The weekend delivered three distinct sports-related stories that each carried a surprise element. In Provo, the Cougars tightened a close battle against the Sun Devils, while in Michigan a political fact-check addressed rumors about a congressional candidate’s residence. Up north, Mount St. Mary’s men’s water polo readied themselves for a Halloween clash against Mercyhurst.
BYU holds off Arizona State to remain unbeaten at home
In front of a raucous crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the eighth-ranked BYU football squad earned a 27-20 win over the unranked Arizona State Sun Devils. The Cougars broke a 17-17 tie late in the third quarter when quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed a 236-yard passing effort and connected on a touchdown pass. A 45-yard field goal later pushed BYU ahead for good, and running back Sione Moa sealed the result with a one-yard rush two minutes before the final whistle.
Arizona State fought back with vigor, trimming a 14-point deficit after quarterback Jake Fette delivered two third-quarter touchdown passes. The Sun Devils converted crucial third-down and fourth-down attempts, finishing the quarter tied at 17-17. Fette finished with 166 passing yards and two scores, but the loss marked Arizona State’s third road defeat to a top-10 opponent this season.
Key moments also hinged on turnovers. A fumble by BYU on the opening drive gave Arizona State good field position, yet a subsequent fumble deep in the Sun Devil 1-yard line was recovered by Moa, who turned it into a go-ahead score. The victory keeps BYU unbeaten at home and sets up an upcoming rivalry game against Utah in Salt Lake City.
Fact-check: John James’ Grand Rapids purchase does not equal a district move
During a heated gubernatorial debate, Democratic candidate Jocelyn Benson alleged that Republican nominee John James had abandoned his congressional district to live in a $3 million home near Grand Rapids. Public records, however, tell a different story. In 2024 James and his wife bought a 50-acre property in Cannon Township for $2.7 million, a residence James described at the time as a vacation home.
The house lacks a principal-residence exemption on its property-tax filing, indicating it is not James’s primary dwelling. Meanwhile, his primary residence remains a home in Shelby Township, the area he represents in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District. He continues to pay property taxes there, is registered to vote at that address, and was shown in a recent interview standing in the Shelby Township home.
Federal law requires members of Congress to live in the state they represent, but there is no mandate to reside within the specific district. Consequently, James’s ownership of the Cannon Township property is legal and does not constitute a district-abandonment. The claim that he moved his primary residence across the state is unsupported by the documentation reviewed.
Mount St. Mary’s men’s water polo prepares for Mercyhurst on Halloween
On October 31, the Mount St. Mary’s men’s water polo team will host Mercyhurst in what becomes the Second home game of the season. The Mountaineers enter the match after a confidence-boosting 17-13 victory over George Washington, a game highlighted by a six-goal performance from junior forward Danko Kesic. Teammates Giannis Skliras and freshman center Luka Urosevic added five and four goals respectively, while defender Neven Cerkez and freshman Giacomo Graff each contributed a goal.
Mercyhurst’s campaign this year has been challenging, holding a 2-21 overall record and a winless 0-9 mark in the MAWPC conference. Their only victories have come against Penn State Behrend and Washington and Jefferson. This will be the second encounter between the two programs this season, giving the Mountaineers an opportunity to further solidify their position in the conference standings.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers have a packed schedule: a double-header on November 7 against Navy and George Washington, followed by a home test against Wagner on November 8. The team hopes the Halloween showdown will provide momentum for the final stretch of the season.
