In today’s slightly larger than normal puzzle (22×22 squares), each theme answer is a two-word phrase. When you change both words to their opposites, you get the adjacent theme answer in the same row.

24A: [Try to catch a bomb] is GO LONG and 25A: [Screech to a halt] is STOP SHORT. The opposite of go is stop, and the opposite of long is short.

37A: [Like the final batter in a batting order] is LAST UP and 39A: [Beginning of a football series] is FIRST DOWN.

54A: [Assumes, as responsibilities] is TAKES ON and 56A: [Radiates] is GIVES OFF.

69A: [Stat] is RIGHT AWAY and 71A: [Struck out on one’s own] is LEFT HOME.

86A: [“Absofrigginlutely!”] is “HELLS YES” and 89A: [“Oh my gosh, absolutely not!”] is “HEAVENS NO.”

101A: [Supported the idea] is BOUGHT IN and 104A: [Abandoned one’s princip

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