Eagles keep playoff hopes alive
The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
REID, EAGLES WIN ON ROAD
With quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin out of the lineup because of injuries, the Philadelphia Eagles, coached by former Glendale Community College football player Andy Reid, managed to keep their playoff hopes alive Sunday night with a 17-10 road victory against the New York Giants.
The Eagles, who entered the season with lofty expectations and were branded a Super Bowl contender, improved to 4-6 and pulled to within two games of the first-place Giants and Dallas Cowboys in the NFL’s East Division with six games remaining.
After New York tied the game at 10 early in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia, which is in third place in the division, took the lead for good when reserve quarterback Vince Young tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Riley Cooper with 2:45 remaining in the game.
“Vince, stepping in for the great Michael Vick, that’s a tough thing to do and he did it and the guys rallied around him,” Reid told the Associated Press. “The offensive line and defensive line played well, the offensive line had a huge challenge when it counted and they were able to put some things together.”
New York Giants wide receiver Ramses Barden, a 2004 Flintridge Prep graduate, caught one pass for 13 yards.
Philadelphia will next face the visiting New England Patriots at 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
JACKSON, RAIDERS TOP VIKINGS
The Oakland Raiders, coached by former Glendale Community College quarterback Hue Jackson, continue to remain on top in the American Conference West Division. The Raiders (6-4) have also shown to be a quality road team.
Oakland’s latest road victory came Sunday when it turned back the Minnesota Vikings, 27-21. The Raiders scored 21 second-quarter points to build a 24-7 halftime lead before holding off a late rally by the Vikings in the fourth quarter.
Oakland improved to 4-1 on the road, as quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 164 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score.
“I know everybody looks for the big yards, the 300 yards, whatever,” Jackson told the Associated Press. “That’s not what winning football games is all about. It’s about leading your team to victory and that’s what he did.”
The Raiders rolled up 12 penalties for 117 yards. Four were personal-foul penalties, leading to Jackson branding the calls “unfair.”
“I know everyone says we’re the most-penalized team in football and that’s a fact, and I’m not running from that,” Jackson said. “But there’s no way, some things that happened today on that football field, I question.
“I just do, and I have to, and I’m going to defend my team. It’s time that I do that.”
Oakland will return to action when its hosts the Chicago Bears at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
QUARTERBACK CLUB FINAL MEETING
The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club will hold its 11th and final meeting of the year at 11:30 a.m. today at The Elk’s Lodge, 120 E. Colorado St., Glendale.
The club, which is in its 69th year, is geared to support the Crescenta Valley, Glendale, Hoover and St. Francis high football teams and the Glendale Community College football program.
The club will honor members of the local high schools and Glendale Community College with awards for scholarship and outstanding achievement for the past season. The Sam Harvey Award will also be presented to a club member for service to the club and youth of the community.
