Sports
A simple act of kindness from his favorite athlete changed his life forever
Jim Marquardt was 16 and seeking some privacy. He had an important letter to write and his short attention span couldn’t compete with the TV in the living room, so he retreated upstairs to his sister’s bedroom.
He shut the door and started scribbling. It was a Saturday night, and while his brain was telling his right hand what to write on the white legal pad, his ears were listening to the St. Louis Blues hockey game. He loved the team and specifically its goaltender, Mike Liut. He tuned into KMOX radio to hear Hall of Fame broadcaster Dan Kelly belt out, “What a spectacular save by Liut!”
On this particular night, the volume was low because Marquardt had to be dialed in. In a page or two, the high school sophomore wanted to capture what to say to his sports hero.
He poured his heart into his words, and as a poor student hoping for the letter to be perfect, he later took it to his English teacher for help. The teacher wondered why a student with flunking grades was suddenly motivated but made the corrections nonetheless. It was handwritten, so every mistake meant a rewrite. The final product was five pages and took a month to finish.
“I remember everything I wrote in that letter,” says Marquardt, now 59.
Mike, my name is Jim Marquardt. I play hockey, and I’m trying to learn the best I can. I watch you play, but there’s so much that I don’t know. I need some help.
Marquardt quizzed Liut on how he defended a two-on-one rush, how he dealt with pressure, how he forgot a bad goal. But this communication was more than an aspiring goalie asking technical questions of a professional. The teen didn’t have a hockey team. He was academically ineligible to play in his first three years of high school. And he had a troubled home life.
Marquardt’s family — father Gene, mother Evelyn, brothers Bill and Mark, and sister Jackie — were his world, but there was alcoholism, fighting and depression. His siblings sheltered him from a lot of the heartbreak. When something was happening he shouldn’t see, they’d say, “Jim, why don’t you go outside?” But they couldn’t protect him from everything. Dad was a cab driver who spent a lot of late nights in a pool hall, and there were mornings when Marquardt knew he wasn’t getting a ride to school and made the two-mile walk.
“My parents wanted the best for all of us, but their lifestyles were rough,” he says. “I loved them dearly, but there were things — looking back, it was a brutal environment. Hockey was my ‘In case of emergency, break glass!’”
And Liut was the mentor that Marquardt desperately needed.
The fascination started with the mask — all white, contoured to account for facial features, with cut-out holes for the eyes and ventilation.
To Marquardt, Liut was the Iron Man superhero in the Marvel Comic collection. When Marquardt played hockey every Saturday morning in the basement of his childhood friend Bob’s apartment, both wanted to be the goalie because that’s who wore Liut’s jersey. “I’m Mike! I’m Mike!”
When Marquardt wasn’t playing, he was filling up a scrapbook with newspaper clippings about Liut. He recorded games on TV, and when Liut made a glove save, he’d hit rewind and rewatch it in slow-motion. “How’d he do that?”
Mike Liut’s signature mask was an inspiration to Jim Marquardt. (Photo courtesy of the Blues)
Marquardt watched all of Liut’s postgame interviews, even changing the channel to hear the same comments over and over again. Once, the goalie was a guest DJ on a local radio station and Marquardt called in to ask a question. Mike, this is Jim from St. Louis. How do you keep so cool?
“My life was a mess and Mike was the calm,” he says. “He was everything as a human being that I wanted to be. I thought, ‘How do I get there?’”
He hoped Liut would respond to the letter, but Marquardt first had to get it to him.
He bought a single ticket to a Blues game, and his dad dropped him off in his cab. His seat was in the rafters, but he walked down to the bench. He had put the letter in an envelope with “Mike Liut” written on both sides, so if it flipped over in the air, his name would still be facing up. He reached over the glass and released it from his fingertips.
Marquardt took off running because he was worried about getting reprimanded by an usher. Several rows up, he turned and watched then-Blues coach Jacques Demers scoop up the letter and slip it into the pocket of his brown suit.
“Half of me was optimistic, thinking, ‘Jacques might give it to Mike,’” he says. “The other half of me was thinking, ‘He’s never going to get it.’”
Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and Marquardt figured any more pointers from Liut would have to come from TV. Then one day, as he arrived home from school, Jackie came sprinting out of the house. She had a big white envelope with “St. Louis Blues” written on it. “Jim, look!” she shrieked.
Marquardt sat stunned. It took him a moment to open the letter. When he did, what he pulled out was an autographed picture: “Best wishes, Mike Liut.” Then a two-page handwritten letter on white paper: “Hey Jim, here’s answers to your questions. I hope this helps you!”
Liut offered tips about playing the position and personal words of advice: “The only person you have to satisfy is yourself.”
The letter Mike Liut wrote to Jim Marquardt. (David Foley / Special to The Athletic)
At that point in his life Marquardt says he was a lost soul. He wasn’t going to jail, but he wasn’t going anywhere.
“What Mike did for me, writing back, it was like putting jumper cables on a dead battery,” he says. “I was the dead battery. Mike was the charge.”
His sister, who is one year older and was headed off to college soon, saw potential.
“Jim has always had a tender heart,” Jackie says. “He just didn’t have confidence in himself. Mike came along when it was the right time for Jim to have a mentor.”
Marquardt returned to school and told teachers that he had a purpose: He just wanted to play hockey before he left that building.
With only one more opportunity to make that happen as a senior, Marquardt’s grades suddenly soared, and when Mr. Gilbert, his history teacher, flipped an “F” to a “D,” he was finally eligible.
There were still two issues: He didn’t have equipment, and he couldn’t skate.
Marquardt’s dad had an idea for the goalie gear, calling the Blues to see if they had some for sale. The team invited them to The Arena and into the locker room, where Marquardt was mesmerized when he spotted Liut’s jersey hanging in his stall.
There were two options for the goalie pads: an old, beat-up set belonging to Liut, or a brand-new set that Michel “Bunny” Larocque had left in St. Louis.
Surprisingly, Marquardt didn’t choose Liut’s set. “Larocque’s pads were just gorgeous,” he says.
Jim Marquardt’s goalie pads. (David Foley / Special to The Athletic)
Marquardt was now a high school backup goalie wearing NHL pads, but while he looked the part, he was hanging onto the boards in practice and teammates were mocking him.
Marquardt was also, however, hanging onto Liut’s words.
“I must’ve looked at that letter 100 times before playing in the games,” he says.
Marquardt logged all of his games in a journal. “You need to work on your concentration!” one entry said. He also kept notes about how Liut performed: “Man, Mike did great!”
Marquardt progressed to the point where he took over the starting goalie job, and on the verge of a shutout one night, the crowd started chanting: “Li-ut! Li-ut!”
But just like that, Marquardt’s competitive hockey career was over, almost as soon as it started. In his only year of eligibility, he was the rookie of the year. In the grainy team picture, he’s holding a goalie stick with “Liut” written in black marker.
In the four decades since, Marquardt married his wife, Chris, and the couple had two children, daughter Kenna and son Brett. He worked in the food industry for about 25 years and then in HVAC and plumbing for 10.
Going back to his late 20s, he also kept part-time jobs at a number of local churches, often working with youths. It was a way of paying it forward. “Maybe I can help these guys get through it,” he says.
For nine years, that part-time job was at The Crossing church. He found it more fulfilling than his day job. He was also jealous that his wife, a teacher for 29 years, got “to change lives every day.” So last year, he took a full-time position at the church.
At The Crossing, campus pastor Angela Beise now sees Marquardt changing lives.
“He wants young people to discover what he discovered and avoid the heartache he’s experienced,” Beise says. “He found hope and a way to keep going.”
They learned about Marquardt’s compassion at the church, and they also learned about his tattoo. Biese jokes that when she first saw it, she thought it was from the movie “Silence of the Lambs.”
Marquardt had been thinking about getting a hockey tattoo for a while, and his wife told him, “When I think about you, I picture Liut’s mask.” He finally got it done at age 54.
Jim Marquardt displays his Mike Liut tattoo. (David Foley / Special to The Athletic)
It was the tattoo that led to Marquardt meeting Liut. He and Kenna attend one game per season, and last year’s happened to be the weekend Liut was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (Jan. 20, 2024).
After a 3-0 win over the Washington Capitals, dad and daughter were leaving when Kenna ran into some friends. While she was talking to them, Marquardt spotted hockey reporter Andy Strickland and showed him his tattoo. Within seconds, Strickland was ushering them to a suite.
“My dad was like, ‘We’re going to meet Liut!’” Kenna says.
The conversation lasted less than 10 minutes, which wasn’t nearly enough time.
So one year later, on Jan. 25, The Athletic brought them back together.
At the beginning of their two-hour visit, Liut embraced Marquardt and recalled their brief meeting a year earlier.
“I thought it was going to be a little meet-and-greet, like, ‘Hey, you were my favorite player,’” Liut said. “But you started telling me the story, and it was like a freaking avalanche.”
“Yeah, I was like, ‘How do I say thank you’ in a few minutes?” Marquardt said. “Had I known I was going to have this opportunity …”
Mike Liut listens to Jim Marquardt’s story. (David Foley / Special to The Athletic)
Marquardt told Liut he was a hero to a young, impressionable kid who felt a strong desire to communicate that in his letter so long ago. Getting a reply from his favorite player was “life-changing.”
“I thought, ‘Now I have a direction in life,’” Marquardt said.
Liut called that the profound part of being a professional athlete.
“But what we can’t fully understand is that some of the people we meet are struggling,” Liut said. “We don’t have the capacity as 20-something-year-olds to understand what exactly we’re wading into. So I’m responding to you, but I’m not responding with the idea that I’m helping address that. I wouldn’t know how to start that letter because I’m not qualified. What hit me was, ‘How many kids did I not have this effect on because I didn’t follow through?’”
“The flip side of the coin,” Marquardt said.
“Yeah, the flip side,” Liut replied, starting to tear up.
Marquardt grabbed Liut’s hand to soothe him.
“You’re not going to reach everybody, but it’s knowing how far the impact can go,” Liut said. “I’ve always struggled with, ‘Have I put enough back?’”
“You’ve put more than enough back,” Marquardt said. “You’ve touched lives like mine.”
And then Marquardt pulled out the letter that Liut sent him more than four decades ago.
Mike Liut reads the letter he wrote to Jim Marquardt. (David Foley / Special to The Athletic)
The author, now 69, recognized the handwriting and began reading the words he wrote when he was just 27.
Jim, thank you for the encouragement. We all have ups and downs in life, it’s just how you handle yourself and know things always get better. The only person that you have to satisfy is yourself. Success will surface sooner or later.
“See, this was easy stuff for me,” Liut said. “But again, I’m not really picking up on how much you’re hurting.”
“How desperate I was,” Marquardt said. “I had no confidence back then. The only person in my sphere of life was me. It was population one, and it was like, ‘He took time for me?’ So yeah, that was one of the best saves you ever made.”
Marquardt told Liut about his dad getting the goalie equipment from the Blues.
“You made the wrong choice, right?” Liut said.
“I did,” Marquardt confirmed. “I wanted yours because it was you, but the others, I’m talking brand-spanking-new leather. My father, wow, he wrote a check for $250. He saw something with this sport and realized it was more than a want. He said, ‘My son needs this.’”
Liut nearly came out of his chair at that.
“Think about that!” he said. “Your dad, this was not easy for him to do, and he finds a way to get it done.”
As the conversation continued, Marquardt updated Liut on his life, including his new job.
“I’m going to work with as many people as humanly possible, so I can pass that baton on like you passed it on to me,” Marquardt said.
Liut acknowledged his role, but insisted that Marquardt was responsible for the outcome.
“Clearly I lived up to what you had in your mind, but all of this is just a simple act of kindness,” Liut said. “I’m happy, pleased and thrilled that I had that impact on you. But I just did it because you asked me about playing goalie. I had people who did so much for my career that this was just perfunctory. You took it exactly for what it is — somebody out there cared enough about me to respond.
“It does provide some context in my life, and I feel really good about it. But you did this. You did the work and made yourself a better person. It’s in all of us to be good people. It’s just in the decisions that we make.”
Before the two went their separate ways, they walked into a nearby locker room where Marquardt had laid out his Liut collection, featuring several scrapbooks, pictures, a stick, a jersey and those gorgeous Michel “Bunny” Larocque pads.
Jim Marquardt and Mike Liut. (David Foley / Special to The Athletic)
“What I brought here is my time capsule,” Marquardt said.
And the items were Liut’s to keep.
“I want to give you these things,” Marquardt said. “This is my childhood. This is part of my heart and soul I want to give you because I just want to say, ‘Mike, it was you.’ I want to say thank you for the letter that you took time to write. I love you for what you’ve done for my life.”
(Top illustration: Demetrious Robinson / The Athletic, with photos from David Foley / Special to The Athletic, and courtesy of Jim Marquardt)
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The Atlanta Falcons have added one of the team’s greatest players to its front office.
The Falcons announced on Saturday that former quarterback Matt Ryan, who spent the first 14 years of his 15-year NFL career with the team after being drafted third overall in 2008, will be president of football on Saturday. The 40-year-old Ryan, who holds team records for passing yards, touchdowns and wins, will assume the new role immediately.
Ryan will report directly to owner Arthur Blank and collaborate with president and CEO Greg Beadles to ensure the alignment of the business and football areas of the organization.
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) on the sideline before he is inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at halftime of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 3, 2024. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
“Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt’s leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise’s history,” Blank said in a statement.
“I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. From his playing days to his time as an analyst at CBS, Matt has always been a student of the game, and he brings an astute understanding of today’s NFL, as well as unique knowledge of our organization and this market. I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere.”
The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday after back-to-back 8-9 seasons. The Falcons had won their last four games, leading some to believe Morris might be afforded a third season, but Blank had other plans.
AARON RODGERS TAKES THINLY-VEILED SHOT AT JETS AHEAD OF STEELERS’ PLAYOFF GAME
CBS Sports broadcaster Matt Ryan before a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Nov. 16, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
The Falcons also fired general manager Terry Fontenot after five seasons on Sunday. Ryan will be fully involved in the team’s search for the Falcons’ next head coach and general manager.
“Arthur gave me the chance of a lifetime almost twenty years ago, and he’s done it again today,” Ryan said in a statement.
“While I appreciate the time I had with the Colts and with CBS, I’ve always been a Falcon. It feels great to be home. I could not be more excited, grateful, or humbled by this new opportunity. I began my career with a singular goal: to do right by the Blank family, the Falcons organization, the City of Atlanta, and especially our fans. My commitment to the success of this franchise has not changed. I’m beyond ready to help write a new chapter of excellence.”
Ryan has spent the last three seasons as a member of the CBS Sports team as an analyst.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) passes the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Jan. 2, 2022. (Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)
“I want to thank the incredible team at CBS Sports. I loved my three years there and I am truly grateful for their support in pursuing this opportunity. The CBS Sports culture is amazing, and I have made teammates and friends for life,” Ryan said in a statement.
Ryan, who was drafted out of Boston College, played with the Falcons for 14 seasons and holds many franchise records, including passing yards (59,735), attempts (8,003), completions (5,242), passing touchdowns (367), passer rating (94.6), completion percentage (65.5) and 300-yard games (73).
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HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
BOYS
CITY SECTION
Dorsey 75, Northridge Academy 67
El Camino Real 60, Carson 40
Fairfax 80, North Hollywood 43
Harbor Teacher 43, Torres 33
LA Hamilton 47, Marquez 40
LA University 74, Franklin 52
Santee 71, Rise Kohyang 39
SOCES 74, Lincoln 73
South East 59, Locke 45
View Park 44, Orthopaedic 40
Westbrook 57, Maywood CES 56
Wilmington Banning 50, Verdugo Hills 37
WISH Academy 50, University Prep Value 47
SOUTHERN SECTION
ACE 57, Victor Valley Christian 45
Agoura 52, Newbury Park 48
Alhambra 57, Montebello 43
Aliso Niguel 39, Beckman 37
Anaheim 57, Garden Grove Santiago 42
Anaheim Canyon 75, Santa Ana Foothill 52
Animo Leadership 61, Ambassador 58
Arcadia 69, Muir 45
Arlington 73, Hemet 66
Arrowhead Christian 68, Linfield Christian 53
Arroyo 79, Pasadena Marshall 57
Ayala 67, Diamond Bar 63
Azusa 77, Duarte 76
Banning 77, Desert Mirage 30
Bassett 51, Pomona 18
Bell Gardens 69, San Gabriel 49
Beverly Hills 57, Culver City 48
Big Bear 98, AAE 49
Bishop Amat 91, Gardena Serra 49
Blair 95, South Pasadena 78
Bonita 68, Walnut 51
Brea Olinda 67, Garden Grove Pacifica 53
Burbank Burroughs 72, Glendale 64
Calabasas 81, Westlake 70
California 84, El Rancho 39
California Lutheran 66, Desert Christian Academy 65
Calvin Christian 63, Cornerstone Christian 28
Cathedral 73, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 69
Cerritos 60, Whitney 32
Chaminade 55, Loyola 48
Citrus Hill 80, Canyon Springs 55
Corona Centennial 89, Norco 21
Corona Santiago 70, Eastvale Roosevelt 63
Crescenta Valley 77, Burbank 64
Desert Hot Springs 69, Cathedral City 46
Downey 78, Firebuagh 38
Dunn 60, Grace 53
Edgewood 67, Workman 34
Edison 75, Newport Harbor 70
El Dorado 69, Sonora 60
El Toro 53, Mission Viejo 48
Excelsior Charter 79, Lucerne Valley 34
Foothill Tech 66, Cate 39
Fountain Valley 56, Huntington Beach 49
Gahr 54, Dominguez 52
Glendora 54, Claremont 33
Hacienda Heights Wilson 62, Charter Oak 52
Harvard-Westlake 78, Crespi 53
Indian Springs 64, Pacific 32
JSerra 80, Orange Lutheran 66
Keppel 79, Schurr 50
Laguna Beach 69, Irvine University 48
La Habra 69, Crean Lutheran 56
Lakeside 72, Heritage 53
Lakeview Leadership 69, PAL Academy 22
La Salle 63, Mary Star of the Sea 38
La Sierra 52, Jurupa Valley 51
La Serna 49, Santa Fe 47
Long Beach Cabrillo 59, Long Beach Jordan 53
Long Beach Poly 78, Compton 50
Long Beach Wilson 65, Lakewood 52
Los Alamitos 80, Marina 60
Maranatha 45, Heritage Christian 44
Mater Dei 95, Servite 76
Mira Costa 69, Peninsula 28
Moorpark 58, Camarillo 54
Murrieta Valley 70, Great Oak 67
North Torrance 47, West Torrance 42
Northview 45, West Covina 37
Oaks Christian 72, Thousand Oaks 65
Ontario Christian 79, Woodcrest Christian 58
Orange 60, Estancia 59
Oxford Academy 64, Artesia 62
Oxnard 60, Rio Mesa 50
Oxnard Pacifica 73, Dos Pueblos 70
Paloma Valley 65, Vista del Lago 42
Palos Verdes 53, Wiseburn-Da Vinci 51
Pasadena 86, Hoover 20
Perris 52, Valley View 51
Pilibos 69, Mesrobian 35
Pioneer 79, Glenn 41
Portola 69, Irvine 44
Ramona 87, Norte Vista 77
Rancho Christian 78, Liberty 39
Rancho Verde 76, ORange Vista 46
Rio Hondo Prep 51, Chadwick 50
Riverside King 62, Corona 53
Riverside North 44, Moreno Valley 41
Riverside Prep 65, CIMSA 52
Rosemead 38, South El Monte 33
Rowland 41, Covina 40
Rubidoux 56, Patriot 43
San Bernardino 94, Miller 45
San Marcos 73, Buena 35
San Marino 60, La Canada 53
Santa Ana Valley 40, Magnolia 33
Santa Barbara 64, Ventura 37
Santa Clara 48, St. Bonaventure 45
Santa Rosa Academy 81, United Christian Academy 40
Sequoyah 51, Hillcrest Christian 47
Sierra Canyon 78, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 74
Sierra Vista 69, Garey 35
Silver Valley 53, Hesperia Christian 46
Simi Valley 93, Del Sol 42
Southlands Christian 50, Avalon 49
South Torrance 50, Torrance 46
St. Anthony 79, St. Bernard 71
St. Genevieve 67, Paraclete 41
St. John Bosco 74, Santa Margarita 73
St. Monica 78, St. Paul 60
Temecula Valley 79, Vista Murrieta 73
Temple City 66, Monrovia 49
Twentynine Palms 59, Yucca Valley 33
University Prep 59, Desert Christian 45
Valencia 84, Canyon Country Canyon 58
Vasquez 97, PACS 52
Village Christian 90, Cerritos Valley Christian 34
Warren 86, Paramount 57
Webb 75, Newport Christian 48
Western 68, Savanna 54
Westminster La Quinta 60. Rancho Alamitos 48
Woodbridge 66, St. Margaret’s 50
Yorba Linda 49, Sunny Hills 48
INTERSECTIONAL
Buckley 64, Taft 61
Rolling Hills Prep 72, Narbonne 42
GIRLS
CITY SECTION
Marquez 36, MSCP 31
Panorama 38, Fulton 7
South East 61, Huntington Park 36
SOUTHERN SECTION
AAE 46, Big Bear 31
Arcadia 69, Muir 31
Arroyo 26, Pasadena Marshall 19
Ayala 41, Diamond Bar 32
Banning 66, Desert Mirage 14
Bonita 41, Walnut 24
Brentwood 61, Crossroads 32
Buena Park 72, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 20
Burbank Burroughs 58, Glendale 42
Camarillo 59, Moorpark 31
Capistrano Valley Christian 49, Samueli Academy 35
Cerritos 72, Whitney 58
Chaparral 61, Murrieta Mesa 60
CIMSA 42, Riverside Prep 24
Corona Centennial 96, Norco 8
Costa Mesa 60, Westminster 36
Crescenta Valley 77, Burbank 39
Desert Chapel 45, Joshua Springs Christian 15
Desert Christian 37, University Prep 26
Downey 53, Gahr 16
Duarte 61, Azusa 23
Edgewood 44, Workman 25
El Dorado 48, Crean Lutheran 30
El Modena 61, Santa Ana Foothill 27
El Rancho 38, California 31
Esperanza 47, Anaheim Canyon 34
Etiwanda 69, Villa Park 49
Fillmore 44, Santa Clara 19
Flintridge Prep 73, Pasadena Poly 37
Fullerton 51, Laguna Hills 35
Garden Grove 47, Ocean View 23
Glendora 61, Claremont 32
Godinez 43, Placentia Valencia 23
Hacienda Heights Wilson 75, Charter Oak 20
Hemet 33, Canyon Springs 20
Hesperia 54, Apple Valley 38
Hesperia Christian 56, Silver Valley 54
Holy Martyrs Armenian 49, AGBU 23
Indian Springs 62, Pacific 28
Irvine 45, Northwood 34
Keppel 53, Schurr 34
La Canada 54, San Marino 22
La Puente 32, Ganesha 22
La Serna 51, Santa Fe 40
La Sierra 30, Jurupa Valley 29
Lawndale 55, Hawthorne 9
Leuzinger 77, Compton Centennial 28
Liberty 46, Vista del Lago 27
Loara 44, Anaheim 39
Long Beach Jordan 72, Long Beach Cabrillo 5
Lucerne Valley 42, Excelsior Charter 38
Murrieta Valley 61, Great Oak 19
Newbury Park 55, Agoura 33
Nogales 63, Baldwin Park 42
North Torrance 47, West Torrance 35
Norwalk 49, Bellflower 40
Oak Hills 78, Burbank Burroughs 33
Oak Park 91, Royal 10
Oakwood 61, Burbank Providence 15
Ontario Christian 86, Lakewood St. Joseph 51
Palos Verdes 55, Wiseburn-Da Vnci 50
Pasadena 53, Hoover 43
Patriot 62, Rubidoux 9
Pioneer 55, Glenn 30
Ramona 62, Norte Vista 18
Riverside King 60, Corona 47
Riverside Poly 52, Hillcrest 51
Rowland 58, Covina 30
Sage Hill 73, Portola 45
San Bernardino 61, Miller 19
Santa Ana Valley 45, Western 38
Santa Clarita Christian 45, Faith Baptist 37
Santa Paula 73, Carpinteria 43
Saugus 79, Golden Valley 39
Savanna 44, Westminster La Quinta 21
Sierra Vista 60, Garey 38
St. Margaret’s 64, Laguna Beach 41
Southlands Christian 22, St. Lucy’s 19
South Torrance 49, Torrance 41
Temple City 53, Monrovia 34
Thousand Oaks 67, Oaks Christian 32
Twentynine Palms 62, Yucca Valley 20
Valencia 82, Canyon Country Canyon 55
Village Christian 68, Cerritos Valley Christian 56
Vista Murrieta 51, Temecula Valley 48
Warren 57, Mayfair 32
West Covina 32, Northview 25
Westlake 61, Calabasas 57
Woodbridge 50, Irvine University 16
Yorba Linda 42, Sunny Hills 32
INTERSECTIONAL
Archbishop Mitty 80, Fairmont Prep 45
Chatsworth 49, Northridge Academy 40
Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 67, North County San Marcos 53
Rosary Academy 53, King/Drew 44
West Ranch 82, Vaughn 11
Sports
Indiana crushes Oregon to advance to first championship game in program history, stunning sports world
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The 2025 Indiana Hoosiers became the fifth team in modern college football history to go 15-0. Now they can become the first team of the modern era to ever go 16-0, and only the second of all-time, joining an 1894 Yale team that played with leather helmets.
With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.
Head coach Curt Cignetti has left the college football world breathless with a dramatic turnaround of the Hoosiers program, going from one of the losingest teams in the Big 10 to potentially the most dominant single-season of all time.
Elijah Sarratt #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Ify Obidegwu #7 of the Oregon Ducks during the first quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Many prominent sports figures took to social media to express their amazement of Indiana’s unprecedented dominance during and after their win over Oregon. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also chimed in.
Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes, improving his case to be the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Kaelon Black ran for two touchdowns to lead the Indiana running game.
INDIANA WINS FIRST OUTRIGHT BIG 10 FOOTBALL TITLE SINCE 1945 AFTER OHIO STATE FLUBS SHORT FIELD GOAL TRY
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Aaron Flowers #21 of the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Oregon (13-2, No. 5 CFP) was doomed by the three first-half turnovers while also being short-handed by the absence of two of their top running backs.
Indiana’s defense didn’t wait long to make an impact. On Oregon’s first snap, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore’s pass intended for Malik Benson and returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown. Only 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers and their defense already had made a statement this would be a long night for Moore and the Oregon offense.
Moore’s 19-yard scoring pass to tight end Jamari Johnson tied the game. The remainder of the half belonged to Indiana and its big-play defense.
After Mendoza’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. gave the Hoosiers the lead for good at 14-7, Indiana’s defense forced a turnover when Moore fumbled and Indiana recovered at the Oregon 3, setting up Black’s scoring run.
Moore lost a second fumble later in the second quarter when hit by Daniel Ndukwe and Mario Landino recovered at the Oregon 21. Mendoza’s first scoring pass to Sarratt gave the Hoosiers’ the 35-7 lead.
Indiana extended its lead to 42-7 on Mendoza’s 13-yard scoring pass to E.J. Williams Jr.
Oregon finally answered. A 70-yard run by Hill set up a 2-yard scoring run by Harris.
The Hoosiers led 35-7 at halftime as the Ducks were held to nine rushing yards on 17 carries. Noah Whittington, who leads Oregon with 829 rushing yards, was held out with an undisclosed injury after Jordon Davison, who had rushed for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns, already was listed as out with a collarbone injury.
Backup running backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr, provided too little help for quarterback Dante Moore. Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.
Following their undefeated regular season, the Hoosiers have only gained momentum in the CFP. Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal as Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Now, the Hoosiers will prepare to face Miami on Jan. 19 in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Miami beat Mississippi 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday night.
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Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs out of bounds before the endzone against the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Indiana will try to give the Big Ten its third straight national title, following Ohio State and Michigan the last two seasons. Few teams from any conference can compare with the Hoosiers’ season-long demonstration of balanced strong play.
The country will be watching to see if this unprecedented team can finish the job and really punch their ticket into the history books.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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