West Ham second thanks to midweek victory at Bolton Wanderers, while visitors Wrexham only have one win from opening six games
Hammers hunting a fourth win on the spin for first time since November 2023
West Ham make five changes with Taty Castellanos back up front
Red Dragons change six from draw with Burnley, including a start for recent signing Callum O'Hare
Get Involved: Use the yellow ***** on on page.

#west #wrexham #hammers

HAMDEN - Matt Witteman performed as you would expect from one of Connecticut's top returning quarterbacks Thursday night - he accounted for all five of Law's touchdowns.
And if the Lawmen can provide more defensive efforts like they did against Hamden, then they will be tough to beat. Law forced four turnovers in the 36-0 win over the Green Dragons in an SCC football game at Joe Bruno Field.
"We have really high expectations for this defense, so we were just expecting to do really good this week and that's what we did," said Alex Konilan, who had a fumble recovery for Law.
Law forced three turnovers in the third quarter alone, leading to 14 points - two touchdown runs by Witteman for 20 and 2 yards, respectively.
"The defense was on fire today," Witteman said. "Offensively, we started out a little bit slow, but the defense was right there to pick us up. We have a lot of trust in them and we believe in them, so for them to come through and just pick us up when we're down, it's huge for us."

#defense #really #matt

Dragons co-captain Ben Carter will be fit for the start of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship (URC) after recovering from a summer ankle injury suffered with Wales.
The lock was ruled out of the Nations Championship defeat by South Africa in mid-July after a blow in training.
Carter, who had started Wales' six previous games, was on crutches and saw specialists on his return to Dragons.
The 25-year-old did not need surgery and is working towards his side's URC opener at Benetton on Friday, 25 September (19:45 BST).
"It's not an issue now. He is going really well and is probably in the best nick that I have seen him," said defence coach Dale MacLeod.

#dragons #south

Texas high school football season featured some marquee showdowns this weekend. The Week 2 schedule featured blockbuster games and also some equally notable final scores. Below are the top 25 Texas high school football teams, according to the Massey Ratings, as of Sept. 6.
If the last two weekends proved anything, it's that Allen is back. Behind standout performances from 2029 QB Ty Snell and the entire Eagles defense, Allen has knocked off powerhouses Duncanville and DeSoto to open the season, 50-6. Snell passed for four TD on seven attempts, three of those scores going to fellow 2029 WR Zach Williams. Allen held a 28-0 lead at halftime with the defense setting a strong pace in this one.
North Crowley earned another statement victory in the early season — a 40-10 win over fellow Dallas Metroplex powerhouse Southlake Carroll. After the Dragons took a 7-6 lead early, the Panthers scored 21 unanswered points and cruised in the second half. North Texas commit G'Yrell Smith rushed for 96 yards on 11 touches, and QBs Jacob Torres and Jahzeel McCradic combined for two TD passes.
The defending state champs did not miss a beat in a physical tilt vs. Louisiana powerhouse John Curtis. The Mustangs came away with 27-17 win on the road at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium in Lafayette — after adding two fourth-quarter scores and separating late in the contest. QB Kaleb Taylor threw a TD pass to Jaden Kendrick and Jemarkeus Houston ran for a 14-yard TD to deliver North Shore the impressiveo out-of-state win.
Guyer remained unbeaten on Friday night as the Wildcats notched their 200th program win. The outstanding Guyer defense featuring arguably the state's most talented group of defensive linemen (Zane Rowe (Oregon); Khyren Haywood (Texas Tech); Darrien Neal (TCU); Logan Lokey (2028) held Melissa to less than 100 yards of total offense. First-year starting QB Carter Morgan was terrific — finishing 21-of-29 for 237 yards with a pass TD and a rush TD.

#allen #season

A Dayton Dragons record set over 20 years ago has been broken.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
John Michael Faile homered in the Dragons' 9-5 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps on Saturday.
TRENDING STORIES:
'Teen takeover' trend hits AlterFest, prompts new curfew

#dayton #free #faile #west

Wrexham are hoping to emulate rivals Cardiff City by winning the domestic treble this season.
The Red Dragons made history in 2025-2026 by winning the Adran Premier for the first time, while also lifting the Adran Trophy.
But Cardiff's triumph over Swansea in the Welsh Cup denied Wrexham the coveted treble, something the Bluebirds achieved two years ago.
Wrexham ended the summer by becoming the first women's Welsh side to win in Europe for seven years, marking their Champions League debut with a 4-2 victory against FC Pyunik.
"[The treble] is definitely my goal and I think all the girls would agree," said Wrexham captain Jodie Bartle.

#welsh #winning #first

An outstanding defensive performance and big games from Carson Correll and Hudson Shoaf helped the visiting West Davidson varsity football team claim a 40-6 win over Bishop McGuinness on Friday night.
The Dragons limited the Villains' rushing and passing attacks and had three sacks in the game.
West Davidson quarterback Correll had a huge game, running for 123 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries. He also completed five of his nine passes for 179 yards and three touchdown passes. Shoaf caught two touchdown passes and had 136 yards receiving.
Bishop McGuinness (0-2) will be striving for its first win of the season on the road Friday at 7 p.m. against East Davidson (0-2).

#shoaf #west #bishop #Friday

When bestselling author Katherine Rundell meets young readers, they sometimes play it cool.
They know fantasy books like her "Impossible Creatures," set on magical hidden islands with dragons and sphinxes, are fiction. But they lean in anyway, with a glint in their eyes, and ask, "Just to check, though, is any of it real?"
It's a rewarding comment for the author, 39, who crafted a world real enough to spark that kind of wonder. Speaking to USA TODAY with the soothing lilt of a Miss Honey, Rundell is protective of her young readers and their imaginations. In a recent essay in The Guardian, she argued that artificial intelligence "risks becoming an iron curtain that comes down between a young person and their potential for thinking."
Could fantasy books be the antidote? Rundell is the first author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously top the children's book charts in the UK and U.S. Queen Camilla will gift every Year 6 student in the UK a copy of "Impossible Creatures" for Christmas this year. Walt Disney Studios has ***** ed up the film rights for a whopping seven figures. And a recent review said the series' next installment, "The Neverfear" (out now from Knopf Books for Young Readers) "would make JRR Tolkien proud."
"I don't think the world is going to become an easier place to be in the next few years. I think it's going to get harder … So I would love to write a book that has in it peril, danger, but also has in it a sense that even amid peril and danger and fear, it is worth finding reasons to rejoice," she tells USA TODAY. "There is a reason that the book begins and ends with a feast, because I wanted the idea that there is always cause for hope. There is always a reason to come together and celebrate love, celebrate humanity."

#year

Conor Coady is working with Liverpool's under-21s following his departure from Championship club Wrexham.
The defender is a free agent after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with the Red Dragons on the eve of transfer deadline day.
Following his departure from the Racecourse Ground, Liverpool academy product Coady revealed he is spending time with the Reds' youth system.
"I'm trying to keep myself busy. I'm lucky enough to get the opportunity to go into Liverpool's under-21s," he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
"I came through there. I'm doing a little bit of coaching with the boys, which has been brilliant."

#following #departure #championship

Assistant manager Steve Parkin says he understands Chris Wilder's frustrations over the possibility of losing Callum O'Hare to Wrexham after the Sheffield United boss accused the Welsh side of a "blanket bombing" approach to the transfer window.
Speaking ahead of the Blades' Championship contest with Bolton Wanderers at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night (19:45 BST), United boss Wilder confirmed the Red Dragons had submitted a bid for attacking midfielder O'Hare.
During the press briefing, Wilder also said Wrexham were "in for half the division".
And while accepting Wilder's frustrations, Wrexham ****** istant Parkin was keen to stressed his side's transfer dealings are far more methodical than Wilder suggested.
"I did read that (Wilder's comments). Me and Chris go a long way back and he's no different to any other manager," said Parkin.

#chris #o 'hare #manager #boss

There are two new No. 1 teams in this week's USA TODAY Network Indiana high school football poll.
New Palestine's 14-6 loss to East Central on Friday knocked the Dragons from the top spot in Class 5A. Bloomington South replaced New Palestine at No. 1 in 5A; the Dragons dropped to No. 2 but still did receive as many first-place votes (six) as the Panthers. East Central leapfrogged Bishop Chatard and Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger to the No. 1 spot in Class 4A.
The full USA TODAY Network Indiana poll going into Week 3 of the season:
Ranking
Team

#central #class #bishop

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Credit: Activision
In his review of Transformers: War for Cybertron, Dan Stapleton referred to "the tingly nerd-joy of hearing original Optimus Prime voice actor Peter Cullen's authoritative dialogue". Every time the character appeared on screen, as he did many times in videogames like Transformers: Devastation and Fall of Cybertron or the middling movies, it was thrilling to hear him and realize, yes, they got the "real" Optimus Prime.
As noted by The Hollywood Reporter, Cullen has died at the age of 85. He joins a string of particularly beloved celebrities to have died in recent days, including Dolly Parton, Yayoi Kusama, and Red Alert 3 star and camp icon Tim Curry.
While most famous for his recurring role as Optimus Prime, Cullen also voiced Venger in Dungeons & Dragons, Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, Monterey Jack in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and provided the menacing clicking sounds for the Predator.

#transformers #cybertron #died #credit

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson expects Birmingham City to make changes to their team for their Championship game tonight (20:00 BST) after the Blues were hammered by Brentford in the EFL Cup in midweek.
Like Wrexham, the Blues have drawn both of their two Championship matches so far this season.
But Chris Davies' men were thrashed 6-1 by the Premier League Bees in the second round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night - with the 41-year-old head coach receiving criticism of late.
Despite the noise surrounding Davies' position as Birmingham boss, Parkinson says the Red Dragons' sole focus will be on building from the positives of their 1-1 league draw with Watford last time out.
"There will be changes I should imagine in the (Birmingham) team, first of all because it was a cup game, secondly because of the result and there will be a reaction," Parkinson said.

#blues #davies #league

CHELSEA — Tim Robison wants Chelsea to win football games, but his definition of winning extends well beyond Friday nights.
As Robison prepares for his first season as a head coach, he is attempting to build something designed to last, from higher expectations in the weight room and stronger connections from youth football through high school to a champion mentality that applies whether the Green Dragons are lining up for kickoff or walking through the halls.
The wins, Robison believes, can follow the habits.
And as Chelsea begins a new era, establishing those habits is priority No. 1.
"I'm a person that likes to produce good men and good women," Robison said. "That's my teaching and coaching philosophy. It's not all about football for me. Football is on the forefront, but right behind it, really close for me, is raising young men and young women."

#young #Friday

Wrexham are poised to sign Issa Kabore on a permanent deal from Manchester City in addition to bringing in left-back Jacques Ekomie from French side Angers.
Burkina Faso international Kabore featured 32 times across all competitions for the Red Dragons in 2025-26.
His eight ***** ists in the Championship were more than any other Wrexham player.
Following seven loan moves away from City, the 25-year-old is now close to sealing a permanent exit from the Etihad Stadium.
Ekomie recently entered the final year of his deal with Angers and reportedly attracted interest from Wrexham's Championship rivals West Ham United and German side Hamburg.

#ekomie #permanent

The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play their first home football game of the season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Blankenship Field. The game will be against neighboring rival, the Clinton High School Dragons.
The Wildcats beat the Halls High football team in Knoxville during their debut game of the season, 16-13 in overtime.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge football prepares for home opener against Clinton

#season #blankenship

LYNDHURST — A year of maturity made a difference Saturday evening for the Lakeside Dragons. Playing freshmen and sophomores last year led to some growth in a 14-7 victory over Lutheran East.
The Dragons defense held Lutheran East to just seven points by staying on their ****** ignments and not freelancing, said Lakeside football coach Terry Henton.
"We talked all summer about putting in the work," Henton said of the team earning a chance to play winning football.
He said as long as they play as a team they have a chance.
"Everybody [on defense] is on a chain," Henton said. "You can't go any where alone."

#henton #lakeside #lutheran #defense

The Atlanta Falcons appear to have found a gem in undrafted free agent Jack Strand. The rookie quarterback went off in Saturday's 34-6 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts, passing for 212 yards, one touchdown and a passer rating of 132.5.
Strand, a Division II legend, pushed the ball down the field with ease and also made a few plays with his legs. Even Falcons president of football Matt Ryan got fired up when Strand ripped off a 16-yard scramble for a touchdown.
Strand broke every school passing record during his four years at Minnesota State Moorhead (2022-2025), racking up 13,161 passing yards, 126 touchdowns and 50 interceptions. So why did he go undrafted, and what would have happened if Strand had transferred to a bigger school instead of staying at MSU-Moorhead?
NFL ****** yst Thor Nystrom claimed one of Strand's college coaches told him that if the Dragons QB had accepted one of his NIL offers, he could have been one of the top-3 quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Not wanting to leave his college teammates behind, though, Strand reportedly chose to stay in Minnesota.
"A coach on the MSU-Moorhead staff told me in the spring that Strand may have been a top-3 drafted QB if he'd taken NIL offers to jump up his last season," Nystrom wrote on Twitter. "Strand wanted to finish it out with his teammates. As scouts say, if you're talented, they'll find you."

#nystrom #yards

SIOUX CITY, IA (KCAU) - Next group up for Two-A-Days is the Pender Pendragons, after a huge 9-2 2025 season after back-to-back five-win seasons in 2023 and 2024.
The Dragons got themselves to the D1 state quarterfinals before falling to Shelby-Rising City 28-6.
The 8-man squad enters the new year without two of last season's biggest offensive weapons in the run game and passing game; however, there is a large group of returners, including quarterback Zander Welsh, who had over 1,700 total yards of offense and 31 touchdowns.
This team also brings back a familiar face to the head coach position, Andy Welsh, who has served as the head coach for the boys basketball team for the last several years. With his return, this group is very excited for the guys they are putting out on the field!
"We have 33 kids on the team. We are sitting here with 12 seniors on an 8-man football team, so we have a lot of depth. Our expectations are extremely high, and the kids have been working really hard to show what we can do," said Welsh.

#team #back

Betfred Super League
Catalans Dragons (12) 26
Tries: Staines, Leeming, Rogers-Smith, Darrelatour Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 5
Hull FC (14) 27
Tries: Moy, Martin, Hill, Sezer Goals: Sezer 5 Drop goal: Arthur

#staines

Use the 'watch & listen' tab for BBC radio commentaries
Hull KR v Toulouse (17:30 BST)
Catalans Dragons v Hull FC (20:00 BST)
St Helens 36-12 Castleford Tigers
Listen: Super League commentaries

#castleford #tigers

Justin Lebron, the Cincinnati Reds' first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, has started his professional career at High-A Dayton on fire, batting .353 with four home runs in his first eight games for the Dragons.
Lebron's OPS is 1.166 through his first 35 plate appearances. He also has two stolen bases and driven in eight runs.
On Aug. 20 against Quad Cities, Lebron homered for the fourth time in five games.
Lebron signed in July for a $5 million bonus, about $300,000 more than the ******* igned slot value for the 18th overall pick.
Lebron played shortstop at the University of Alabama.

#first #runs #cincinnati #draft

LexisNexis Dragons have changed almost a third of their squad as they bid to improve on fifth place in Netball Super League (NSL).
Head coach Reigna Bloxham has signed New Zealanders Saviour Tui (goal shooter), Holly Mather (centre, wing defence), along with former England Under-21 captain Phoebe Maslen (centre, wing defence).
They replace Wales international Phillipa Yarranton who is retiring, South African mid-courter Khanyisa Chawane who has departed after three seasons, and Ellen Withington who was signed as a permanent replacement player during 2026.
Having finished bottom of NSL in 2025, Dragons fell only three points short of making the end of season play-offs in this year's campaign.
Fifth in the eight-team league represented the Welsh franchise's best finish since 2014.

#fifth #wing

The Dayton Dragons return home to face a Midwest League West Division squad fighting for a second half playoff berth.
The Dragons, the Midwest League East Division champions, will host a six-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits beginning at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Day Air Ballpark. It's the second-to-last homestand for the Dragons before the playoffs start next month.
Dayton is 20-28 in the second half and are eight games back of the West Michigan Whitecaps in the second half standings. The Dragons are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Quad Cities is 28-18 in the second half and enter the series tied for first place in the West Division standings with the Beloit Sky Carp (29-19). The River Bandits have won five straight and eight of their last 10 games.
Here's everything you need to know heading into this week's series with the River Bandits:
Last week

#dragons #second #last #series

Cardiff City and Wrexham bid to bring the opening weekend of the new Championship season to a spectacular end with a blockbuster Monday night showdown in south Wales.
The Bluebirds face the Red Dragons in a league match for the first time in 24 years, after Cardiff secured a return to the second tier at the first attempt.
In addition to the eyes of those across the south and north of Wales being transfixed on proceedings at Cardiff City Stadium, the contest will attract global attention.
"When the fixture came out everyone was instantly excited by it," said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.
"It's a Welsh derby and just a great game for both clubs to start."

#city #championship #Monday

Former Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron continues to impress at the start of his professional baseball career.
After an impressive debut, Lebron was back in action this past Friday night for the Cincinnati Reds' High-A affiliate, the Daytona Dragons, and during the game, hit the first home run of his professional career. The solo shot came in the fourth inning for Daytona, hitting a no-doubter down the left field line.
Through the first four games of his professional career with Daytona, Lebron is 6-for-16 offensively with a home run, one RBI, and one stolen base. Lebron has also doubled once, scored three runs, and owns an impressive 1.037 OPS.
Selected by Cincinnati with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft, Lebron currently ranks as the Reds' No. 3 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Lebron is joined by fellow 2026 draft pick Brady Neal among the former Alabama players currently in the Reds organization.
Contact/Follow us RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

#lebron

Former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is poised to return to the Ospreys as a director.
The 40-year-old is set to be announced as a board member by the Swansea-based club next week.
Jones made his Ospreys debut in 2005, a year after he broke through with Swansea RFC, and helped the club to three ****** les and an Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph.
The former lock is to return at a turbulent time as the club fights for survival under Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans to cut to three professional men's sides.
WRU-owned Cardiff and privately-backed Dragons are poised to get licences, which will effectively pit Ospreys against Llanelli-based Scarlets for a solitary spot in the west.

#swansea #poised

The small town in Wales has become a global tourist destination since the launch of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac bought the Red Dragons back in 2021 and have since guided the club from the National League (fifth tier) to the Championship (second tier of English football).
Amid their on-field success, Wrexham have gained popularity on the world stage thanks to their ongoing documentary.
Reynolds and Mac's involvement, coupled with the docuseries, has led to an increase in tourism in the town, while one American couple have even decided to relocate to Wales.
Photo by Frank Micelotta/FX Networks via Getty Images

#reynolds #since #dragons

Wrexham got their competitive 2026/27 campaign underway last week, suffering their first defeat of the season.
The Red Dragons travelled to Middlesbrough in the first round of the Carabao Cup and lost 1-0, exiting the competition as a result.
Striker Sam Smith had a good chance to open the scoring on the night, but his effort was saved well.
Now, with some firepower lacking in Wrexham's attack, there is talk that they could land Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United.
Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images

#middlesbrough #carabao #smith #united

Dayton reliever Graham Osman played the underappreciated middle reliever role to perfection Saturday, Aug. 8, to change the momentum of a series against first-place Great Lakes.
And who could have seen it coming. Osman pitched at Great Lakes on July 9 and allowed three runs in 1⅓ innings. He allowed a run in 1⅓ innings against the Loons on Tuesday, Aug. 4. He entered Saturday's game in the fourth inning with a 9.00 ERA.
The Loons already had five runs. They are in first place with a potent lineup. Surely, they weren't finished.
But after a 30-minute weather delay, Osman took the mound by storm and the Loons' offense dried up. He pitched 3⅔ innings and struck out seven, including the side twice, to help lead the Dragons to an 8-5 victory.
No hits, no walks, no runs, not even a base runner.

#osman