Overtime

College Football

Rashada acquitted in BYU rape case

In Salt Lake City, two former Brigham Young University players were acquitted Friday of charges alleging they raped a girl at their apartment after she passed out from drinking.

Former Richmond Academy standout Ibrahim Rashada and B.J. Mathis, who no longer are students at the school, were found not guilty of charges of aggravated sexual assault, obstruction of justice and furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Two other players who had faced the same charges agreed to plea deals, as did two more players who had faced lesser charges.

"I'm overwhelmed," Rashada said after the verdict. He called the allegations a "tragedy."

Golf

Coble finishes off amateur three-peat

In Dalton, Ga., Augusta's Laura Coble fired a final-round 4-under-par 68 to win a third consecutive Georgia State Women's Amateur on Friday afternoon.

Coble's 1-under 143 total was good for a nine-shot win over Jennifer Cassidy of Dalton. It's the fourth state amateur title for Coble; she also won the event in 1999. Augusta's Mary Helen McElreath tied for fourth at 155.

- In Albany, Ga., Spencer Sappington of Alpharetta, Ga., the runner-up in last week's Midland Valley Senior Invitational, won his second consecutive Georgia Senior Championship and third of his career.

Sappington, who trailed by three shots after 36 holes, closed with 2-under-par 70 to finish at 2-under 214 at Doublegate Country Club. He opened with rounds of 76-68.

The 62-year-old Sappington beat Columbus' Bill Ploeger, the other three-time champion of this event, by one shot.

Mike Jackson, the only area golfer in the field, shot 77-76-75-228 to tie for 31st place.

- The Pinnacle Exceptional Driver Championship will be today at Wedges & Woods driving range on Wrightsboro Road from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Entry fee is $20 per person, with prizes for all contestants. For more information, call the range at 854-0360.

NBA

Hornets given option of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City offered to become the home of the New Orleans Hornets this season following the devastation by Hurricane Katrina.

Mayor Mick Cornett acknowledged Friday that a Louisiana site would be the obvious choice for the Hornets. But he suggested Oklahoma City's Ford Center, which does not have a major league tenant, as an option.

Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said no decision had been made on where the team would play.

Soccer

Vodicka wins first contest with Pacers

USC Aiken women's soccer coach Susan Vodicka won her first game with the Pacers on Thursday night, a 4-2 win over Anderson College.

Melissa Schnoering had a pair of second-half goals as the Pacers also got scores from Natasha DaCosta and Robin Smith in their season opener.

- USC Aiken's Adam Lambert scored with 45 seconds left in the game to pick up the team's first win of the season in a 3-2 victory over Anderson on Thursday night.

Emmanuel Maduka scored twice for the Pacers (1-1-1) before Lambert's rebound goal sealed the victory.

Colleges

Utah can continue to use its nickname

The NCAA gave Utah permission to continue using its Utes nickname Friday, just hours before the school's nationally televised football game against Arizona.

The university sent a seven-page appeal to the college sports governing body Wednesday, asking that it be removed from a list of 18 schools subject to restrictions because they have American Indian nicknames, mascots or images.

The NCAA approved the removal of Utah and the Central Michigan University Chippewas from the list.