NASCAR-SOUTHERN 500
Carlington: Car Edwards wins Southern 500
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) β Carl Edwards took the lead on the last pit stop and held off Denny Hamlin on a restart eight laps from the end for his first Southern 500 victory Sunday night.
Edwards was two laps behind early in the long, long, nearly five-hour NASCAR Sprint Cup race, slowed by a record 18 cautions at Darlington Raceway.
Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski was second and Hamlin finished third. Joey Logano was fourth, followed by defending race champion Kevin Harvick and the Busch brothers, Kurt and Kyle.
Edwards won for the second time this season, and gave Joe Gibbs Racing its seventh victory in the last 10 events. JGR swept the weekend, with Hamlin winning the Xfinity race Saturday.
Edwards did his signature victory backflip in the race’s return to Labor Day weekend.
T25-CLEMSON-WILLIAMS
Clemson WR Williams out with neck fracture
UNDATED (AP) – Clemson receiver Mike Williams has a fracture in his neck that Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said might keep him out all season.
Swinney said Sunday that an MRI showed a small fracture after the junior slammed into the padded goalpost support. Swinney did not have a timetable for when Williams might return, although he thought the wideout would have to have the injury checked in six weeks.
Williams had 1,030 yards and six touchdowns last season and figured to lead a talented, yet young, group of receivers. Williams was hurt on a 4-yard touchdown catch that opened the No. 12 Clemson’s scoring in a 49-10 victory over Wofford on Saturday.
Swinney said Charone Peake, Travion Thompson and Deon Cain will work into Williams’ spot.
ARK-PINE BLUFF-SC STATE
South Carolina St. overcomes 5 turnovers to beat UAPB, 35-7
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) β The South Carolina State defense allowed just 140 total yards to help the Bulldogs overcome five turnovers and beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 35-7 in the 11th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge at the Citrus Bowl on Sunday.
It was the season opener for both teams.
Quarterback Adrian Kollock capped off South Carolina State’s 12-play, 66-yard opening drive with a 6-yard scoring run to make it 7-0 just more than 5 minutes into the game.
The teams combined for seven punts, four turnovers, four three-and-outs and just 193 total yards in the first half.
The Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead early in the second half when Dondre Brown recovered a Kollock fumble in the end zone.
Three plays later, Tevin Richard picked off a pass from UAPB’s Nolan Sorensen and returned it 18 yards for a score.
Three Golden Lions combined to complete 6 of 29 passes for 38 yards and three interceptions.
BRAVES-NATIONALS
Nationals sweep Braves 8-4, gain ground on Mets in NL East
WASHINGTON (AP) β Bryce Harper homered for the third straight day, and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 8-4 on Sunday to pull within four games of NL East-leading New York heading into a big series against the Mets.
Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer in Washington’s five-run second, helping the Nationals to their fifth straight win and seventh in nine games overall. Yunel Escobar had three hits and scored two runs.
Five Washington relievers combined for 4 2-3 innings of two-hit ball, with Felipe Rivero (2-1) picking up the win.
The Nationals will send ace Max Scherzer to the mound for the opener of their three-game set against New York on Monday. Jonathon Niese goes for the visiting Mets.
