such a blessing for all of us to have, and they’re all so healthy. I’m glad it was Tiffany and not me. I’m not sure I have the patience that Tiffany has.”

Sept. 17, 2011

By Erik Hall

NORMAL, Ill. — The Normal Community High School football team had weapons all over the field in Friday’s 38-20 Big 12 Conference win over Mattoon. None did more damage than the foot of senior Spencer Smith.

Smith was second on the team in scoring with eight points (one field goal, five extra points). He also had 402 yards on kickoffs and he averaged 36 yards per punt in NCHS’ homecoming game.

“He’s a great kicker,” said Mattoon coach Troy Johnson. “We took the ball to start the game figuring we’d get a couple first downs. What we ended up doing was not (getting any first downs the first possession).

“You lose the field position, and they’re too good a team. You’re going to have to make a team like that drive the full field. You give them a short field. They’re going to score.”