Non-district

Cox 296, Grassfield 319, Granby 374

Christian Fletcher from Cox shot a 2-under-par 69 and was the medalist at Sewells Point Golf Course in Norfolk.

Southeastern District

Hickory 338, Lakeland 345

Hickory’s Paul Fulfer was the medalist, shooting a 76 at Suffolk Golf Course.

Field hockey

#757Teamz Top 15

#11 Princess Anne 1, #12 Grassfield 0

Julia Philips scored with an assist from Sydney Raguini. Sophia Michelli made seven saves.

Eastern District

Granby 8, Manor 0

Brianna Carrasco, Lyric Jones, Kameron Creamer, Kalista Burrus, Zyonna Mack and Miya Bartlett all scored for the Comets.

Boys soccer

Private schools

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy 13, Portsmouth Christian 0

Brooks Carmody, Miles Clarke, and Kellan Shearin each scored two goals.

Boys volleyball

#757Teamz Top 15

#2 Granby d. Norcom, 3-0

(25-16, 25-7, 25-20)

The Comets were led by Will Findlay with nine aces and Cameron Diaz-Cruz with five kills.

#7 Maury d. Manor, 3-0

(25-13, 25-5, 25-20)

Keegan Anuar, Jonas Stafford and Zach Mendoza combined for 21 aces. Stafford totaled 20 assists.

#9 Kecoughtan d. Warwick, 3-1

(25-23, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20)

Hunter Lively had 25 assists, four digs, one ace and two blocks. Gavin Holbrooks added 18 kills, 10 digs and two blocks.

Girls volleyball

#757Teamz Top 15

#4 Norfolk Academy d. Beach Breakers, 3-0

Peyton McGee led the Bulldogs with 10 kills and Kinsley Flores added seven. Bela Cancado had 20 digs.

#14 Maury d. Manor, 3-0

Freshman Caroline Challoner led the Commodores with 10 assists and five aces. Kenzie Levensalor and Katie McNabb also made their debuts, adding eight kills for the Commodores.

Eastern District

Granby d. Norcom, 3-0

(25-20, 25-11, 25-21)

Sophomore Maddie Montez had 11 digs while juniors Sai Bhasin and Cheyenne Avery had eight digs and five kills each.

Private schools

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy d. Atlantic Shores Christian, 3-0

(25-14, 25-11, 25-15)

Marin McGowan led the Saints with 16 kills, seven aces and two blocks.

Pearson is the founder and president of Project 1619, a nonprofit that has played a crucial role in correcting the narrative about the arrival of enslaved Africans in English-speaking North America. The organization notes the first enslaved Africans, who were kidnapped from Angola, first landed at Point Comfort, today’s Fort Monroe in Hampton, not in Jamestown.

“Calvin’s passing is a monumental loss,” said Melinda Steele, Project 1619’s vice president. She said “correcting the narrative” of the first Africans in America was a passion of his.

“We’re going to miss him dearly,” Steele said. “He was such a pioneer.”

Pearson was born in Newport News and grew up in Hampton.

Hampton School Board member Ann Stephens Cherry recalled Pearson’s longstanding commitment to preserving Black history. Friends since the 1960s, Cherry remembered when Phenix High School — a school for Black students during segregation — was renamed Pembroke High School in 1968 and the school staff started throwing trophies and other Phenix memorabilia into the trash. She said Pearson went “dumpster diving” to retrieve as many trophies and awards as possible to preserve the school’s history.

“I’ll miss the fact that he was genuine,” she said. “He had no ulterior motive, and what he said, you could take it to the bank. Didn’t matter whether you agreed with him or not. He was genuine. You don’t have a lot of that now.”

Project 1619 also researched and promoted African history before slavery and Hampton’s African-American history.

Fort Monroe Authority Chief Executive Officer Glenn Oder described Pearson as “dogmatic and persistent” about the importance of identifying Point Comfort as the site where the first Africans landed. Oder said he was one of the driving forces behind promoting an accurate narrative and a “new understanding of history.”

Pearson was also instrumental in development and planning of the African Landing Memorial — an ongoing $9 million project to honor the first documented Africans brought to English North America in 1619. Oder said Pearson was involved in committee work, site selection, the design process and the selection of the artist.

“He wasn’t afraid to share his position,” Oder said. “He wasn’t afraid to express his opinion if something wasn’t going in the direction that he felt would correctly tell the story. He was a force of nature when it came to telling the story.”

Pearson was also chairman of the National Juneteenth Grassroots Enslavement Legacy Commission and a frequent speaker at conferences nationwide — sharing his knowledge about the horrors and long-lasting impact of slavery.

Project 1619 board member Larry Gibson, who grew up with Pearson, commended his lifelong friend for his advocacy in telling truthful history.

Due to human trafficking and slavery, Gibson said it felt like the culture and history of Black people living in America were being erased. He believes Pearson’s work highlighting the history and culture of Africans before enslavement and the acknowledgment of “where we came from” created a space for African descendants to find reconciliation and healing.

After decades of friendship, Gibson said he will miss having one-on-one conversations with Pearson.

“I’ll miss the personal engagement with him, but the things that we’ve shared and the things that he’s done — that’ll be with me for the rest of my life,” he said.

William “Bill” Wiggins, who co-founded Project 1619, is the organization’s new president.

“To have (Pearson) gone is going to be a huge void, but Project 1619, Inc. will continue and move forward,” Steele said. “We’re going to continue with his legacy.”

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Hampton. Entombment will follow at Hampton Memorial Gardens.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

Police responded to the 6100 block of Old Townpoint Road following a report of a shooting at about 2 p.m. Officers found a man with a gunshot wound in his chest.

The victim later died at a hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

No further information was made available as of Monday evening.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For the first time in almost 8,000 episodes, “Wheel of Fortune” did not open with a hello from longtime host Pat Sajak.

Ryan Seacrest stepped into Sajak’s shoes after his 41-year tenure as host of the famed game show, joining co-host and letter turner Vanna White. Seacrest, a familiar television and radio presence known for hosting “American Idol,” New Year’s Eve programming and a long-running radio show, debuted as the series’ new host Monday night.

“I still can’t believe my luck being here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you, and, of course, my good friend Vanna White,” Seacrest said as he opened the show. “Thank you for the very warm welcome.”

In a brief opening monologue before the gameplay began, Seacrest acknowledged Sajak’s impact as host and his retirement at the end of the 41st season. Sajak won his fourth Emmy Award for best game show host for his final season Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmys.

“Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is a dream job. I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it in Atlanta with my family, and I know how special it is that ‘Wheel’ has been in your living rooms for the past 40 years,” he said. “I’m just so grateful to be invited in. I also know I’ve got some very big shoes to fill, so let’s play ‘Wheel of Fortune.’”

In his first episode, Seacrest brought an energetic spirit and his classic good-humored nature. In a departure from his predecessor, he did not use cue cards to speak with contestants Corina, Terry and Cindy about their backgrounds.

Beyond the obvious change of Seacrest taking over for Sajak, the premiere of the 42nd season also showcased some aesthetic adjustments.

The colorful wheel and the iconic puzzle board remain largely the same, although White did get upgraded to a motion sensor board in 2022 to celebrate the 40th season. The stage has been updated and now features golden wheels and spokes in a more modern, sleek design.

Seacrest asked White how she liked the new stage during the hallmark banter the host and letter turner share to close the show. White said there were “a lot of lights, a lot of action,” and Seacrest quipped that he hoped it would continue working through his first week.

Seacrest told The Associated Press in a recent interview “the scale of the set was pretty impressive” to him when he first stepped on set.

The shooting schedule is still as fast-paced as ever, with Seacrest saying that while it may be busy to shoot multiple episodes per day, it makes it convenient for his packed schedule of other hosting duties.

Many of the familiar elements of the show are just as they were when Sajak left the series. White still wears a formal gown, Seacrest sported a suit and tie like Sajak did, the recognizable sound effects and “devices” contestants use to play are the same. The culture behind the scenes also seems to have remained as genial as the 30-minute episodes.

“I’ve also have been impressed with how close the family is that works on ’Wheel of Fortune,’ the production team that puts it together. It’s a lot of people,” Seacrest said in an interview at an event with White promoting the new season. “They’re really a family and they have a lot of respect for every single person, what they do on the show, and that’s special.”

White added that one staff member who started on the show when she was 18 now has kids who are graduating from college. “We’ve been together a long time,” she said.

___

Producer Liam McEwan contributed to this report.

Norfolk State announced a non-conference schedule that coach Robert Jones called “the toughest schedule I have ever had in my coaching career here at NSU.”

The Spartans will open at Echols Hall at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 against Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Some of their notable games are Nov. 9 at home against James Madison, Nov. 12 at William & Mary, Nov. 16 at Hampton and Nov. 20 at Stanford. They also will play at Baylor on Dec. 11 and Tennessee on New Year’s Eve.

Virginia announced that Oct. 5 will be the day for its annual, free Blue-White scrimmage at John Paul Jones Arena. The time is to be announced.

COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

NSU to open season at home vs. W&M

Norfolk State, which has won the last two MEAC titles, revealed its non-conference schedule. It will start with home games at Echols Hall Nov. 4 against William & Mary and Nov. 7 at Longwood.

Among the Spartans’ highest-profile road opponents will be Missouri (Nov. 10) and Alabama (Nov. 13) before a Nov. 16 “Battle of the Bay” at Hampton.

At the Puerto Rico Shootout in San Juan from Nov. 28-30, NSU will play, in order, Washington State, Wyoming and Green Bay.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

ODU safety wins Sun Belt award

Old Dominion safety Jahron Manning was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week.

In his home debut, Manning intercepted two passes and made 10 tackles (one for a loss) in a 20-14 loss to East Carolina. He was the first Monarch since Christian Byrum in 2014 to pick off two passes in a game, tying a school record.

NSU QB shares MEAC award

Norfolk State quarterback Jalen Daniels was named a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week. He was 14 of 21 for 210 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s 28-23 victory over Virginia State, as well as rushing for 31 yards and a TD on 11 carries.

Tribe stays at No. 13

William & Mary remained at No. 13 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 after a 40-21 loss at FBS Coastal Carolina.

Other ranked Coastal Athletic Association teams are No. 5 Villanova (2-0), No. 17 Albany (1-1) and No. 22 Elon (1-1). Richmond (0-2) dropped out of the top 25 after losing at home to Wofford.

W&M was also 13th in the coaches’ poll, while Villanova was fourth and Albany 15th.

Kickoff times set for Sept. 21

Kickoff times and networks were announced for some Sept. 21 games.

They included: James Madison at North Carolina at noon on ACC Network, N.C. State at Clemson at noon on ABC (WVEC in Hampton Roads), Virginia at Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m. on ESPN+, and Rutgers at Virginia Tech at 3:30 on ACC Network.

COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER

USA South honors Kempsville alum from Methodist

Methodist’s Cameron Lambert, a freshman from Virginia Beach’s Kempsville High, was named the USA South Athletic Rookie of the Week after scoring his first collegiate goal. It was a game-winner in the 67th minute of the Monarchs’ 2-1 victory over Hood.

COLLEGE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Hickory graduate, W&M players take CAA awards

Elon senior Sydney Love, a senior from Hickory High, was named the CAA’s Offensive Player of the Week. She averaged 4.31 kills per set during the Phoenix’s 3-1 week, and she posted two double-doubles (24 kills and 11 digs against Gardner-Webb and 16 kills and 10 digs versus UNC Greensboro).

William & Mary junior middle blocker Olivia Esposito was named a CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Week after the Tribe to a 2-1 record in a tournament at Kaplan Arena. She shared the award with the College of Charleston’s Tynley Smeltzer.

For the week, Esposito recorded 29 blocks and 24 kills while hitting .444 in four matches. She leads the CAA with 36 blocks, while W&M is second in the country with 74.

COLLEGE MEN’S GOLF

Tribe fifth with 18 holes to go in Greensboro

With one round left in the Bryan National Collegiate tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, William & Mary held fifth place among 10 teams.

The Tribe compiled a 293 in Sunday’s first round and a 290 Monday for a 583 total on Bryan Park’s Champion Course.

LOCAL TENNIS

Charity Tennis Classic at Kingsmill Tuesday

The annual women’s doubles Charity Tennis Classic, which has benefited organizations serving women and children around the Williamsburg area since 1994, is set for Tuesday at Kingsmill Tennis Club.

The higher-level 9.0 and lower-level 7.0 divisions will be contested.

As with the previous debate in June between Trump and President Joe Biden, Hampton Roads viewers should look for the candidates’ positions on issues central to the region, particularly those about the military and climate change. Policies in those two areas will shape the future of coastal Virginia and should carry considerable weight with area residents.

A little more than 10 weeks ago, Biden and Trump met on a stage in Atlanta in a debate that would alter the course of the campaign and, in no small way, the future of the United States. The shortcomings of both men were made plainly obvious. Biden spoke haltingly, looking frail as he struggled to argue his positions with clarity or intensity, while Trump began with plenty of energy, but his fact-free bluster petered out over the course of 90 minutes.

For Biden, this was effectively the end of his campaign. He withdrew from the race on July 21, and formally endorsed Harris as his successor. The party coalesced around her, formally making her the Democratic nominee through a virtual roll call of delegates on Aug. 6.

Though she has been in the spotlight for weeks — holding rallies, selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, accepting her party’s nomination at the DNC — there is still a sense that the nation doesn’t really know Harris or what her election would mean in terms of policy.

She delivered a detailed economic policy speech in North Carolina last month and has been increasingly more specific about her plans if elected. Still, there is no better opportunity than in a debate with Trump for Americans to gain a better sense of what a Harris administration would do to improve their lives.

This is also a pivotal moment for Trump, who now faces a difficult bid for another term as president. While he led Biden in most swing states, Trump now trails Harris — and the debate may be one of the last opportunities to reverse that decline.

Trump, of course, is a known quantity, with a four-year record in office that spells out the type of leader he was and would be. On the campaign trail, though, his lengthy, often-rambling speeches are short on policy specifics and long on half-truths, grievances and promises of revenge.

For Hampton Roads voters, Tuesday’s debate may offer a chance to hear the two candidates sound off about defense policy and climate change. These two issues, more than others, will define the trajectory of the region and shape the future of our communities.

Our area is home to more than 80,000 active-duty service members and about 120,000 retirees, and the region is heavily dependent on defense spending to power its economy. As such, the policies of the next commander in chief are hugely consequential here and questions about the military deserve to play prominently at the debate.

So, too, should climate policy be central to the debate, not only for Hampton Roads but for communities across the nation threatened by extreme weather and the perils of a warming planet. The United States should be a leader, not only in defending against climate change, but in turning crisis into opportunity through the development of a green energy economy and resilience solutions for at-risk areas.

Though vice presidential candidates Walz and Sen. JD. Vance will debate each other in October, this could be the last chance to see both presidential candidates head-to-head. Hampton Roads voters should hope this event is marked by substance rather than spectacle and that Americans come away knowing more about how those vying to be the next president will address the important policy questions facing our nation.

Mayor Richard West has tarnished the name of our great city by instructing the city attorney to do discovery work for his stepbrother in Nahunta, Georgia. West acknowledged his wrongdoing, but blamed the city attorney for not advising him correctly. West then encouraged the firing of the attorney, but the attorney resigned and took a job in Charlottesville in June 2023. As mayor, he used city staff time and our money to pay for his personal business. Ethically, that is wrong.

At recent City Council meetings, West and Council member Amanda Newins have led an effort to get Councilman Don Carey to resign his council seat to run for mayor. Virginia Senate Bill 1157, passed in 2021, clearly states that “the election of its mayor, governing body, or school board at a May election shall, by ordinance, provide for the transition of such elections to the November general election date.” It further states that no term of members of council or school board shall be shortened that expires as of June 30, and shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election.

The problem is that the City Council and city attorney were negligent in changing the city charter to comply with state law. Instead, they choose to smear Carey’s reputation as a lawbreaker to hide their own incompetence. When that did not work, West and his acolytes filed suit on Aug. 28 in Circuit Court to remove his candidacy from the Nov. 5, election.

Carey is a bastion of honesty, and integrity and has a strong policy on transparency and accountability. Further, he is a family man, youth mentor through his REECH Foundation and a man of faith. He will not smear the good name of our beloved city, nor be a puppet for retired Congressman Randy Forbes. You may remember the joint letter in the previous election circulated by Rick West and Randy Forbes that smeared Councilwoman Ella Ward and council candidate Susan Vitale for failure to vote on one of their issues.

West and his acolytes on the council opposed citizens’ request to vote on changing the election system in Chesapeake from an at-large system to a single-member (ward) voting system. Chesapeake is the only large city in the commonwealth holding on to the at-large system, which by its very nature discriminates against minority voters. He is not concerned about equality in representation, but wants power and control over what happens in the city and affects our daily lives. Real estate and transportation industries have contributed $310,865 this year to his campaign. What is that about? I think you know.

On the other hand, he has not provided any leadership in providing a convocation and performing arts complex, affordable housing, nor any facility to graduate high school seniors or to accommodate our high school swimming teams.

Citizens of Chesapeake, it is time to vote for change and progress. We need new leadership if our city is to achieve progress and move Chesapeake to a better place to live, work, play, farm and serve all the people.

George F. Reed, Ph.D., is a retired educator, a U.S. Air Force veteran and president of G. and L. Associates Consulting in Chesapeake. He serves as secretary of the Chesapeake Juneteenth Foundation and is a board member of several nonprofit organizations.

On Aug. 26, former President Donald Trump appeared at Arlington National Cemetery. Federal law prohibits the taking of videos in Section 60 of the cemetery for political purposes. Nevertheless, this is what Trump did.

Is nothing sacred for Trump? Section 60 is hallowed ground.

We should not be surprised as Trump has a long history of disrespecting our military. Recently, Trump made headlines by stating that a civilian award he gave to one of his campaign donors was “much better” than the Medal of Honor. The head of Veterans of Foreign Wars called Trump’s comments “asinine.”

Retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly quoted Trump calling our fallen soldiers “suckers” and “losers.” Trump mocked Sen. John McCain who was tortured for years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

Clearly, Trump has no appreciation for the sacrifices and dedication of our military. Why would any retired or active duty member of our military vote for Trump to be our commander in chief?

James Lonergan, Virginia Beach

2024 election

Here’s what I will consider before I vote for the next president of the United States.

Precursor: Early 2024 in-person voting begins as early as 45 days prior to Nov. 5, Election Day. That’s Sept. 20 here in Virginia. Internal state voter-roll management and cleanup is difficult but a must-do for voting results validity.

Would you buy a house sight unseen and without an inspection? Absolutely not. Then why would you vote for a presidential candidate without knowing what his or her current policy positions and implementation plans are on the many significant issues that impact your life and livelihood? Simply stated, I want to see all the candidates’ cards “face up” on the table before I vote.

In a previous letter I strongly advocated for at least three presidential debates. I want to hear and see the candidates, not their surrogates, nor position statements from their staffs. This is what American voters deserve to best decide who has the intellect, confidence, grasp of the issues and best solution set, and the verbal and unscripted thinking-skills necessary to succeed domestically and internationally to govern and lead our great nation as president.

I want to vote given knowns vice unknowns. Votes should be earned and not automatic.

John R. Baer, Yorktown

Afghanistan

All the attention that has been drawn to this calamity hasn’t taken into account a few facts leading up to it. All the blame is directed toward President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with no mention of the former administration not allowing a transition team into the different agencies to get a firm grasp of what the current situation was that they would be facing.

There were numerous military and nongovernmental organization officials who had been dealing with the Taliban for months or years who had a good idea what Biden was facing, and I would hope were giving him the best information possible. If they didn’t have the best knowledge of current conditions, how do you expect Biden to know any differently?

Trump signed the withdrawal agreement with a specified date, which really meant nothing because the Taliban were in charge of much of the conditions and could alter the agreement any time they wanted to. It’s also been reported that an ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate. ISIS–K has been at war with the Taliban.

Now we have Trump at Arlington National Cemetery, with some of the families of the 13 service members, his “suckers” and “losers,” using the place for a campaign prop in violation of federal law that prohibits such activity. Despicable doesn’t begin to describe him and his entire campaign.

Jeff Allen, Hampton

Joke to queen

What we have seen play out on the Democratic side in the past weeks and the ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris to the Democratic candidate for president can only be described as from a joke to a queen.

Harris dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary in 2019. Her far-left policies forced her out even before the Iowa caucuses. One can only guess what qualities enticed President Joe Biden to select her for vice president. Diversity, equity and inclusion comes to mind. Prominent Democratic voices even suggested she be taken off the Biden-Harris ticket before the Biden withdrawal.

As vice president she has become famous for her “word salad” comments, her cackle and running off her staff, but she will save the world with her “reproductive rights” platform. Her pro-Palestine stance encourages Hamas to battle on. Her big government or socialist government and open border policies will continue to undermine the average citizen’s life and overburden local governments with migrant issues. While continually fanning the hate Trump flames, she is flip-flopping on her earlier positions fast.

The queen may well ascend to the throne because of the liberal media, but when a prominent Kennedy endorses her opponent and even Mark Zuckerberg seems to be having second thoughts about the Democratic machine, it should give everyone second thoughts about supporting Harris.

Helmut Walter, Yorktown

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA on Monday approved next month’s launch to Jupiter’s moon Europa after reviewing the spacecraft’s ability to withstand the intense radiation there.

Questions about the reliability of the transistors on the Europa Clipper spacecraft arose earlier this year after similar problems cropped up elsewhere. With the tight launch window looming, NASA rushed to conduct tests to verify that the electronic parts could survive the $5 billion mission to determine whether the suspected ocean beneath Europa’s icy crust might be suitable for life.

Liftoff remains scheduled for Oct. 10 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. NASA has three weeks to launch the spacecraft before standing down for more than a year to await another proper planetary alignment; the spacecraft needs to swing past Mars and then Earth for gravity assists.

Project manager Jordan Evans said the transistors — located in circuits across the entire spacecraft — are expected to degrade when Europa Clipper is exposed to the worst of the radiation during the 49 flybys of the moon. But they should recover during the three weeks between each encounter, said Evans of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Teams from labs across the country came to that conclusion following round-the-clock testing over the past four months.

The project has “high confidence we can complete the original mission for exploring Europa as planned,” Evans said. “We are ready for Jupiter.”

It will take six years for Europa Clipper to reach Jupiter, where it will orbit the gas giant every three weeks. Dozens of flybys are planned of Europa as close as 16 miles (25 kilometers), allowing cameras and other instruments — including ice-penetrating radar — to map virtually the entire moon.

Europa Clipper is the biggest spacecraft ever built by NASA to investigate another planet, spanning more than 100 feet (30 meters) with its solar panels unfurled.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

When the Monarchs (0-2) are visited Saturday by Virginia Tech, they might have to dip into their depth chart.

Grant Wilson, a junior who has started ODU’s first two games, spent the seconds immediately following last week’s 20-14 loss to East Carolina doubled over in pain while appearing to hold his left wrist.

Wilson was hurt on the game’s final play, a scramble up the middle that cost ODU the final seconds.

Monarchs coach Ricky Rahne, who rarely discusses specific injuries, wouldn’t say Monday whether Wilson would be available.

“He’s going to continue to be evaluated,” Rahne said. “Whoever gives us the best chance to win the game is going to be the starter. That’s how it is at every single position we have.”

If Wilson can’t go, the job would likely fall to Colton Joseph, a redshirt freshman who is second on the depth chart but has never played a college snap.

Senior receiver Diante Vines, a transfer from Iowa who caught six passes for 64 yards against ECU, described Joseph as mobile and accurate.

“He likes to run around,” Vines said. “He’s a fast dude, a little Johnny Manziel-esque sometimes when he tries to run out of the pocket and throw a nice little ball. Colton’s a great quarterback. If he’s out there, I know he’ll handle business how it’s supposed to be.”

In 12 games last season, including 11 starts, Wilson passed for 2,149 yards and 17 touchdowns with eight interceptions. So far this season, he has completed 42 of 72 passes for 389 yards, two touchdowns and three picks.

Wilson could join All-American linebacker Jason Henderson, who did not play last week, on the shelf. Rahne said Henderson’s status had not changed.

Speaking generally, Rahne said it’s the responsibility of him and his staff to make sure players are ready before they return from an injury.

Rahne said he avoids discussing injuries because it can endanger players if opponents are aware of a sore spot.

“If you’ve ever been at the bottom of a football pile, you know why I was so guarded on injuries,” he said.

Vines said it doesn’t matter who starts behind center.

“I’m confident in all our quarterbacks,” he said. “Those guys put in the work all the time. We catch balls from them all the time, too, so I’m confident in how we’ll jell in the field. Whoever’s out there, I know he’ll be able to make some plays for us.”

David Hall, david.hall@pilotonline.com.