Comet will hit Earth ‘in 10 to 15 years’ and ‘bring second coming of Jesus’ – Daily Star

A comet will collide with Earth and cause total devastation within the "next 10 to 15 years", as foretold in the Book of Revelation, according to a bible scholar.

David Hareen told the Daily Star that there's evidence that the Earth has suffered many more close encounters with comets than most astronomers believe, and that that one of these comets is set to return within the next decade or so, bringing the End of the World as we know it and paving the way for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

David bases his theory on his lifelong study of the Bible, saying that regular encounters with comets caused many of the most dramatic incidents in the Old Testament including The Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Great Plagues of Egypt.

His book The High Sign details the evidence for these cometary impacts, and he says there are at leats two regular visitors a smaller object with a 54-year orbit and a larger, more devastating threat which crosses the Earths orbit roughly every 2,000 years.

He told the Daily Star that its this larger, more infrequent visitor thats likely to herald the end of days.

I think it will be the 2,000-year comet, he said, which evidence indicates was present when a terrified Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden, around 4,000 B.C."

David claims the object reappeared in our skies around 2,000 BC, around the time of Jesuss ministry on Earth.

He doesnt think it was the star seen by the Three Wise Men when Jesus was born, but he suspects it could have responsible for the earthquakes and worldwide darkness for three hours reported after his crucifixion.

And he claims the object is due another visit.

He told us: The final timeframe would be soon perhaps but not for sure within the next 10 or 15 years.

Jesus said no one, including himself, would know exactly when he would return. This of course, would be the last event, ending with many unbelievers left to face the final fiery deluge comets are explosive as witness the Jupiter event in 1994.

David believes that Christians will be will be airlifted to heaven shortly before the final massive impact.

Among the many sensational claims in Davids book is that extraterrestrial creatures can be present in these comets and in some cases dropped, still living, on Earth as the planet passes through the comets tail.

Discussing the third plague visited on Egypt described in the book of Exodus, he writes: The third plague has been identified by some translators as lice, by others as gnats. The Hebrew word ken is used in the Bible only to identify the insects that generated this plague, nowhere else.

He speculates that the Egyptians would have been capable of dealing with any stinging insects that were common in their general geographical area but that these unprecedented bugs could have come from the stars.

The text describing this plague states that these insects emerged from the dust of the land, he writes.

If this dust was introduced into Egypt by the tail of a comet, the insects emerging from it would have been unknown to the Egyptians. Had they been lice or gnats, the healing ointments of the Egyptians would have been effective.

But these ointments had no effect on the insects that emerged from the dust, and some Egyptians died after being stung.

These deadly insects were unfamiliar to the Egyptians as should be expected of creatures with extraterrestrial origin.

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David says that the fact that weve recorded comparatively few extraterrestrial impacts over the past few centuries is no reason rot be complacent.

He cites the devastating Wisconsin fire of 1871 in which thousands are thought to have died.

He writes: The main body of the [comet fragment crashed into one of the Great Lakes on October 7, 1871 and peripheral fragments and debris, including small pieces of frozen methane, acetylene, and other highly combustible chemicals, exploded from the friction of entering the Earths atmosphere and ignited the Chicago fire and dozens of other fires that burned simultaneously in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Its important to note that the vast majority of astronomers disagree with Davids claims. But if, as he said, the next massive comet impact is due in the next decade or so, we shouldnt have long to wait to see if hes right.

Interestingly, a previously undiscovered 62-mile wide object now named Comet C/2014 UN271 was spotted entering the Solar System in June this year.

Peter Vere, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics excitedly says: "We will have practically 20 years to study it.

Lets hope it doesnt get too close.

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Comet will hit Earth 'in 10 to 15 years' and 'bring second coming of Jesus' - Daily Star

Volleyball Sweeps to Close Out Bear Invitational – Sports News from Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, Mo., September 5, 2021 The Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team swept its final two games of the 2021 Bear Invitational on Saturday afternoon. The Bears are now 4-1 on the year.

In their first match of the day, the Bears defeated Lewis & Clark in straight sets (26-24, 28-26, 25-21). WashU went on to defeat No. 13 UT-Dallas, 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22).

WashU vs. Lewis & Clark

First-year Jasmine Sells finished with a team-high 10 kills on the day while junior Alaina Bohrer and senior Michaela Bach each had nine. Sophomore Chloe Emch had 28 assists and Bohrer also had 17 digs on the day.

The first set was close from the start, as the Bears and Pioneers traded points and eventually tied it up at six points. Lewis & Clark then scored three-straight to take a 9-6 advantage and went up by as many as six points later in the set, 16-10.

The Bears then rallied to score six-straight points, including kills from Julie Keener and Paris Nix, as well as two aces from Keener.

The set was tied five more times at 18, 20, 22, 23 and 24. Ultimately, it was sells that broke the final tie with a kill and the Bears won on a Pioneers' error.

The second set opened up with back-to-back points for Lewis & Clark on kills from Izzy Willis and Kelsey Parker.

The Bears went up five points, 9-4, after scoring four-straight which including a kill and a block from Nix. A kill from Sells put WashU up 11-7 before the Pioneers scored four straight to tie it up, 11 all.

The set would go on to be tied nine more times after competitive back-and-forth action between the two teams. The Bears had two set-point opportunities, but the Pioneers tied it up again each time.

Finally, back-to-back kills from Nix gave the Bears the 28-26 set victory to go up 2-0 in the match.

WashU came out to score the first four points of the third set behind kills from Caitlin Lorenz and Bohrer and two aces from Elise Gilroy. The Bears opened up the lead to 8-2 before the Pioneers scored three-straight points.

Lewis & Clark eventually pulled with one point, 20-19, on a kill from Willis. Bach then answered with a kill for the Bears and Gilroy notched another ace.

Back-to-back kills from Willis brought the Pioneers within one point again, but the Bears scored three-straight, including kills from Bohrer and Bach, to win the set and the match.

WashU vs. UT-Dallas

Against the Comets, Bohrer led with a team-high 15 kills as well as 13 digs. Sells added 11 kills on the day while Taryn Gurbach had a team-high 16 digs. Emch finished with a team-high 29 assists.

The Bears took their first multi-point lead of the match early, scoring four-straight to go up 5-1. Bohrer and Nix both had kills in the run.

UT-Dallas, however, went on a 5-0 run of its own, tying things up, 6-6.

Following four-straight points, which included three kills from Bohrer, WashU pulled ahead 19-13 in the set. The Comets came within three at the end of the match, as a kill from Jaryn Towery cut the lead to 21-19.

The Bears notched three-straight points including an ace from Jordan Sandberg and a block from Emch and Lorenz before closing it out following an attacking error from UT-Dallas.

WashU took a lead early in the second set, going up 5-2 following back-to-back kills from Bohrer.

UT-Dallas, however, went on to score four of the next five points to tie it up 6-6.

There would be four more ties at seven, eight, nine and 10 before the Bears broke open a small-four point lead, 14-10, which included kills from Lorenz and Bach.

Another four-point run behind two kills from Bohrer and a kill from Nix pushed WashU's edge to 20-12.

The Comets pulled with six points, 24-18, before Bach closed out the set with a kill to put the Bears up, 2-0.

Like the sets before it, the third proved to be close. It was tied four times early on before WashU put up four points in a row to take an 8-5 edge. The set was then tied four more times before UT-Dallas took the lead which it would hold until the end.

The Comets scored the final five points of the set to win it and force a fourth set.

The Bears opened up the fourth and final set with three points which included two aces from Emch. Although it wasn't always a large one, the Bears never relinquished the lead throughout the set.

Back-to-back kills from the Comets cut the lead to just one point, 8-7 but the Bears continued to put pressure on and eventually built up the lead to 15-9 following two kills from Abby Li and an attacking error from UT-Dallas.

At the end of the set, the Comets cut it down to just one point again, 23-22. Back-to-back kills from Sells closed the set and the match, avoiding a fifth set.

WashU is back in action on Friday, Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 11 at the East-to-West Battle hosted by Cal Lutheran. The Bears start the tournament with matches against Saint Benedict and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday and close it out with the host school, Cal Lutheran, on Saturday.

All-Tournament Team

Alaina Bohrer, WashU

Izzy Willis, Lewis & Clark

Brooke Palmer, Centre

Allison Owen, UT-Dallas

Jordan Witzel, Eau Claire

Lauren Borik, Webster

Cathleen Flannery, Carroll

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Volleyball Sweeps to Close Out Bear Invitational - Sports News from Washington University in St. Louis

Jonesville takes advantage of turnovers and fourth down stops to beat Hillsdale 22-6 – The Hillsdale Daily News

JONESVILLE

It was a stifling 85 degree humidity Friday night over in Jonesville to kick off the MHSAA fall football season for 2021. The Hillsdale Daily News traveled out to watch the game as the first Game of the Week for the season.Check out the full photo gallery from the game here.

With the new playoff rules regarding 11-player football teams in all eight divisions of the MHSAA, both Hillsdale and Jonesville were looking at this cross-county rivalry game as a must win. With the new rules, there's a new emphasis on playoff points for teams this season. The MHSAA has stated that there will no longer be automatic playoff qualifiers for six-win teams. Teams get in based on playoff points, which puts an emphasis on strength of schedule and quality wins.

Lucky for Hillsdale and Jonesville, their opening series game that has been going on since 2014 was the perfect opportunity for both teams to win a quality game and get a head start on playoff points before they started their conference regular season. The LCAA-affiliated Hillsdale Hornets, led by head coach Marc Lemerand, headed into the matchup having won every game of the opening series since it's start. Last year's game wasn't played due to the pandemic. The Big 8-affiliated Jonesville Comets, led by head coach Frank Keller, headed into the game with a talented core group of players whom many had their first experience playing for a district championship last season.

Both teams were playoff teams last year, and the expectations were high both both teams and their fanbases. Car loads of Jonesville and Hornets fans came out to watch their favorite teams play on Kickoff Friday. The Jonesville student section was out in full force Friday night, keeping in tradition with the terrific turnouts from the basketball season earlier this year.

Things would start out far worse for the Hornets than they were anticipating. A muffed punt opportunity on fourth down gave the Comets great field position on the Hornets side of the field. Jonesville would take advantage early and punch in a score right away. From there on out, the Jonesville Comets would control the line of scrimmage, and take advantage of mismatches on the perimeter and use the air game to spread out the Hornet defense. Junior Quarterback Cowen Keller would find connections with receivers Curtis Knapp and Brady Wright. Both receivers would catch three passes and score a touchdown for the Hornets.

The dominating defensive performance for the Comets was led by Christian Adams and Breaden Trine who both had eight tackles. Offensively, Cowen Keller had eight carries for 40 yards. Keller also went 6-15 for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Curtis Knapp had three catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Brady Wright had three catches for 77 yards and one touchdown.

The score was 16-6 at halftime. Both teams would head into the locker room hoping for a different outcome and adjustments to start the third quarter. What transpired in the second half was probably not what both teams had wished for. For the Comets, they would be able to score one more touchdown in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Comet running back Dominic Aponte had a 50+ yard breakaway touchdown with around 10 minutes to go. Aponte would rush for a total 10 carries for 93 yards. It was the last time Jonesville would score as Hillsdale would make defensive adjustments and take away the Comets offense for the rest of the game.

For Hillsdale, the offense couldn't get going on the ground or through passing. The Hornets had 10 minutes in the third quarter to answer the Comets, but could not capitalize on great field position and amazing special teams work. Shane Martinez would have several great punts (net 35 average yards) to pin back Jonesville in during the game. Hillsdale would only have 121 total yards of offense to Jonesville's 268.

Hillsdale running back Jordan Barnes would lead the Hornet rushing attack with 15 carries for 38 yards. Barnes also had four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. Jack Bowles would throw 5-12 for 33 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Defensively, Stephen Petersen had seven tackles; two for a loss. Jordan Barnes had five tackles. Emmett Woodcox would have the Hornets lone sack of the game, and would also have a rumble recovery.

As the game neared the fourth quarter, Hillsdale would have two key fourth down offensive attempts. Jonesville was able to stop both of these late drives. A combination of missed opportunities and turnovers plagued the Hornets all night. It is something coach Lemerand hopes the team will improve upon during practice this week. However, he is proud of the way his kids fought during the game, and continued to fight in the second half.

"We had too many mistakes out there, but the kids tried hard." said Coach Lemerand."We got caught a little flat footed to start the game. Trying to dig out of that was tough. I'm proud of our kid's effort. Our execution was not great, so we have to get better at that."

Jonesville's second half offense couldn't keep up their first half momentum. The team made mistakes, but it's something that they will try and work on according to coach Frank Keller.

"Hillsdale is a very good team," said coach Keller. "They take everything away from you, and they did it again in the second half. It was our first game, we made a lot of mistakes up front and we have a lot of work to do, but great job by our kids today."

Jonesville's student section rushed the field after the game as the rest of the fans celebrated. The players and student section were celebrating what was the team's first win against Hillsdale since starting the opening season series in 2014. It was a special moment for the team and the community, but for coach Keller it's just one of many games the team has to win to accomplish their season goals.

"It feels great," said coach Keller."We always want to beat Hillsdale, but we need to win every game out here. There's no more six games and your in."

For Jonesville, they will be on the road in week two to take on the Homer Trojans on Thursday, September 2nd at 7:00 pm. The Trojans lost their first game against Michigan Center 0-39. However, the Trojans are always a rival opponent in the Big 8 for Jonesville.

"Homer is always skilled and athletic," said coach Keller."They have an aggressive defense, and they'll be a tough team."

For the Hornets, they will look to win their first game of the season on the road against Berrien Springs. Berrien Springs is another playoff team from last season who just defeated a good Benton Harbor squad 26-6. It will be another tough test for Coach Lemerand and the Hornets, but the team will look to come back home with a major non-conference victory that will help get the Hornets their first playoff points of the season.

For more information on both the Hornet'sand Comets'' seasons ahead, check out our in depth looks at both teams' schedules this year at hillsdale.net.

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Jonesville takes advantage of turnovers and fourth down stops to beat Hillsdale 22-6 - The Hillsdale Daily News

Difference between asteroids, meteors and comets – NASA explains how to tell them apart – Daily Express

Hayabusa-2: Samples from asteroid Ryugu return to Earth

The dawn of our solar system saw a gargantuan cloud of swirling dust and cosmic debris circling the nascent Sun. This space dust proceeded to collide with each other to create larger bits of rock. Over unimaginable lengths of time, this process of accretion continued until they grew to form the recognisable planets of our solar system.

However, NASA has revealed countless quantities of small space rocks never managed to evolve.

The space agency wrote in a blog post: Amazingly, many of these mysterious worlds have been altered very little in the 4.6 billion years since they first formed.

"Their relatively pristine state makes the comets, asteroids and some meteors wonderful storytellers with much to share about what conditions were like in the early solar system.

They can reveal secrets about our origins, chronicling the processes and events that led to the birth of our world.

READ:US Space Force dismisses viral 'Guardians' of the galaxy outfit as fake

They might offer clues about where the water and raw materials that made life possible on Earth came from.

So, although the planets and moons have transformed over millennia, many of these small chunks of ice, rock and metal have not.

NASA added: They are a lot like a fossil record of planetary evolution.

This trio are all related, as they are all visible as shooting stars streaking across the sky as viewed from Earth.

However, these same objects have different names, depending on where they are.

Meteoroids are cosmic objects ranging in size from dust grains to small asteroids. NASA said: Think of them as space rocks.

When meteoroids slam into our planets thick atmosphere at high speeds, they incinerate, forming dramatic fireballs or shooting stars known as meteors.

Should a hardy element of meteoroid navigate through the Earths atmosphere and hit the ground, it is dubbed a meteorite.

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Asteroids are the rocky remnants from our solar systems early formation, approximately 4.6 billion years ago.

Known by NASA to number approximately 1,041,932, the vast majority of asteroids are found orbiting the Sun between red planet Mars and gas giant Jupiter in the main asteroid belt.

Such rogue space rocks can drastically range in size from the largest Vesta measuring 329 miles (530km) across, to diminutive ones smaller than 33ft (10m) in diameter.

Experts estimate the total mass of all the asteroids taken together is less than that of our planets Moon.

Comets are best understood as dirty snowballs containing frozen gas, rock and dust in orbit around our solar systems star.

When the orbit of these small town-sized bodies brings comets close to the Sun, they suddenly thaw and spew dust and gases in space.

The dust and gases form a tail frequently stretch away for millions of miles.

NASA believes there are probably billions of comets orbiting our Sun in the Kuiper Belt and even more in the more distant Oort Cloud.

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Difference between asteroids, meteors and comets - NASA explains how to tell them apart - Daily Express

Meteor showers in 2021 that will light up night skies – Deccan Herald

All year long as Earth revolves around the sun, it passes through streams of cosmic debris. The resulting meteor showers can light up night skies from dusk to dawn, and if youre lucky you might be able to catch one.

If you spot a meteor shower, what youre really seeing is the leftovers of icy comets crashing into Earths atmosphere. Comets are sort of like dirty snowballs: As they travel through the solar system, they leave behind a dusty trail of rocks and ice that lingers in space long after they leave. When Earth passes through these cascades of comet waste, the bits of debris which can be as small as grains of sand pierce the sky at such speeds that they burst, creating a celestial fireworks display.

A general rule of thumb with meteor showers: You are never watching the Earth cross into remnants from a comets most recent orbit. Instead, the burning bits come from the previous passes. For example, during the Perseid meteor shower, you are seeing meteors ejected from when its parent comet, Comet Swift-Tuttle, visited in 1862 or earlier, not from its most recent pass in 1992.

Thats because it takes time for debris from a comets orbit to drift into a position where it intersects with Earths orbit, according to Bill Cooke, an astronomer with NASAs Meteoroid Environment Office.

The name attached to a meteor shower is usually tied to the constellation in the sky from which they seem to originate, known as their radiant. For instance, the Orionid meteor shower can be found in the sky when stargazers have a good view of the Orion constellation.

How to watch

The best way to see a meteor shower is to get to a location that has a clear view of the entire night sky. Ideally, that would be somewhere with dark skies, away from city lights and traffic. To maximize your chances of catching the show, look for a spot that offers a wide, unobstructed view.

Bits and pieces of meteor showers are visible for a certain period, but they really peak visibly from dusk to dawn on a given few days. Those days are when Earths orbit crosses through the thickest part of the cosmic stream. Meteor showers can vary in their peak times, with some reaching their maximums for only a few hours and others for several nights. The showers tend to be most visible after midnight and before dawn.

It is best to use your naked eye to spot a meteor shower. Binoculars or telescopes tend to limit your field of view. You might need to spend about half an hour in the dark to let your eyes get used to the reduced light.

Stargazers should be warned that too much moonlight and the weather can obscure a meteor shower. You can check the phase of the moon, and your local weather report, to see if youll get a good show.

If your local skies dont light up, there are sometimes meteor live streams online, such as those hosted by NASA or Slooh.

While the International Meteor Organization lists a variety of meteor showers that could be seen, below youll find the showers that are most likely to be visible in the sky this year. Peak dates may change during the year as astronomers update their estimates.

The Quadrantids

Active from December 28 to January 12. Peaks around January 2-3.

The Quadrantids give off their own New Year's fireworks show. Compared with most other meteor showers, they are unusual because they are thought to have originated from an asteroid. They tend to be fainter with fewer streaks in the sky than others on this list.

The Lyrids

Active from April 14 to April 30. Peaks around April 21-22.

There are records from ancient Chinese astronomers spotting these bursts of light more than 2,700 years ago. They blaze through the sky at about 1,07,000 mph and explode about 55 miles up in the planets atmosphere. This shower comes from Comet Thatcher, which journeys around the sun about every 415 years. Its last trip was in 1861 and its next rendezvous near the sun will be in 2276.

The Eta Aquariids

Active from April 19 to May 28. Peaks around May 4-5.

The Eta Aquariids, also sometimes known as the Eta Aquarids, are one of two meteor showers from Halleys comet. Its sister shower, the Orionids, will peak in October. Specks from the Eta Aquariids streak through the sky at about 148,000 mph, making it one of the fastest meteor showers. Its display is better seen from the Southern Hemisphere where people normally enjoy between 20 and 30 meteors per hour during its peak. The Northern Hemisphere tends to see about half as many.

The Southern Delta Aquariids

Active from July 12 to August 23. Peaks around July 28-29.

They come from Comet 96P Machholz, which passes by the sun every five years. Its meteors, which number between 10 and 20 per hour, are most visible predawn, between 2-3 am It tends to be more visible from the Southern Hemisphere.

The Perseids

Active from July 17 to August 24. Peaks around August 11-12.

The Perseids light up the night sky when Earth runs into pieces of cosmic debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. The dirty snowball is 17 miles wide and takes about 133 years to orbit the sun. Its last go-round was in 1992.

Usually between 160 and 200 meteors dazzle in Earths atmosphere every hour during the displays peak. They zoom through the atmosphere at around 1,33,000 mph and burst about 60 miles overhead.

The Orionids

Active from October 2 to November 7. Peaks around October 19-20.

The Orionids are an encore to the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which peaks in May. Both come from cosmic material spewed from Halleys comet. Since the celestial celebrity orbits past Earth once every 76 years, the showers this weekend are your chance to view the comets leftovers until the real deal next passes by in 2061.

The Leonids

Active between November 6 and November 30. Peaks around November 16-17.

The Leonids are one of the most dazzling meteor showers, and every few decades it produces a meteor storm where more than 1,000 meteors can be seen an hour. Cross your fingers for some good luck the last time the Leonids were that strong was in 2002. Its parent comet is called Comet-Temple/Tuttle and it orbits the sun every 33 years.

The Geminids

Active from December 4 to December 20. Peaks around December 13-14.

The Geminids, along with the Quadrantids that peaked in January, are thought to originate not from comets, but from asteroid-like space rocks. The Geminids are thought to have been produced by an object called 3200 Phaethon. If you manage to see them, this meteor shower can brighten the night sky with between 120 and 160 meteors per hour.

The Ursids

Active from December 17 to December 26. Peaks around December 21-22.

The Ursids tend to illuminate the night sky around the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. They only shoot around 10 to 20 meteors per hour. They appear to radiate from Ursa Minor and come from Comet 8P/Tuttle.

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Meteor showers in 2021 that will light up night skies - Deccan Herald

From Northwestern Medical Center to the University of New England, McKenna Remillard brings her best – St. Albans Messenger

FAIRFIELD McKenna Remillard grew up on the ice at Collins Perley, playing youth hockey with SASA before joining the Comets.

After graduating from BFA St. Albans in 2019, Remillard enrolled at the University of New England and joined the Noreasters womens hockey team.

This year, Remillard, a sophomore, and her teammates are undergoing the new normal in COVID times.

I try to look at the positives. Even though I havent had a normal season, Ive developed different connections in the smaller groups, said Remillard.

Its easy to focus on whats been taken away, but its better to focus on what weve been able to learn and take away from these experiences.

Ive grown a lot in these times. Its helped me focus on how I can improve physically and mentally. If you can overcome adversity, it shows you how powerful you are.

The pandemic has shaped our perspective. Life moves fast; this slows things down and helps you to focus on your priorities and reflect on whats important. The power of positive thinking can really help change your perspective.

Last year, the Noreasters were 16-9-2 on the season and earned a trip to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship for the first time in school history, losing 4-1 to Endicott.

It was nice to make school history, and I thought we came out in good spirits. I had an amazing experience and great coaches and teammates, said Remillard.

What did Remillard take away from the winning season?

I tended to overthink last year. I didnt want to let my team down, and I was hesitant, said Remillard.

I learned a lot of important lessons last year, and I came back this year ready to apply them. I was thoroughly happy with my choice and I love my team.

Remillard made new friends last year, including a former Franklin County player, Shannon Nadeau. She also faced off against her lifelong friend, Peyton Dukas.

Wed be in the locker room, and Shannon would say something about a place in Vermont; I would know exactly what shes talking about, said Remillard.

I highly respect Shannon as a person and a player. Ill be sad when she graduates next year.

McKenna Remillard and Peyton Dukas, now of separate college teams, take a photo together during the college season.

Dukas, who plays for the University of Southern Maine, was a teammate of Remillards on the Comets and a lifelong friend.

It was very exciting to play against her. When we played them last year, I heard her name called and wanted to cheer for her, said Remillard.

We wanted to do the best against each other, but in our minds, we were rooting for each other.

Ive appreciated that we have the desire to see each other succeed and grow in our different experiences.

McKenna Remillard takes the puck down the ice at UNE in her freshman season.

Did you reach any personal goals in the 2019-20 season?

I made really good friendships, and it was nice to form my own identity going to school and to have so many great people who were there to help me as I adjusted, said Remillard.

It was great to connect with people on a deeper level for the success of the team.

What are your goals for 2021?

My goal has been not to lose touch but to get to know my teammates within the COVID guidelines, said Remillard.

Ive focused on myself athletically and mentally, but also on my teammates to maintain the bonds.

Our coaches have helped us improve at the individual level, and weve made even better connections with the coaching staff.

Remillard, a nursing student, puts her skills to work at Northwestern Medical Center on college breaks.

Working in the emergency department has reassured me that Ive chosen the right career. I love the people and the job, said Remillard.

Its been helpful in the classroom as well. Its given me a good foundation.

McKenna Remillard and Peyton Dukas pose for a victory shot after winning the DI State Title with the Comets in 2018.

"I learned (with the Comets) to focus on relationships and on what I can control: attitude, effort, and perception. I've taken those lessons throughout my life and worked on growing in those areas."

McKenna Remillard

How did athletics prepare you for the career youre pursuing?

Playing for Coach (Luke) Cioffi and (Jeff) Rouleau (Comet hockey), I learned we had a goal of winning, but we also learned about life, said Remillard.

I learned to focus on relationships and on what I can control: attitude, effort, and perception. Ive taken those lessons throughout my life and worked on growing in those areas.

What should younger athletes focus on if they want to play sports in college?

Focus on balance; theres a balance of not working so hard that you get run down, but you always want to be growing, said Remillard.

Work on building confidence in yourself and your team. Understand that you are capable and dont doubt yourself.

Have a positive attitude. It can change the whole experience and really affect people. Focusing on those things will help you reach the next level athletically and as a person.

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From Northwestern Medical Center to the University of New England, McKenna Remillard brings her best - St. Albans Messenger

Thunderbird, Lora Fresn, and Comet, Macie Boissonneault, have a bond forged on and off the ice. – St. Albans Messenger

GEORGIA/SWANTON Macie Boissonneault and Lora Fresn have been friends forever and have played for SASA, the Vermont Shamrocks, the Vermont Stars, and the Wildcats together.

Fresn even played youth hockey for SASA (St. Albans Skating Association) with Boissonneault the year MAHA (Missisquoi Amateur Hockey Association) didnt have enough girls for a U14 team.

During the school year, the girls play for opposing teams. Fresn for MVU and Boissonneault for BFA St. Albans.

If you had to give a scouting report on Lora, what would you say?

Boissonneault: Loras strong, she wont let you mess around with her, and you have to watch out for her. Shes not just going to give you the puck. She plays defense, but shes got a good shot, which is good.

If you had to give a scouting report on Macie, what would you say?

Fresn: Macie does her job well. If anyone is in her crease, theyre not in there for long. You need to have a very good shot to get by her.

Theres no denying the bond of friendship Lora and Macie share.

What quality do you most appreciate about the other?

Fresn: Macie is an incredibly hard worker at whatever shes doing--on the ice or off the ice in training. At home, she works in the barn every day.

Boissonneault: Lora is an all-around good person to be around, and shes been one of my good friends for a long time. Shes also very hard-working.

Whats it like to share the ice as teammates?

Boissonneault: It makes the game more enjoyable because youre playing with your friend.

Fesn: When we began playing with the Shamrocks and the other travel teams, it was always nice to have a friend on the team.

Lora Fresn and Macie Boissonneault have played together on several travel hockey teams.

Whats it like to play as opponents?

Boissonneault: Even though I havent played in net against Lora yet, its still the same feeling. It makes the game more enjoyable, and you want to win against them.

Fresn: I like to talk to the people I know from opposing teams before and after a game. Its good to have that friendly face on an opposing team.

Macie and Lora played for SASA together their U14 year.

Memorable moments over the years:

Boissonneault and Fresn recalled the fun of traveling together with travel teams.

It was fun to stay in a hotel together for weekend tournaments. We might go with each others families--both of us with my mom or with hers, said Fresn.

Fresn recalled the Thunderbirds state title in the 2018-19 season. The Comets lost to Essex that year, but Boissonneault did get to see Fresn compete.

The title was memorable because we won and because it was Wynns (Paradee) last game coaching. I was friends with older players like Renee Bouchard and May Gates, and it was my last time playing with those girls.

Paradee surprised the team, wearing the same suit to the title game that hed worn when he began coaching two decades before.

Thats Wynn; hes funny, always nice, always looking to better your skills, and if hes trying to teach you something, hes never putting you down, said Fresn.

Fresn has enjoyed playing for her new coaches, Brian and Adam Fortin, and for Katie Campbell, all former Thunderbird hockey players.

Katie can relate to us and help us because she was a player on this team, said Fresn.

Fresn also recalled playing for Matt Laroche in MAHA. Laroche coached Campbell and had the high school girls help with MAHA practices, something Fresn appreciated as a youngster.

Boissonneault recalled a standout game from the year the two girls played for SASA.

We went to SASA Nationals at UVM, and we won one game and tied one that year, said Boissonneault.

Boissonneault remembered her first varsity game in net with the Comets when asked about her most memorable game.

It was my freshman year, and we were playing our top rival, Essex. I was nervous, but we won 4-0.

Boissonneault has been grateful for the coaches shes had growing up with the game.

I played for Caitlin Manahan in SASA and high school; shes fun to be around. Kristin Veins knew the program really well and was very dependable, said Boissonneault.

Jeff Rouleau coached me in SASA; when I got to high school, I had him as a coach. That made the transition more enjoyable.

Rouleau and (Luke) Cioffi make sure were getting better every day, but they are also there to support us in anything.

Lora and Macie enjoying some mini golf in Florida two years ago.

Hockey is great, but so is a Florida vacation!

Two years ago, Boissonneault invited Fresn to travel with her to Florida to pick up a car. The girls flew down, and Macies mom drove them back.

We ate Krispy Cream donuts and got blankets and pillows and slept the entire way back, said Fresn.

The girls hope theyll have the chance to play this winter if COVID guidelines allow.

Fresn: We joke about the games we play against each other. It makes it not so bad to lose; Im happy for Macie that her team can win.

Boissonneault: Youre always there to support each other. If Lora scored against us, Id be happy for her. We support each other regardless of what team were on.

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Thunderbird, Lora Fresn, and Comet, Macie Boissonneault, have a bond forged on and off the ice. - St. Albans Messenger

Juice Boxes and Post Game Stats: Comets Win Opener – The Blue Testament

The Kansas City Comets kicked off their 2020-2021 (really just 2021) season with an 8-5 win on the road against the Dallas Sidekicks on Saturday. Helped by a hattrick from Kevin Ellis and a brace from Lucas Sousa in his debut. Two other Comets scored on their debut, Kyle McLagan and Rian Marques. Here are stats and milestones from the game. Of note, the MASL site does not currently have the assists listed for the game, Ive gone back and reviewed the goals and given assists based on who it appears should get the assist. If stats are updated by the league and my assists are off I will correct going forward.

Kevin Ellis 3 goals gave him 27 in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Milan Ivanovic for 17th all time on that list.

The 3 goals gave Ellis 28 in all competitions, tying him with Andre Braithwaite for 16th all time on that list.

The hattrick was Ellis 2nd with the Comets, tying him with Kiel Williams, Robert Palmer, John Sosa, Josh Gardner, and Geison for 10th most all time in league and all competitions.

Elliss 3 points gave him 34 in all competitions for the Comets, tying him with Guerrero Pino and Jamar Beasley for 20th all time on that list.

Ramone Palmer recorded his 42nd league assist, tying him with Ignacio Flores for 8th all time on that list.

Adam James made his 53rd appearance in all competitions, breaking his tie with Braithewaite for 18th all time on that list.

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Juice Boxes and Post Game Stats: Comets Win Opener - The Blue Testament

A Harvard professor says an alien visited in 2017 and more are coming – New York Post

When the first sign of intelligent life visits us from space, it wont be a giant saucer hovering over New York. More likely, it will be an alien civilizations trash.

Avi Loeb, chair of Harvards Department of Astronomy, believes hes already found some of that garbage.

In his upcoming book, Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), out Jan. 26, the professor lays out a compelling case for why an object that recently wandered into our solar system was not just another rock but actually a piece of alien technology.

The object in question traveled toward our solar system from the direction of Vega, a nearby star 25 light-years away, and intercepted our solar systems orbital plane on Sept. 6, 2017.

On Sept. 9, its trajectory brought it closest to the sun. At the end of September, it blasted at about 58,900 miles per hour past Venus orbital distance, and then, on Oct. 7, it shot past Earths before moving swiftly toward the constellation Pegasus and the blackness beyond, Loeb writes in the book.

The object was first spotted by an observatory in Hawaii containing the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) the highest-definition telescope on Earth.

The space object was dubbed Oumuamua (pronounced oh moo ah moo ah), which is Hawaiian for roughly scout.

As space travelers go, it was relatively small at just about 100 yards long, but it was a big deal in the scientific community.

For starters, it was the first interstellar object ever detected inside our solar system. Judging from the objects trajectory, astronomers concluded it was not bound by the suns gravity which suggested it was just traveling through.

No crisp photos could be taken, but astronomers were able to train their telescopes on the object for 11 days, collecting reams of other data.

At first, scientists thought it was an ordinary comet. But Loeb said that assumption ran the risk of allowing the familiar to define what we might discover.

What would happen if a caveman saw a cellphone? he asked. Hes seen rocks all his life, and he would have thought it was just a shiny rock.

Loeb soon opened his mind to another possibility: It was not a comet but discarded tech from an alien civilization.

A number of unusual properties about the object helped Loeb make this conclusion.

First were Oumuamuas dimensions.

Astronomers looked at the way the object reflected sunlight. Its brightness varied tenfold every eight hours, suggesting that was the amount of time it took for it to complete a full rotation.

Scientists concluded the object was at least five to 10 times longer than it was wide sort of like the shape of a cigar.

No naturally occurring space body weve ever seen has looked like it or even close.

This would make Oumuamuas geometry more extreme by at least a few times in aspect ratio or its width to its height than the most extreme asteroids or comets that we have ever seen, Loeb writes in his book.

Whats more, Oumuamua was unusually bright. It was at least ten times more reflective than typical solar system [stony] asteroids or comets, the author writes.

He likens its surface to that of shiny metal.

But the anomaly that really pushed Loeb toward his ET hypothesis was the way Oumuamua moved.

The excess push away from the sun that was the thing that broke the camels back, he said.

Using physics, scientists can calculate the exact path an object should take and what speed it should travel due to the gravitational force exerted by the sun. The suns pull will speed up an object massively as it gets closer, then kick it out the other side, only for the object to slow considerably as it gets farther away.

But Oumuamua didnt follow this calculated trajectory. The object, in fact, accelerated slightly, but to a highly statistically significant extent, Loeb writes, as it moved away from the sun.

In other words, it was clearly being pushed by a force besides the suns gravity.

At first the explanation seemed simple. Comets show a similar acceleration, because as they approach the sun, their surface is warmed, releasing once-frozen gases, which act like a rocket engine.

Those released materials, however, form a comets distinctive tail. Scientists looked carefully for that tail or any sign of gases or dust that might propel Oumuamua and came up empty.

Loeb calculated that with these and other anomalies, the chances that Oumuamua was some random comet was around 1 in a quadrillion, leading him to his blockbuster hypothesis.

But what was it exactly?

One possibility, weirdly enough, could be found in technology we already have here on Earth.

Some 400 years ago, astronomer Johannes Kepler observed comet tails blowing in what looked like a solar breeze and wondered if that same force could propel rocket ships through space like the wind pushes boats through water.

It was a smart idea that scientists now use to develop light sails for probes. Thin, reflective sheeting is unfurled in space to capture the particles streaming off the sun, propelling a ship at great speeds through the empty void. Alternatively, powerful lasers from Earth could be aimed at the sail to make it go even faster.

Loeb, who is involved in a light-sail project to send a tiny, unmanned craft to a nearby star, said if we Earthlings have thought of this idea, then why couldnt aliens?

He and a colleague crunched the numbers and hypothesized that Oumuamua was not actually cigar-shaped but possibly a disk less than a millimeter thick, with sail-like proportions that would account for its unusual acceleration as it moved away from the sun.

As to its purpose, Loeb isnt entirely sure. He speculated it could be space junk that once served as a kind of space navigation buoy used by a long-ago civilization.

The only way to look for [alien civilizations] is to look for their trash, like investigative journalists who look through celebrities trash, Loeb said.

Of course, not everyone in the scientific community agrees with his theory.

In July 2019, the Oumuamua Team of the International Space Science Institute published an article in Nature Astronomy concluding, We find no compelling evidence to favor an alien explanation for Oumuamua.

Loeb admits his theories have raised astronomers eyebrows, but he is resolute about his findings. Some people do not want to discuss the possibility that there are other civilizations out there, he told The Post. They believe we are special and unique. I think its a prejudice that should be abandoned.

Some people do not want to discuss the possibility that there are other civilizations out there.

Loeb said the skeptics are bending over backwards to assign natural origins to the object and that the explanations theyve given to explain its weird properties dont stand up to scrutiny.

For example, some scientists have suggested that Oumuamuas acceleration was caused by frozen hydrogen on its surface turning to gas and driving it like a comet, and that hydrogen would have been invisible to Earths infrared cameras, which is why we didnt detect it.

But Loeb and a colleague published a paper showing that a hydrogen iceberg traveling through interstellar space would evaporate long before it reached our solar system.

Whatever the truth, the stakes are high.

The acceptance that an alien race has made contact even through its trash would trigger a serious search for more trash, leading us to scour the moon and Mars, for example, for debris that might have crash-landed thousands or millions of years ago.

And if more evidence is found, we Earthlings would have to start building tools to help us grapple with extraterrestrials, such as space treaties and academic fields like astro-linguistics and astro-economics.

But, perhaps more important, any further discoveries could redefine our place in the universe.

It would put us in perspective, Loeb said. If we are not alone, are we the smartest kids on the block? If there was a species that eliminated itself through war or changing the climate, we can get our act together and behave better. Instead, we are wasting a lot of resources on Earth fighting each other and other negative things that are a big waste.

Since Oumuamuas appearance, a second interstellar object known as 2I/Borisov was spotted entering the solar system by a Crimean telescope in 2019. But that turned out to be a plain old comet.

Until recently, our instruments have not been sensitive enough to pick up these kinds of visitors. But Loeb said technology will soon make it possible to locate more space travelers, and the only way the mystery of Oumuamua will be settled is if a similar object is spotted and more thoroughly investigated with a probe.

He said his book should motivate people to collect more data on the next object that looks weird.

If we find another and we take a photo and it looks like a light sail, I dont think anyone will argue with that.

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A Harvard professor says an alien visited in 2017 and more are coming - New York Post

The Courier/Daily Comets Top 10 sports stories of 2020 – Houma Courier

Chris Singleton|The Courier

Terrebonnes Maason Smith picks LSU over Georgia, Alabama and Miami

Terrebonne football player Maason Smith picked LSU during Wednesday's National Signing Day.

Chris Singleton, The Courier

The year 2020 will never be forgotten by area sports fans.

The Courier and Daily Comet sports staff took a look back at the Top 10 local sports stories for 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected sports on professional, collegiate and high school levels in 2020.

Area high school sports teams faced restrictions due to the virus, ranging from limited crowds at games tothe constant canceling and rescheduling games dueto positive tests and contact tracing. Athletes and coaches were forced to go through many screenings and temperature checks to play.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association canceled thespring sports regular season and championships due to rising cases in April, butit returned to action later in the year with its fall sports seasons in football, volleyball, cross country and swimming.

The virus forced Nicholls States men and womens basketball teams to end their seasons early when the Southland Conference basketball tournaments were canceled in March. The NCAA also canceled the spring sports season due to the pandemic.

The Southland Conference postponed its fall sports seasons (football, volleyball and soccer) to the spring of 2021. Nicholls will play a six-game conference schedule in football this spring.

The LSU football team made history by winning the college football national championship game over Clemson in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Jan. 13.

LSU finished 15-0 and won its fourth national championship in school history. The Tigers were coached by Ed Orgeron, a Larose native and former South Lafourche football player.

Former Thibodaux High School and Louisiana Tech University standout Amik Robertson was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft in April.

Robertson, a 5-foot-8, 187-pound cornerback, was selected with the No. 139th pick in the fourth round.

Robertson has recorded four tackles in eight games for the Raiders this season.

Former Terrebonne High defensive lineman Maason Smith captured the attention of the college football world when he signed with LSU on Dec. 16.

Smith picked LSU over three other finalists Georgia, Alabama and Miami.

Smith, who stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 316 pounds, is ranked as the nations top player according to Rivals.com.

The New Orleans Saints have continued their recent dominance of the NFC South Division.

The Saints won their fourth straight division title with a 52-33 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 25. They managed to do it despite missing quarterback Drew Brees and receiver Michael Thomas for several games due to injuries this season.

Former South Terrebonne coach Richard Curlin retired after 30 years as head coach of the Gators in January.

He amassed a 164-156 overall mark and led the Gators to the 1991 Class 4A state title.

For the third straight year, Vandebilt Catholics girls cross country team emerged victorious at the LHSAA state championship meet in November.

The Lady Terriers placed four runners in the top 10 of the Class 4A race. Junior runner Ella Chestnut was first overall in a time of 18 minutes, 51.4 seconds.

It was the fourth championship in school history for the Lady Terriers. They also won it in 2016.

E.D. White won the Division III state championship in boys and girlsswimming and the Class 3A state title in boys and girlscross country.

It was the fourth title in a row for E.D. Whites boys swimming team and sixth in school history. E.D. Whites girls won the state titlefor the eighth time.

In cross country, E.D. White boys won it for the 18th time and girls for the fifth time.

E.D. White senior swimmer Jacques Rathle, a Auburn signee, closed out his prep career with a banner performance at the Division III state meet in November.

He set new Division III and composite state records in the 200-yard individual medley (1 minute, 46.45 seconds) and the 100-yard breaststroke (54.40 seconds). He helped E.D. Whites relay teams set two more Division III state records in the 200-yard medley relay (1:36.16) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (1:10.34).

Rathles performances helped the Cardinals win their fourth straight Division III boys state championship. He earned the Division III Most Outstanding Swimmer award for the fourth straight season.

Houma native and former Terrebonne High School standout Justin Williams, now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, recorded his first Major League hit with a single through the right side of the infield in Game 1 of a doubleheader at the Milwaukee Brewers in September.

Williams, an outfielder, had previously been called up by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 but did not record a hit.

There was no Minor League Baseball this season because of the pandemic. Williams was called up from the Cardinals alternate training site and as the 29th player on the roster. He participated in summer camp with the Cardinals.

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The Courier/Daily Comets Top 10 sports stories of 2020 - Houma Courier

Greenland: How Realistic The Sci-Fi Disaster Movie Is – Screen Rant

Ric Roman Waugh's Greenland centers on a family's survival amid a destructive comet speeding towards Earth. Is the film scientifically accurate?

How realistic is Ric Roman Waughs sci-fi disaster movie, Greenland? Greenland chronicles the tale of a family, who is faced with a struggle for survival amid the possibility of planetary annihilation due to an approaching comet. Greenland is currently available for viewing on HBO Max and Amazon Prime.

Greenland opens with the story of John Garrity (Gerard Butler) and his wife Alison (Gothams Morena Baccarin) living near Atlanta Georgia, who are temporarily separated, yet trying their best to make things work between them. They come together at a neighborhood party to watch a chunk of a comet pass through the Earths atmosphere; however, it turns out that the comet is expected to hit the planet and annihilate all life within a few days. Meanwhile, John gets an invitation for him and his family to a top-secret bunker in Greenland, which would allow them to survive. As the couple and their child, Nathan, struggle to get there, all hell breaks loose while the whole of humanity scrambles for survival.

RELATED:The Impossible True Story: How Accurate The Tsunami Movie Is

In terms of how scientifically accurate Greeland is, Waugh carried out personal research into the practical nitty-gritties of comets, while consulting with scientists at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This process was completed by further speculation into what could realistically occur if a comet was set to destroy the Earths surface, lending an aura of authenticity to the films titular premise. Waugh also used a prehistoric event as a reference point, mainly the asteroid that rendered dinosaurs extinct 66 million years ago, which posited a host of contradictory notions about the matter. While Waugh kept these factors in mind, the crux of Greenland is ultimately its emotional weight, as an over-reliance on scientific accuracy could possibly hamper the films dramatic center, which is the story of a family struggling for survival.

Moreover, the actors, especially Butler and Baccarin, were heavily involved in discussions regarding respective character trajectories, especially how they would be reacting to such high-stakes situations. To back up the situations probable authenticity, the narrative draws direct parallels to the Tunguska event in Siberia, wherein a small-body explosion flattened all the trees in the area. The eye-witness reports of the comet, fictionally named Clarke, seems to have echoes of eyewitness reports of an asteroid breakup in Chelyabinsk, Russia. However, Greenland suffers from a scientific standpoint in two major areas - one being the lack of clarity in tracking the comets path, and how such impending predictions are monitored in general, which almost always result in evacuation in dire scenarios.

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Greenland: How Realistic The Sci-Fi Disaster Movie Is - Screen Rant

‘Greenland’ offers grim take on how humanity will respond to a comet impact – Space.com

Watch out: Spoilers ahead for "Greenland."

If a threatening comet was bearing down on Earth with no hope of deflection, what would happen next?

The Hollywood film "Greenland," which will premiere on video on demand on Dec. 18, looks at the effects of the fictional yet convincing Comet Clarke, a large comet that has split into still-hefty pieces. In the movie, the comet takes scientists by surprise because it came from another solar system, making its orbit more difficult to predict echoing the emerging science of interstellar objects we've spotted near Earth.

Scientifically speaking, the movie does a decent job at discussing real-life comets even without the benefit of a science advisor.

Related: Biggest space movies to watch in 2020

Newscasters in the film draw direct parallels to the Tunguska event that saw a small-body explosion flatten trees in Siberia in 1908. The shockwaves from Clarke's impact echo eyewitness reports from a small asteroid breakup in Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2012. The movie also shows fireballs from Clarke's fragments hitting the atmosphere, which is plausible given other cometary reports.

Sadly, there seems to be an absence of scientific effort in the film to track the comet's specific path, or to explain how comets and asteroids are monitored in general. While part of that can be explained away by saying it was too late to save Earth from Comet Clarke, it would have been nice to mention NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, which in real life studies scenarios for deflecting asteroids and comets or for informing the evacuation of affected populations in case of a coming impact. NASA and its partners track the sky regularly for threats and happily, they haven't found anything imminently worrying yet.

Starring Gerard Butler ("300," "How to Train Your Dragon"), Morena Baccarin ("Firefly," "Deadpool") and Roger Dale Floyd ("The Walking Dead"), "Greenland" follows the problems of a family that at first, appears to be among the most fortunate on the planet.

Just prior to and then in the middle of a house party, John Garrity (Butler) receives automated messages on his phone and television advising him that the Department of Homeland Security wants him to evacuate Atlanta. He and his family have been selected to ride out the comet's impact in an isolated bunker, thanks to his specialized work as a structural engineer. But he needs to drive to Robins Air Force Base, roughly two hours south, first to catch the plane out to the bunker.

Trouble is, Garrity's neighbors don't get the same alert and they realize that, in the words of Garrity, "Something weird is going on with this comet" and they weren't invited to the bunker. The news is still cheerily talking about how you can see the comet in daylight when the first shockwaves hit the house mid-party. Before long, panic strikes.

It quickly becomes clear that this comet is no mere flyby event. Rather, it's a civilization-killer, with one of the fragments estimated at nine miles (15 kilometers) in diameter, about half as big as the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, and likely enough to wipe out cities around the world after it collides with the Earth, which in the movie is predicted to occur somewhere in Europe.

With two days to go before the big hit, Garrity, his estranged wife Allison (Baccarin) and diabetic son Nathan (Dale Floyd) race to an air force base, where they are stranded in a bureaucratic mess that echoes what many of us have experienced during international travel. Lost medication, family separation and a pressing takeoff time start the events of the movie really rolling. Everything becomes very sad and difficult to watch only 30 minutes after the two-hour film begins.

While older viewers may recall the (slightly) more lighthearted and "America will save the world" attitudes depicted in the 1990s films "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" that also covered cosmic collisions with Earth, "Greenland" features no wisecracking Bruce Willis situation. You quickly see the looting, violence and general chaos that takes hold when society breaks down.

Presidential alerts flash constantly on cell phones, the news shows harrowing scenes of destruction, and local grocery stores quickly empty of essential goods. To be honest, you may find "Greenland" a tough watch after 2020 and the effects of the pandemic, but then again, escapist disaster films may be just the antidote you need after a long year.

Happily, within this melee comes some moments of hope. You see the military personnel who, like today's medical workers, willingly put their lives on the line to help. Dale Floyd manages to overcome the sad, sick child trope for a memorable performance as he attempts to sew his family back together. Also watch for Scott Glenn ("The Right Stuff" movie from 1983), who makes a brief appearance late in the film; his performance is a tear-jerker, showing that even at age 81, Glenn sure can hold anyone's attention.

"Greenland" is less a tale about overcoming a comet collision and more a documentary-style discussion of what happens to people living on a planet under such peril. The film is not an easy watch, but the story will stick with you for the science, the memorable performances and the ambiguous ending.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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'Greenland' offers grim take on how humanity will respond to a comet impact - Space.com

What was the Star of Bethlehem? – Space.com

As the well-known story in the Gospel of Matthew goes, three Magi, or wise men, followed the Star of Bethlehem to Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. And after consulting with King Herod of Judea, the men found newborn baby Jesus in the little town of Bethlehem. Whether such an event really happened in history is difficult to prove, but if it did, what was the Star of Bethlehem?

This is a question scholars have long pondered, not just from a religious or historical perspective, but from a scientific one, too. Plenty of theories have been proposed, from an astronomical event to an astrological horoscope, but thanks to modern astronomy, scientists are getting closer to an answer.

"If what is in the New Testament is a historical account of something, then that historical account requires an explanation," David Weintraub, a professor of physics and astronomy at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, told All About Space in an email. "As an astronomer, you want an astronomical explanation."

Related: As heavenly bodies converge, many ask: Is the Star of Bethlehem making a comeback?

We know that Halley's Comet was visible in the sky in 11 B.C. However, as the Magi trekked toward Jerusalem and on to Bethlehem, it seems unlikely that they followed a comet because its position would have changed as the Earth rotated, so the comet would not have led them in a single direction. What's more, in the ancient world, comets were often regarded as bad omens.

"For Christmas cards, it makes a nice picture having a comet and a tail but in those days comets up in the sky were usually a harbinger of impending disaster," Grant Mathews, a professor of theoretical astrophysics and cosmology at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, told All About Space in an email.

Related: Was the Star of Bethlehem a star, comet or miracle?

We can also rule out novas and supernovas. Either event would have resulted in a detectable remnant, but astronomers have not found anything that might date back to this time.

Furthermore, had the Magi followed one, they probably would have walked in a circle. "You can't follow a star from Baghdad to Jerusalem to Bethlehem," Weintraub said. "Stars don't do that. They rise and set, and they don't sit in the sky."

Such an event would surely have been seen by others at the time, too. Although novas are reportedly quite rare, you'd still expect to find other historical accounts of a large, bright event in the sky.

Other theories suggest a supernova in the Andromeda galaxy as the cause, as described in a 2005 study published in journal The Observatory. Although it's possible to see the galaxy with the unaided eye, it wouldn't have been possible to see a star going supernova and exploding within it even with the help of a telescope.

Related: Best telescopes 2020: Top picks for beginners, viewing planets, astrophotography and all-arounders

This leads us to one of two possibilities. The first is that the Magi were making an astrological interpretation of the sky. The fact that they needed to ask Herod for directions when they arrived suggests they were not being led to their final destination by a single bright object.

Astrology was widely used at the time, and with the Magi coming from Babylon, it's plausible that they were astrologers. And due to a particular alignment of planets and stars, they may have read a hidden meaning among the stars, leading them to King Herod. For example, Jupiter's display could have been of great significance here, as astrology associated the planet Jupiter with royalty, so the moon passing it in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 B.C. could have heralded the birth of Christ.

Related: Images: World's oldest astrologer's board

"Modern astronomers don't put any credence in astrology, but 'modern' is important in this context," Weintraub said. "What's important is what people thought 2,000 years ago. Astrology was a big deal back then. The explanation I have found that makes the most sense is that it was astrological."

The other, more astronomical explanation is that there was indeed a bright object in the sky a conjunction between planets and stars. A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the night sky from our location on Earth. These events can continue every night in a similar location for days or weeks. If the wise men were to follow the moment of conjunction, it's possible they would have been led in a specific direction.

Related: 'Great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn will form a 'Christmas Star' on the winter solstice

Astronomer Michael Molnar suggested that a conjunction theory might be correct in his book "The Star of Bethlehem" (Rutgers University Press, 1999). If the "star" was the result of a conjunction (and this historical event did really happen), then there are a number of different alignments that could be the culprit.

Perhaps the most promising, and the one favored by Mathews, is an alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon and the sun in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 B.C. This conjunction fits with the story for a few reasons. First, this conjunction happened in the early morning hours, which aligns with the Gospel's description of the Star of Bethlehem as a rising morning star. The Magi also lost sight of the star, before seeing it come to rest in the place where baby Jesus lay in the stable. This could have been the result of the retrograde motion of Jupiter, which means that it appears to change direction in the night sky as Earth's orbit overtakes it.

"Normally, planets move eastward if you're following them in the sky," Mathews said. "But when they go through retrograde motion, they turn around and go in the direction that the stars rise and set at night [westward]."

Two other conjunctions around a similar time also look promising. One is the meeting of Jupiter, Venus and the star Regulus in the constellation of Leo on June 17, 2 B.C. Without the aid of a telescope, the two planets would appear as a single "star," brighter than Venus and Jupiter individually. Another conjunction occurred in 6 B.C., between Jupiter, Saturn and Mars in the constellation of Pisces. But neither of these latter two conjunctions match the description in the New Testament as closely as the conjunction that occurred on April 17, 6 B.C.

Although scientists have ruled out several possibilities, we may never know for sure what the Star of Bethlehem was or if it even really happened, barring some remarkable archaeological finding. But it's a question that comes up year after year, and it will continue to pique the interest of scientists and historians alike for many years to come.

"Nothing in science is ever case closed, nor is it in history," Mathews said. "We may never know if the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, astrological event or a fable to advance Christianity. Maybe it was simply a miracle."

Additional resources:

This article was adapted from a previous version published in All About Space magazine, a Future Ltd. publication.

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What was the Star of Bethlehem? - Space.com

How to watch October’s Orionids meteor shower one of the best of the year – CBS News

After a short hiatus from meteor activity, the annual Orionids meteor shower is back to bring shooting stars to the night sky. It's visible from about October 2 to November 7, as Earth passes through the debris from Halley's Comet, but peaks on October 21.

And it's not the only exciting celestial activity this month October features two full moons, the second of which falls on Halloween, and the closest our planet will be to Mars until 2035.

The Orionids, which light up the night sky every October, is considered to be one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, according toNASA.

Orionid meteors are both bright and fast. They travel at about 148,000 miles per hour, or 41 miles per second, into Earth's atmosphere, often leaving behind glowing "trains" of debris in their wake and lasting for several seconds to even minutes.

"The Orionids are also framed by some of the brightest stars in the night sky, which lend a spectacular backdrop for theses showy meteors," NASA said.

The meteors, which are leftover comet particles and broken asteroids, originate from the comet 1P/Halley, which orbits the sun about once every 76 years. The comet was last spotted in 1986, and won't enter the inner solar system again until 2061.

The comet is named after Edmond Halley, who discovered its 76-year orbit in 1705. Halley believed that three previous comets were all the same one a prediction that proved true when it came back around after his death.

Halley's comet is perhaps the most famous comet of all time, cited for millennia, and even featuring on the Bayeux tapestry, which displays the 1066 Battle of Hastings.

The Orionids get their name from the constellation Orion, which is the point in the sky where they appear to come from. The constellation isn't the source of the meteors, rather, it serves to help skywatchers determine which meteor shower they are viewing. The meteor shower's radiant point is just to the north of Orion's bright star, Betelgeuse.

The Orionids peak around October 21 each year, but are strongly visible in the surrounding nights. They are visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres in the hours after midnight.

As always, NASA advises finding an area with little light pollution, and bringing a sleeping bag, since you may be there for a while. To see the meteors, lie flat on your back, with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

While Orion is the meteors' radiant, it is not the only place skywatchers should look to view the shower they are visible throughout the night sky. NASA recommends viewing them from 45 to 90 degrees away from Orion, where they will appear longer and more magnificent.

Within 30 minutes of being outside, your eyes will adapt to the darkness. You can expect to see approximately 20 meteors per hour in moonless skies, but be patient the show will last until dawn!

NASA advises to watch out for prolonged explosions of light when watching the meteor shower this means the meteors have becomefireballs, which are extremely bright.

Mid-October to mid-December is a nearly continuous period of spectacular meteor activity. Following the Orionids, the next major Meteor shower is the Leonids, peaking in mid-November.

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How to watch October's Orionids meteor shower one of the best of the year - CBS News

Freddies to hook up with Comets in 1st round of Division VI playoffs – Mount Vernon News

In this file photo, Fredericktown's Steven Tumbleson (10) carries the ball in a Knox Morrow Athletic Conference football game against Highland on Sept. 4, 2020 in Sparta. | Michael Rich/News

FREDERICKTOWN The Fredericktown football team had some familiarity with Marion Elgin as it prepared for its matchup in the first round of the Division VI, Region 23 playoffs on Saturday night in Marion.

As luck has it, the 21st-seeded Freddies and the 12th-seeded Comets just so happened to meet in the only scrimmage before the start of the season for both teams.

Were pretty familiar with each other, Fredericktown football coach Will Hartley said. We have that scrimmage film plus we exchanged three game films. Being as low of a seed as we are, I think its a pretty good matchup for us.

I think if we just keep to fundamentals and work together as a team just power through the night and put four quarters together, theyre a very beatable team, senior Steven Tumbleson said.

Fredericktown was also dealt a piece of bad luck with the injury of senior Jeremiah McKinley, who separated a shoulder early in Fredericktowns 48-9 loss at Centerburg on Oct. 2.

McKinley was second on the team in rushing with 238 yards and two touchdowns on 60 carries and second on the team with 44.5 tackles on defense.

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Tumbleson, who leads the Freddies (1-5) in both categories 291 yards and two touchdowns on 74 carries on offense and 51 tackles on defense hopes Fredericktown will be able to carry the load without McKinley.

Me and (McKinley) are kind of a tag team on defense, Tumbleson said. We work together a lot. Its a blow to our offense and defense that hes not in there because hes our starting tackle and running back.

Elgin (4-2) enters the game on a three-game winning streak and has scored more than 30 points in each of their last five games.

I think we match up with them in team speed-wise; size-wise, Hartley said. The things that theyve run, weve seen. They run primarily Wing-T stuff and we havent seen much of (that). But with their spread game, theyre running their quarterback quite with a permitter run thats a lot of the stuff weve seen throughout the year.

The Comets have a three-headed monster in the backfield of Jordan McCormack (48 carries, 379 yards, six touchdowns), Kevin Kline (31 carries, 383 yards, three touchdowns) and Cy Starcher (25 carries, 335 yards, five touchdowns).

McCormack has also thrown for 792 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 32 of 60 passing.

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Freddies to hook up with Comets in 1st round of Division VI playoffs - Mount Vernon News

Amherst football: Comets fall in triple overtime to North Royalton – The Morning Journal

Hosting North Royalton in a first-round playoff matchup, Amherst knew it was in for a physical battle. The Comets just didnt expect it to last more than four quarters.

The previously winless Bears found a way to pull-out a 48-45 victory in triple overtime, sending the Comets home for the rest of the playoffs.

After surrendering 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, all hope looked to be lost for Amherst. Especially after a 3-yard touchdown score from Zadan Abuhamdeh.

But the Comets pulled out a miracle with just under 40 seconds remaining.

Quarterback Tyler Brezina narrowly avoided a sack inside his own 10 before finding George Gotsis behind the Bears secondary. The 6-foot-2 quarterback put everything he had into the throw, and Gotsis made the catch, outrunning a safety for an 89-yard touchdown, tying the game at 28-28 with 20 seconds left.

It was a combination of skill, luck and observation from the Comets, who had noticed a tendency in the North Royalton secondary that made the play possible.

At halftime, the guys upstairs saw that the backside safety was cheating over, Gotsis said. So we figured if we did a fake to the right side, I could get past him on a backside post.

Amherst opened the first overtime with another touchdown as Alden Steele scored on a 1-yard run, but the Bears responded.

Again in the second overtime, North Royalton opened with a score, but the Comets responded with a 10-yard toss from Brezina to Torre Weatherspoon.

The game-changing play came in the third overtime, when the Comets just missed a touchdown on a pass attempt from Brezina to Ty Weatherspoon. After a no-gain on third down, Amherst settled for a field goal.

Im proud of our guys coming in and making play after play, Amherst coach Mike Passerrello said. In games like this you just wish both teams could come away with a win.

Minutes later Abuhamdeh found the end zone for the second time on the night sending his team onto the next round.

Were a good enough team that we knew we could come back, and thats exactly what we did, he said. 255 yards would have never happened without every single one of those guys, all of my linemen they blocked their butts off.

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Amherst football: Comets fall in triple overtime to North Royalton - The Morning Journal

Halley’s Comet, Covid-19, and the history of ‘miracle’ anti-comet rem – Astronomy Magazine

The experts take the floor

Faced with mounting fear, French authorities askedCamille Flammarion, a trustworthy and popular astronomer, to speak to the public. Flammarion considered the possibility that life on Earth might be extinguished should there be a celestial collision with Halleys comet. Should a sufficient quantity of hydrogen in the comets tail be combined with atmospheric oxygen, all animal life could suffocate in just a few moments.

Flammarion considers the event unlikely due to the scarcity of gas in comet tails a fact that would be confirmed later but he admits uncertainty.

We can admit that we ignore what fate has in store for next May. [] The human race would perish in a paroxysm of universal joy, delirium and madness, probably very enchanted with its fate.

Flammarion, as a respectable scientist, recountsall the known elements in his possession: the facts, arguments, and causes, all accompanied by probability. However, the press echoed the most extraordinary part of his words the possible suffocation of all of humanity and passed over its low probability and its supposedly hilarious effect. Thus informed, the general public became understandably terrified of the potentially lethal effects of the comets passage.

When the comet approached in February of that year, spectroscopic observations at theYerkes observatoryin the United States confirmed thepresence of cyanogen in the tail. Scientists detailed what would happen if the Earths orbit and the tails orbit cross paths: the cyanogen will decompose in the upper atmosphere, eliminating any danger of suffocation. Yet their reassuring conclusions went largely unnoticed by the press and the general public.

Following the dissemination of the information of an imminent danger, the reactions were diverse. Some people began to sell all their worldly possessions to take advantage of the short time remaining. Others risked death by alcohol overdose rather than gas intoxication. Others in the United States caulked their windows in a fruitless attempt to prevent the poisonous gas from entering their homes. In France and Italy, others took refuge in churches, the doors of which remained open during that famous night in May 1910. Several tens of thousands of believers gathered to pray in St. Peters Square. A Hungarianpreferred to commit suiciderather than risk being suffocated.

In this context, charlatans seized the opportunity to sell anti-comet pills, based on sugar and quinine, and even an anti-Halleys comet elixir

Of course, not everyone panicked: Flammarion and other astronomers were invited by Gustave Eiffel to the eponymous tower to observe the comet, and many Parisians took the opportunity tofeast and dance all night. To the surprise of some and the disappointment of others, only a small and faint nucleus was visible, if it was visible at all as we now know, Halleys comet is rarely bright when it passes.

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Halley's Comet, Covid-19, and the history of 'miracle' anti-comet rem - Astronomy Magazine

Cats Claim Commanding Win over Comets, Advancing to Play Euclid – ignatiuswildcats.com

Even with a significant injury list, the Saint Ignatius Wildcats managed to beat the Solon Comets, 42-14, in the opening round of the OHSAA Division I football playoffs on Friday at George Finnie Stadium in Berea.

With the convincing victory, the Cats advance to the Regional Quarterfinal, where they will face off against the Euclid Panthers.

The Wildcats won the coin toss and deferred the ball to the Comets. Solons opening drive went perfectly for the Wildcat defense, as they forced a 3-and-out. The punt then was a moon shot that ended up going for -2 yards, leaving Joe Pfaff and the offense with excellent starting field position for the opening drive.

The opening play for Pfaff was a fumbled snap but the Cats quickly recovered on 3rd and 18. Pfaff threw one of his signature darts to senior wide receiver Colin Wiehn, sending the offense to the Comet 5-yard line. Marty Lenehan then bull-rushed into the endzone for a 2-yard touchdown to give the Cats an early lead, 7-0 after Mangans PAT kick.

The next drive for the Comets was exactly the same as the first, with the Saint Ignatius defensive line holding the Solon offense once again. Pfaff took over once again in Comet territory, and on the second play of the drive, Pfaff cannoned a ball to junior wide receiver Steve Bodamer for a 48-yard touchdown, pushing the Cats lead up to 14-0 with 5:29 to go in the first quarter.

After another quick appearance on the field by the Solon offense, the Comets faked as if they were going for it on 4th and 2 before quarterback Pat McQuaide stepped back and punted the ball. The ball was blocked and ricocheted out of bounds, allowing Pfaff and his offense coming back onto the field.

After a 15-yard gain by Lenehan, Pfaff again found Bodamer, this time with the beautiful play ending at the 1-yard line. Joe Pfaff then used his legs to motor on into the endzone on a QB sneak for another quick score for the Cats. Saint Ignatius led 21-0 with 1:50 left in the first quarter.

With Aidan Hubbard making some crucial tackles for a total of -4 yards on two plays, the Comets went 3-and-out again. The Wildcats ran a few times for little gain, resulting in Mangans first punt of the game. The Solon return man watched the ball as it bounced toward him and clipped his leg. Sean Cook was on the recovery right away, giving the ball back to the Cats in a good spot to get more points early. The recovery and ensuing drive did not lead to any points, as missed field goal resulted due to the wind and narrower college goal posts. Even still, it was a smart, heads-up play by Cook. Its the type of play that can decide ballgames in the playoffs.

The Solon drive that followed can largely be summed up by their star running back Khalil Eichelberger running wild. He either carried or received the ball for three straight plays worth of big gains. The Cats seemed to slow the runaway freight train, forcing a 4th and 5 deep in their own territory. The Comets kept the offense on the field and ended up with points, as a McQuaide connection to Caesar Salerno got the visitors on the board. The Wildcats held a 21-7 advantage with 4:28 to go in the first half.

Lenehan then went back to work, as he broke four tackles for a big gain after a great block by Becker. It wasnt enough, though, to add more points before half. Pfaff tried to make a tough pass across his body while on the run that ultimately fell incomplete. Mangan strolled onto the field to attempt a 40+ yard field goal again with the wind blowing right at him, and this one unfortunately missed. The first half concluded then with some drama, as a ball from Eichelberger came loose, but was recovered by Solon. McQuaide then got sacked and Eichelberger took a shot to end the half at 21-7 Cats.

After deferring the ball at the start of the game, the Wildcats offense began the second half as explosive as they had the first half. To no surprise, Lenehan bounced off a few tackles before coming down into Solon territory at the 34-yard line. Pfaff then dished the ball off to Becker for a little screenplay that ended up moving the ball all the way down to the Comet 16-yard line. On third and goal, Lenehan shot into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown. On a roll, the Cats led 28-7.

Unfortunately the good vibes for the Cats got put to a halt as a Wildcat defender left the game via stretcher. On behalf of everyone on the SIBN, we wish #48 a speedy recovery. The defense didnt let the loss get to them though, Taliak nearly picked off a ball on 3rd down that forced a Solon punt.

After a tough sack, the Wildcat drive quickly closed as well, and Mangan booted the ball back to Solon. Just like the last drive, Taliak made a great play, this time in the form of a tackle on Eichelberger for a loss of 2. After a big-time scramble from McQuaide, Solon was moving the chains, especially on 4th and 3 with a rocket pass over the top from McQuaide for a big first down. Bennett Adler made his presence known after batted down a pass on a screen, but McQuaide got the better of the defense on the next play, as he made a big pass to move the ball to the Wildcat 1-yard line. Eichelberger then rushed in for an easy 1-yard touchdown to narrow the deficit to 28-14. Solon was then unsuccessful with an onside kick as the ball, so the next kick was their routine kickoff.

Lenehan rushed for three straight plays for over 3 yards before a monster 46-yard run to the Comet 10-yard line. Naturally, Lenehan got the ball on the next play and scored for the 10-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 35-14 Wildcats.

You gotta read the line and then feel it up to the linebackers, Lenehan says. You need to take it all in at once. We have our reads, the coaches really help us with that. They tell you who to lock in on and it really helped to make it easy.

The next two defensive plays were quite remarkable to watch, as Snyder nearly intercepted a McQuaide pass, and then on the next play, Cole Smith picked the ball off and moved the offense to the opposing 20-yard line.

After a flag for holding, Pfaff found senior wide receiverJonathan McNeilfor a 23-yard touchdown. The Wildcats possessed a commanding 42-14 lead with 7:04 to go in the game.

More quick work by the Saint Ignatius defense led the Comets to punt the ball to the 50-yard line. Jaxon French came in to close the game and handed the ball off to a mix of running backs including Lenehan, Anthony Santagata, and Ryan Waldron. The defense held out the rest of the game, and the Wildcats finished off a 42-14 win.

Looking at the stats, the Wildcats outgained the Comets, 370-260, with an impressive 180 yards on the ground. Lenehan finished the day with 171 yards, his second straight game hitting the century mark.

The offensive line really stepped up opening up holes. They had a great day, says Lenehan. The last couple weeks, theyve been helping me out by opening up big holes and making it really easy for me.

In his first playoff start, Pfaff put on an impressive show, completing 10-of-16 passes for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with a rushing score. The wide receiver corps stepped up, particularly Bodamer with 2 catches for 82 yards, Becker with 3 receptions for 34 yards, Colin Wiehn with 2 hauls for 35 yards, and McNeil with his 23-yard TD catch.

It was amazing, the atmosphere was great. You cant be nervous, Pfaff says. You need to control what you can control. I just went through my reads and kept myself calm. It was awesome. This is a great team win, we needed it. Were moving on, and itll be a good week of football.

The defense also played outstanding, winning the turnover battle, 2-0. Taliak led the defense with an outstanding game with 6.5 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Juniors Chris Aerni and Gavin Berger stepped up with a combined 8 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. As a whole, the defense tallied 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 4 pass breakups.

Now, the Wildcats will prepare for Euclid. The Panthers defeated Elyria on Friday, 21-0, at Euclid Community Stadium, also the site for next weeks Regional Quarterfinal.

It feels great. We really needed this, says Lenehan. But now were 0-0. We have another week, were 0-0.

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Cats Claim Commanding Win over Comets, Advancing to Play Euclid - ignatiuswildcats.com

Marionville’s one-two punch has the Comets undefeated and ready to make noise in postseason – News-Leader

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MARIONVILLE Opposing defenses are forced to play a little game of "pick your poison" every week when going up against Marionville.

Either they can try to shut downdynamic sophomore quarterback Wil Carlton or they can do all they can to stop5-foot-5 tailback Dakota Wilson from running all over them.

Try all the defenses want, but so far, nothing has worked.

Marionville (7-0) continued its resurgence with a 48-12 win over Sarcoxie (3-4) on Friday night.The Comets remain unbeaten after two consecutive four-win seasons.

WEEK 7 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

Dakota Wilson, of Marionville, runs with the ball during the Comets 48-12 win over Sarcoxie in Marionville, Mo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. The Comets remain undefeated this season.(Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)

The one-two punch of Carlton and Wilson has the Comets back in the state rankings they were ranked No. 8 in the Class 1 rankings this past week. And it appears, as long as they're there, the Comets are here to stay.

"It's amazing having thatgreat of a pair, " Wilson said. "They don't know who to go for and I don't know how to explain it."

It is difficult to explain how Wilson can be so dominant, but his powerlifting resume might do the trick.

Dakota Wilson, of Marionville, runs with the ball during the Comets 48-12 win over Sarcoxie in Marionville, Mo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. The Comets remain undefeated this season.(Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)

Wilson, listed at 5-foot-5 and 160 pounds, rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns on the evening. His first score saw him carry what appeared to be most of the Sarcoxie defense the final 10 yards on a 23-yard run.

"I heard everyone yelling that I had the whole team on my back," Wilson said. "I felt a couple but I didn't know how many were on me, to be honest."

The junior ballcarrier is what head coach Paden Grubbs described as one of the pound-for-pound strongest athletes in the state. It's not an overreaction when you learn that he entered a state weightlifting competition last year and squatted over 400 pounds.

"He's a superb athlete," Grubbs said. "He's got great vision for a little back."

Wil Carlton, of Marionville, stiff arms a defender after intercepting the ball during the Comets 48-12 win over Sarcoxie in Marionville, Mo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. The Comets remain undefeated this season.(Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)

Next to him in the backfield is Carlton who has been putting up some of the best statistics in southwest Missouri as a sophomore.

Carlton did pretty much everything else for the Comets on Friday night. He rushed for 66 yards and a score, he completed 10-of-14 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns and he also picked off two passes on defense.

"He'd probably be good at pretty much anything he wanted to do," Grubbs said. "We're really fortunate to have him on our side."

The duo has Marionville in a position to be good for the next several years. Grubbs said he can feel the excitement in the community as well as in the elementary school and junior high with players excited to be Comets in the future.

Marionville defeated Sarcoxie 48-12 in Marionville, Mo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. The Comets remain undefeated this season.(Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)

With Carlton and Wilson leading the way, the Comets should soar for Friday nights for at least the rest of this year and the next. Perhaps they're paving the way for the Comets to be among the state's best for years to come.

"It is (something special)," Grubbs said. "These kids, we talk to them all the time about being humble and just taking it one game at a time. I know it's a cliche but it's a matter of fact.

"It is special though when you hear people talking about it at the elementary and the coffee shops and it's something to be excited about."

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email atwwheeler@news-leader.comor Twitter at@WyattWheeler_NL. He's alsothe co-host of Sports Talk on Jock Radio weekdays from 4-6 p.m.

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Marionville's one-two punch has the Comets undefeated and ready to make noise in postseason - News-Leader

Comets scope in on perfection – KOLR – OzarksFirst.com

MARIONVILLE, Mo. Out in Marionville, the Comets football team is feeling pretty good.

That comes with good reason with their record currently sitting at a perfect 6-0, made even more impressive when compared to last years record of 4-6.

Really the biggest difference for us has just been experience, Marionville Head Coach Paden Grubbs said. We were really young at a lot of important positions last year. We had a lot of new starters as sophomores. Now those sophomores are juniors and as the saying goes our juniors are seniors.

All of us coming together in the weight room, Senior OT/DE Austin White said. Hitting the weight room super hard. I think just the culture of the entire team has just made it a better season for us.

Parker: I think its the dedication coming off a season like that we didnt want to repeat, Senior OT/DE Kelbey Parker said. Hard work in the weight room. It starts here in practice as well. Good practice leads to good games.

The Comets are proving themselves time and time again, most recently with a win over Pierce City, a team who made the regular season undefeated run last year.

Very quality class one team in Pierce City, Grubbs said. We hadnt beaten them since 2014. Then the last two years being back in conference with them theyve dominated us. We talked to the kids all week about to be the best, youve got to beat the best.

It really meant a lot to us, especially not beating them the last four years, Senior LB/TE Kyle Brattin said. Not even scoring a point really. Going out there and once we got that first touchdown we all came together and knew what we could do. We were really excited.

With the win, however, the target on Marionvilles back only grows.

Next to take a shot comes Friday night as a Sarcoxie side thats won its last three games comes to town.

I think it will be a battle, Parker said. They are a decent team. Theyre good, but I think if we keep with them we can pull the win.

We basically want to treat each week like were trying to win a conference championship because thats what were trying to do here, White said.

They remind me a lot of us last year, Grubbs said. Theyre young and theyre starting to learn. Were definitely aware of the potential and the dangers they bring from both offensively and defensively.

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Comets scope in on perfection - KOLR - OzarksFirst.com