Vaughn Hebron

Sophomore Hassan Muhammed had 254 all-purpose yards and touchdown runs of 5, 21 and 80 yards, as visiting Cardinal Gibbons overcame a seven-point deficit to beat Pallotti, 24-7, last night at Andover High. Muhammed, the area's leading rusher, went over the 200-yard mark for the third straight game with 232 rushing yards and had an interception on defense. He has 1,523 all-purpose yards -1,241 on the ground - and 20 touchdowns. Muhammed (5 feet 8, 155 pounds) is nearing the school record for touchdowns in a season of 30 established by Vaughn Hebron (1988)

Hassan Muhammad of Cardinal Gibbons has the kind of explosive talent that can make people forget his past. He's a fleet-footed little sophomore who is just as likely to run over a tackler as elude one. As the area's top scorer and ball carrier, with 20 touchdowns and a rushing average of 11.1 yards a carry in seven outings, Muhammad is finding it easier to forget the controversy of nearly a year ago that helped to land him at Gibbons in the first place....

N.Y. Jets (13-4) at Broncos (15-2)Time: 4: 05 p.m. todaySite: Mile High Stadium, Denver.TV: Chs. 13, 9.Radio: WBAL (1090 AM)Line: Broncos by 9.Vs. spread: Jets 13-4; Broncos 10-7.Vs. common opponents: Jets 6-0; Broncos 5-1.Last week: Jets beat Jaguars, 34-24, in divisional playoff game. Broncos beat Dolphins, 38-3, in divisional playoff game.Series: Broncos lead 13-12-1.Last meeting: Broncos won, 31-6, on Sept. 1, 1996, in Denver.Postseason records: Jets 6-6; Broncos 14-11.Notable: Jets coach Bill Parcells is the first to lead three franchises to the conference championship game.

Sophomore Hassan Muhammed had 254 all-purpose yards and touchdown runs of 5, 21 and 80 yards, as visiting Cardinal Gibbons overcame a seven-point deficit to beat Pallotti, 24-7, last night at Andover High. Muhammed, the area's leading rusher, went over the 200-yard mark for the third straight game with 232 rushing yards and had an interception on defense. He has 1,523 all-purpose yards -1,241 on the ground - and 20 touchdowns. Muhammed (5 feet 8, 155 pounds) is nearing the school record for touchdowns in a season of 30 established by Vaughn Hebron (1988)

BaseballAngels: Promoted C Todd Takayoshi from Single-A Lake Elsinore to Triple-A Vancouver.L Braves: Called up 2B Tony Graffanino from Triple-A Richmond.Cardinals: Activated P Mark Petkovsek from 15-day DL.Mariners: Gave IF Felix Fermin unconditional release.Rangers: Acquired P Bryan Eversgerd from Red Sox for player to be named and assigned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City.Yankees: Optioned C Jorge Posada to Triple-A Columbus and hired Wade Taylor as major-league scout.BasketballGrizzlies: Activated F Doug Edwards from injured list.

BaseballBlue Jays: Designated IF Mike Peeples for assignment.Pirates: Signed P Jim Baron, P Johann Lopez, former Orioles P Bob Milacki, former Orioles C Mel Rosario and C-IF Reed Secrist to minor-league contracts.Twins: Agreed to terms with IF Denny Hocking on two-year contract. Invited P Steve Wojciechowski, P Ryan Mills, P Kevin Ohme, P Gary Rath, C George Williams, C Matt LeCroy, IF Brent Gates, IF Mike Moriarty, IF Chad Rupp, IF Michael Cuddyer, IF Eddie Williams and OF Melvin Nieves to spring training as nonroster players.

DENVER -- Vaughn Hebron, role player for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, has no misgivings. "This is my stage, my time to shine," the former Cardinal Gibbons School standout was saying. "When all is said and done, my contribution will come on kickoff returns. That's what I put my main focus on." The would-be running back has carved a niche as one of the NFL's most nifty kick returners. He ranked third in the AFC with a 26.4-yard average runback and broke a scintillating 95-yard touchdown return against Miami in the regular season.

BaseballAngels: Named Rich Schlenker international scouting coordinator.Blue Jays: Named Pat Kelly major-league advance scout.Cubs: Agreed to two-year, $5.9 million contract with free-agent P Terry Mulholland.Dodgers: Named Ron Roenicke manager and Guy Conti pitching coach for Double-A San Antonio.Giants: Declined to exercise option on IF Rey Sanchez.Indians: Signed P Dave Burba to two-year contract extension, through 2001 season.Mets: Named Doug Davis manager of Double-A Binghamton.Orioles: Signed OF Mike Murphy and C Julio Vinas to minor-league contracts.

PHILADELPHIA -- Flat and at times confused, the Philadelphia Eagles were overwhelmed yesterday by a 26-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and the loss of middle linebacker Byron Evans for the rest of the year with a broken right leg."We lost a great player -- the quarterback of our defense," said linebacker William Thomas. "We've all got to step it up, pick it up."Against the Browns, the Eagles spent all game looking for something to pick them up -- but even when they found it, they threw it away.

The agent representing tight end Johnny Mitchell said he would like to negotiate a deal with a team by the end of this week, and the Ravens were high on the list.Mitchell's agent, Anthony Hilliard, said he is trying to set up a date for Mitchell to visit the Ravens' complex in Owings Mills soon, possibly as early as this week."We're holding talks. There is no doubt about what Johnny brings to the table and the Ravens," said Hilliard. "We're trying to work out something that fits contractually on both sides of the table."

N.Y. Jets (13-4) at Broncos (15-2)Time: 4: 05 p.m. todaySite: Mile High Stadium, Denver.TV: Chs. 13, 9.Radio: WBAL (1090 AM)Line: Broncos by 9.Vs. spread: Jets 13-4; Broncos 10-7.Vs. common opponents: Jets 6-0; Broncos 5-1.Last week: Jets beat Jaguars, 34-24, in divisional playoff game. Broncos beat Dolphins, 38-3, in divisional playoff game.Series: Broncos lead 13-12-1.Last meeting: Broncos won, 31-6, on Sept. 1, 1996, in Denver.Postseason records: Jets 6-6; Broncos 14-11.Notable: Jets coach Bill Parcells is the first to lead three franchises to the conference championship game.

DENVER -- Vaughn Hebron, role player for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, has no misgivings. "This is my stage, my time to shine," the former Cardinal Gibbons School standout was saying. "When all is said and done, my contribution will come on kickoff returns. That's what I put my main focus on." The would-be running back has carved a niche as one of the NFL's most nifty kick returners. He ranked third in the AFC with a 26.4-yard average runback and broke a scintillating 95-yard touchdown return against Miami in the regular season.

BaseballBlue Jays: Designated IF Mike Peeples for assignment.Pirates: Signed P Jim Baron, P Johann Lopez, former Orioles P Bob Milacki, former Orioles C Mel Rosario and C-IF Reed Secrist to minor-league contracts.Twins: Agreed to terms with IF Denny Hocking on two-year contract. Invited P Steve Wojciechowski, P Ryan Mills, P Kevin Ohme, P Gary Rath, C George Williams, C Matt LeCroy, IF Brent Gates, IF Mike Moriarty, IF Chad Rupp, IF Michael Cuddyer, IF Eddie Williams and OF Melvin Nieves to spring training as nonroster players.

BaseballAngels: Named Rich Schlenker international scouting coordinator.Blue Jays: Named Pat Kelly major-league advance scout.Cubs: Agreed to two-year, $5.9 million contract with free-agent P Terry Mulholland.Dodgers: Named Ron Roenicke manager and Guy Conti pitching coach for Double-A San Antonio.Giants: Declined to exercise option on IF Rey Sanchez.Indians: Signed P Dave Burba to two-year contract extension, through 2001 season.Mets: Named Doug Davis manager of Double-A Binghamton.Orioles: Signed OF Mike Murphy and C Julio Vinas to minor-league contracts.

The agent representing tight end Johnny Mitchell said he would like to negotiate a deal with a team by the end of this week, and the Ravens were high on the list.Mitchell's agent, Anthony Hilliard, said he is trying to set up a date for Mitchell to visit the Ravens' complex in Owings Mills soon, possibly as early as this week."We're holding talks. There is no doubt about what Johnny brings to the table and the Ravens," said Hilliard. "We're trying to work out something that fits contractually on both sides of the table."

BaseballAngels: Promoted C Todd Takayoshi from Single-A Lake Elsinore to Triple-A Vancouver.L Braves: Called up 2B Tony Graffanino from Triple-A Richmond.Cardinals: Activated P Mark Petkovsek from 15-day DL.Mariners: Gave IF Felix Fermin unconditional release.Rangers: Acquired P Bryan Eversgerd from Red Sox for player to be named and assigned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City.Yankees: Optioned C Jorge Posada to Triple-A Columbus and hired Wade Taylor as major-league scout.BasketballGrizzlies: Activated F Doug Edwards from injured list.

Although both teams lost their football games to highly ranked teams last weekend, the efforts of No. 13 Dunbar and unranked St. Paul's are worth another look.Dunbar (2-1) dropped a 12-6 decision to No. 2 Poly (3-0). And after holding a 6-0 lead for 3 1/2 quarters, St. Paul's (2-1) fell, 7-6, to No. 4 McDonogh (2-0).Dunbar was last year's Maryland Scholastic Association B Conference runner-up at 10-1 (seven shutouts), and St. Paul's won its fourth straight MSA C Conference title last season.

Hassan Muhammad of Cardinal Gibbons has the kind of explosive talent that can make people forget his past. He's a fleet-footed little sophomore who is just as likely to run over a tackler as elude one. As the area's top scorer and ball carrier, with 20 touchdowns and a rushing average of 11.1 yards a carry in seven outings, Muhammad is finding it easier to forget the controversy of nearly a year ago that helped to land him at Gibbons in the first place....

PHILADELPHIA -- Flat and at times confused, the Philadelphia Eagles were overwhelmed yesterday by a 26-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and the loss of middle linebacker Byron Evans for the rest of the year with a broken right leg."We lost a great player -- the quarterback of our defense," said linebacker William Thomas. "We've all got to step it up, pick it up."Against the Browns, the Eagles spent all game looking for something to pick them up -- but even when they found it, they threw it away.

Although both teams lost their football games to highly ranked teams last weekend, the efforts of No. 13 Dunbar and unranked St. Paul's are worth another look.Dunbar (2-1) dropped a 12-6 decision to No. 2 Poly (3-0). And after holding a 6-0 lead for 3 1/2 quarters, St. Paul's (2-1) fell, 7-6, to No. 4 McDonogh (2-0).Dunbar was last year's Maryland Scholastic Association B Conference runner-up at 10-1 (seven shutouts), and St. Paul's won its fourth straight MSA C Conference title last season.