Third down and long? Quarles in the middle [Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] TAMPA -- He's sort of like a grandfather clock sitting in the corner of the living room, dependable, on time, a throwback.

Bucs/NFL
Steckel and Jauron resume their battle
TAMPA -- In 1998, Bucs offensive coordinator Les Steckel had the same role with Tennessee and Bears coach Dick Jauron was the defensive coordinator for Jacksonville.

NFL briefs
Broncos' Gary out for season

Colleges football
Wildcats QB promises BIG problems for USF
UK's Jared Lorenzen is showing the ability to pass, run and knock down defenders.

College football sidelines
No. 2 FLORIDA STATE at GEORGIA TECH

'Throwin' Samoan' running into Heisman race
Marques Tuiasosopo does it all for Washington's offense.

Extra points
Running it up

College football games around the state
No. 2 FSU at Georgia Tech

Paterno goes easy on criticism
Perhaps Joe Paterno can be second-guessed for his handling of Rashard Casey, the Penn State quarterback who was charged with assaulting an off-duty police officer during the off-season yet still starts.

College football briefs
Gators RB out today

Godsey sheds image of inexperienced QB
With Joe Hamilton gone, Georgia Tech looks to ex-Tampa Jesuit star to lead the offense.

Colleges
IU looking into Knight, student confrontation
Freshman says basketball coach cursed and twisted his arm. Bob Knight denies it, saying he was lecturing teen about manners.

Devil Rays/baseball
Devil Rays toss 0's against A's
Emergency starter Cory Lidle combines with Doug Creek to two-hit Oakland.

Cox excels whenever he can
Despite spotty playing time, converted outfielder is among AL's top rookies.

Smith serves his suspension
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Bobby Smith sat out Friday to serve his one-game suspension for fighting with Yankees catcher Jorge Posada in the July 1 game at Tropicana Field.

Baseball briefs
Injured Cone expected to skip just one turn

Mutiny
Mutiny wraps up positive season
Career years, a positive trade and a great foreign allocation signing spark Tampa Bay's turnaround.

MLS briefs
Mutiny gets home field as Colorado stops L.A.

Lightning/NHL
Healthy Muir eager for season
BRANDON -- Bryan Muir said he knew something was seriously wrong with his left ankle last season. Not only was there constant pain, the joint did not move freely.

Passionate, hard-working Keefe playing for contract
Lightning prospect Sheldon Keefe looks to follow Brad Richards' path and earn a better deal from the club.

NHL briefs
Senators will announce Yashin rejoining team

Tennis
Believe it: Venus wins
Her rally vs. Martina Hingis stuns even the elder Williams.

Sampras faces the future in Hewitt
The veteran meets the 19-year-old Australian, who is playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal.

Hewitt gets his first Slam with Mirnyi
NEW YORK -- Lleyton Hewitt and Max Mirnyi came into the U.S. Open as an unseeded doubles team, men who didn't have a long history of playing together. They will leave as the doubles champions.

Outdoors
Captain's corner
Topwater lures often produce great results on almost all species of inshore game fish.

Et cetera
Sports briefs
Announcer McGuire ailing

FSL
Cubs romp in opener
DUNEDIN -- Dave Kelton and Pete Fukuhara hit two-run homers as the Daytona Cubs scored five in the sixth inning to beat the Blue Jays 8-3 Friday in the opening game of the Florida State League championship.

Motorsports
NASCAR works on braking point
Drivers and teams encouraged by new devices being developed to solve potentially deadly problem of stuck accelerators.

Restrictor plate list adds New Hampshire
NASCAR might announce as early as today that restrictor plates will be required for the Sept. 17 Winston Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Boxing
TV fight rescues local man from rapid vanishing act
After Don King fails to get him into prominence, "Winky" Wright switches promoters and secures a title bout.

Preps
Pirates' backs trample Citrus
INVERNESS -- It may be a different year, but it was the same old story for Citrus in its annual game against Crystal River.

Pirates rally past Rams
DADE CITY -- Ridgewood seemed to be on track to snap a seven-game losing streak to Pasco on Friday night. The Rams held an 8-6 lead midway through the third quarter.

Bears rumble over lackluster Eagles
BROOKSVILLE -- In one sense, it was hard to tell Central and Springstead apart on Friday night.

Land O'Lakes wakes up, beats PHU
LAND O'LAKES -- Last week's overtime win over River Ridge meant another unbeaten season for Pasco County powerhouse Land O'Lakes, right?

Hillsborough rips Knights
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Two weeks, two losses for new River Ridge coach Mike DeGennaro.

Zephyrhills crushes short-handed Hudson 72-0
ZEPHYRHILLS -- This one was over before it was even played. Unfortunately, they still had to play it.

Battered and bruised, Hernando shuts out Lecanto 21-0
LECANTO -- A second road win to start the season was nice. So was a victory in its first Class 3A, District 5 and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game.

Armwood shuts down Bartow
Hawks allow the Yellow Jackets only two first downs in a 27-0 win.

New Gaither coach has smashing debut
Howie DeCristofaro's Cowboys cruise with the help of plenty of Gryphon mistakes.

Jefferson wins OT thriller
TAMPA -- After battling back from the loss of its two star running backs, plus 10 penalties for 120 yards, a couple of fumbles and a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit -- after coming back from all that -- Jesuit flubbed an extra-point attempt in overtime and lost by a point.

Sommers leads CCC's 60-28 romp
ST. PETERSBURG -- Hold Clearwater Central Catholic's prolific quarterback Jay Davis to a measly 51 yards passing, and you have to like your chances against the Marauders, right?

Gladiators rally late to overcome Rebels
Gibbs, behind 264 passing yards from Ron Mathis, erases Dixie Hollins' 11-point lead to win 27-24.

Hillsborough rips River Ridge
The Terriers cruise in their Class 5A, District 7 opener, shutting out the Royal Knights 50-0.

Seminole rips Northeast
ST. PETERSBURG -- While Northeast's regular-season win streak came to an end last week, it started another one Friday night.

QB Houllis guns down Lakewood
TARPON SPRINGS -- The torch clearly has been passed in terms of the best quarterback in Class 3A, District 7.

Wesley Chapel earns revenge 50-14
TAMPA -- For coach John Castelamare and Wesley Chapel High, there is some justice in the world.

King 28, Bloomingdale 7

Chamberlain 27, St. Petersburg 7

Tampa Bay Tech 33, Wharton 7

Temple Heights 49, Sonrise Chr. 18

Berkeley Prep 38, Keswick Chr. 15

Largo 7, Clearwater 6

Wesley Chapel 50, Tampa Catholic 14

Plant 35, Leto 15

Manatee 50, Durant 13

Auburndale 12, East Bay 10

Southeast 36, Riverview 11

Robinson 34, Blake 14

Lakeland 36, Plant City 7

Northside Chr. 13, Evangel Chr. 6

Brandon 41, Jenkins 7

Dunedin 34, Osceola 29

Arnold 55, Riverhills Chr. 0

Countryside 37, Gulf 6

Admiral Farragut 41, Evangelical Chr. 9