News » 45-yard strike. The long completion

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Terrelle Pryor will have the stage to himself in a final audition to win the Raiders starting quarterback job. Coach Dennis Allen said Sunday that Matt Flynn wont play in Oaklands preseason finale Thursday night at Seattle, opening the door for Pryor to make his first start. "Its probably more of a precautionary measure on my part than it is anything else," Allen said. "Well get a chance to see Terrelle this week with the first-unit offence up against Seattle, and well see how he does." The two quarterbacks have been engaged in an increasingly tight competition to run the Raiders offence since the beginning of training camp. Flynn has been the starter throughout camp but there has been a growing groundswell of support for Pryor as Oaklands starting offence has struggled in the preseason. Pryor, who led four scoring drives after replacing Flynn in the second quarter Friday night in a loss to Chicago, has been the Raiders most effective quarterback so far. He is the teams second leading rusher with 83 yards on 11 carries. The former Ohio State star also is pretty savvy, and he didnt put any significance on his first start of the preseason. "Coach told me what the deal was, that Matt wasnt playing on Friday and he wanted me to jump with the first team and lead them into Seattle," Pryor said. "Im definitely not all the way there in terms of the playbook and in terms of just being a quarterback out there. Dont get me wrong, I can lead if I was called upon to do it. Im just out there getting better and trying to get in synch with the guys." Flynn was essentially handed the starting job after being acquired in a trade from Seattle during the off-season, but the 28-year-old quarterback hasnt looked sharp. He has completed more than 70 per cent of his passes but most have been check-down throws or short-range tosses. Injuries to Oaklands offensive line havent helped, either. Second-round pick Menelik Watson, who missed most of training camp with a calf injury, practiced at left tackle on Sunday and will start against the Seahawks even though he has never played the position until now. That is why many feel the athletic Pryor -- who made his only NFL start during the Raiders final regular-season game in 2012 -- might be a better fit. "Thats my goal, to be a starting quarterback and to lead a team to wins," Pryor said. "I wont stop until it happens. Until it happens and keeps on happening, Ill keep on pushing." Allen praised Pryor following the game against Chicago, in which he threw one touchdown and ran for another, but noted the third-year quarterback is still very much a work in progress. "When you have guys who have athletic talent like he does and they work as hard as he has, guys are going to get better, and hes improved," Allen said of Pryor. "Itll be a good thing to see him in another game situation against a really good defence on the road in that environment and see how he responds." With less than two weeks until the season opener in Indianapolis, Allen is in the uniquely strange position of trying to pick a starting quarterback when one of them is unavailable. Flynn was bothered by tendinitis in his right elbow while with Seattle, and the Raiders believe it is similar to what the quarterback is dealing with now. "Its hindered him a little bit," Flynn said. "I dont think its been a major factor when weve gotten into games. I just think its one of those things that weve got to manage. "I dont want to make it out to be any bigger of an issue than it is." The Raiders made several roster moves, including releasing kickoff return specialist Josh Cribbs. Cribbs had knee surgery in the off-season and signed with the Raiders after eight seasons with the Cleveland Browns. But the 29-year-old Cribbs struggled to regain his speed in training camp. He also fumbled a kickoff in Fridays loss. Cribbs contract was terminated by the Raiders, leaving him free to sign with any team. "It was just one of those things where I didnt see everything that I needed to see," Allen said. "We just felt like it was the right thing to do. If we didnt see him in our plans, to go ahead and let him go." Also released were: linebackers Keenan Clayton and Eric Harper, fullback Jon Hoese, wide receivers Sam McGuffie, Tray Session and Isaiah Williams, guard Andrew Robiskie, cornerback Cory Nelms, and defensive tackle Myles Wade. Billy Williams Jersey . Before that, Rousey needed a total 23 minutes and 26 seconds to take care of her last eight opponents - and one of those fights lasted 10 minutes and 58 seconds. Greg Maddux Cubs Jersey . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-jon-lester-jersey/ . An unconventional night for Texas-El Paso nearly led to the Miners getting a huge upset. Down by 14 with 2:21 left, the Miners went on a frantic closing spurt that fell just short, and UTEP was beaten by No. Daniel Descalso Jersey . - The Jacksonville Jaguars are leaning more toward playing injured quarterback Blake Bortles against Tennessee on Thursday night. Kyle Schwarber Jersey . - A mixed martial arts fighter who changed his name to War Machine was ordered Friday to stand trial in Nevada state court on 34 felony charges including attempted murder, sexual assault and kidnapping that could get him life in prison for allegedly attacking his porn star ex-girlfriend and her friend.St. Petersburg, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Dayes rushed for two touchdowns in the third quarter as North Carolina State capped off a remarkable turnaround season with a 34-27 win over UCF in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Jacoby Brissett completed 15-of-26 passes for 262 yards with one touchdown for the Wolfpack (8-5), who had gone 3-9 in coach Dave Doerens first season in 2013. They played their butts off, said Doeren of his team. The rest of the coaches did a great job and the players made it all possible. Im really proud of all our players. Dayes totaled 78 yards on 13 carries while his backfield mate, Shadrach Thornton, rushed 17 times for 96 yards and added a touchdown pass. UCFs Justin Holman threw three touchdown passes to Josh Reese, the last coming with 1:44 left in the game, but the Knights (9-4), with no timeouts remaining, were unable to secure the onside kick. Give credit to NC State, they made some plays and we didnt make enough plays, said UCF head coach George OLeary. We just let the game get out of whack a little bit. Holman was 23-of-53 for 291 yards with one interception, and Breshad Perriman had 138 yards on nine receptions. Niklas Sade nailed a 45-yard field goal to give NC State a 34-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, but missed a 47-yard try wide right with 2:56 left to play, keeping UCFs hopes of a comeback alive. Holman threw a 19-yard pass to Perriman on 4th-and-14 from the NC State 43- yard line before hooking up with Reese for a 2-yard score. Reese hauled in a 14-yard touchdown earlier in the fourth. Shawn Moffitt kicked a 40-yard field goal for UCF to cap the games opening possession, then NC State responded on its first drive to take a 7-3 lead.dddddddddddd Thornton threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jaylen Samuels, who made the catch in tight coverage near the right sideline. Thornton managed to deliver the throw with a defender bearing down on him. The Knights, who captured their second straight American Athletic Conference title, reclaimed the lead when Holman hit Reese on a 6-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. But a blown coverage by the UCF defense led to a 37-yard touchdown grab by Johnathan Alston that put NC State back ahead shortly after. After a Knights punt, Brissett completed a 33-yard pass to Bo Hines on 3rd- and-22 from the Wolfpack 12 and then found Hines on a 45-yard strike. The long completion set up a 1st-and-goal at the 4, but NC State was held to a 19- yard Sade field goal. The Wolfpack were in position for another field goal attempt just before halftime, but the clock ran out when Brissett was sacked with no timeouts remaining. Brissett shook off the mistake by orchestrating a nine-play, 75-yard drive to begin the third. Dayes reached the end zone on consecutive runs of 11 and 24 yards after Alston caught a 12-yard pass on 3rd-and-7. Dayes later scored on a 15-yard run after Moffitt made a 36-yarder. The field goal was set up by a Brissett fumble. Game Notes The Wolfpack improved to 15-12-1 in bowl games, while the Knights bowl record fell to 3-4 ... Brissett added 31 yards on the ground and caught a 20-yard pass from Hines ... NC State outgained UCF 487-373. ' ' '