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November 23. It’s Sarah Rogers Day. Remember the Grace not the gross on this day.

It is also the week that we give thanks as a group. Be thankful for all that we have. Enjoy an abundant meal and celebrate the fruits of the season with those within arm’s reach. On this day and during this week, let’s follow Eberechi Eze and be grateful for everything. What a day he had earlier in the North London Derby.

But let’s not spoil the score.

It was a fun weekend. Friday Night Lights found a champion here is Utah, the Saturday Game is nearing it’s crux of the season, and the Round game was full of moments.

NBC is in Los Angeles about to bring us a Primetime game between Tampa Bay and the Rams. I’ll take Baker Mayfield to win.

With that–It’s time for this Week’s “General Update.” General Update.

What to Expect:

• Friday Night Lights
• The Round Game
• The Saturday Game
• The Grown Man’s Sunday Game

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GENERAL UPDATE

“Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.”- F. Scott Fitzgerald

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

4A STATE FINAL

• Ridgeline 14-0 State Champs

5A STATE FINAL

• Orem State Champs

6A STATE FINAL

• Corner Canyon 34 vs Lone Peak 20

Coach Eric Kjar has won 6 State Championship games and lost only 9 total games in 9 seasons. Corner Canyon is a legendary dynasty at this point.

Weston Briggs rushed for 178 yards and 4 TD’s in the resounding win.

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This wraps the Friday Night Lights portion from Utah. It was a joy to watch all season.

Corner will go for a fourth title in a row next year with teams like Davis and Lone Peak hungry to challenge. Bode Sparrow and Diesel Dart will be Seniors. How much will the two of them develop in the off-season? And all of the 2027 Class. Who will emerge as the next group that will impact the college game?

I have my eyes on more than a few. Only up!

NATIONAL FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Nugget

• TOP PLAYERS 2027 (UT) 247Sports

1. ATH Bode Sparrow (Davis) 4STAR
2. EDGE Krew Jones (Ridgeline) 4STAR
3. OL Ian Aloisio (Timpview) 4STAR
4. QB Kamden Lopati (West)
   • Illinois
5. CB Jernardo Gilford, Jr (Skyridge)
6. ATH Peyton Higginson (Salem Hills)
7. EDGE Manase Brown (Corner Canyon)
8. ATH Diesel Dart (Corner Canyon)
9. EDGE Jag Ioane (Orem)
10. LB Broncs Baker (Stansbury)
    • CAL

The future is bright in 2027. Only up.

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It’s late November. The time to prepare for the future is right now. The season may have just ended but it’ll be straight back to work for many of these young men. The game and their futures require such discipline.

As players here in Utah commit to schools, I’ll be sure to plug them. Until then, Friday Night Lights, Nuggets and all will be signing off for the next few months from the “General Update.”

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THE ROUND GAME

The Hometown Tigers: Lady Tigers Soccer

SECOND ROUND NCAA TOURNEY

Memphis 0 @ TCU 4

Originally scheduled for 11/20 at 7PM but was moved to Friday due to the weather being less than perfect.

The Lady Tigers struggled mightily, and the magical season screeched to an abrupt halt.

GO Tigers, GO!

ARSENAL

North London Derby

Tottenham 1 @ Arsenal 4

Eberechi Eze scored the first hat trick in the NLD since 1973. Three goals for the new Arsenal man.

“I’m grateful..I’m grateful to God…I prayed for this…This was my prayer today–That’s called faith man.”- Eberechi Eze after the game

Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the league with Bayern Munich on deck midweek. What a season so far.

COYG! North London is red!

NEXT:

• vs Bayern in CL 11/26 1:00
• @Chelsea 11/30 9:30
  • PL #1 vs PL #2

SUNDERLAND

• Sunderland 0 @ Fulham 1

Sunderland drop to 7th with the loss.

Next:

• vs Bournemouth 11/29 8:00
  • 7th vs 8th

OTHER SOCCER:

COMO 1907

• Como @ Torino 11/24 10:30

WREXHAM

Wrexham 0 @ Ipswich 0

Next:

• vs Bristol City 11/26 12:45
• vs Balckburn 11/29 8:00

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I don’t love seeing the Lady Tigers go out the way they did after such an incredible season, but it happens. Other than that–the Round Game was refreshing to have back after being away for two weeks.

It’s a long season and anything can happen, but I sure do love riding this positive wave at the moment. Arsenal looks very real. “I’m grateful.”

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THE SATURDAY GAME

“One did survive the Wreck”

• Hometown Tigers BYE Week

Navy @ Memphis Thanksgiving in Primetime

“BE THERE, BE PROUD, WEAR BLUE.”

GO Tigers, Go!

TOP GAMES:

• USC 27 @ Oregon 42
• Missouri 6 @ Oklahoma 17
• Syracuse 7 @ Notre Dame 70

OTHER CFB Results:

• Tennessee beat Florida
• BYU beat Cincinnati
• Kansas St lost at Utah
• Pitt beat Georgia Tech
• Montana St won at Montana
  • First loss for the Grizzlies
• Cal lost at Stanford
• Baylor lost at Arizona
  • Bear Down Arizona 8-3
• Washington dominated UCLA in Pasadena

Southern Cal eliminated from playoff contention.

–Good Gracious Jeremiyah Love. What a day. Syracuse isn’t the best defense, but they are A defense and against said ‘defense’ he ran for 171 yards and three touchdowns on a mere eight carries. Video Game numbers.

–AND another GOOD GRACIOUS to Diego Pavia. Over 500 yards and six touchdowns against Kentucky. That’s huge. Vanderbilt vs Tennessee next week is going to be tasty.

Single High Sports 12 Team Playoff:

1. Ohio St
2. Georgia
3. Indiana
4. Oregon
5. Texas A&M
6. Mississippi
7. Oklahoma
8. Notre Dame
9. Texas Tech
10. Alabama
11. Miami
12. Tulane

–I’ll still take Ohio St and Georgia….and IU, and maybe Oregon vs the field. And IF Alabama makes the playoff, I think they are a final four team. IF they make the playoffs.

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Far more to unfold. Rankings and projections are just about the most fun to be had in spectator sports, but they matter nil. Teams still have to win, and the committee still gets the final say. That said, it sure is fun “Predicting the Unpredictable.”

The Saturday Game returns Tuesday afternoon as winless UMass plays Bowling Green on EspnU at 2:30. One last chance to get a victory. I’m sure the tens and hundreds of passionate Minuteman faithful will be raucous and unruly inside Warren McGuirk Stadium as they try to will their boys to an elusive victory. Hell, I bet folks in Amherst would settle for a competitive game at a minimum.

The Minutemen have played in two such competitive matchups, both at home. A one-point loss to Bryant where they were beaten on a GW field goal as time expired and a 7-point loss to Buffalo where UMass surrendered a TD in the final thirty seconds. Against Buffalo, UMass held a 21-20 lead before Buffalo scored a TD and converted the two-pt try to take the late lead 28-21. Two brutal home losses for the Amherst faithful. Every other game has been a massacre.

–There is still so much we don’t know for sure in the Saturday Game regarding the final 12 teams. If the favorites win next week, then we shouldn’t see too much change, but if an upset or two happen, a team on the outside like BYU could squeeze into the playoff at the last minute.

• Texas vs Texas A&M
• Tenn vs Vandy
• OSU vs UM

The results in these games matter. Well, things matter in all of the games regarding the ranked teams, but in these three games specifically, the playoff implications matter the most.

–For the CFP I’ll take Miami as the ACC rep for now.

Let’s enjoy the oblong Saturday Game while we have it. It won’t be much longer before we are wishing for its return.

Which one will survive the wreck?

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Be grateful. There is no time like the present to find gratitude and exercise patience. It is an easier feat on some days over others, but it should be the goal. Gratitude leads to love. “Love conquers all.”

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THE SUNDAY GROWN MANS GAME

UPDATE from Nashville:

• Tennessee 24 – Seattle 31

Another loss closer to the back-to-back number one picks. Titans now 1-10. Next year. Just keep losing until next year.

OTHER NFL Scores:

• Indianapolis 20 @ Kansas City 23 OT
• New England 26 @ Cincinnati 20
  • Vrabel is 10-2!
• NYG 27 @ Detroit 34 OT
  • Jaxson Dart OUT (Concussion)

Patriots are the team of destiny at the moment.

“You just can’t ever count out the Chiefs, Jim.” -Tony Romo

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It’s a week for giving thanks, loving family, eating rib-sticking food, and watching football. Enjoy it all. In all times, enjoy the present. Each moment is a gift. A gift to be enjoyed, shared, savored or squandered. Remember the Grace not the gross. Love those within arm’s reach. It’s about the real stuff. It always has been.

THE END

Another “General Update” will be out this same time next Sunday.

Until then,

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.

Thank you for reading.