FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Austin Allen earned Arkansas coach Bret Bielemas approval when he was named the starting quarterback during the spring.The Razorbacks junior has done nothing but confirm his coachs faith throughout a stellar preseason, and hell have his first chance to earn that same level of trust from fans when Arkansas hosts Louisiana Tech to open the season on Saturday.I think hes (ready), Bielema said. I tell you, the guys have really rallied (around him) ... Hes showed me a lot more composure, a little bit more maturity, this year in the fall than at any other time.The start will be Allens first with the Razorbacks, though he has seen limited action in eight games over the last two seasons.Nothing he faced as a backup, however, has fully prepared Allen for what hell face in the spotlight for the first time on Saturday and moving forward -- with an entire state watching and judging his every throw and move.And thats just fine with Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos.He doesnt want to let anybody down, and hes going to play well, Enos said. Im really confident hes going to play very well.Allens takeover at quarterback at Arkansas for his older brother, Brandon, has been met largely with uncertainty across the Southeastern Conference during the preseason.Much of the hesitation about the 6-foot-1, 209-pound signal caller is largely because he lacks a track record on the college level. Allen attempted only three passes last season, and his total passing statistics in two seasons of action amount to a paltry 9 of 19 for 188 yards with one touchdown.However, Arkansas coaches and players have seen plenty of the junior during his three seasons on campus. And while theyve been satisfied with his overall progress, theyve been even more pleased with how he has handled the promotion to the top of the depth chart.We all know what (Allen) can do, and its going to be fun to watch him show everyone else, Arkansas wide receiver Keon Hatcher said.During a pair of intra-squad scrimmages this month, Allen completed more than 70 percent of his passes and threw two touchdowns with no interceptions.It was exactly the kind of performance Bielema and Enos had hoped for, with Allen cementing his role as the starter entering Saturday against a Louisiana Tech team that was 9-4 last year and ended its season with a win over Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl.I think hes ready to play, Enos said. I think hes sick and tired of me telling this this and telling him that and coaching him on this and that. Air Force 1 Shoes Canada . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Air Force 1 Canada . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. http://www.airforce1canada.com/ . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. Wholesale Air Force 1 Canada . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Cheap Air Force 1 For Sale .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles will try to end the first half of their season on a good note and win the series with the Los Angeles Angels when they meet Sunday afternoon.Baltimore comes into the last game before the All-Star break leading the American League East by two games. The Orioles (50-36) hold a two-game edge over Toronto (50-40) and Boston (48-38), and manager Buck Showalter is looking forward to the brief break.Obviously, its the end game were after but reality, it comes back to you that if the season were to end today three teams from the American League East are in, Showalter said. And two of them are a streak away from being right back in it. But we have to be ready tomorrow. Id like to get a win before a well-deserved break for these guys.Chris Tillman, who did not make the All-Star team despite having an 11-2 record with a 3.55 ERA, starts the last game of the series. The Baltimore right-hander struggled a bit in recent starts but threw seven solid innings in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.Tillman won nine in a row and now is 10-1 after a 1-1 start. He stopped the Orioles five-game losing streak with the victory over the Dodgers.Tim Lincecum (1-1, 7.50) starts for the Angels as he continues to attempt to restart his career with Los Angeles. The right-hander has a 1-0 career record against the Orioles, having beaten them in 2010 while pitching for the San Francisco Giants.He got a no-decision in his last start, on Tuesday in Tampa Bay. Lincecum gave up five earned runs and 10 hits in five innings.Thhe Orioles are hoping Tillman can take some pressure off the overworked bullpen.dddddddddddd He has been the best member of the starting rotation at going deep into games.Baltimore still has no timetable set for the return of setup man Darren ODay. He has been out since June 3 with a right hamstring strain, and Showalter said the team simply isnt sure yet when ODay will return.The Orioles also could be losing right-hander Mychal Givens from the bullpen any minute as his wife is due to have a baby this week. But theyre also hoping to finish on a positive note on Sunday as a win will give them two victories in the three-game series with the Angels.Weve just got to finish strong (Sunday), said second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who got the winning single in Saturdays 3-2 victory over the Angels. Then (we can) get three days rest and come back stronger.For the Angels, the loss of C.J. Cron will hurt. He suffered a broken hand on Friday night when hit by a Mike Wright pitch and sees a specialist Monday for another look at the injury.Cron was hitting .387 on the road trip with five homers and 15 RBI in seven games, including two multi-homer games.The Angels led 2-1 in Saturdays game before Joe Smiths balk tied the score. One inning later, Smith allowed Schoops decisive single.Were getting ready and hopefully (will) get the game on our terms and do a little better job of holding the lead, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ' ' '