ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Derek Barnett forced the first fumble and returned the second for a touchdown on the definitive defensive play of the game for the Houston Texans. Joe Mixon did his thing, and C.J. Stroud didn’t have to do much to extend the misery of the Dallas Cowboys. Mixon ran for three touchdowns to extend his TD streak to six games since coming back from an ankle injury, Barnett returned a fumble 28 yards for a score, and the Texans beat the Cowboys 34-10 on Monday night. The Texans (7-4) stopped just the second two-game losing streak in Stroud’s two seasons while maintaining a two-game lead in the AFC South. Houston pulled away in the second half a week after a 26-23 last-play loss to Detroit at home when the Texans let a 23-7 halftime lead get away and lost despite intercepting Jared Goff five times.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — NHL referee Mitch Dunning is fully communicative and can move all his extremities following a violent collision with Colorado defenseman Josh Manson in Monday night’s game at Philadelphia. The NHL said Dunning was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons and that all neurological signs are normal. Manson skated alone on the ice when he slammed into Dunning near the blue line early in the first period. Dunning went down in a heap and lay prone on the ice for several minutes. Dunning appeared to be moving his feet and moved his right hand when Manson went to talk to him. The game at the Wells Fargo Center was delayed for several minutes while trainers and medical staff tended to Dunning. “I just got back to the bench and next thing I know I looked out and saw Mans was kind of holding his face and the ref was on the ground,” said Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. “You never want to see that happen, especially on an accident like that. Very tough. Hopefully he’s OK.”
Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates was the heralded fireballer who equaled the hype, to the point he started the All-Star Game just two months after making his big league debut. Luis Gil was an afterthought for the New York Yankees, earning a spot in their rotation only when ace Gerrit Cole got hurt in spring training. Skenes capped a remarkable season Monday by winning National League Rookie of the Year by a wide margin over San Diego center fielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio. Gil edged Baltimore outfielder Colton Cowser to take the AL honor, with Yankees catcher Austin Wells finishing third. It’s the first time the rookie awards went to two pitchers since 2011, when Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson and Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel won.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored twice, tying an NHL record, before leaving with an apparent leg injury to propel the Washington Capitals to a 6-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Monday night. Ovechkin scored on Connor Ingram, making Ingram the 178th different goaltender he’s scored on in his 20-year NHL career, tying a league record held by Jaromir Jagr. He left the ice 5:30 into the third with an apparent left leg injury. Charlie Lindgren had 24 saves for the Capitals. Dylan Strome and Brandon Duhaime both tallied a goal and an assist. Jack McBain and Nick Bjugstad scored for Utah. Karel Vejmelka replaced Ingram in the net during the second period. They combined for 18 saves. Utah struck first when McBain tapped home the puck 3:05 into the first. Ovechkin leads the NHL with 15 goals this season and has scored five over his last two games.
MONDAY SCORES
National Football League
Houston 34, Dallas 10
NCAA MEN TOP 25
No. 3 Gonzaga 80, San Diego State 67
No. 4 Auburn 102, North Alabama 69
No. 5 Iowa State 87, IU Indianapolis 52
No. 19 Wisconsin 87, UT Rio Grande Valley 84
No. 20 Arkansas 91, Pacific 72