Warriors get a forfeit

BELOIT — West Branch’s girls basketball team is moving on into the district tournament after Cleveland East Tech forfeited Saturday’s Div. IV sectional contest due to illness and low numbers.

West Branch will host the winner of Saturday’s Struthers at Salem game at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the district semifinal.

Salem splits with Minerva

SALEM — Salem’s boys bowling team beat Minerva 2,939-2,675 on Friday at Hunt Club Lanes.

For Salem, Connor Hippely had a 245 high game and a 458 series. Keegan Sommers added a 237 high game and a 441 series.

Minerva’s girls beat Salem, 2,099-1,350. Kylie Smith had a 203 high game and 396 series for the Quakers.

On Thursday, Salem’s boys downed Alliance 2,388-1,731 at Hunt Club Lanes. Sommers had a 258 high game and a 466 series. Hippely added a 425 series.

Salem’s girls won 1,350-1,228 over Alliance. Kylie Smith had a 196 high game and a 373 series.

E

arly start for Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — With the threat of rain looming, NASCAR moved up the start time one hour for Sunday’s Daytona 500 to 1:30 p.m. EST.

Daytona International Speedway will open parking lots at 6 a.m.

Denny Hamlin will try to win his fourth Daytona 500 while defending race winner William Byron goes for a repeat, with 2024 NASCAR champion Joey Logano also among the star drivers in the field for the “The Great American Race” at Daytona International Speedway.

Due to increased security measures, Daytona International Speedway encouraged all fans to arrive early for the event.

Penn State hires Drayton

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Former Temple coach Stan Drayton has found a new job coaching Penn State’s running backs.

Penn State coach James Franklin announced the hire on Friday. Drayton went 9-25 in three years at Temple before getting fired last November with two games left in the season.

Drayton spent 2017-21 on the staff at Texas, where his roles included assistant head coach, running backs coach and run game coordinator. His long history of coaching running backs also includes stints at Mississippi State (2004), Florida (2005-07 and 2010), Tennessee (2008), Syracuse (2009) and Ohio State (2012-14).

He also coached Ohio State’s wide receivers in 2011 and was the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach from 2015-16.

Drayton will work with a Penn State backfield that returns Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, who each rushed for over 1,000 yards during the Nittany Lions’ run to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

“I am excited and honored to be joining this elite organization led by coach Franklin,” Drayton said in a statement. “I have so much respect for the culture and program he has built here. Penn State has a rich running back tradition and a very talented running back room now. I am thrilled for this opportunity and am looking forward to getting to work.”

Drayton replaces Ja’Juan Seider, who departed after seven seasons. Multiple reports have indicated Seider is taking over as Notre Dame’s running backs coach, though Notre Dame hasn’t yet announced that.

Drayton was an All-American running back at Allegheny (Pa.) College, leading the Gators to the 1990 Division III national championship, including a 26-15 win at Mount Union in the playoff opener.