Steelers activate Toussaint

November 28, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

PITTSBURGH

The Steelers have promoted running back Fitzgerald Toussaint to the team’s active roster.

Toussaint has spent the entire 2015 season on the Steelers’ practice squad after being signed on Sept. 7.

The Liberty High School gradaute originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Michigan on May 29, 2014.

Toussaint played in four career games during the regular season and two postseason contests, all with the Ravens.

To make room for Toussaint on the team’s active roster, the Steelers released running back Isaiah Pead.

Blue Jays bring back ex-Pirate Happ

Toronto

J.A. Happ is headed back to the Toronto Blue Jays. The left-hander agreed to a $36 million, three-year contract on Friday, returning to the team he pitched for from 2012-14. Happ fills another rotation spot for the AL East champions, who could lose fellow lefties David Price and Mark Buehrle in free agency this offseason. Perhaps the biggest prize on the market, Price is expected to command a huge deal. Earlier this month, Toronto re-signed right-hander Marco Estrada to a $26 million, two-year contract. The 33-year-old Happ was 11-8 with a 3.61 ERA in 31 starts for Seattle and Pittsburgh last season, setting career highs with 172 innings and 151 strikeouts. He was especially effective after getting traded to the Pirates in July, going 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts down the stretch to help them earn an NL wild card. Happ went 19-20 with a 4.39 ERA in 58 games, including 50 starts, over 2 1/2 seasons with the Blue Jays. He also has pitched for Philadelphia and Houston, compiling a 62-61 record with a 4.13 ERA in 196 major league outings (171 starts).

Central Michigan tops Eastern Michigan

MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH.

Romello Ross scored four touchdowns and Central Michigan beat Eastern Michigan 35-28 on Friday.

Eastern Michigan (1-11, 0-8 Mid-American) led 21-7 at halftime on two touchdown passes by Brogan Roback and a 35-yard interception return by Kyle Rachwal.

But Central Michigan (7-5, 6-2) fired back after the break, scoring on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Rush to Ross on its first possession, and then Ross’ 3-yard run — his second of the game — tied it at 21.

Ross’ third rushing touchdown, a 17-yarder, came after an Eastern fumble. But Ross was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play, and Eastern took advantage of the short field — Darius Jackson busted a 49-yard touchdown run on the next play to tie it at 28.

Central responded though, as Rush hooked up with Corey Willis for a 67-yard touchdown pass to cap a busy third quarter.

Martez Walker had 119 yards rushing for Central, while Rush finished 25 of 39 for 391 yards and two TD passes.

UMass defeats Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y.

Freshman Marquis Young rushed for 240 yards and three first-half touchdowns and UMass held on to defeat Buffalo 31-26 on Friday night.

Young, who had 215 yards at halftime, had runs of 6 and 47 yards for an early 14-0 lead and a 1-yard plunge that made it 21-17. Quarterback Blake Frohnapfel added a 14-yard TD run that helped the Minutemen (3-9, 2-6 Mid-American) build a 28-17 halftime lead.

Jordan Johnson scored on a 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter to pull Buffalo (5-7, 3-5) within 28-26 but a pass by wide receiver Marcus McGill for the 2-point conversion was incomplete.

Buffalo punted on its next two possessions before UMass chewed up 4:39 leading to Logan Laurent’s 37-yard field goal with 2:13 left. Then Da’Sean Downey picked off Joe Licata to preserve the win.

Tajae Sharpe had six receptions for 138 yards for Buffalo.

Staff/wire report