The normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”ATHENS, Ga. — Nobody would have blamed the UMass football team if it rolled into Sanford Stadium and played an uninspired brand of football against No. 8 Georgia given its tumultuous week – headlined by the firing of head coach Don Brown. But the Minutemen did the complete opposite, coming out of the gate with a physical 10-play (nine rushes), 75-yard drive ending in a CJ Hester touchdown run to put the visiting six-touchdown underdogs ahead 7-0. UMass continued to play physically on offense and found itself down only 10 points midway through the third quarter, before the Bulldogs turned it on and pulled away for a 59-21 win on Saturday afternoon. The loss dropped the Minutemen to 2-9 on the season, and put a bow on game one of two under interim head coach Shane Montgomery. “This was a tough task today, coming in and playing a team like this Week 11 when you’re a little bit banged up,” Montgomery said. “But I really am proud of the team. We gave ourselves a chance in the first half to stay in the game which was huge. At some point they start to wear you down a bit on both sides of the line... We competed really well today and I’m proud of the guys.” After Hester’s 1-yard score on UMass’ opening possession – a drive supported by a 38-yard Ahmad Haston scamper – Georgia star quarterback Carson Beck ripped off a trio of unanswered touchdown passes. Oscar Delp, Cash Jones and Dominic Lovett were the beneficiaries to help the Bulldogs jump out in front 21-7 with just under nine minutes remaining in the first half. With the Bulldogs faithful reaching a deafening volume, true freshman quarterback AJ Hairston stepped behind center as calm as ever. Hairston started the drive with two completions – one to Jakobie Keeney-James and another to Sterling Galban – and scrambled for 10 yards to pick up a key fourth-and-5. UMass’ ground game, which dominated the first half, took over from there, and Jalen John punched in a 3-yard touchdown to put the Minutemen back within one score, 21-14. Beck responded by carving up the UMass secondary once again, and the senior slung his fourth touchdown of the opening two quarters 34 yards to Arian Smith. Georgia doubled up (28-14) the Minutemen at halftime. “When you’re going against a team like that, they’re gonna get their yards on offense,” Montgomery said. “The biggest thing was, the second half, we slowed them down, we didn’t give up as many big plays or quick touchdowns. We were able to move the ball on offense, which helped keep our defense off the field.” Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring drove through a 53-yard field goal on the Bulldogs’ first drive of the third quarter, and once again Hairston and UMass had an answer. On a second-and-10 from the Minutemen 25-yard line, the freshman from Florida avoided a Georgia pass rusher, stepped up in the pocket and let fly a deep ball toward Keeney-James down the right sideline. Battling with two defenders, Keeney-James elevated to come down with it, broke free and raced into the end zone for six. The 75-yard highlight-reel touchdown made it 31-21 and would be UMass’ last. Hairston finished with 121 yards, the one score and no interceptions on 7-for-16 passing. Haston completed the only pass he threw for four yards and added 50 yards on the ground. Keeney-James hauled in three catches for 101 yards and the touchdown – the sixth time the senior receiver has had 75 yards or more this season. The two freshman quarterbacks handled the hostile environment about as well as Montgomery could’ve hoped. “It was a heck of a play; a great throw and a great catch,” Montgomery said of Keeney-James’ touchdown, his fifth of the year. “We kind of went to a dead count where we were gonna see what they were in, and the corner was off to start with. When we checked the play the corner came up and pressed. I saw the ball thrown, and I saw about three bodies go up for it – one of ours and two of theirs... Great job of staying in bounds. That was a huge play.” UMass rushed for a whopping 226 yards, its second-highest total of 2024, against a Georgia defense that surrenders only 114 yards per game on the ground. It was the most rushing yards Georgia has allowed in a game since 2018. “We did not tackle well but it was more than just tackling. I don’t think our guys were ready to play or as energized to play as their guys were,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. “Their guys wanted it more than us. It’s very rare that I can say that. They were playing harder, they were moving us, they were playing physical. It was a want-to and desire. That was the biggest part of it.” John put together his best performance of the season, rushing for 107 yards on nine attempts (11.9 yards per carry), while Hester recorded 74 yards rushing. Each back found paydirt in the first half. Brandon Campbell had seven yards on three carries and tight end Dominick Mazotti executed a sneak play to perfection to pick up a fourth-and-1 with a 3-yard rush. The Minutemen offensive line put together its best outing this fall, giving up just one sack all game and creating consistent push up front in the run game. “I was really proud of the way that we ran the football today against a great defense, one of the best in the country,” Montgomery said. “The big thing about their defense is they don’t give up a lot of big plays. And we did have some chunk plays today that I wasn’t sure we were even gonna get. But we did a great job of creating some of those.” Bulldogs true freshman Nate Frazier (136 rushing yards) then scored three consecutive touchdowns on the ground and Chris Cole rumbled in from 38 yards out after recovering a Hairston fumble. In the blink of an eye UMass was down 59-21. A victory on Saturday was never expected, but UMass left Athens pleased with its effort given the circumstances: playing the winner of two of the last three national championships in their building without Don Brown. UMass (2-9) returns to Amherst to host UConn for senior day at McGuirk Alumni Stadium next Saturday at noon.
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Dogs seized Oct. 24 from a home at 42 Madison Road in Norridgewock rest at their foster home, arranged by the Animal Welfare Society’s Kennebunk shelter. State officials say they seized 48 dogs and five cats from the home. Animal Welfare Society photo NORRIDGEWOCK — Prior complaints were lodged as early as April by local officials concerned with inhumane conditions at a Norridgewock home where the state last month seized nearly 50 dogs and a few cats, according to an affidavit. The home, a single-wide mobile home at 42 Madison Road, belongs to Diane and Steven Bouffard. Maine’s Animal Welfare Program executed a search warrant at the property Oct. 24, seeking to find and seize evidence of the crime of cruelty to animals. There was probable cause that an animal cruelty violation had taken place or was taking place at the property, according to the affidavit written by Rachel Welch, a district humane agent for the program. The search of the property revealed 48 dogs, including 46 that were white or tan shih tzus, and five cats, all of which were seized by the state. At least three of the dogs and likely more were never registered with the town, according to Norridgewock’s dog license records. Multiple prior complaints were made against the property, according to the affidavit. On April 17, Welch wrote that she had received a complaint from Dexter Bridges, Norridgewock’s animal control officer, about poor living conditions for animals at the residence. Welch said she met with Diane Bouffard on April 22 at the Madison Road residence, where Welch observed poor conditions inside the home. Welch said she gave Bouffard a notice to bathe the dogs and thoroughly clean the home, and asked Bouffard to consider neutering the animals. When asked how many pets she had, Bouffard said she had 17 dogs, all registered with the town, and “about 15” cats, according to the affidavit. On June 12, Bouffard reported a missing dog to the town. In the following days, multiple people reported seeing a dog in the vicinity of River Road in Norridgewock. Bouffard was contacted, but never showed up, according to Town Manager Richard LaBelle. Three days later, a dead dog was reported on the shoulder of the road, and Bouffard confirmed it was one of her animals. After multiple failed follow-up visits, Welch was able to meet again with Bouffard on Oct. 21 to see if changes had been made to the property. During the visit, Welch saw that a majority of the dogs had feces matted to their body. Welch said she determined the area was not clean or safe enough for animals or people. The affidavit was filed Oct. 22. Following the state’s seizure, the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook received 23 of the dogs, the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk took nine dogs and three cats and Midcoast Humane accepted 14 dogs and two cats. The dogs were matted and in poor condition when they arrived Oct. 24 at Midcoast Humane’s Brunswick location, but it was clear that they were nice animals, according to Executive Director Jess Townsend. “When you’re working with pets that have come from an overcrowding situation, you never quite know what you’re getting until you get them,” Townsend said. “Absolutely lovely dogs, and I’m very sorry for the people who own them, because, you know, nice dogs don’t just happen. Nice dogs are socialized and raised, and they did a good job, and I’m going to guess that they got overwhelmed.” Townsend said the dogs do not like being left alone, and would be happiest at a home with other dogs and owners who are present. The Animal Welfare Society will update its website after the animals pass veterinary wellness checks and are available for adoption, according to Stephanie Kelley, the organization’s marketing communications manager. Morning Sentinel staff writer Jake Freudberg contributed to this report. Update: State investigates inhumane conditions after 50 dogs seized from Norridgewock home Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »Rahul to open for India, Rohit drops down order
MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm despite public debates around hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the flood have caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed, adding that he had asked that aid be sent to everyone who needed it. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in this European Union country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain need to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.