Updated: October 4, 2022
Florida St. hires Houston’s Briles as coordinator
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has hired former Houston assistant Kendal Briles as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Florida State announced Briles’ hiring on Sunday. Terms weren’t disclosed.
Briles resigned Saturday after Houston (8-5) finished the season with a 70-14 loss to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Cougars were No. 4 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring (46.4 points per game) and No. 6 in total offense (528.6 yards per game) in the regular season.
The 36-year-old Briles has been an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic (2017) and Baylor (2008-16), and he has spent the last four seasons as offensive coordinator. FSU said Briles would have “primary play-calling duties” under coach Willie Taggart.
Briles was on staff at Baylor when his father, Art, was fired because of allegations of sexual assault by football players. Kendal Briles remained on staff after Baylor fired his father in 2016.
Copley gets first shutout, Capitals beat Senators 4-0
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Pheonix Copley made 35 saves for his first career shutout and the Washington Capitals beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0 on Saturday night.
Brett Connolly, Matt Niskanen, Jakub Vrana and Michal Kempny scored for the Capitals (22-10-3). Washington is 7-1-0 in its past eight games and has scored at least four goals in 10 of its past 13.
Mike McKenna stopped 29 shots in place of the injured Craig Anderson.
Copley is the first rookie goalie to blank the Senators since James Reimer in 2011.
Crosby, Murray lead Penguins over Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sidney Crosby set up three goals and Matt Murray made 38 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 Saturday night.
Jake Guentzel scored twice and Kris Letang added a goal for the Penguins, who won for the fifth time in six games. It was Murray’s second shutout in 14 starts this season.
The Hurricanes lost for the fifth time in six games.
Crosby has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in the last five games.
The Penguins have put together an 11-4-2 record since Nov. 21. They had lost nine of 10 before that stretch and were in last place in the Eastern Conference. Now with 42 points, the Penguins are in eighth place in the conference.