When Delhi were battling for a win against Saurashtra in Baroda to stay alive in the knockout race, some 1500 km away an anxious Odisha side was keeping close tabs on the match. With Odisha only one point ahead of Delhis 21, the latters victory would leave Odisha needing to win outright against Jharkhand in their last league game beginning on December 15.However, unlike his team-mates, Odisha captain Govinda Poddar wasnt sweating over the outcome. He was attending a family function in his hometown Rourkela, and had decided to take his mind off the game. His team-mates, though, wouldnt let him be.I wasnt following the scores because I didnt want to be nervous about something I couldnt control. But, every once in a while, someone or the other would ring me up to tell me the score, he told ESPNcricinfo. I would tell them: Yaar, please put the phone down. Tell me at the end if they have lost or not.Not long after, Saurashtra snuffed out Delhis chances by four runs after last man Navdeep Saini was adjudged lbw. As a result, Odisha were into the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy for the first time since 2001-02. This time, Poddar didnt mind the phone calls.I have two phones and both started ringing at the same time. Our wicketkeeper Saurabh Rawat, and Ranjit Singh, the opening batsman, were the first guys to call, he said. When I picked up the phones, I heard their excited voices: Dada, we have qualified, congrats. Then, I called our coach Debasis Mohanty and we congratulated each other.Allrounder Biplab Samantray was one of the players who bombarded Poddar with score updates. He was at his home in Cuttack, discussing the match online with his team-mates. We were all sharing updates on our teams Whatsapp group, and whenever my internet slowed down, I would anxiously ask the others what the score was, he said.Its been 15 years since we have qualified for the knockouts, so obviously there is bound to be excitement. It was a dream of mine, personally, to play in the quarter-finals. We have been doing well this season and God has given us another chance to prove ourselves. We had our teams practice session this afternoon and everyone was excited about performing in a big match. Such things dont come easily.Odisha leave for Thiruvananthapuram on Monday for what would now effectively be a practice match against Jharkhand ahead of the quarter-finals scheduled to begin on December 24. Had Delhi won, the trip would have been a lot more tense, especially with what Odisha have gone through in the last week or so. They were grounded in Dindigul for a week after their last league fixture against Jharkhand was a non-starter following the death of Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Poddar called the hotel arrest a new experience that transcended cricket.From December 2 to 8, we were in Dindigul, he said. We went for practice only on the first two days, and a few hours before she passed away on December 5, there were rumours about her passing away. Our local manager feared there could be acts of violence and said we had to return to the hotel, which was about 35 km away from the ground [in Natham]. After we reached the hotel, we couldnt step out until December 8.It was frustrating, but it was a new experience in the sense we got to know a lot of new things. The passing away of a leader of such stature is sad news, and we could see what it meant to the people there.There was some anxiety over Odishas travel plans, and for a brief period, they didnt know the fate of their match against Jharkhand. There was a bit of apprehension over whether we could get out of town or not, and what would happen to the match, he said.So there was a lot of chaos, but all the boys got together and reassured one another that we couldnt afford to worry about the game. Whenever it took place, we had to be ready - there was nothing more we could do. For those five-six days, all we did was wake up, gather in somebodys room and order room-service. That we have bonded well all season has helped.After the team eventually got back to Odisha, they have had well-deserved downtime. Poddar hoped Odisha, rejuvenated by the break, would go further in the tournament. I was very desperate because some of our players have been performing well over the last few years, but still they are not getting to play at a certain level, he said. To come into the limelight, you need to play quarter-finals and semi-finals. Your matches are broadcast live and people know there is a team that is trying hard to come up the ladder.For now, though, Odisha have earned the right to celebrate their biggest achievement in a while. We havent planned a party yet, Samantray said, but we will have something for sure before we start for Trivandrum. Jimmy Garoppolo Super Bowl Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Roger Craig Super Bowl Jersey . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. 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MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Bill Snyder was doused in ice water as the final seconds ticked off the clock on his 200th career win, then carried off the field by his celebrating Kansas State players after their final home game.Then, Snyder promptly brought everyone back to reality.You know, I probably dont sound in a pretty good mood, he said, but Im responsive to how we played and we played rather ugly today. I dont feel good about that, I assure you.Alex Barnes ran for 103 yards and a touchdown, Winston Dimel had two scores on the ground and the Wildcats managed to overcome penalties, turnovers and miscues for a 34-19 victory over Kansas on Saturday that allowed their 77-year-old coach to join some rarified company.Snyder became the 26th coach to achieve 200 wins and the sixth to do so spending his entire career at one school, joining Joe Paterno, LaVelle Edwards, Tom Osborne, Chris Ault and Vince Dooley.Snyder has 161 more wins than the second-winningest coach in Kansas State history.Its something you appreciate being part of, said Kansas State linebacker Elijah Lee, who had eight tackles and an interception, doing something special for Coach Snyder.The Wildcats (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) went through three quarterbacks because of injuries, though Joe Hubener managed to return to the game. Jesse Ertz went down early in the second half, though Snyder said he doesnt believe the undisclosed injury is serious.I havent talked to the trainers and doctors yet, he said, but it was my understand hes fine.Carter Stanley threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns for the Jayhawks (2-10, 1-8), but the freshman quarterback spent the entire game taking wicked blows behind a beat-up offensive line.Stanley also made a crucial mistake when he threw an interception that Donnie Starks returned for a touchdown to set the tone early in the game. The pick-six followed a touchdown run by Barnes early in the second quarter and gave Kansas State a 20-3, and it eventually grew to 27-3 early in the second half.They certainly did a good job today of doing what they needed to do, Kansas coach David Beaty said. There were way too many mistakes for us to overcome.The Jayhawks biggest highlight came when Stanley, who assuumed the starting job a few weeks ago, connected with LaQuvionte Gonzalez for a 95-yard touchdown pass -- the third-longest in school history.dddddddddddd Stanley also found Michael Zunica with a short TD pass early in the fourth quarter.Stanley also fumbled with about 2 minutes left to prevent any sort of comeback.I take my hat off to Carter Stanley. Hes a tough dude, man. He kept getting up off the floor and he got hit in a bunch of different ways today, Beaty said. Hes never rattled and thats something you want in your quarterback.THE TAKEAWAYKansas was coming off an overtime win over Texas, its first Big 12 win in two years, and aiming for back-to-back victories for the first time in five years. But the Jayhawks still have a long way to go to catch up to their biggest rival, which has won 21 of the past 25 meetings.Kansas State was far from perfect. There was a muffed onside kick, an extra point that was blocked, a fumble by Hubener in the closing minutes and five penalties that left Snyder miffed on the sideline.LOOKING FORWARDKansas running back Keaun Kinner thinks the Jayhawks are moving in the right direction, even if the senior wont be around to see it. We came closer. The class of young guys on this team is spectacular. They got a lot of talent, he said, and as long as they keep jelling together and getting better every day ... theyre going to be a force next year.K-STATE GROUNDEDThe Wildcats piled up 342 yards and four TDs rushing, the fifth straight game theyve gone over 200 yards. But their three quarterbacks combined to go 6 of 11 for 99 yards, and Snyder lamented the lack of balance in the offense. Im not overly enthused, he said. We have to get better.UP NEXTKansas begins preparing for next season. The Jayhawks made significant gains after going winless a year ago, and now its up to coach David Beaty to keep building the program.Kansas State visits TCU next week as it tries to improve its bowl fate. The Texas Bowl appears the most likely destination, but other possibilities include the Russell Athletic, Cactus and Alamo bowls. ' ' '