Sports

Panthers Beat 49ers In Home Opener

Published

8 years ago

September 10, 2017

Santa Clara, CA – Another year, another new coach and another loss. It wasn’t the start anyone expected, the preseason looked promising. But the lack luster performance by Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers sends the Forty-Niners back to the drawing board.

The Panthers 23-3 win over San Francisco spoiled the home opener. Brian Hoyer was 24 of 35 for 193 yards. The 49ers offense broke down and never recovered. And to make matters worse rookie LB Reuben Foster sustained an injury.

“I think anytime you those two turnovers, especially, when we had some opportunities early and didn’t come down with it,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “We had a couple opportunities. We had that deep ball that we just missed on third down. I think that was our opening drive.”

Shanahan is referring to opening drive when Hoyer came up short on the passing game that forced San Francisco to punt. Their next series Hoyer was sacked and fumbled the ball. It took two plays before Carolina scored their first touchdown.

Newton made a short pass to former Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey for 3 yards. McCaffrey then rushed for another 5 yards before Newton threw a 40 yard pass to Russell Shepard for the touchdown. McCaffrey was the Panthers eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft.

“It’s going well. We’re always learning,” McCaffrey said when asked about playing with Newton. “He’s a guy who’s always in his playbook and the film. Anytime he talks, I’m all ears.”

During that same series, the 49ers lost Foster and he did not return. It looked like he feel awkwardly on his knee and was carted off the field. But the X-rays came back negative showing no fracture to his leg or ankle (which had been downgraded). Foster limped back to the sidelines later without any help from crushes or the medical staff.

“I felt great,” said Foster. “It’s sad that I had a nick in the ankle. That was disappointing. Overall I think the defense when we came out, we had the right mindset.”

Foster tells no lie, San Francisco’s defense allowed only two touchdowns and looked good. The Panther’s offense struggled immensely. It was the 49ers turnovers that gave Carolina the advantage.

After Hoyer’s fumble, Newton found a wide open receiver, Russell Shepard who shook off one defender for the 40-yard touchdown. San Francisco didn’t allow another touchdown in the first half but Graham Cano kicked two field goals for 39 and 36 yards giving the Panther a 13-0 lead to end the half.

Newton went 14 for 25 for 171 yards including one touchdown and one interception. With less than a minute left in the half, Newton overthrew an open receiver in the end zone to accent the Panthers subpar performance. Then Newton threw an interception trying to go deep.

Jaquiski Tartt gave Carolina a first down after being called for unnecessary roughness call. On the next play, Newton went deep to Kelvin Benjamin who was covered closely by Tartt and Dontae Johnson. Tartt made a one-hand leaping catch to intercept the ball and rushed for 38 yards. But but the 49ers could not capitalize of the turnover. In fact, despite going for it on 4th down twice, San Francisco failed each time.

“Anytime you lose and lose that way, it’s frustrating and disappointing,” said Shanahan. “I’ll feel that all day today and all night and I’m sure our players will too. We’ve got to watch the tape tomorrow morning and figure out a way to get better.”

Hoyer’s second turnover came at the start of the third quarter. His pass was intended for George Kittle, but Luke Kuechly made the interception. In 5 plays, 28 yards in 3 minutes, Newton’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Stewart extended the Panthers lead 20-0.

Gano followed with his third filed goal for 20-yards. The 49ers then scored for the first time with a 44-yard field goal from Robbie Gould in the fourth. The offense stunk today, Hoyer was sacked four times before the half ended. They have one week to figure it out before heading to Seattle next week.

“We knew it was going to be a tough challenge for us,” Hoyer said. “We’ll go back, watch it and get as much corrected as we can and get ready to go towards Seattle.”

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

5 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.