the 1998 draft totaled team records of 1,037 games pla

HOUSTON -- Xavier Sua-Filo had a two-year layoff between his first season of football at UCLA and his final two years, thanks to a Mormon mission. The guard, taken by the Texans with the first pick in the second round on Friday night, believes the time off helped him improve as a player and a person. "Obviously I was away from the game for two years, but I think it helped me be physically more mature and mentally more mature and helped me just become a better football player," he said. "When I came back I was an older guy. I was more suited to be a leader at UCLA. I look at it all positive." Despite a need at quarterback, the Texans went with another position again after selecting defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday night. They continued that trend in the third when they took Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz with the 65th pick. Houston traded the first pick in the fourth round (101st overall) and the first pick in the fifth round (141) to the Eagles to move up and select Notre Dame nose tackle Louis Nix at No. 83. Despite their need at quarterback, the Texans have also drafted defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick and guard Xavier Sua-Filo in the second round and picked up tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz with the 65th overall pick. Nix started eight games in 2013 and finished with 27 tackles and two tackles for losses. Houston general manager Rick Smith said Friday night that he still believes there are some good quarterbacks left in the draft. "Weve done a lot of work on quarterbacks throughout the process because it is a position -- wed like to be able to draft quarterbacks and develop young quarterbacks and thats certainly something that we want to do," Smith said. "But we will always do that with corresponding value. So if theres an opportunity for us to do that (Saturday), we certainly will entertain that." In 2009, Sua-Filo became the first true freshman in UCLA history to start 13 games before leaving for his mission in Alabama and Florida. He picked up right where he left off in 2012 when he started 14 games at left guard for an offence that averaged 466.5 yards a game. He split time between left guard and left tackle last season and won the Morris Trophy as the Pac 12s top offensive lineman. Sua-Filo isnt sure how the Texans will use him, but hes looking forward to showcasing his versatility in Houston. "I can play either," he said. "I just want to get in there and I want to compete and contribute and help the team as best as I can." Fiedorowicz had 30 receptions for 299 yards and six touchdowns last season. Houston re-signed tight end Garrett Graham this off-season, but lost tight end Owen Daniels in free agency. The 6-5, 265-pound Fiedorowicz said he has always looked up to New England tight end Rob Gronkowski and that despite his own skill as a blocker he wants to prove he can be a well-rounded tight end. "I feel like Im going to really prove to everybody that Im a dual-threat," he said. "Im going to catch the ball, Im going to block on the edge and do everything (OBrien) asks." Sua-Filo has fashioned his game after veteran New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins and raved about his skills. "I love the way he plays," Sua-Filo said. "I think hes physical. I think hes nasty. You know, I try to implement as much from his game that I can." The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Sua-Filo, perhaps unsurprisingly, is looking forward to the culinary delights in Houston. "The whole state of Texas is pretty great, but Im looking forward to eating at Pappadeaux and Whataburger," he said of the Houston-based Cajun restaurant and the burger-chain, which started in Corpus Christi, Texas. Nix started eight games in 2013 and finished with 27 tackles and two tackles for losses. He cant wait to join a defensive line with 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and Clowney. "I never thought ever in life that would happen," Nix said. "Im super excited." Gareth Bale Jersey . Yet coming off consecutive series losses at St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles needed some sort of spark as August approaches. The Dodgers found it in the ballpark of their biggest rival, and left the Bay Area in first place following an emphatic three-game swing. Custom Wales Soccer Jerseys .C. -- The Edmonton Oilers used a late-power-play goal to get a hard-fought road victory. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/gareth-bale-wales-UEFA-EURO-jersey/ . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Ashley Williams Jersey . Bowditch, the 30-year-old Australian seeking his first PGA Tour title, shot a 4-under 68 to reach 12 under at TPC San Antonio. Matt Kuchar and Andrew Loupe were tied for second. Kuchar shot 65, and Loupe had a 70. Wales Soccer Jerseys . Toronto (11-12) gave up leads in 10-8 and 11-4 losses to the Baltimore Orioles this week. It was never close Friday as the Boston Red Sox got to Mark Buehrle early en route to an 8-1 win.PHILADELPHIA - The Winnipeg Jets will aim for a third straight win when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for a Black Friday matinee at the Wells Fargo Center. Fans in the Jets viewing region can watch the game on TSN Jets beginning at 10am ct/11am et and listeners can tune in to TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg. The Jets ended a four-game slide with Mondays win in New Jersey and then added a road victory Wednesday evening against the New York Islanders. The consecutive wins came at the start of a season-long six-game road trip and improved Winnipegs away record to 5-5-1. Winnipeg recorded a 3-2 regulation win against the Islanders, as Mark Stuart, Andrew Ladd and Devin Setoguchi all tallied in the second period for the visiting Jets. Al Montoya bested his former club by posting 28 saves for the Jets. Montoya played two seasons for the Islanders from 2010-12. "We gave them some life late, but we managed the game well when it counted most," Jets head coach Claude Noel said. "Al made some big stops for us and we found a way to hold on." Winnipeg has won two straight against the Flyers and is 5-2-1 over the last eight games in this series. Philadelphia had also lost six straight home games against the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise before posting a 5-3 decision against the visiting Jets on Feb. 23. Fridays encounter is the second of two scheduled meetings between the Jets and Flyers this season. Philadelphia visited Winnipeg on Nov. 15 and the Jets earned a 3-2 shootout win. Ondrej Pavelec earned the win for the Jets with 32 saves through regulation and overtime in that meeting earlier this month and expects to get the start today. Pavelec is 7-3-1 with a 3.24 goals against average in 12 career outings against Philly. The Flyers will aim to end a two-game slide when it takes the ice on Friday. Philadelphiia dropped consecutive tests at Florida and Tampa Bay after winning all three outings on a three-game homestand from Nov.dddddddddddd 19-23. The Flyers also had a 6-0-1 record in the seven games prior to the recent losses against the Panthers and Lightning. After dropping a 3-1 decision against the Panthers on Monday, the Flyers were dealt a 4-2 setback Wednesday night in Tampa. Victor Hedman scored twice for the Lightning, who nearly coughed up a three-goal lead in the final two minutes of regulation, but held on to top the Flyers and spoil Vincent Lecavaliers return to Tampa. Lecavalier spent 14 seasons with the Lightning and the former No. 1 pick of the 1998 draft totaled team records of 1,037 games played and 383 goals, along with 491 assists and 874 points. He was honored by the hosts with a lengthy video tribute in the first period, which drew a standing ovation. With the Flyers down 3-0 heading into the final two minutes of the third period, Lecavalier scored on the power play to cut the deficit to two. Mark Streit tallied for Philly just 40 seconds later to make it a 3-2 game, but Tyler Johnson would seal with win for the Lightning with an empty-net marker with 34 seconds left. Ray Emery made 31 stops for the Flyers. Emery is 3-4-0 this season after posting a 17-1-0 record for Chicago during last years lockout-shortened campaign. "Theres no excuse for not being motivated," Emery said. "We could have found tons of stuff to get motivated over." Steve Mason expects to start for the Flyers on Friday. The goaltender is 2-0-1 with a sparkling 0.88 GAA in four career tilts against Winnipeg. The Flyers played Wednesday without forward Matt Read, who is questionable for Fridays tilt with a lower-body injury. Read has eight goals and three assists in 23 games this season. ' ' '