Sport Notes: Playoffs loom for one of London’s NFL twins

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A collection of news and notes from across the Southwestern Ontario sports scene

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One of London’s football-playing Brown twins is going to the NFL playoffs. The other was oh so close.

Sydney Brown made an interception to secure the Philadelphia Eagles’ franchise record-tying 14th regular-season win in a 20-13 victory over the New York Giants Sunday. The 24-year-old defensive back will make his playoff debut at home against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round this Sunday (4:30 p.m. kickoff).

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This will be Sydney Brown’s post-season debut after suffering an ill-timed injury a year ago against the Giants in Week 18. His brother Chase was nursing a bad ankle and sat out Cincinnati’s 19-17 victory over Pittsburgh Sunday, but the red-hot Bengals (9-8) fell just short of the playoffs due to the Denver Broncos beating the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chase Brown finished his sophomore campaign with 229 carries for 990 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He also caught 54 passes for 360 yards and four majors.

BOLTS BACK: The London Lightning improved to 7-4 in the Basketball Super League with a pair of road wins over the Newfoundland Rogues this past weekend.

Paul Parks led the way with 24 points in a 112-107 victory Friday in St. John’s while Billy White poured in 30 points for a 100-90 comeback triumph Saturday. London trailed by 15 after the first quarter, but White, Parks (22 points) and Marcus Ottey (20 points) helped fuel an offensive surge.

Corey Boyd and Chris Jones scored 22 and 21 points respectively in the Friday win.

London has an extended break before facing the K-W Titans Thursday, Jan. 16 (7 p.m.) at Canada Life Place.

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SILVER LINING: Two London Knights are coming back with a silver medal from the world junior hockey tournament in Ottawa.

Finnish forwards Kasper Halttunen and Jesse Nurmi helped their national under-20 team get to the championship final before a heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss to the United States Sunday.

Nurmi, a New York Islanders prospect, scored twice and had five points in seven games, while Sharks second-rounder Halttunen had a goal and four points during the event.

Both are expected to play for the Knights in their next game Friday against Windsor, 7 p.m. at Canada Life Place.

MUSTANGS DOWN NAVY: The Western men’s squash team beat the United States Navy 8-1 this past weekend at the London Squash and Fitness Club in the first U.S. college match held here since the pandemic.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 11 in the College Squash Association, handed the No. 16 Midshipmen just their third defeat of the season. Western has won 13 of 18 all-time meetings and got match victories from Dylan Deverill, Daniel Deverill, Amin Khan, Josh Kay, William Znidarec, Rio Schafer, Tyson Schille, Griffin Manley and Ben Boulanger.

The Mustangs annually compete against American competition while continuing their incredible streak of 40 straight Ontario university titles.

rpyette@postmedia.com

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