Wichtig » g a few debutants and missing Angelo Mathews - who gives th

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Freshman Jalen Hurts passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start to lead No. 1 Alabama to a 38-10 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday.Hurts likely nailed down the quarterback job with a 23-of-36 passing performance. The Crimson Tide (2-0) started slow and then piled it on with big plays from the defense and receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart.Hurts is the first true freshman quarterback to start at Alabama since Vince Sutton started four games in 1984. He also had two likely touchdowns dropped.Blake Barnett got the nod in the opener against Southern California and completed 2 of 6 passes for 64 yards in this one.Western Kentucky (1-1) was outgained 475-239 in total yards against a defense that has allowed 16 points in the first two games.Ridley had nine catches for 129 yards and Stewart gained 90 yards on five receptions. Both also logged carries.Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White left late in the third quarter. He was 10 of 24 for 135 yards with an interception after racking up 517 yards in the opener against Rice. The Hilltoppers converted a turnover into a touchdown in the final minute.THE TAKEAWAYWestern Kentucky: The winners of 13 consecutive Conference USA games trailed just 10-3 midway through the second quarter. Receiver Taywan Taylor continued his trend of big games against teams from the Power 5 conferences, with 121 yards on nine catches. He averaged 113 yards against Vanderbilt, Indiana and LSU last season.Alabama: The Tide didnt look spectacular but got the job done with another strong defensive effort and a smattering of big plays. Stewart had a 52-yard catch, Ridley a 51-yarder and Gehrig Dieter a 40-yarder. The defense had four sacks and held the Hilltoppers to 23 rushing yards.POLL IMPLICATIONS:Alabama should comfortably hold onto the No. 1 spot, especially since No. 2 Clemson struggled to put away Troy.PICK SIXSafety Eddie Jacksons 55-yard interception return in the first half gave some breathing room in a 10-3 game and was his third of the past two seasons. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey scored on a pick six against USC.UP NEXTAlabama visits No. 19 Mississippi, which has handed the Tide its only regular-season loss in each of the last two years.Western Kentucky travels to Miami, Ohio.---AP College Football site: www.collegefootball.ap.orgCustom Brian Burns Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Wholesale Custom Panthers Shirts . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. http://www.custompanthersjersey.com/ . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Cheap Panthers Jerseys . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Custom Panthers Jerseys . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human.Match factsOct 29-Nov 2, 2016, Harare Start time 9.30 am (0730 GMT)Big pictureThe last time Sri Lanka played Tests against Zimbabwe was in 2004, when Marvan Atapattu was in his first full series as captain. Kumar Sangakkara made 270 in that Bulawayo Test, his second double-hundred. Between then and now Sangakkara improved his high score twice and retired with only one less double-hundred than Don Bradmans twelve. No Sri Lankans from that tour are on this one.Elton Chigumbura and Tinashe Panyangara made their debuts during that series and remain Zimbabwes only active cricketers from that tour. Unlike several of those Sri Lankans, who had storied careers, Chigumbura played only 14 Tests and Panyangara nine. The Harare Test beginning this Saturday will only be Zimbabwes 25th since then, and neither player will feature in it.Between 2004 and 2016, cricket in Zimbabwe has suffered because of the boards financial trouble and a talent exodus as players and coaches sought better opportunities with other teams. Both issues fed off each other.There is a sense of optimism now, though. Heath Streak, one of Zimbabwes finest cricketers, is back - this time as coach - and has a plan that puts players first. With Tatenda Taibu, who is now a selector and development officer, Streak aims to create a structure that nurtures budding cricketers. And thats whom this match will be about for Zimbabwe.Their next Test series is a return tour to Sri Lanka in June 2017, but Streak has vowed to have plenty of cricket before then, which might mean these fixtures are not make or break for players like the uncapped youngsters Tarisai Musakanda and Carl Mumba, and the returning Malcolm Waller, who hasnt played a Test since 2014. That breathing space could facilitate a positive approach from Zimbabwe instead of being wary of embarrassment, a theme that had crept into their cricket according to Streak.Sri Lanka have a young side of their own. A combination of injuries and player management issues have deprived them of their captain Angelo Mathews, vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal, and fast bowlers Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera. However, the stand-in captain Rangana Herath was not worried, especially after the recent 3-0 whitewash of Australia.Herath, at the age of 38, was at the forefront of that victory with 28 wickets, and he was supported by fellow spinners Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan. However, Sri Lanka were able to play three spinners because Mathews provided a medium-pace option, which they will now be without. Their batting is also inexperienced, with only Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga, a late inclusion in the squad, having played more than five away Tests.Heraths story of leading Sri Lanka for the first time 17 years after making his debut adds to the significance of this fixture. It is also Zimbabwes 100th Test, and they will hope to end their winless record against Sri Lanka.Form guideZimbabwe LLLLL (completed matches, most recent first) Sri LankaWWWDLIn the spotlightBrian Chari and Peter Moor scored centuries in the games against Paakistan A earlier this month.dddddddddddd. Its likely they will feature in this game to strengthen the Zimbabwe batting. Malcom Waller will also be hoping to claim his spot after returning to the Test squad; he made four fifties across formats against Pakistan A recently.Sri Lanka have persisted with Dimuth Karunaratne, despite the general feeling back home that he doesnt belong at the highest level. Hes coming off a series against West Indies A in which he made 131, 39 not out, 68 and 3. As the most senior batsman in this side, he has a point to prove, especially with eight of his 12 most recent Test innings ending in single digits.Team newsZimbabwes strength is their batting. Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine will form the core, and Peter Moor is certain to play. Moor has occasional back issues, and Regis Chakabva keeping wicket could mean no place in the team for Sikandar Raza. Carl Mumba is likely to make debut, but Musakanda might have to wait.Zimbabwe (probable) 1 Tino Mawoyo, 2 Brian Chari, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Peter Moor, 7 Regis Chakabva/Sikandar Raza, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Carl Mumba, 11 Chris MpofuUpul Tharanga and the uncapped Asela Gunaratne are likely to replace Mathews and Chandimal in Sri Lankas line-up. Teenage fast bowler Lahiru Kumara could also make a debut depending on Sri Lankas combination.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Niroshan Dickwella, 7 Dananjaya de Silva, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Lahiru GamagePitch and conditionsThe pitch looked like a typical Harare Sports Club surface, with a consistent layer of grass that should hold the surface together over five days without offering huge assistance to the seamers. October is the hottest month in Zimbabwe and no rain is forecast.Stats and triviaAll of Zimbabwes 11 Test wins have come against subcontinent teams, but have never beaten Sri Lanka in 15 encountersHerath needs 24 wickets to pass Chaminda Vaas 355 and become Sri Lankas second highest wicket-takerHamilton Masakadza needs 269 more to become the fifth Zimbabwean to score 2000 runs. He needs 259 to overtake Heath Streak, who has 1990 runs.QuotesWere still the underdogs, but with them having a few debutants and missing Angelo Mathews - who gives them a lot of balance and is a serious player - they will be weaker by their standards.Zimbabwe head coach Heath StreakWe learnt a little bit from playing Australia, when they came as the No 1 Test nation and we were well down the rankings list, yet we were able to outplay them. So I dont think you can look at an opposition in Test cricket and think it will be an easy ride. Zimbabwe have played quite a bit of good cricket recently so theyre sharp and have probably worked out their best combinations, so were expecting them to be a really good team.Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford ' ' '