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8.2.26

Seahawks ride 'Dark Side' D, Kenneth Walker to Super Bowl LX victory

8:22:00 PM
Seahawks ride 'Dark Side' D, Kenneth Walker to Super Bowl LX victory

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The "Dark Side" was not going to let history repeat itself. Instead, the Seattle Seahawks' self-nicknamed defense more than returned the favor.

Eleven years after New England beat Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX with a clinching interception in the end zone, the Seahawks forced a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers to send Seattle to a 29-13 win over the Patriots on Sunday in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.

It is the second Super Bowl title in franchise history -- 12 years after the Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards to earn Most Valuable Player honors, Jason Myers connected on all five field-goal attempts and quarterback Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass while Seattle's offense didn't turn the ball over.

But it was the "Dark Side" that provided the real fireworks, setting the tone from the outset and closing the door when New England threatened to serve Seattle a second heartbreaking defeat on the game's biggest stage.

The Seahawks, who led the NFL in allowing an average of 17.2 points per game during the regular season, held the Patriots to 51 total yards in the first half and off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. And when New England twice appeared to have generated significant momentum, twice the Seahawks' defense responded with turnovers.

The final blow came with the Patriots trying to rally from a 22-7 deficit with 4:27 remaining in the game. Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon hit Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on a blitz, popping the ball in the air. It was intercepted by linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who returned it 45 yards for his first career touchdown, all but cementing the second Super Bowl title in Seahawks history.

The final tally for Seattle's defense was six sacks, eight tackles for loss, three forced turnovers and the touchdown. Three quarterback hits came courtesy of Witherspoon, while Derick Hall and Byron Murphy II each recorded a pair of sacks.

"They just made a decision that they're going to play a certain way," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who also serves as the defensive play-caller, said in accepting the Lombardi Trophy. "They lived up to the 'Dark Side' today. It's going to go down in the history books.

"We love our players, but they made it happen. They made it come to life, and we won the game."

Sam Darnold threw for 202 yards and a touchdown, and while he led the offense to only one touchdown, he also completed Seattle's three-game playoff run without throwing an interception.

"I have to give a shout out. Our offensive line, our tight ends, our receivers and, of course, the running backs for everything they did tonight. It's special in the run game," Darnold said. "But the defense!"

Three of Myers' field goals came in the first half, when Seattle took a 9-0 lead to the locker room. However, the Seahawks left the Patriots in the game by failing to reach the end zone despite two trips inside the red zone.

With less than 100 yards in total offense and just 12:58 left in the game, the Patriots quickly capitalized in a break in the action when a fan streaked across the field. After the fan was wrestled to the ground and removed by several security personnel, Maye hit Mack Hollins with a 24-yard completion on the next play.

It was the biggest play of the game for New England's offense to that point, and Maye immediately went back to the well. He hit Hollins again on a perfectly-thrown 35-yard touchdown strike to the left side of the end zone, beating tight coverage from Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen.

The Patriots appeared to have fully switched the momentum when they forced a punt and Maye marched them to their 44-yard line on the ensuing drive with a 16-yard scramble and a 7-yard toss to Kyle Williams. However, he threw an ill-advised pass into coverage on the next play that was intercepted by Seahawks safety Julian Love.

Love returned it to the Patriots' 38-yard line. Six plays later, Myers connected on his fifth field goal to extend Seattle's lead to 22-7.

New England quickly moved the ball back into Seattle territory. But that's when the Seahawks' defense struck the decisive blow with Nwosu's touchdown.

"I'd like to have it back," Maye said. "I'd like to go back to the beginning and redo it. So many plays that decide and change the game. What was it, 19-7 or 22-7, I had the fumble or throw for a touchdown? It comes down to who makes the plays and who doesn't."

Maye added that he required a pain-killing injection in his shoulder in order to play, despite saying that the shoulder was fine all week leading up to game day. A Seattle defense that racked up 11 quarterback hits and forced three turnovers certainly didn't help. Maye finished 27-of-43 passing for 295 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. He also rushed five times for a team-best 37 yards. New England finished with 79 yards on the ground.

"The plan was to get to Maye. Disrupt him," Nwosu said. "We knew -- he was their whole team. He was the MVP runner-up, could've been MVP. We knew if we get to him, their game plan was nothing."

Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell was charged with 16 pressures allowed, per NFL Next Gen Stats, a single-game high for any player this season, including the regular season.

"We can sit here and try to put it on one guy," Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. "You'll be disappointed. That'll never happen. It starts with us. The coaching staff making sure that we're doing our part and, obviously, we've got to be able to protect. And we do protect we have to progress through, get guys open, help the quarterback."

New England's initial first down of the second half didn't come until Seattle was flagged for defensive holding with 1:23 left in the third quarter. It was also the Seahawks' first penalty of the game.

The Seahawks opened the scoring on a 33-yard field goal by Myers on their opening drive. Seattle took the kickoff and moved the ball 51 yards in just over three minutes, with Darnold sharp on completions to tight end A.J. Barner and Cooper Kupp in tight coverage, but the drive stalled on the Patriots' 14-yard line.

That proved to be the only scoring of the opening quarter. New England penetrated Seattle territory on both of its first two drives, only to suffer three negative plays -- including a pair of sacks -- that resulted in two punts. The Seahawks managed only one more first down in a pair of drives after the field goal.

NOTES: Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion after making a reception in the third quarter, but returned in the fourth quarter and made a catch on Seattle's final drive. ... Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Rylie Mills, who entered the game with one career solo tackle, recorded his first NFL sack when he dropped Maye for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter. Mills suffered a torn ACL toward the end of his 2024 season at Notre Dame, causing him to slide to the fifth round of the 2025 draft. Mills was activated by the Seahawks in November but played only a modest role in the line rotation. ... The first penalty of the game wasn't called until 3:09 remaining in the second quarter, when Patriots left tackle Will Campbell was flagged for a false start.

--Derek Harper, Field Level Media

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Seahawks' Rashid Shaheed sets Super Bowl record ... with six fair catches

8:22:00 PM
Seahawks' Rashid Shaheed sets Super Bowl record ... with six fair catches

SANTA CLARA, CA − In the event you didn't believe theSeattle Seahawks' 29-13walkover againsttheNew England PatriotsinSuper Bowl 60was a captivating football game, then you must have missedRashid Shaheed's record-setting performance.

That's right, Seattle's No. 3 wideout andreturn man extraordinairedid something never seen on Super Sunday – etching his name into the record book with ... six fair catches. That's the kind of game it was Feb. 8, numerous punts and kicks, not a boatload of highlights.Seahawkskicker Jason Myers also established a new Super Bowl mark by drilling five field goals.

As for thePatriots? Their record 12th Super Bowl appearance also resulted in their sixth loss in the Roman Numeral showcase − breaking their tie with theDenver Broncosfor most by any franchise.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Rashid Shaheed sets Super Bowl record for fair catches

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Lauren Betts leads No. 2 UCLA to 69-66 win over No. 8 Michigan, takes 2-game lead in Big Ten race

8:22:00 PM
Lauren Betts leads No. 2 UCLA to 69-66 win over No. 8 Michigan, takes 2-game lead in Big Ten race

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) —Lauren Bettshad 16 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three blocks to helpNo. 2 UCLAhold off No. 8 Michigan for a 69-66 win on Sunday.

The Wolverines trailed by 11 points with less than two minutes left and with a chance to tie the game, Syla Swords shot an airball on a 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left.

UCLA (23-1, 13-0 Big Ten) took a two-game lead over Michigan (20-4, 11-2) in the conference with its 17th straight victory sincelosing to No. 4 Texasin November.

The Bruins outscored Michigan by 14 over the second and third quarters, leading by as much as 13 points, and finished with theirNCAA-high ninth win over anAP Top 25team.

The Wolverines' school-record, nine-game winning streak in Big Ten games was snapped by a big and experienced team that plays stifling defense and is led by a 6-foot-7 preseason All-America center that does it all.

Betts was 8 of 17 from the field, grabbed rebounds at both ends of the court, set up teammates for shots after drawing double teams and used her size to block or alter shots.

Her surrounding cast is talented, too.

UCLA's Kiki Rice scored 20, Gabriela Jaquez had 13 and Gianna Kneepkens scored 12.

Michigan's Olivia Olson had 20 points, Mila Holloway had 15 and Te'Yala Delfosse added 10. Swords was limited to eight points, missing 10 of 13 shots.

The highly anticipated matchup drew a season-high 6,108 crowd to Crisler Center a few hours before the Super Bowl.

UCLA: At No. 12 Michigan State on Wednesday.

Michigan: At Northwestern on Thursday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphereandhere(AP News mobile app). AP women's college basketball:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketbal

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Israel tightens grip on West Bank ahead of Netanyahu’s visit to US

7:42:00 PM
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leave the State Dining Room of the White House after a news conference on September 29, 2025. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images/File

Ahead of Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, DC, this week, Israel has taken a series of sweeping steps to tighten its grip on the occupied West Bank.

On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet approved measures that expand the country's enforcement powers and allow the state to buy land for the expansion of settlements in a way that far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said would "fundamentally change the legal and civil reality" in the West Bank. The territory is held by the United Nations and the international community for a future Palestinian state.

The Israeli steps include expanding Israeli enforcement in Areas A and B of theWest Bank, which were designated under the Oslo Accords as areas that fall under Palestinian security control. The two areas together make up approximately 40% of the territory.

Israel will also restart its Land Acquisition Committee, which allows the state to proactively purchase lands in the West Bank for the expansion of settlements. Another measure grants the civil administration and the tiny Jewish settler minority in the city of Hebron building and municipal powers, allowing the settlement to expand without a need to consult with the Palestinian municipality of Hebron.

Palestinians watch from balconies as an Israeli military vehicle drives through the village of Beit Awwa near Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. - Mosab Shawer/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

The security cabinet also approved measures that will make it easier for settlers to purchase land in the occupied West Bank, a move designed to expand settlement activity and entrench the Jewish population.

Smotrich, who has openly boasted of his efforts to kill the idea of a Palestinian state, said in a statement, "We are normalizing life in the territories, removing bureaucratic barriers, fighting for the land, and deepening our presence throughout the Land of Israel." Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry, has pushed for a rapid expansion of settlements, particularly under US President Donald Trump.

"We will continue to extinguish the idea of a Palestinian state," Smotrich said.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the latest measures, calling them "a continuation of the comprehensive war waged by the occupation government against the Palestinian people and an unprecedented escalation targeting the Palestinian presence and its national and historical rights across all Palestinian land."

In a statement, the presidency of the PA said it amounts to "the practical implementation of annexation and displacement plans."

Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for Hamas, said in a statement the decisions taken by Israel "confirm its colonial program aimed at swallowing all Palestinian land and displacing its indigenous people."

Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war and subsequently began establishing Jewish settlements there, which are considered illegal under international law, the United Nations and by much of the international community. The UN also regards the West Bank and East Jerusalem as occupied territory, which the Palestinians seek for a future state.

In an interview with Time Magazine in October, Trumpsaid he would notallow Israel to annex the West Bank. "It won't happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries," he said. "Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened." The Trump administration's 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan also speaks of a pathway to "Palestinian self-determination and statehood."

But Israel has pursued a policy that critics equate to de facto annexation, expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied territory and deepening the country's grip on the West Bank with the declared intent of making a Palestinian state impossible. Last May, Israel authorized the largest expansion of settlements in the West Bank in decades, approving the establishment of 22 new settlements.

In response to the latest measures, the anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now said, "Netanyahu promised to dismantle Hamas in Gaza, but in practice he chose to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, annul agreements Israel itself signed, and impose de facto annexation – in complete contradiction to the will of the people, Israel's national interest, and the clear position of President Trump."

Gershon Baskin, a peace activist who has played a crucial role in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over the years, said in a blunt statement on social media, "The Israeli occupation is illegal and now the government of Israel is taking more steps against international law."

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Somalia welcomes its first bowling alley as the middle class and diaspora returnees grow

7:42:00 PM
Somalia welcomes its first bowling alley as the middle class and diaspora returnees grow

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — In a city long defined by conflict,Somalia's capital of Mogadishu now echoes with the crash of pins at the country's first modern bowling alley.

It's the latest sign of revival in the once-thriving Indian Ocean port shaped by 35 years of civil war and militant bombings. Millions of people were forced to flee what became one of the world's most dangerous cities. Those who remained avoided public spaces as the al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabab waged an insurgency against the Somali state.

In recent years, improved security measures against al-Shabab, an expanded government presence and growing private investment have allowed daily life to re-emerge. Cafes line newly reopened streets, beaches draw evening crowds and traffic congestion, once unimaginable, now clogs key intersections.

The Feynuus Bowling Center opened last year and draws many locals and Somalis returning from the diaspora, who bring investment and business ideas after years of sending billions of dollars in remittances from abroad.

On a recent evening, young Somalis gathered in groups, laughing and filming each other on their phones while music played. Many from the diaspora are visiting Mogadishu for the first time in years, or the first time ever.

"I couldn't believe Mogadishu has this place," said Hudoon Abdi, a Somali-Canadian on holiday, as she prepared to take her turn to bowl.

"I'm enjoying it. Mogadishu is actually safe," she said, urging others to visit.

Mogadishu remains vulnerable to militant attacks, however, with security measures like checkpoints and heavily guarded zones part of daily life. Non-Somalis remain largely confined to a compound at the international airport.

But residents say the ability to gather for recreation signals an important psychological shift. Such venues provide a welcoming environment for a younger generation eager for safe spaces to socialize.

Abukar Hajji returned from the United Kingdom on holiday after many years away and found the difference between what he imagined and what he experienced eye-opening.

"When I was flying from the U.K., I believed it was a scary place, like a war-torn country," he said. "Everyone told me, 'Good luck,' but when I came and saw it with my own eyes, I didn't want to leave."

Sadaq Abdurahman, the manager of the bowling center, said the idea for the business emerged from a growing demand among young people for recreational facilities.

"It has created employment opportunities for at least 40 youths," he said.

According to the Somali National Bureau of Statistics, Somalia's unemployment rate stands at 21.4%.

The bowling alley has private security guards, bag checks and surveillance cameras, reflecting the precautions common at public venues in Mogadishu.

Urban planners and economists say businesses like the bowling alley signal a broader shift in Mogadishu's recovery, as private sector growth increasingly complements international aid and government-led rebuilding efforts.

Ahmed Khadar Abdi Jama, a lecturer in economics at the University of Somalia, said innovative businesses are responding to the needs of diaspora returnees and the growing middle class, "which in turn adds to the expected increase in Somalia's GDP."

Outside the bowling alley, traffic hummed and neon signs flickered, other reminders of Mogadishu's fragile transformation.

For more on Africa and development:https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

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