Brian Ching scored on a header in the 20th minute and Pat Onstad stopped a penalty kick in the 83rd minute to lift host Houston to its first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids yesterday.

Ching, a Kamehameha Schools alum from Hale'iwa, took a pass from Brad Davis on the left side of the box and headed it just to the underside of the crossbar against Colorado (2-2-1). The ball hit the upper far post before going in to give the Dynamo (1-2-2) their first goal in 254 minutes.

OBITUARY

BLANCHARD DIES

Felix "Doc" Blanchard, the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner and Army's Mr. Inside in one of college football's most famous backfields, has died. He was 84.

Blanchard's daughter, Mary Blanchard, told The Associated Press late last night in a phone interview that her father died of pneumonia at his Bulverde, Texas, home earlier in the day.

The bruising Blanchard and Glenn Davis, aka Mr. Outside, helped Army win consecutive national titles in 1944-45. The year after Blanchard won the Heisman Trophy, Davis won it and Army went undefeated again.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

OLYMPIANS WIN

Reigning Olympic gold medalists and top-seeded Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers moved through the contenders' bracket to win the AVP Crocs Tour Riverside Open yesterday at Riverside, Calif.Dalhausser/Rogers beat second-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, 17-21, 21-19, 15-8, in the final.

On the women's side, top-seeded Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs beat second-seeded Jen Kessy and April Ross, 21-18, 21-14, to win the title.

BASKETBALL

FBI PROBES CASE

An attorney for the estranged wife of Louisville's equipment manager has been contacted by the FBI regarding extortion allegations leveled by coach Rick Pitino.

Attorney Thomas Clay says he spoke with the FBI about the matter last week but had no further comment. He represents Karen Sypher, the wife of longtime equipment manager Tim Sypher. Clay said the Syphers are in the process of getting a divorce.

The extortion allegations became public late Saturday when Pitino and the university issued a statement that did not give any details. Pitino said he reported the matter to the FBI last month.

Tim Sypher said in a release by the university yesterday that he is "devastated by the bizarre allegations" and that he will defend himself "vigorously."

BRIEFLY

Chuck Liddell, 39, said it was "probably safe to say" his mixed martial arts career was over after he was knocked out by Mauricio Rua in the first round on Saturday night in UFC 97. ... Filipino Nonito Donaire retained his IBF flyweight title yesterday, stopping American challenger Raul Martinez in the fourth round in the Philippines. Donaire (21-1) sent Martinez (24-1) to the canvas for a fourth time in the bout before the ref stopped the fight 2:42 into the fourth.