AUSTIN, Texas – Qualifying times could not have been tighter in the Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli TA2 class Saturday at Circuit of the Americas.

When the dust settled, just over one tenth of a second covered the first two rows on the grid for Sunday’s 100-mile TA2 presented by AEM feature.

While Marc Miller needs only to take the green on Sunday to clinch the TA2 championship, he pushed his No. 40 Prefix/Stevens-Miller Racing Dodge Challenger as if everything was on the line. He reeled off two laps before setting a flyer, the resulting 2:15.038 clocking earned the experienced Stevens-Miller Racing driver his third pole-position start of the season.

“I love this track,” said Miller. “My very first Grand Am win was here at COTA, so it has a soft spot in my heart. The only trophy I really want to talk about right now is the first-place race trophy. As far as I am concerned, we haven’t won this championship until the checkered drops tomorrow and I’m on that top step.”

For the first half of qualifying, Misha Goikhberg’s times in the No. 10 BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro were just inside the top 10. But after a pit stop to cool his Pirelli PZero tires, the Canadian driver clicked off a 2:15.150 lap that was five one-thousandths of a second faster than Edward Sevadjian, earning him a front row start.

“We didn’t have much of a plan for qualifying besides go out there and set fastest time in the first two laps,” said Goikhberg. “Unfortunately, I got a bit greedy out there and dropped down to around sixth place in times. I came in to pit and the team and I decided to go back out for one more Hail Mary lap, and it was a good decision in the end.”

Driving a new Chevrolet Camaro, Sevadjian was the wild-card in TA2 qualifying. Eclipsing Scott Lagasse Jr. by six one hundredths of a second with a time of 2:15.155, the Texas native will start third. Earlier this season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sevadijan won the SVRA’s Vintage Race of Champions title co-driving with Trans-Am legend Willy T. Ribbs.

“It’s our first time out in this car,” Sevadjian said. “I didn’t expect to do as well as we did, so we are all excited right now. I feel like I left just a little bit out there — we missed the pole by such a small margin. We are going to go to work and hopefully we can be on the podium at the end of this race.”

Dillon Machavern rounded out the top-five times with a fast lap of 2:15.578.

In the duel for the West Coast TA2 title, Brad McAllister came out the winner on the day, his No. 24 PortlandImplantDentistry.com Ford Mustang qualifying 10th overall with a 2m16.922s best that was fastest of the six West Coast contenders.

Points leader Anthony Honeywell, meanwhile, will start Sunday’s race three rows back in 15th overall.

However, it was Ethan Wilson, in the No. 25 BC Race Cars/Western Grinding Services Chevrolet Camaro, who was fastest in the TA2 West Coast lineup, claiming pole position and earning the maximum points in qualifying.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Floyd Smith still vividly remembers the ceremonial faceoff he took against Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau before the Buffalo Sabres' first home game in franchise history.

"[Beliveau] let me win it," Smith said with a laugh.

At 35, Smith was lured out of retirement to serve as the Sabres' first captain in 1970.

Some 50 years later, the 84-year-old Smith was back in Buffalo on Saturday night. Amid chants of "Let's go Buffalo!" Smith dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff and to kick off the Sabres' golden anniversary season before their home opener against the New Jersey Devils.

"Ah, that was neat," Smith said, reflecting back to the one-plus season he spent in Buffalo before retiring. "You don't think as much about it then as you do now, how important it was."

Smith, who eventually went on to coach the Sabres, was among 15 former team captains on hand for the team's home opener. The group included Gilbert Perreault, Mike Foligno, Michael Peca and Brian Gionta.

The Sabres distributed commemorative T-shirts to each fan, and celebrated their past with a lengthy video montage featuring numerous on- and off-ice highlights broadcast on the video scoreboard.

The former captains walked the red carpet in front of fans outside the arena before the game, and were each then introduced on the ice during a pregame ceremony.

They wore the Sabres' specially designed 50th anniversary jerseys featuring a gold-emblazoned buffalo and two crossed swords on the chest.

Perreault joked about how tight-fitting his No. 11 jersey was by saying it's been a while since he was at his playing weight.

Perreault, who still holds most every offensive franchise record, including 512 goals and 1,326 goals, said it was a privilege to spend his entire 16-plus season career with one team.

He recalled Buffalo's first home game, a 3-0 loss to Montreal, as being special because he was from Quebec and played his junior hockey in Montreal.

"I thought I was going to play against my idol, Jean Beliveau that night," Perreault said. "But I didn't have a chance to play one shift against him."

The Sabres and Vancouver Canucks were part of the NHL's second wave of expansion, entering the league together in 1970.

Buffalo won the spin of a wheel to earn the right to draft Perreault with the No. 1 pick ahead of Vancouver, and went on to reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1975. The Sabres, coached by Smith, lost in six games to Philadelphia.

The 50th anniversary comes at a time the Sabres are in the midst of their toughest stretch in team history. Their eight-year playoff drought is a franchise worst and ranks as the NHL's longest active streak. And Buffalo has not won a playoff series since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2007.

Under new coach Ralph Krueger, the Sabres are coming off a season-opening 3-1 victory at Pittsburgh.

"They had a good start with a win, so I'm hoping it's going to be a great year," Perreault said.

Four Americans sitting atop the leaderboard are poised for breakthroughs at the LPGA’s Volunteers of America Classic.

They’re all looking to claim their first LPGA titles.

Jaye Marie Green leads the way after blistering the Old American Golf Club outside Dallas Saturday with a 7-under 64, the low round of the tournament. At 14-under overall, she holds a one-shot lead on Cheyenne Knight (67), an LPGA rookie playing in front of family and friends just a short distance from where she grew up in Aledo.

Brittany Altomare (68) is just two shots back along with Katherine Perry (66).

South Korea’s Sei Young Kim (67), a nine-time LPGA winner, is the next closest pursuer, sitting five shots back.

Green, 25, vaulted out front early, making birdies at seven of the first eight holes. She was 8 under through 10 holes and on a 59 watch before a couple bogeys slowed her coming home.

“I honestly was just really in the zone,” Green said. “That's one of those things where when you're in it - it's kind of hard to describe - but nothing outside bothers you.

“I'm like, 'You know what? You're in the zone, try and stay there as long as possible,' because sometimes it doesn't last the whole round. I think I did a pretty good job of bringing myself back to that.”

What’s it going to take to win? Green said she has learned to resist thinking too far ahead. She said that lesson hit home at the U.S. Women’s Open this summer, when she had a chance to win in the final round before ultimately finishing tied for fifth.

“Being six years on tour, I kind of feel like we all pay our dues,” Green said. “I've learned so many lessons ... It’s not learning if you don't take something from it and then apply it. So, I feel like I did a good job of doing that today.”

Knight loved having so much family supporting her Saturday, including her grandmother.

“Seeing my grandma out here, who's in her 80s, watching me play golf, because I don't know how much longer she's going to watch me play golf, is really special,” Knight said. “Just feeling all the support. I know if I have a bad hole, they're still going to be rooting for me. If I have a good hole, hearing my mom and my aunt scream, it's funny, but it's really great.”

A big finish Sunday can make the year for so many players in position to earn promotions to the LPGA at the Symetra Tour Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Take Sophia Popov and Dewi Weber.

Popov entered the week 26^th on the Symetra Tour’s Volvik Race for the Card money list, Weber at 27^th, but they are both positioned to play themselves on to the LPGA.

The top 10 on the money list at the final round’s conclusion will earn LPGA tour cards.

With 3-under 69s Saturday, Popov and Weber both moved into a tie for third in the championship, one shot behind co-leaders Sierra Sims (69) and Laura Wearn (69), who are 12 under overall.

Popov and Weber need to win to have a chance to crack the top 10 in money.

“So, really, for me, it’s about going at flags tomorrow, be as aggressive as I can be, and then a little more aggressive with my putts,” Popov said. “Really need to make some crucial putts tomorrow.”

Maria Parra, 20^th on the money list, will earn an LPGA tour card with a victory. She starts Sunday two shots off the lead. Casey Danielson, 22^nd on the money list, can give herself a chance at an LPGA promotion with a victory. She’s four shots back.

Co-leaders Sims and Wearn are too far back on the money list to win tour cards on Sunday, but there’s still a lot on the line with a $37,500 first-place check up for grabs, as well as positioning for 2020 Symetra Tour status and Q-Series exemptions.

LAS VEGAS – He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, but it’s more than fair to call Pat Perez a Vegas Guy.

“I really like Vegas,” he said Saturday. “I don't know anybody who doesn't like Vegas.

“And if you don't, I don't even want to know you.”

At 18 under par following a third-round 62, Perez will enter Sunday at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in third place, five shots off the torrid pace set by Kevin Na.

Na’s performance on the greens is getting all the attention this week – and with good reason – but Perez isn’t far behind. He’s second in the field in strokes gained: putting and he’s also holed more than 400 feet worth of attempts through 54 holes.

“Both times I’ve won on Tour, I’ve led the field in putting,” he said. “I'm probably close, but it's going to take another good day tomorrow to beat everybody.”

Sure, he’s riding a hot putter, but Perez says the key this week has been a switch back to the golf swing he abandoned two months ago. Following his ouster from FedExCup Playoffs at the Northern Trust, Perez made a concerted effort to get longer but instead wound up losing clubhead speed and spraying the ball left and right.

“When I try to kill it – like last week I did in Napa – I hit it all over the map. I had no control. I played terrible,” he said.

When he arrived here at TPC Summerlin on Monday, he decided to end the experiment. Six days later, he sees only two players ahead of him on the leaderboard.

“I'm trying to get it back in the fairway,” he said. “I played for three years one way, and I made a lot of money, won twice, did all these things, and then I went away from it to try to get longer. It just hurt my game, so I went back to the drawing board.

“I guess it's kind of coming earlier than I thought it would.”

LAS VEGAS - Kevin Na matched his career low Saturday with a 10-under 61 on a day of low scoring in Las Vegas to build a two-shot lead over Patrick Cantlay in the Shiners Hospitals for Children Open.

Na was pumping his fist after every putt down the stretch at the TPC Summerlin, which yielded six scores of 63 or better.

Na, who lives in Las Vegas, set the tournament's 54-hole record at 22-under 191.

Cantlay was keeping pace with him until he failed to get up and down on the reachable par-4 15th and made bogey from the bunker on the par-3 17th. He closed with a 15-foot birdie putt for a 63.

Pat Perez had a 62 and was four shots behind. Sam Ryder (64) and Lucas Glover (66) were another shot back.

Juventus bought Cristiano Ronaldo to improve their chances of winning the Champions League, so when they were knocked out by Ajax, many considered his first season with the Bianconeri to be a failure. However, since joining Juventus, his general performances have been far better than those in his final couple of years at Real Madrid, even if his goals-to-games ratio hasn't been as prolific.

During his final years at the Bernabeu, he completely changed his game. He featured less in buildup play but became a great goalscorer. Although starting most games on the left of a front three, he focussed almost entirely on being in central positions to get on the end of crosses. His movement, leaping ability and anticipation made him as potent as any striker in world football.

His transformation had started even earlier for Portugal. During their victorious European Championship campaign, the attacking game plan was based around Ronaldo's ability in the air, as Wales found out to their cost in the semifinal. In that tournament, Ronaldo rarely attempted to beat defenders with the ball or make runs behind them without it, which suggested to me that his pace and power were beginning to desert him.

Yet since he has been at Juventus, he looks fitter, more athletic and hungrier to be involved in all aspects of their attacking play. As he did when he was younger, Ronaldo goes past defenders with pace and trickery, makes dynamic runs behind defences, and his interplay with teammates has been inventive. He also has regained the ability to get shots away when there doesn't seem any space to do so.

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On taking charge, Juve boss Maurizio Sarri stated that Ronaldo had license to roam to maximise his effect on the game. As a result, Sarri has had to adjust his tactics, which goes completely against his beliefs and principles; it's the reason we're seeing disjointed performances from his team.

Will Inter be able to exploit this on Sunday in the biggest game of the Serie A season so far? (Stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S., Sunday 10/6, 2.45 p.m. ET.)

Matuidi is the key man

At Napoli and Chelsea, the former Empoli coach used a rigid 4-3-3 formation both with and without the ball. But with Ronaldo continually moving away from his position on the left, Juventus are often unbalanced and out of shape when they lose possession. Therefore, they're unable to press the ball from the front and have become vulnerable to teams that switch play quickly to their right-back. In the opening game of the season, Parma relentlessly targeted the space Ronaldo had vacated with long diagonal passes to Vincent Laurini.

If Sarri uses his preferred formation, the player who becomes vital is Blaise Matuidi. He has the energy, game understanding and skill set to play a multifunctional role on the left of a central midfield three.

Defensively, he's required to tuck in alongside Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira when the opposition attack down Juve's right, confronting the right-back when he breaks forward and giving left-back Alex Sandro cover in the defensive third. In possession, he breaks forward through the inside-left channel, as he did for his goal against Atletico Madrid, gives width when required and links up with Sandro as Ronaldo goes into a central position. It's a similar role to the one he played in the World Cup Final when Antoine Griezmann went infield to support Olivier Giroud.

Summer signing Adrien Rabiot is a more creative player than Matuidi but doesn't have all the attributes needed to be as effective as his compatriot.

Further adjustments to fit Ronaldo's role

Last year, then-manager Massimiliano Allegri had the same conundrum with imbalance but used Mario Mandzukic as the solution, instructing him to adjust his position according to Ronaldo's movement. Gonzalo Higuain can't be relied upon in the same way because he doesn't have the defensive mentality or mobility.

In the past three games, Sarri has changed to a midfield diamond with either Aaron Ramsey or Federico Bernardeschi in the No.10 position, but that has only increased their vulnerability to any switches of play from both sides. It also gives Matuidi and Khedira even more ground to cover. This change of formation suggests that Sarri hasn't yet figured out how to get the best out of his star player and the rest of the team.

Sarri is also undecided about who should play up front with Ronaldo. Going into the preseason, most thought that Higuain's opportunities would be limited, but a second-half cameo against Spurs, which included a brilliantly crafted goal, gave Sarri encouragement that they could work well with each other. During the first five games of the season, Higuain and Ronaldo combined intermittently, but there was a greater understanding against Leverkusen, highlighted by the approach play to Bernadeschi's goal. Another option, Paulo Dybala, did cross for Ronaldo to score against SPAL and set up his goal against Leverkusen, but he doesn't appear to be a favourite with the new coach.

To maximise Ronaldo's prowess in the air, Douglas Costa, Bernardeschi and Juan Cuadrado have all had an opportunity to start from the right to deliver crosses. Costa started the season in the first XI but injury has hampered his progress, while Bernardeschi lacks confidence despite his goal on Tuesday. Cuadrado will be used more as a counter-attacking player in games away from home, as he was against Atletico Madrid, but with full-backs Mattia De Sciglio and Danilo injured, he will continue to deputise at right-back instead.

Teams coached by Sarri have always had clear patterns of play and a recognisable game plan, but as of yet, that isn't the case with Juventus. Opponents are starting to notice this, too.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- First, a coaching change four games into the season, and now a couple of Rutgers players look like they have called it a season, as well.

To remain eligible to redshirt, quarterback Art Sitkowski and running back Raheem Blackshear asked Rutgers interim coach Nunzio Campanile to not play against Maryland on Saturday. By not playing a fifth game, the two can take advantage of an NCAA rule implemented last year that allows players to compete in four games while still being able to preserve a year of eligibility.

"Am I disappointed by it? Incredibly. Do I understand it? I guess so. I guess that's the way the world is now," Campanile said after Rutgers lost 48-7. "I think that this is a game about your team, you know, and it's about sacrificing personal accomplishment for the success of the team. But that's the world they live in, and they have got a lot of people telling them, you know, 'Worry about you, worry about you.' I get it."

Campanile was elevated to interim coach after Chris Ash was fired four games into his fourth season with the Scarlet Knights (1-4, 0-3 Big Ten) last Sunday. Campanile announced the Sitkowski news after Thursday's practice; Blackshear's decision came later. Campanile said he could see Sitkowski (three games played) playing again this season, but he does not foresee Blackshear seeing the field again.

It is unclear whether Sitkowski and Blackshear plan to transfer or stay at Rutgers.

"At the end of the day, we love those guys, we support those guys' decisions," junior captain Tyshon Fogg said. "They're always going to be my brothers and part of the brotherhood. At the end of the day, we got to support them. I'm going to support them all the way. Whatever they feel is going to be the best fit for them, I'm all for it."

Last season, Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant took advantage of the rule after losing his job to Trevor Lawrence, leaving the eventual national champion Tigers four games into the season. Bryant transferred to Missouri and is the starter this season.

Just two weeks ago, Houston quarterback D'Eriq King and wide receiver Keith Corbin shut it down after a 1-3 start. King has said he plans to stay at the school and play for coach Dana Holgorsen next year.

At Kansas, leading rusher Khalil Herbert left the program four games into coach Les Miles' tenure.

Sitkowski, a highly touted recruit who lost his starting job to graduate transfer McLane Carter (concussion) in training camp, had started the previous three games. The sophomore has completed 52% of his passes for 1,587 yards, 5 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his career.

Blackshear is Rutgers' best offensive skill player. He had 586 yards rushing and 44 catches for 367 yards for 1,136 all-purpose yards in 2018. Blackshear had 88 yards rushing on 29 carries and 29 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns through four games this year.

Both Sitkowski and Blackshear were suited up Saturday. Neither was made available to the media by Rutgers following the game.

"It's a brotherhood, I support both Art and Blackshear," said senior captain Zach Venesky, who left the game early with an injury and was in a walking boot postgame. "And if you look on the sidelines, there are two guys who are cheering on and they're being supportive and stuff like that, and that's what it's all about. We support them."

Campanile said he doesn't foresee any more players asking for an unplanned redshirt.

The Scarlet Knights have not won a Big Ten game since 2017 and have a 17-game losing streak against Power Five opponents.

"We just got to stick together and play for each other because we're all we got right now," said Johnny Langan, who made his collegiate debut at quarterback for Rutgers. "So whoever's with us, we'll take that and we'll play as hard as we can."

ST. LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves are promising to continue their dialogue with the Native American community in the wake of St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley's criticism of the tomahawk chop chant.

Helsley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he thinks the chant is insulting, and the 25-year-old rookie was disappointed when it was heard during Game 1 of the National League Division Series in Atlanta.

Helsley is a member of the Cherokee Nation. The Tahlequah, Oklahoma, native speaks the Cherokee language and is one of only a few Native Americans in the majors.

The Braves say they "appreciate and take seriously" Helsley's concerns. The team says it has "worked to honor and respect the Native American community through the years."

"Our organization has sought to embrace all people and highlight the many cultures in Braves Country," the team said Saturday in a statement. "We will continue to evaluate how we activate elements of our brand, as well as the in-game experience, and look forward to a continued dialogue with those in the Native American community once the season comes to an end."

Hearing the chant by the fans, a part of the Braves' tradition since it was borrowed from Florida State in the early 1990s, was a shock for Helsley.

Helsley told the Post-Dispatch he was insulted by what he saw and heard in Thursday's series opener.

"I think it's a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general," Helsley said before the Braves' 3-0 victory in Friday's Game 2.

"Just depicts them in this kind of caveman-type people way who aren't intellectual. They are a lot more than that. It's not me being offended by the whole mascot thing. It's not. It's about the misconception of us, the Native Americans, and how we're perceived in that way, or used as mascots. The [Washington] Redskins and stuff like that."

Lelisa Desisa beats team-mate Mosinet Geremew as GB runner Hawkins enjoys fine fourth place

Lelisa Desisa, the former New York City and two-time Boston marathon winner, kicked clear from fellow Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew, plus Amos Kipruto of Kenya and Callum Hawkins of Britain, in the closing stages of the men’s marathon on the Corniche on Saturday night in Doha to win in 2:10:40.

During a remarkable final 4km, Hawkins caught the leaders after moving steadily through the field and the Briton blasted to the front and was leading with one mile to go before succumbing to Lelisa’s finishing surge as the Ethiopian held off compatriot Geremew with Kipruto third and Hawkins fourth in 2:10:56.

The performance by Hawkins came just 18 months after he had collapsed with heat exhaustion while leading at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Weather conditions were not as fierce in Doha for this race as they were during the women’s marathon the previous weekend but temperatures were still 29C when the event kicked off just before midnight local time.

He had prepared well for this race, though, by training in the Mediterranean during the summer and also in a shed filled with heaters, where he was able to get the temperature up to close to 40C.

“At two laps to go I felt great so I just kept pushing and pushing. And then when I caught them I knew I didn’t have a kick, I was just trying to be strong,” said Hawkins, who repeated the fourth place he achieved in the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in London 2017.

“That’s why as soon as I got to them, I hit the front and tried to burn them off but they were just waiting for the kick. At least I burned off one of them!”

He added: “I really wanted that medal and that’s what I trained for. But it wasn’t to be on the night.”

The race began in bizarre style with Derlys Ayala – a Paraguay runner who had won the Buenos Aires Marathon in 2:10:27 only two weeks earlier – building up a one-minute lead.

Somewhat predictably he was caught at halfway, which the leaders passed in 65:56, before he promptly dropped out.

This left Zersenay Tadese leading from Desisa, Geoffrey Kirui, Geremew, Stephen Mokoka and Kipruto as Hawkins went through 13.1 miles in 66:31.

Tadese kept pushing the pace but began to suffer in the closing stages. Hawkins did the opposite and looked strong as he began to slice through the field.

With 5km to go Desisa, Geremew, Kipruto and Mokoka were together but Hawkins soon caught them and almost immediately nudged into the lead.

The leader, however, had been relatively cruising as he waited to launch his final effort – and Desisa surged clear with 600m to go from Geremew with Kipruto and Hawkins losing ground in the race for minor medals.

A total of 55 finished and 18 dropped out.