SPORTS DIGEST || Lowellville hires Mays as new football coach

Lowellville hires Mays

as new football coach

LOWELLVILLE

The Lowellville Board of Education has approved the hire of former Youngstown State running back P.J. Mays to coach the Rockets.

Mays is the former coach at East, where he posted a 5-25 record in three seasons. He replaces Jeff D’Altorio, who went 17-24 in five seasons. The Rockets went 1-9 this year.

Mays, an East alum, was inducted into the YSU Hall of Fame in 2012 after rushing for 3,511 yards and 42 touchdowns from 2000 through 2002.

Former Mooney DT Kitchen signs with Pats

FOXBOROUGH, MASS

The New England Patriots have sign ex-Browns defensive lineman and Cardinal Mooney graduate Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, the team announced Wednesday night.

Kitchen, an undrafted free agent, spent three seasons in Cleveland and appeared in two games this season with the Detroit Lions after the Browns cut him in training camp.

To make room for Kitchen, the Patriots cut running back Trey Williams from the practice squad and also signed linebacker Kevin Snyder.

Ken Niumatalolo says no to BYU job offer

ANNAPOLIS, MD.

Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo is staying put.

Niumatalolo visited Brigham Young on Monday to discuss the opening created when head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced he was leaving for Virginia.

After giving the job at BYU much consideration, Niumatalolo decided Wednesday night to stay at Navy.

“It was a long and agonizing two days, probably the hardest two days of my life, but the Naval Academy has been my life for the last 18 years and I love it here,” Niumatalolo said. “I love the kids that go to school here and the people I work with. BYU was something I need to look into because of my faith and the opportunity to coach my two sons, but ultimately I decided to stay at the Naval Academy because this is the best place for me and my family. We are at peace with the decision.”

Niumatalolo said over the weekend that he chose to visit BYU because he is a devout Mormon.

Niumatalolo is 67-37 in eight seasons at Navy. He is 8-0 against Army. His next game will be Dec. 28 against Pittsburgh in the MilitaryBowl in Annapolis.

U.S. falls to China as Wambach’s career ends

NEW ORLEANS

Abby Wambach threatened to score several times in the final game of her extraordinary career, but China shut out the World Cup champion United States 1-0 on Wednesday night to hand the Americans their first loss on home soil in more than a decade.

Wambach played 72 minutes, managing two threatening headers and a shot from inside the penalty area before subbing out of a match for the final time.

The career leader in international play — for men and women, with 184 goals— kicked off her cleats and hugged each teammate on the field before walking to the bench, smiling, to embrace her coaches and remaining teammates as the crowd chanted her name.

NFL tweaking instant replay procedure

NEW YORK

The NFL will have game referees in the playoffs consult with its director of officiating about the application of rules in situations not currently covered in instant replay reviews.

Those situations will include the appropriate assessment of penalty yardage; proper administration of the game clock; correct downs; and any other administrative matter not currently reviewable.

But Dean Blandino, the vice president of officiating, will not be able to call a foul or change a call, “or otherwise become involved in on-field judgment calls that are not subject to the current instant replay system.”

Communication on administration matters can be initiated by Blandino or the referee, the league said.

Staff and wire reports