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  • Penn caps its football season with a win over Princeton

    Penn caps its football season with a win over Princeton

    For the first time since 2017, Penn defeated Princeton, 17-6, at home on Saturday.

    A dominant defensive showing from the Quakers left Princeton (3-7, 2-5 Ivy), which entered the matchup on a four-game losing streak, unable to move the ball. Penn (6-4, 4-3 Ivy) kept Princeton scoreless in the second half, which included a game-sealing interception from safety Ty Cortez.

    Penn’s offense needed just three scores to put the game away, fueled by quarterback Liam O’Brien, who threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

    “There is no love lost about beating Princeton,” said coach Ray Priore. “Penn football, basketball, Penn-anything vs. Princeton. I don’t know what it is … it’s a great rivalry.”

    Uncertainty ahead

    Penn will graduate 27 seniors, including major contributors in O’Brien, receiver Jared Richardson, team-leading tackler linebacker John Lista, and star defensive tackle Carter Janki, among others.

    With 10 of those players being starters on offense, the roster will see a major overhaul heading into 2026 — which isn’t a worry for Priore.

    “It’s always sad to see kids graduate,” Priore said. “Did we know Liam O’Brien was going to be Liam O’Brien? … We have really good young players.”

    Late field goal dooms Penn, which nearly pulled off an upset of Ivy League leader Harvard

    Failing to win an Ivy League championship for the ninth consecutive season, Priore says the Quakers need to get back to work.

    “It never stops,” he said. “I have my phone blowing up, we have kids that are going to get accepted early decision here. The process is ongoing, but it’s something you love to do.”

    Hello to history

    Richardson became the first Penn receiver to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a single season since Justin Watson in 2017. Richardson hit the mark with a 9-yard reception in the third quarter.

    An earlier 9-yard catch in the second quarter gave the Monroe County native 2,445 career receiving yards, good for third all-time in in program history.

    “It’s special knowing that Penn was the only Division I school that gave me an offer,” Richardson said. “It was a blessing. Thank you, Coach P, I appreciate the opportunity.”

    Richardson had 97 yards on 12 receptions Saturday to finish the season with 1,035 receiving yards and 2,507 all-time.

    Saying goodbye

    Senior Davis Ellis recorded his first collegiate touchdown on a 2-yard screen pass to cap Penn’s first offensive drive.

    On defense, Janki tied his career high in tackles with nine — while also receiving two snaps in the backfield on offense. Adding to the trickery, Penn’s final meaningful offensive snap was a failed pass attempt from Richardson to O’Brien.

    Despite the disappointing season, Richardson, O’Brien, and Janki all had smiles on their faces leaving the post-game news conference.

    “We all came in freshman year, we were all hungry,” O’Brien said. “We all had that same desire of loving football and wanting to be on the field. We all had our own journeys, it’s unique on how we got there. The one thing that was consistent was that we all knew how to work.”

  • ‘The sorrow that never goes away’: Mother of Mount Airy man who died in Northeast Philadelphia plane crash describes her grief during remembrance event

    ‘The sorrow that never goes away’: Mother of Mount Airy man who died in Northeast Philadelphia plane crash describes her grief during remembrance event

    Amira Brown doesn’t feel hope or joy seeing pictures of her son, Steven Dreuitt Jr.

    When she seeks solace, she instead turns to the people and things that Dreuitt touched, she told a gathering Saturday in an East Mount Airy church basement ballroom. She thinks of a young girl nicknamed “Precious” — a girl her son mentored and trained to play basketball, and who grew up to be a coach.

    “Every time I see her play, that puts a smile on my face,” Brown said. “I know that Steven taught her. Steven did that.”

    The ‘hero’ who saved a 9-year-old boy on fire

    Dreuitt was among those killed when a medical jet crashed on Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia earlier this year. All six people who were aboard the plane — including an 11-year-old girl — died; at least 24 people were injured, and dozens of nearby homes caught fire or were damaged by debris.

    “I just keep trying to keep my head up, and I just keep going,” Brown said of the grief. “I just keep pushing.”

    Brown retold the events of Jan. 31 before a somber, 50-person crowd at Oxford Presbyterian Church as part of an annual remembrance service for grieving families. She said she had been messaging with her grandson Ramesses Raziel Dreuitt Vazquez on Jan. 31 just before the crash, which occurred a little after 6 p.m.; Dreuitt’s older son was at home waiting for his parents to return, she said.

    Dreuitt, 37, was driving his fiancee, Dominique Goods-Burke, and Ramesses, then 9, home from Macy’s when the Learjet medical transport plummeted from the sky, slammed into the ground, and exploded.

    Suit alleges negligence caused the Jan. 31 jet crash in Northeast Philly

    The father — a family man who loved playing video games with his sons and cooking at his job at the Philadelphia Catering Co. — died at the scene. Goods-Burke, 34, described by her family as a fierce woman of “confidence, warmth, and creativity,” was hospitalized for months before she died of her injuries. Ramesses suffered serious burns to more than 90% of his body, requiring extensive medical treatment.

    Ramesses, now 10, has been transferred from a Boston hospital to one in New Jersey, according to Brown. His mother recently told CBS Philadelphia the boy hopes to be home by Christmas.

    While Brown spoke extensively about her pain, she also used the pulpit to recognize and bring light to the nearly 150 lives celebrated at the event, led by funeral director Ervina White Beauford.

    “When things happen, people talk,” she said. “But once the talk stops, there’s no one there but us. We all have different stories, but the one thing we all have in common is the pain, the hurt, and the sorrow that never goes away.”

  • Villanova takes care of business against Sacred Heart to end regular season on a high note

    Villanova takes care of business against Sacred Heart to end regular season on a high note

    Villanova wrapped up its regular season in convincing fashion, dispatching Sacred Heart, 34–10, for its eighth straight win.

    Villanova (9-2), which is ranked No. 7 in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, has won 22 straight home games. The Wildcats sit in second place in the Coastal Athletic Association with a 7-1 record.

    Sacred Heart (8-4) played an independent schedule this year, but will join the CAA next season. Villanova will leave the CAA for the Patriot League.

    Graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns, one each to sophomore running backs Ja’briel Mace and Isaiah Ragland.

    Mace also scored two touchdowns on the ground, rushing for 165 yards on nine carries. Ragland compiled 71 yards on a team-leading 11 carries.

    Villanova’s Ja’briel Mace (4) jukes the defensive line of Sacred Heart on Saturday.

    The Wildcats also honored their seniors in the final regular-season home game.

    “I’m really proud of our team today,” said coach Mark Ferrante. “We talked this morning in the locker room before we took the field, and you always want to hopefully go out with a win on Senior Day, because the seniors are always going to remember their last home game of the regular season.

    “Guys took care of business and we got the victory, and that’s the most important thing.”

    Mace leads the way

    The Wildcats had a rough start after Sacred Heart forced and recovered a fumble from Mace on just the second play of the game. It was a rare turnover for Villanova, which had conceded just four this season, the fewest in the FCS.

    The Pioneers converted the turnover into a 37-yard field goal, while the Wildcats went three-and-out on their next possession.

    However, Mace began a monumental first half with an 80-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.

    “We practice ball security, and there’s no reason why I should’ve fumbled the ball,” Mace said. “But [McQuaide] picked me up and said, ‘We’re going to go right back to you,’ and on the next play, I scored. But all the credit goes to the guys up front. They’re amazing.”

    To start the second quarter, McQuaide launched a 57-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Chris Colby, bringing Villanova to Sacred Heart’s 19-yard line. Mace delivered once again, taking the ball the rest of the way for a 14-3 lead.

    The Wildcats finished the first half with a lengthy drive, covering 80 yards in 14 plays, and ending on a 10-yard touchdown pass from McQuaide to Mace with just 27 seconds left in the second quarter.

    Mace finished the first half with 106 rushing yards on just four carries.

    Defense delivers late

    Three linebackers — redshirt freshman Anthony Hawkins, senior Shane Hartzell, and graduate Richie Kimmel — led the defense with six tackles each. Sacred Heart, ranked fifth nationally in FCS rushing, was limited to just 88 yards on the ground.

    After keeping Sacred Heart out of the end zone through three quarters, Villanova allowed the Pioneers to score on a six-yard pass to open the fourth.

    Villanova’s Turner Inge (5) takes down Sacred Heart’s quarterback Jack Snyder (14) on Saturday.

    With 7 minutes, 37 seconds remaining, McQuaide completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ragland to extend the lead to 34-10.

    The Pioneers threatened again, completing a 46-yard pass at Villanova’s nine-yard line. But the Wildcats forced a turnover as junior defensive back Jon Wyatt broke up quarterback Jack Snyder’s pass, and graduate defensive back Kaleb Moody intercepted it.

    “There is a lot of confidence on this team, but sometimes that can turn into arrogance, and we’ve done a good job of holding that back,” Hartzell said. “As we keep rolling we gain confidence. The amount of energy that can come out in a game, that’s what is going to spark the big plays.”

    Playoff potential

    The Wildcats will await a FCS playoff bid, which will be announced at the Selection Show at noon on Sunday (ESPNU).

  • The Philadelphia Marathon weekend returns, starting with a half marathon

    The Philadelphia Marathon weekend returns, starting with a half marathon

    Thousands of runners braved the fog, mud, and light drizzle Saturday for the return of the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon, one of three races on marathon weekend.

    Before 7 a.m., participants were in their corrals and ready to go, waiting on the 2200 block of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, just east of Eakins Oval. The weather did not favor them, but the jackets, winter hats, and layers of clothing covering their bodies would soon be discarded along the track and donated to the Salvation Army.

    Corral by corral, racers headed out for the 13.1-mile route, with the light of City Hall’s clock in the distance and the Philadelphia Art Museum behind them.

    After running through Old City and Center City, across the Schuylkill, past University City, and by Fairmount Park, Ariel Sanchez, 28, was back at Eakins Oval in an hour and a half. His mother, Aurelia Villegas, came from New York City for the day just to see him run.

    “I don’t run at all, just when I am trying to make it to work on time,” Villegas said. “But this is my first time coming to see him run in Philadelphia, and I am so proud.”

    Sanchez, a medical student, took on running as a break from the books and intense studying. He has been running for the last 387 days.

    “It’s kind of nice to be outside. … It’s a really beautiful course,” Sanchez said. “Philly is an underestimated city, so it’s good that people can come and see it.”

    Aurelia Villegas arrived in Philly early Saturday to watch her son Ariel Sanchez cross the finish line.
    Runners braved the fog, mud, and light drizzle on Saturday for the return of the Dietz and Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon

    A block away, a 3-year-old boy rose above the crowd on his uncle’s shoulders, looking for his mother, Leora Sauter, with a sign reading: “Go Mom! You are so fast.”

    Sauter, 32, has run many races before, including the Boston Marathon, her husband, Daniel Sauter, said. But this half marathon is special: It’s her first race since their daughter was born in 2024.

    “It is her way of recovering from postpartum and going back to the things she loves,” Daniel Sauter said. “She spends so much time taking care of us, it’s good she gets to do something for her.”

    As the family’s eyes fixated on the runners, Leora Sauter ran by, prompting their cheers. Pushing through her last stretch, she made it to the finish line in less than two hours. The family will be back on the Parkway on Sunday to see Daniel Sauter complete the AACR Philadelphia Marathon.

    Daniel Sauter and his family showed up to support partner Leora Sauter on her first race postpartum.
    Runners braved the fog, mud, and light drizzle on Saturday for the return of the Dietz and Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon

    Nearly 30,000 participants were expected to run throughout the weekend, including the marathon on Sunday, the half marathon, and Saturday’s Rothman Orthopaedics 8K. Some were professional runners, able to finish the half marathon course in less than an hour. Others were there for the memories.

    “Started from the couch … now he’s here!” read a sign held by three Villanova college students. They came to support their friend Joe.

    “It’s bittersweet. We are graduating this summer, so we are trying to squish every moment together,” said Sofia Arrascue, 21.

    After four years of friendship, the half marathon became a way for the seniors to further bond as graduation day approaches. Over the last couple of months, they have been picking up their friend from training locations and giving him confidence to finish the race, so seeing him run by toward the finish line felt like a full-circle moment.

    “Everything feels so uncertain; some of us are applying for jobs, others are applying to school, so all we have right now is each other,” said Majo James, 22.

    Rory Freeman,Majo Jame, and Sofia Arrascue came to support their friend Joe.

    That same desire to show up for loved ones spurred Jose and Mayra Rodriguez to take a plane from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia to see their daughter, Monica, cross the finish line.

    “De pura cepa,” Mayra Rodriguez screamed upon spotting her daughter at the finish line, a reference to her Puerto Rican strength.

    After running for two hours and 21 minutes, Monica Rodriguez greeted her parents with a hug, banana and water bottle in hand.

    “It was hard. My thighs feel like two pieces of ham,” said Monica Rodriguez, 29. “But this is something you have to do at least once, even if it’s just a one-time experience. You are always going to remember it.”

    Monica Rodriguez’s parents, Jose and Mayra, came from Puerto Rico to support her.
  • Joel Embiid is still experiencing right knee soreness and will miss Sunday’s game, Sixers say

    Joel Embiid is still experiencing right knee soreness and will miss Sunday’s game, Sixers say

    Joel Embiid will miss his seventh consecutive game for right knee injury management Sunday afternoon against the Miami Heat, per the NBA’s injury report released Saturday evening.

    The Sixers said following Saturday’s practice that Embiid is still experiencing soreness in that knee, which has not undergone multiple surgeries in recent years. The medical staff does believe Embiid is progressing following his most recent evaluation, the Sixers added.

    Rookie starting guard VJ Edgecombe (calf tightness) is listed as questionable to play Sunday. Reserve center Adem Bona (sprained ankle) will also remain out for at least the Sixers’ next two games against the Heat and Tuesday against the Orlando Magic, the Sixers said. He will be reevaluated after that.

    Embiid has missed the Sixers’ past six games with the knee issue. The former NBA Most Valuable Player was briefly upgraded to doubtful to play in Wednesday’s loss against the Toronto Raptors, but then was ruled out of that contest and Thursday’s overtime win at the Milwaukee Bucks.

    Tyrese Maxey’s historic night against Milwaukee arrived when the Sixers needed it most

    “I can’t predict any of it,” coach Nick Nurse said when asked about the bigger-picture outlook for Embiid’s health. “I think we’re trying to take the best care we can of him and get him out there. He wants to play. He’s being very diligent, all this stuff. He’s doing a lot to try to get back on the floor, and I think it’ll be soon.

    “I know this has been a long, ‘I think it’ll be soon,’ but just keep doing the right things and keep listening to what the doctors tell us.”

    Embiid has averaged 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in six games played this season. He has previously been under a minutes restriction, and has had scheduled absences for select practices and games as part of his recovery plan from the longtime left knee issues.

    Grimes a Sixth Man of the Year candidate?

    Quentin Grimes hit a massive three-pointer to put the Sixers up, 116-112, with less than two minutes to play in overtime of Thursday’s win in Milwaukee. It was another example of his value in crunch time, and in the Sixers’ potent three-guard lineups.

    But because Grimes has initially come off the bench in all 15 of the Sixers’ games entering Sunday, he also is considered an early contender for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

    He entered Sunday averaging 16.9 points, which entering Sunday ranked third among reserve players, along with 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds. He also regularly takes on challenging perimeter defensive assignments, such as James Harden in Monday’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

    Quentin Grimes has embraced his role as the Sixers’ sixth man after failing to come to terms on a deal with the team this summer.

    When asked if he has considered his candidacy for such an honor, Grimes responded with, “No, not really.”

    “If you start thinking about stuff like that,” Grimes said, “you can get lost in everything [and] you start losing the focus on the game. … I worry about going out there and winning and doing [things] to impact the game. [Awards will] take care of itself if that happens.”

    Grimes, though, did start the second half in three of the Sixers’ past four games. That generally gets him on a better rotation pattern to be part of the closing lineup. Thursday in Milwaukee, however, he did not begin the third period on the floor, but then played nearly seven consecutive minutes in that frame and then the entire fourth and overtime. His schedule will also likely continue to evolve as Embiid and Paul George are reintroduced to the lineup.

    “It doesn’t change my mindset,” Grimes said. “I know what I bring to this team offensively and defensively. Just coming in and try to impact the game as soon as I get in the game — whether I’m starting the game, starting the second half, coming off the bench …

    “Impact the game in a positive way, and help swing the momentum a little bit.”

    Sunday matinee

    Sunday’s game against the Heat will be a rare weekend matinee matchup. That means, from a preparation standpoint, Saturday’s practice essentially served as a shootaround.

    Grimes added that the atypical tipoff time did not change much about his pregame routine. He will sub his two-plus-hour afternoon nap with sleeping in later Sunday morning, rather than waking up earlier for shootaround. And his pregame meal will be breakfast, likely “four or five” over easy eggs and pancakes.

    Quotable

    Justin Edwards on Paul George’s 11-point outburst to begin the Milwaukee game: “We were all hyped for him. I was in the game laughing because I’m like, ‘Yo, he’s just out there killing it.’”

  • City Councilmember Jeffery Young’s plan to relocate the Cecil B. Moore Library met with pushback from community who want to see it renovated

    City Councilmember Jeffery Young’s plan to relocate the Cecil B. Moore Library met with pushback from community who want to see it renovated

    During an occasionally contentious Saturday meeting on the future of the Cecil B. Moore Library in North Philadelphia, City Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. told residents he wants to build a new library instead.

    But, as with Young’s previous suggestion that the city move the library, residents held fast to their stance that the 64-year-old building should be preserved.

    “This space is easily accessible to everyone who needs it, and that’s why it should be renovated, not relocated,” said Cierra Freeman of the Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition.

    She criticized Young for proposing a plan without any “tangible written documents” — and for presenting a solution that she said nobody had asked for.

    Young said he wants to build a new library less than a half mile away, using city property on 19th Street. He argued that the community — and teens in particular — would be better served by a new facility.

    “The systems in this library are old,” Young told the crowd of about 40 people gathered at the library on Cecil B. Moore Avenue near 24th Street. “They’re old. As we continue to use this space, things are just going to continue to fall apart.”

    It was the second time this year Young proposed a plan for the library. In March, he suggested that the city demolish the building and replace it with a new library that has affordable housing units above it — an idea that also drew intense pushback from community members.

    North Philadelphians urge Jeffery Young to move Cecil B. Moore Library renovations forward

    This time, Young suggested the current building be kept as a public space.

    Like the street it is on, the Cecil B. Moore Library is named for the civil rights figure — a World War II veteran, lawyer, and politician who, while serving as the Philadelphia NAACP president, played a central role in the push to desegregate Girard College.

    The building has issues with its aging HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, all of which need to be upgraded, according to the Save the Cecil B. Moore Library Greater Coalition. The library was closed from January through March this year due to problems with the heating system.

    Other renovation plans include building a new teen space, adding windows, an elevator to the basement, and ADA-accessible bathrooms, and other initiatives, the group said.

    Due to the city’s long tradition of councilmanic prerogative, Council members have near-total control over whether projects in their districts move forward. Young has not yet filed a “notice to proceed,” a necessary step to release funding and begin renovation, according to the coalition.

    Young said the needs of young people have changed significantly since the 1960s. He described a space with things like podcasting studios and e-gaming technology that he said would draw in young people.

    Councilmember Jeffery Young speaks to community members at the Cecil B. Moore Library Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

    “If you look at this community, there is nothing to attract teenagers,” Young said. “Our kids deserve better. Our kids deserve new things.”

    But many of those present, including Cecil B. Moore library worker and AFSCME union member Kate Goodman, said that moving the library east toward Temple University would remove a prime resource from a neighborhood that needs spaces for people to congregate.

    “It’s a half-mile, but it’s a whole world of difference,” said Jordan Holbert of the proposed move.

    Event moderator Joel Northam said that if the funds are not released soon, costs of labor and supplies will keep going up, shrinking the amount of work that can be done.

    “We literally can’t afford to have this put off,” Northam said.

    He suggested that the next step would be to support a campaign to unseat Young in 2027.

  • An original Air Force One tape from the Kennedy assassination listed for sale at $750,000

    An original Air Force One tape from the Kennedy assassination listed for sale at $750,000

    They are stunned words of men escorting a dead president.

    On Saturday, a Philadelphia historical collection listed for sale an original Air Force One recording from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

    Listed at $750,000 by the Raab Collection, the tape captures more than two hours of shocked radio conversations between Kennedy aides and military officials during the fateful flight home on Nov. 22, 1963.

    An original recording of Air Force One radio traffic has been listed for sale in Philadelphia for $750,000.

    Discovered at the bottom of a box of JFK memorabilia at a private auction in 2011, the tape represents the earliest and most complete recording of Air Force One radio traffic from the day of the assassination.

    In staticky conversations, Kennedy aides, bearing the casket home to Washington, and White House officials awaiting them discuss grim logistics after a presidential killing — arranging the removal of the coffin; transportation for the blood-soaked first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, and the new president, Lyndon Johnson; and an autopsy for the slain leader.

    Hours earlier, Kennedy, 46, had been fatally shot in a Dallas motorcade by Lee Harvey Oswald.

    One of a pair of identical tapes, the finding had caused a stir of controversy in JFK assassination research. Snippets from a heavily edited version of the tape had previously been released by President Johnson. No other recordings were thought to exist.

    At the time of their discovery, historian Douglas Brinkley described the tapes as a “serious find” and critical listening for all Kennedy researchers.

    Raab recently donated the other remaining recording to the National Archives as part of a settlement that allowed the collection to keep one.

    The tapes had long belonged to a senior military aide, Gen. Chester Clifton, who rode in the fateful motorcade and was aboard Air Force One. Raab had the tapes digitized from reel-to-reel form.

    “This is a powerful moment in American history,” said Nathan Raab, president of Raab Collection, which has offices in Ardmore and Center City. “It is an incredible object, a unique discovery, and a reminder of our journey as a nation.”

    To see the sale listing, visit www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/jfk-original-tape-air-force-one

    FILE – The limousine carrying mortally wounded President John F. Kennedy races toward the hospital seconds after he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas. The 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination, marked on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, finds his family, and the country, at a moment many would not have imagined in JFK’s lifetime. (AP Photo/Justin Newman, File)
  • The duo of Jamie Drysdale and Emil Andrae is bolstering the Flyers’ defense

    The duo of Jamie Drysdale and Emil Andrae is bolstering the Flyers’ defense

    There’s been a bit of a shake-up to the Flyers’ defensive corps.

    The top pairing of Travis Sanheim and Cam York is still intact, but the bottom four are looking a little different right now. During Thursday night’s win against the visiting St. Louis Blues, Nick Seeler and Jamie Drysdale were split up, as were Emil Andrae and Noah Juulsen.

    After speaking with assistant Todd Reirden following the first period, and with the Flyers trailing by two, coach Rick Tocchet said, “Let’s make the switch here.”

    So Andrae was moved into the top four alongside Drysdale, and Seeler was switched to play with Juulsen. It seemed to work as Andrae and Drysdale were on the ice for both of the Flyers’ goals in regulation before Travis Sanheim won the game in overtime.

    Emil Andrae isn’t going anywhere, and other takeaways from Flyers’ win over Blues

    Based on who stayed out late for the team’s optional morning skate at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday, before facing the New Jersey Devils, it looked like Juulsen will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season, and he was. Therefore, Egor Zamula slotted in alongside Seeler for his first game since Nov. 1.

    It’s an interesting dynamic putting Drysdale and Andrae together. Both are puck-moving defensemen who are known for their offensive upside. “We don’t complicate it that much,” Andrae said on Saturday.

    Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale skates with the puck against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 20.

    According to Natural Stat Trick, Andrae and Drysdale played 54 minutes, 21 seconds together last season. They had a 54.26% Corsi For and were on the ice for 31 scoring chances for the Flyers compared to 25 by the opposition. But, while they were also on the ice together for four goals by the Flyers, five were scored against with a .762 save percentage.

    Drysdale has changed his game, becoming better in the defensive zone. As noted by the stat site, when he is on the ice, Corsi For percentage has risen from 46.22% to 51.97%, expected goals against has drop (49.14% to 12.49%), and save percentage has risen from .876 to .893

    He’ll now be skating with Andrae, and when the Swede is on the ice the Flyers have an expected goals against of 5.69 along with a .914 save percentage.

    But, in a game dominated by big men with teams across the league hyper-focused on adding size, they are a smaller pairing; Drysdale is listed at 5-foot-11 and Andrae at 5-9.

    ‘Walk together forever’: Tributes pour in for Bernie Parent during a celebration of his life and legacy

    But as the saying goes: It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.

    “I think Emil, he’s shown ability to go in a corner, and he’s not afraid to squash a player or hit a guy,” Tocchet said Saturday morning. “He’s a small guy, but he’s built pretty good, so I don’t see that being a problem.”

    Tocchet likes Andrae’s abrasiveness and his ability to use his brain, body positioning, and quickness to read plays and be smart on the puck in the defensive zone. When the bench boss was playing, it may have been taboo to let a guy get the puck first in the corner, but he’s OK with seeing a defenseman like Andrae let the heavier opponent get the puck and then defend after that.

    Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae skates with the puck against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 30.

    New to the organization, Tocchet’s seeing what the Flyers front office has noticed for a long time about Andrae: his competitiveness, grit, and determination.

    “I’ve never been the biggest guy and I’ve always had to find a way to get around that and to play the style of game that I can with my size,” Andrae said. “I’m strong on the walls, strong on the puck. I think it comes with a lot of competitiveness, too. I like to use that to my advantage. Maybe it’s a little surprising for the guys out there that I play against.”

    In May 2024, Flyers general manager Danny Brière told The Inquirer that Andrae is “a special package” and “patience is the key.”

    That’s coming to fruition.

    Breakaways

    Forward Nikita Grebenkin stayed on late during the optional skate and was a healthy scratch again. “It’s tough because in our position right now, we’re looking for a fourth line identity, and he’s kind of stuck in the middle there,” Tocchet said. “We’re trying to find out what is Grebby, in a sense. But that’s a process, a 23-year-old. Eventually, we’ve got to make a decision; he’s got to play. Trust me, we’re talking about it all the time, Danny and management about it, the best way to handle him if he’s not going to play much. So we’ll figure that out as it goes.”

  • Joel Embiid still experiencing soreness in right knee, listed as day-to-day

    Joel Embiid still experiencing soreness in right knee, listed as day-to-day

    The 76ers said Saturday that Joel Embiid is still experiencing soreness in his right knee.

    It was determined that he’ll need a little more time. But the team said the doctors feel he’s progressing well. The center, who has no structural damage to his right knee, has been listed as day-to-day.

    Tyrese Maxey’s historic night against Milwaukee arrived when the Sixers needed it most

    “I think we’re trying to take the best care we can of him and get him out there,” said coach Nick Nurse. “He wants to play. He’s being very diligent. He’s all the stuff. He’s doing a lot to try to get back on the floor. And I think it will be soon.

    “I know this has been a long [process]. I think it will be soon, but just keep doing the right things, keep listening to what the doctors tell us.”

    The Sixers entertain the Miami Heat at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Embiid hasn’t played since the Sixers’ 130-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 8.

    He missed the last five games due to right knee injury management. Embiid also missed the Sixers’ 111-108 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 9 because he doesn’t play on back-to-back nights to rest his left knee.

    Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey makes history, Paul George brings stability and more from win over Bucks

    The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder has already missed nine of the Sixers’ 15 games because of his knee ailments. He is averaging 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 23.3 minutes.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. (sprained left knee) and Adem Bona (sprained right ankle) did not participate in Saturday’s shootaround-type practice for Sunday’s contest.

  • Mama’s Pizzeria on the Main Line will close its doors this week

    Mama’s Pizzeria on the Main Line will close its doors this week

    Mama’s Pizzeria, which has served its signature cheesesteak with a three-cheese blend twisted throughout finely chopped sirloin on the Main Line since 1960, is closing its doors next week.

    Second-generation owner Paul Castellucci Sr. said the last day will be either Nov. 28 or Nov. 29, depending on how much meat and bread remain.

    Castellucci had planned to close up the Bala Cynwyd shop after his son, Paul Jr., earned his accountant’s license. He is slated to graduate from St. Joseph’s University in 2026.

    But the timeline was moved up with the elder Castellucci’s recent health issues. The 65-year-old grill man is set to have triple bypass surgery in January, but will start preoperative assessments the first week of December.

    A Main Line cheesesteak shop’s nearly 70-year-old tradition will soon be history

    Paul Castellucci Sr., who has two stents from previous heart issues, was complaining to his cardiologist about shortness of breath. The doctor asked if he had any shoulder pain.

    “Do you know what? I do,” he responded. “I’ve had shoulder pain for 40 years.”

    Over the years, the entire Castellucci family was put to work at Mama’s: kids, grandkids, spouses, cousins.

    Paul Castellucci Sr. started working the grill in 1974 at age 14. Fast-forward to 2025, and “I’m the only one who stayed,” he said in March.

    Paul Castellucci Jr. (right) takes an order from a customer while his dad, Paul Sr., runs the grill at their family restaurant, Mama’s Pizzeria.

    Since word of the closing began to spread on social media, business has picked up.

    Store hours are traditionally 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. But on Saturday morning, orders started rolling in around 10:30 a.m. By 12:30 p.m., the phone was ringing incessantly, orders were piling up, and there was an hour wait for walk-ins.

    The restaurant was even concerned about running out of rolls.

    “I’m feeling it,” Castellucci said.

    Customers who ordered by phone or in person on Saturday took turns wishing him good luck with his surgery and good health in the new year.

    That all has to make me him feel good, right?

    He thought for a second.

    “It really does,” he said.