In Brief | Nation and World

Jaguars RB Jones-Drew ends 38-day holdout, reports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew ended his 38-day holdout — without a new contract.

Jones-Drew arrived at the facility Sunday morning and chatted with teammates before meeting with coaches.

ESPN first reported Jones-Drew’s decision.

“Just shared some love with (at)Jones — Drew32 in the locker room,” Jaguars running back Rashad Jennings posted on his Twitter page. “Glad to see you back — Let’s work brah!”

The NFL’s leading rusher in 2011, Jones-Drew skipped the team’s entire offseason in a nasty contract dispute. With coach Mike Mularkey able to fine him up to $30,000 a day — plus $60,000 for a three-day, mandatory minicamp — Jones-Drew could be out $1.2 million this season. He is scheduled to make $4.45 million in 2012 and $4.95 million next year.

No. 25 Louisville romps 32-14 over rival Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For No. 25 Louisville, playing a game it could boast about was just as important as bragging rights against in-state rival Kentucky.

The Cardinals succeeded on both counts Sunday.

Jeremy Wright ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns, and Louisville opened the game with three long scoring drives en route to a 32-14 victory against the Wildcats. That claimed the Governor’s Cup for the second year in a row while ending a three-game home losing streak to Kentucky.

More memorable for Louisville was the thorough way it was achieved. The Cardinals moved the ball at will against the Wildcats, gaining 314 of their 466 yards in the first half thanks to touchdown drives of 99, 85 and 93 yards.

Partial credit for that goes to a more experienced line that protected sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and created huge holes for the running game. Wright and Senorise Perry did a lot on their own, too.

Nearly a third of Wright’s yards came on the opening drive as he gained 30 on eight carries and ran for the first of two 1-yard scores. He added a 14-yarder in the second quarter.

Perry added 108 on 16 carries including a 47-yard TD that made it 15-7.

Florence leads
Baylor past SMU

WACO, Texas — Nick Florence threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns, Mike Hicks returned a fumble for a score, and Baylor beat SMU 59-24 on Sunday night in the opener for both teams.

Florence, taking over for departed Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, led the Bears to touchdowns on their first two drives. He finished 21 of 30 and didn’t play in the fourth quarter.

Hicks returned a fumble 66 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter.

SMU has lost 10 consecutive games to Baylor dating to 1986 when the schools were members of the defunct Southwest Conference.

The Mustangs’ Garrett Gilbert was 34 of 59 for 286 yards and two touchdowns in his first game since transferring from Texas. Zach Line rushed for 135 yards.

The Bears intercepted two of Gilbert’s passes and held the Mustangs without a touchdown until late in the third quarter.

Terrance Williams had 138 yards receiving, and Jarred Salubi and Glasco Martin each rushed for a TD.

Dempsey included
on US roster for World Cup qualifiers

CHICAGO — Two days after a surprise move to Tottenham, Clint Dempsey has been named to the U.S. men’s roster for its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica.

Dempsey, who hasn’t played a competitive match since a World Cup qualifier in June while he sorted out his club status, was one of 25 players on the roster announced Sunday by coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The Americans travel to Kingston for a game Friday, then host the Reggae Boyz four days later in Columbus, Ohio. The teams are tied atop Group A with four points each, though the Americans have the edge in goal differential.

The Americans are unbeaten against the Reggae Boyz with a 10-0-8 record but have never won a World Cup qualifier in Jamaica.

By wire sources