Jeff Hart

Cliff Lee finally got hit hard. Garret Anderson hit a three-run homer off the Phillies' new ace and three other Braves went deep to help the Atlanta Braves hand Lee his first NL loss with a 9-1 win Saturday night over Philadelphia in a rain-shortened game.

Alabama coach Nick Saban has signed a three-year contract extension, athletic director Mal Moore said Saturday.

Several Michigan football players claim the program regularly violates NCAA rules limiting how much time they can spend on training and practice sessions, according to a published report.

Gainesville and Flowery Branch, two teams expected to battle for the Region 7-AAA title, picked up where they left off last year with big wins at home Friday night to open the 2009 season.

North Forsyth forced four West Forsyth turnovers, converting two into defensive touchdowns, en route to a 37-0 drubbing of its cross-county rival.

White County got a first quarter touchdown pass from Tyler Dotson and a third quarter field goal from Mark Bardenwerper and then held on in the fourth quarter for a 10-6 win over Franklin County Friday night.

Gwendale Harris scored on a 1-yard run to give Cedar Shoals a thrilling 16-13 overtime win over Habersham Central Friday night in a Region 8-AAAA game.

Washington-Wilkes scored 21 unanswered points and rushed for 432 yards en route to a 34-21 win over Banks County Friday.

Jefferson’s Darius Minor accounted for nearly 200 yards of offense and three touchdowns to lead the Dragons to a 30-13 win over arch-rival Commerce Friday night at Memorial Stadium in both teams’ season opener.

The Elbert County defense proved to be too much for Riverside Military Academy Friday night in a 40-6 loss to the Blue Devils in their season-opener at The Granite Bowl.