Western Pa. star chooses Alabama

Monaca (Pa.) Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster chose defending national champion Alabama over Pitt on Friday, giving the Crimson Tide a verbal commitment.

Foster, who caught 45 passes for 756 yards and eight touchdowns this season at the Class AAA school, is the 20th recruit on Alabama's verbal commitment list and only the second wide receiver, joining Raheem Falkins of New Orleans. Foster and Falkins are ranked as four-star prospects by Rivals.com.

Along with Pitt and Alabama, Foster had scholarship offers from Florida, Illinois, Louisiana State, Tennessee, West Virginia, Rutgers, Penn State, Southern California, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and Notre Dame.

Poinsettia Bowl. The Poinsettia Bowl was ponderous, even boring, until Brigham Young linebacker Kyle Van Noy took over.

Van Noy scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone and then on an interception return to lead Brigham Young to a 23-6 victory over San Diego State on Thursday night.

With San Diego State pinned on its 3 thanks to terrific punt coverage by BYU, Adam Dingwell dropped back to pass in the end zone. Van Noy broke free from the outside and knocked the ball out of Dingwell's hand and jumped on the fumble for the game's first TD.

Dingwell fumbled the snap on SDSU's next play from scrimmage and it was recovered by Jordan Johnson at the 14. Jamaal Williams scored on a run up the middle on the next play, BYU's second TD in 17 seconds.

With 6:09 left, Van Noy intercepted Dingwell's pass and weaved 17 yards through traffic and into the end zone. Van Noy was selected the game's defensive MVP.