High school sports
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Newton and hard-running Patriots to test Houston's defense

By Kristie Rieken Nov. 19, 2020 01:37 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2020, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles' Josh McCown plays during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday,, in Philadelphia. In 2002 the Houston Texans were an expansion team preparing for their first season and McCown had just wrapped up his college career at nearby Sam Houston State. Nineteen seasons and nine teams later the quarterback finally got his wish when he signed with the Texans this month to be their third quarterback behind Deshaun Watson and AJ McCarron. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
McCown with Texans 19 seasons after hoping to join team

By Kristie Rieken Nov. 17, 2020 07:23 PM EST

New York Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers (91) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in East Rutherford. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Jets' Franklin-Myers has persevered through lots of losing

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Oct. 30, 2020 05:32 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 17, 2019, file photo, Seattle Seahawks NFL football quarterback Russell Wilson poses for photos with his wife, Ciara; their daughter, Sienna; and Ciara's son, Future, in Renton, Wash. The couple are putting their money and celebrity behind rebranding a charter school, which advocates hope will boost the troubled Washington state charter school sector that has suffered from enrollment problems after years of legal challenges. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Russell Wilson stays busy on and off the NFL field

By The Associated Press Oct. 30, 2020 12:10 AM EDT

Sam Gordon poses for a photograph, Oct. 20, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. Gordon was the only girl in a tackle football league when she started playing the game at age 9. Now, Gordon hopes she can give girls a chance to play on female-only high school teams through a lawsuit. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Female football star sues for schools to offer girls' teams

By Sophia Eppolito Oct. 27, 2020 01:03 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, July 27, 2001 file photo, Dallas Cowboys kicker Tim Seder kills time by spinning the football on his fingers before the start of special teams practice at training camp in Wichita Falls, Texas. The first game between 1-5 Washington and the 2-4 Dallas Cowboys since the name change is also the longtime NFC East rivals’ first meeting with this bad a combined winning percentage since 2001. That was a 9-7 game kicker Tim Seder won with a 26-yard field goal as time expired after a collision with a horse on the field during warmups. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File)
Dallas Cowboys visit Washington with NFC East in shambles

By Stephen Whyno Oct. 22, 2020 12:53 PM EDT

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) gestures after throwing an interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Murray has happy homecoming, Cards cruise past Cowboys 38-10

By Schuyler Dixon Oct. 19, 2020 11:30 PM EDT

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury works the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in East Rutherford. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Texas showcase: Cards' Kingsbury, Murray return home for MNF

By David Brandt Oct. 18, 2020 01:07 PM EDT

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) reacts after sacking New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in East Rutherford. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Dancing Dennis: Unknown Cardinals LB relishes two-sack game

By David Brandt Oct. 16, 2020 04:29 PM EDT

Denver Broncos nose tackle Mike Purcell takes part in drills during ] NFL football training camp Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Purcell's perseverance pays off with big payday in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Oct. 06, 2020 07:18 PM EDT

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cowboys' Elliott reveals "painful" new "Feed Me" tattoo

By The Associated Press Sep. 18, 2020 01:47 PM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (25) loses the ball as he is hit by Houston Texans safety A.J. Moore Jr. (33) in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Edwards-Helaire looks to build on starring debut for Chiefs

By Dave Skretta Sep. 15, 2020 12:02 PM EDT

Fans arrive at Arrowhead Stadium before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Return of football renews fears over more virus spread

By Carla K. Johnson, Astrid Galvan And Dave Skretta Sep. 10, 2020 02:13 PM EDT

Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace (39) catches a pass in front of cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) during an NFL football training camp in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News via AP, Pool)
Bills' White humbled upon signing life-changing contract

By John Wawrow Sep. 07, 2020 08:32 PM EDT

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass during an NFL training camp football practice Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool)
Watson looks to help Houston Texans to 1st Super Bowl

By Kristie Rieken Aug. 27, 2020 04:39 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Aug. 20, 2020 11:53 AM EDT
Aug. 27 1884 — Richard Sears beats Howard Taylor, 6-0, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2 to win his fourth straight U.S. men’s national tennis championship. ...

Native American advocate Carl Moore sits near the phrase "We Bleed These Colors" along a walkway which leads from the Bountiful High School parking lot up to the football field Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Bountiful, Utah. While advocates have made strides in getting Native American symbols and names changed in sports, they say there's still work to do mainly at the high school level, where mascots like Braves, Indians, Warriors, Chiefs and Redskins persist. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Native mascots still a sticking point in high school sports

By Sophia Eppolito And Felicia Fonseca Aug. 09, 2020 11:11 AM EDT

Coach Danny Chavez aids 14-year-old Estevan Rodriguez during boxing practice Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, at West Texas Knockout Boxing Club in Odessa, Texas. Both are wearing masks to abide by the boxing club's health and safety rules, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Tuesday was the club's first day open since late March. (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)
The Latest: FBS final rankings to be released on Dec. 20

By The Associated Press Aug. 05, 2020 11:02 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 12, 2020, file photo, Miami Marlins' Jonathan Villar, left, Jesus Aguilar, center, and Jon Berti wait to bat during a baseball scrimmage at Marlins Park in Miami. Marlins CEO Derek Jeter blamed the team's coronavirus outbreak on a collective false sense of security that made players lax about social distancing and wearing masks. Infected were 21 members of the team's traveling party, including at least 18 players. None is seriously ill, Jeter said Monday, and he expects all to return this season. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
The Latest: AP Source: divisions to decide NCAA fall champs

By The Associated Press Aug. 04, 2020 12:27 PM EDT

Mick Hoffman, executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, poses for a photo, Thursday, July 16, 2020, sitting in the empty stands of the Renton School District's Renton Memorial Stadium, which is used for high school football, soccer, and track events in Renton, Wash. Hoffman and other administrators across the country are facing difficult decisions regarding the overwhelming uncertainty of whether high school sports can go forward this fall as the clock ticks closer to the start of the 2020-21 school year with little clarity in place for an obvious and safe path moving forward for athletics. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Latest: PGA Tour Series-China canceled due to virus

By The Associated Press Jul. 21, 2020 05:15 PM EDT