11:40 LRN sportscast October 30

The Saints believe tonight is the night they get their first road victory of the 2014 season as they visit the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Drew Brees sounded very confident before the team left for Charlotte…
cut 17 (12) “….our game”
Running back Pierre Thomas, linebacker David Hawthorne and fullback Austin Johnson will not play tonight because of injuries. The Panthers starting left tackle, Byron Bell, is out because of a knee injury. But running back DeAngelo Williams returns after missing the last six games because of injuries.

LSU and Alabama are both off this Saturday, which gives them extra time to get healthy for their match-up in Death Valley on November eighth. The Crimson Tide’s leading rusher TJ Yeldon has not practiced this week and has been seen wearing a walking boot. But Bama’s Nick Saban anticipates Yeldon will return to practice on Monday.

Jimmy Anderson of Lake Charles has been named the interim executive director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Anderson will fill the role once served by Kenny Henderson, until a person can take over the position on a full-time basis. Anderson is a past president of the LHSAA and currently serves as a rules compliance officer in Lake Charles.

In high school football action today…John Curtis will face De La Salle. Both teams have six wins on the season. It will be the 600th game for legendary Patriots head coach J-T Curtis.

In college basketball…Stephen F Austin has been picked to win the Southland Conference based on a poll of the league’s coaches. Northwestern State received a first-place vote and is expected to finish second. McNeese State is projected to finish in fifth place. Tulane is expected to finish in last place in the American Athletic Conference.

In the NBA,,,the Pelicans are off today. They don’t play again until Saturday, when they host the Dallas Mavericks.