KANSAS CITY, Mo. –&nbsp;The Chiefs and the Kansas City community raised more than $900,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) through flag sales during Red Wednesday – the 32nd&nbsp;edition of Red Friday – on Wednesday, September 6. Over the past decade, Red Friday sales have raised more than $6.5 million to help RMHC-KC continue its mission of keeping families close in times of sickness and need.

In addition to the Red Wednesday donation from flag sales, the Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle during the club’s 2023 NFL Kickoff Game against the Detroit Lions also benefited RMHC-KC. An additional $113,094 – half of $226,288, the largest regular season pot in raffle history – brought the total donation from this year’s Red Wednesday celebration to more than $1 million.

Members of the Chiefs Community Caring Team, including S Bryan Cook, CB Trent McDuffie and Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lara Krug, visited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City today to make the formal announcement of the total amount raised and visit with youth and families at the house.

Through a partnership with McDonald’s, the 10thedition of the Red Friday flag – featuring a Super Bowl LVII championship design – was sold in all Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald’s locations and Kansas City Hy-Vee stores for a minimum donation of $5. For the seventh year in a row, flags were also sold online for $10 and available for domestic and international shipping.&nbsp;

"The Chiefs aren't just Super Bowl champions, they are champions for families at Ronald McDonald House Charities,” CEO of RMHC Kansas City Tami Greenberg said. "We are so thankful to the Chiefs organization for wrapping their arms around this charity, and to our founding mission partner, McDonald's, for their lasting support. A million ‘thank yous’ to all of Chiefs Kingdom for showing up on Red Wednesday this year and making such a huge impact, one flag at a time."

With this year’s donation, more than $6.5 million has been directed to assisting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City as they reduce the burden of childhood illness on children and their families by providing a “home away from home” while the children are receiving medical care in Kansas City-area hospitals. For more information on Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rmhckc.org/" target="_blank">www.rmhckc.org/</a>.

“We knew this Red Wednesday celebration had the chance to be special, and the people of Kansas City and members of Chiefs Kingdom truly delivered for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “One of the many lasting legacies of founder Lamar Hunt, Red Friday continues to have incredible impact in our community, and it always helps the organization – and our fans – kick off the season. We are proud of how this community unites to rally around those who need it most and we are thrilled to be able to announce this donation alongside McDonald’s with RMHC-KC staff and families today.”&nbsp;

Red Wednesday (Red Friday) honors the long-standing tradition of selling team-themed commemorative items around the city to raise money for local charities that was started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters in 1992. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised approximately $8 million for local charities with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691529941375.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. –&nbsp;The Chiefs and the Kansas City community raised more than $900,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) through flag sales during Red Wednesday – the 32nd&nbsp;edition of Red Friday – on Wednesday, September 6. Over the past decade, Red Friday sales have raised more than $6.5 million to help RMHC-KC continue its mission of keeping families close in times of sickness and need.In addition to the Red Wednesday donation from flag sales, the Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle during the club’s 2023 NFL Kickoff Game against the Detroit Lions also benefited RMHC-KC. An additional $113,094 – half of $226,288, the largest regular season pot in raffle history – brought the total donation from this year’s Red Wednesday celebration to more than $1 million.Members of the Chiefs Community Caring Team, including S Bryan Cook, CB Trent McDuffie and Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lara Krug, visited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City today to make the formal announcement of the total amount raised and visit with youth and families at the house.Through a partnership with McDonald’s, the 10thedition of the Red Friday flag – featuring a Super Bowl LVII championship design – was sold in all Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald’s locations and Kansas City Hy-Vee stores for a minimum donation of $5. For the seventh year in a row, flags were also sold online for $10 and available for domestic and international shipping.&nbsp;"The Chiefs aren't just Super Bowl champions, they are champions for families at Ronald McDonald House Charities,” CEO of RMHC Kansas City Tami Greenberg said. "We are so thankful to the Chiefs organization for wrapping their arms around this charity, and to our founding mission partner, McDonald's, for their lasting support. A million ‘thank yous’ to all of Chiefs Kingdom for showing up on Red Wednesday this year and making such a huge impact, one flag at a time."With this year’s donation, more than $6.5 million has been directed to assisting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City as they reduce the burden of childhood illness on children and their families by providing a “home away from home” while the children are receiving medical care in Kansas City-area hospitals. For more information on Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rmhckc.org/" target="_blank">www.rmhckc.org/</a>.“We knew this Red Wednesday celebration had the chance to be special, and the people of Kansas City and members of Chiefs Kingdom truly delivered for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “One of the many lasting legacies of founder Lamar Hunt, Red Friday continues to have incredible impact in our community, and it always helps the organization – and our fans – kick off the season. We are proud of how this community unites to rally around those who need it most and we are thrilled to be able to announce this donation alongside McDonald’s with RMHC-KC staff and families today.”&nbsp;Red Wednesday (Red Friday) honors the long-standing tradition of selling team-themed commemorative items around the city to raise money for local charities that was started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters in 1992. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised approximately $8 million for local charities with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.

NFL Red Wednesday NFL Kickoff Game raise $1 million for Ronald McDonald House 

WICHITA, Kan. --&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8f6bfd18-2aa9-4fda-940e-aea56d3b3f69?elinkdata=1031" target="_blank">Josie Deckinger</a>&nbsp;of Kansas Wesleyan University has earned this week's KCAC Women's Volleyball Setter of the Week honors, the conference office announced Monday. Student-athletes were selected for their performances from Sept. 18-24 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6da8509e-9c74-4e0b-b991-5c3e5592127e?elinkdata=1031" target="_blank">Equity Bank</a>.

Deckinger was big as the floor general for the Coyotes in the 5-1 offense. She averaged 9.2 assists per set on the week, but played a key role in helping KWU beat McPherson and Ottawa. She had six kills against Ottawa in the five-set win and went for 26 hitting attempts in the match, trying to sneak a kill past the defense. 

She had a double-double in both of those matches, and only played two sets against Hannibal-LaGrange as KWU won easily. This is the second consecutive week in which Deckinger has been named the KCAC Women's Volleyball Setter of the Week, and is the second time overall this season she has earned the award.

Wesleyan is on the road twice this week, at Tabor on Wednesday and at Saint Mary on Saturday.

WICHITA, Kan. --&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8f6bfd18-2aa9-4fda-940e-aea56d3b3f69?elinkdata=1031" target="_blank">Josie Deckinger</a>&nbsp;of Kansas Wesleyan University has earned this week's KCAC Women's Volleyball Setter of the Week honors, the conference office announced Monday. Student-athletes were selected for their performances from Sept. 18-24 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6da8509e-9c74-4e0b-b991-5c3e5592127e?elinkdata=1031" target="_blank">Equity Bank</a>.Deckinger was big as the floor general for the Coyotes in the 5-1 offense. She averaged 9.2 assists per set on the week, but played a key role in helping KWU beat McPherson and Ottawa. She had six kills against Ottawa in the five-set win and went for 26 hitting attempts in the match, trying to sneak a kill past the defense. She had a double-double in both of those matches, and only played two sets against Hannibal-LaGrange as KWU won easily. This is the second consecutive week in which Deckinger has been named the KCAC Women's Volleyball Setter of the Week, and is the second time overall this season she has earned the award.Wesleyan is on the road twice this week, at Tabor on Wednesday and at Saint Mary on Saturday.

Deckinger repeats as KCAC Women's Volleyball Setter of the Week

Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– After a record-setting first season, head coach&nbsp;Jerome Tang&nbsp;has agreed to new 7-year contract through the 2029-30 season to continue his leadership of the Kansas State men’s basketball program, Director of Athletics&nbsp;Gene Taylor&nbsp;announced on Monday afternoon (September 25).

The new contract replaces his original 6-year deal that Tang agreed to become the 25th&nbsp;men’s basketball coach in school history on March 21, 2022. Tang now has 7 years left on his agreement that runs until April 30, 2030. The second-year head coach will be paid $3 million in 2023-24 and receive a $100,000 increase to his salary in each remaining contract year culminating in a $3.6 million base for the 2029-30 season. There are also four retention bonuses of $200,000 following the 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.

The new contract was unanimously approved by University leadership.

“What Coach Tang and his staff did in their first year here was phenomenal. The run to the Elite Eight was remarkable, but what separates Coach Tang is his pure love of his players and the relationships that he builds with everyone that he encounters. His ability to connect with players, staff, recruits, students and fans is special, and he is the perfect fit for Kansas State. The culture that he and his staff have built is extraordinary. We are delighted to have him, Rey, Seven and Aylyn as a vital part of the Wildcat family and for him to continue to lead our basketball team for a very long time.”

“My family and I could not be more excited about the future with this commitment from President (Richard) Linton and (athletics director) Gene (Taylor), as the staff and I continue to elevate this program to even greater heights. I say it all the time and I truly mean it, we’re fortunate every day to be at such a special place.

I’m a blessed individual with a wonderful family, and I’m in this position today due to the love, support and sacrifices of many people. I want to first thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all the blessings in my life. I would not be where I’m right now if it wasn't for His faithfulness in my life and guidance.

“I have the best coaching staff in America, who work tirelessly to make our players the best they can be on-and-off the court. I’m blessed and honored that I get to live life with these incredible men and women every day. I want to thank our players – both past and present – for their hard work and commitment to this program as well as their families for their support and trust with their most important asset.

“I said before I didn’t come here to rebuild but to elevate and the work has already begun. Last year’s success was just the start. The staff and I are excited about what’s ahead for this team as we start practice. EMAW!”

With his relentless passion, energy and positivity, Tang reenergized a K-State program which had endured three consecutive losing seasons and was picked last in the preseason Big 12 poll by guiding the school to its third-highest win total (26) and a thrilling run to the Elite Eight in 2022-23. He became the 11th first-year head coach to direct his team to the Elite Eight since 1996-97, while joining North Carolina’s&nbsp;Bill Guthridge&nbsp;(K-State alum) in 1997-98 and&nbsp;Hubert Davis&nbsp;in 2021-22 and Kent State’s&nbsp;Stan Heath&nbsp;in 2001-02 as one of four first-time head coaches to accomplish the feat. Tang's win total was the second-most by a first-year Division I head coach in 2022-23, trailing Duke's&nbsp;Jon Scheyer&nbsp;(27-9).&nbsp;

Armed with just two returning players, the Wildcats posted a 26-10 overall record in Tang’s inaugural season, which included a tie for third place in the nation’s most difficult conference – the Big 12 – with an 11-7 mark and the school’s 13th appearance in the Elite Eight and the first since 2017-18. The 26 wins are the third-most in school history, trailing the school-record 29 in 2009-10 and the 27 in 2012-13, and just the eighth 25-win campaign. His 26 wins are the second-most by a first-year head coach in school history.

For these efforts, Tang was named a finalist for several National Coach of the Year honors, winning the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year from the Atlanta Tipoff Club. He was the runner-up for The Associated Press’ National Coach of the Year, finishing behind Marquette’s&nbsp;Shaka Smart. He was also selected as the consensus Big 12 Coach of the Year by the league coaches and AP.

During the team’s historic season, Tang coached a pair of All-Americans in 2023 Bob Cousy Award winner&nbsp;Markquis Nowell&nbsp;and small forward&nbsp;Keyontae Johnson, who were the only teammates nationally to earn All-America honors in 2022-23. Nowell was also selected as the winner of Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, while he was chosen as the East Regional Most Outstanding Player during the Wildcats’ run to the Elite Eight. Johnson, who was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, became the first Wildcat under Tang and the first since 2017 to be selected in the NBA Draft.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tang helped reestablish the “Octagon of Doom” as one of the toughest places to play in college basketball, as the Wildcats played before eight sellouts while posting a 15-1 record at home with 5 wins over Top 25 opponents, including No. 2/2 Kansas, No. 9/10 Baylor, No. 17/19 TCU, No. 19/18 Iowa State and No. 24/24 West Virginia. The 15 wins were the most in nearly a decade (2014-15) and tied for the second-most in the arena’s 35-year history. The eight sellouts were the most since 2014-15, while the team ranked 23rd&nbsp;nationally in percentage capacity at 87.57 percent in the newly configured 11,000-seat arena.

The contract continues the momentum the program has generated since their Elite Eight run, as Tang and his coaching staff officially opened practice earlier today (September 25). The Wildcats bring back six players, including returning starters&nbsp;Nae’Qwan Tomlin,&nbsp;Cam Carter&nbsp;and&nbsp;David N’Guessan, along with one of the top transfer classes in the nation (graduate transfers&nbsp;Ques Glover&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tylor Perry&nbsp;and junior&nbsp;Arthur Kaluma) and a consensus top-30 freshmen class (Dai Dai Ames,&nbsp;R.J. Jones&nbsp;and&nbsp;Macaleab Rich).

<a>A limited number of season tickets for the 2023-24 season are still available by calling&nbsp;</a>(800) 221.CATS (2287) and/or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.&nbsp;Pricing for single-game tickets will be announced shortly. Ahearn Fund members will have the first opportunity to purchase single-game tickets starting Monday, Oct. 16. Remaining tickets will be available to the general public starting Wednesday, Oct. 18.

Courtesy of Kansas State AthleticsMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– After a record-setting first season, head coach&nbsp;Jerome Tang&nbsp;has agreed to new 7-year contract through the 2029-30 season to continue his leadership of the Kansas State men’s basketball program, Director of Athletics&nbsp;Gene Taylor&nbsp;announced on Monday afternoon (September 25).The new contract replaces his original 6-year deal that Tang agreed to become the 25th&nbsp;men’s basketball coach in school history on March 21, 2022. Tang now has 7 years left on his agreement that runs until April 30, 2030. The second-year head coach will be paid $3 million in 2023-24 and receive a $100,000 increase to his salary in each remaining contract year culminating in a $3.6 million base for the 2029-30 season. There are also four retention bonuses of $200,000 following the 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.The new contract was unanimously approved by University leadership.Director of Athletics Gene Taylor“What Coach Tang and his staff did in their first year here was phenomenal. The run to the Elite Eight was remarkable, but what separates Coach Tang is his pure love of his players and the relationships that he builds with everyone that he encounters. His ability to connect with players, staff, recruits, students and fans is special, and he is the perfect fit for Kansas State. The culture that he and his staff have built is extraordinary. We are delighted to have him, Rey, Seven and Aylyn as a vital part of the Wildcat family and for him to continue to lead our basketball team for a very long time.”Head coach Jerome Tang“My family and I could not be more excited about the future with this commitment from President (Richard) Linton and (athletics director) Gene (Taylor), as the staff and I continue to elevate this program to even greater heights. I say it all the time and I truly mean it, we’re fortunate every day to be at such a special place.I’m a blessed individual with a wonderful family, and I’m in this position today due to the love, support and sacrifices of many people. I want to first thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all the blessings in my life. I would not be where I’m right now if it wasn't for His faithfulness in my life and guidance.“I have the best coaching staff in America, who work tirelessly to make our players the best they can be on-and-off the court. I’m blessed and honored that I get to live life with these incredible men and women every day. I want to thank our players – both past and present – for their hard work and commitment to this program as well as their families for their support and trust with their most important asset.“I said before I didn’t come here to rebuild but to elevate and the work has already begun. Last year’s success was just the start. The staff and I are excited about what’s ahead for this team as we start practice. EMAW!”With his relentless passion, energy and positivity, Tang reenergized a K-State program which had endured three consecutive losing seasons and was picked last in the preseason Big 12 poll by guiding the school to its third-highest win total (26) and a thrilling run to the Elite Eight in 2022-23. He became the 11th first-year head coach to direct his team to the Elite Eight since 1996-97, while joining North Carolina’s&nbsp;Bill Guthridge&nbsp;(K-State alum) in 1997-98 and&nbsp;Hubert Davis&nbsp;in 2021-22 and Kent State’s&nbsp;Stan Heath&nbsp;in 2001-02 as one of four first-time head coaches to accomplish the feat. Tang's win total was the second-most by a first-year Division I head coach in 2022-23, trailing Duke's&nbsp;Jon Scheyer&nbsp;(27-9).&nbsp;Armed with just two returning players, the Wildcats posted a 26-10 overall record in Tang’s inaugural season, which included a tie for third place in the nation’s most difficult conference – the Big 12 – with an 11-7 mark and the school’s 13th appearance in the Elite Eight and the first since 2017-18. The 26 wins are the third-most in school history, trailing the school-record 29 in 2009-10 and the 27 in 2012-13, and just the eighth 25-win campaign. His 26 wins are the second-most by a first-year head coach in school history.For these efforts, Tang was named a finalist for several National Coach of the Year honors, winning the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year from the Atlanta Tipoff Club. He was the runner-up for The Associated Press’ National Coach of the Year, finishing behind Marquette’s&nbsp;Shaka Smart. He was also selected as the consensus Big 12 Coach of the Year by the league coaches and AP.During the team’s historic season, Tang coached a pair of All-Americans in 2023 Bob Cousy Award winner&nbsp;Markquis Nowell&nbsp;and small forward&nbsp;Keyontae Johnson, who were the only teammates nationally to earn All-America honors in 2022-23. Nowell was also selected as the winner of Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, while he was chosen as the East Regional Most Outstanding Player during the Wildcats’ run to the Elite Eight. Johnson, who was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, became the first Wildcat under Tang and the first since 2017 to be selected in the NBA Draft.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tang helped reestablish the “Octagon of Doom” as one of the toughest places to play in college basketball, as the Wildcats played before eight sellouts while posting a 15-1 record at home with 5 wins over Top 25 opponents, including No. 2/2 Kansas, No. 9/10 Baylor, No. 17/19 TCU, No. 19/18 Iowa State and No. 24/24 West Virginia. The 15 wins were the most in nearly a decade (2014-15) and tied for the second-most in the arena’s 35-year history. The eight sellouts were the most since 2014-15, while the team ranked 23rd&nbsp;nationally in percentage capacity at 87.57 percent in the newly configured 11,000-seat arena.The contract continues the momentum the program has generated since their Elite Eight run, as Tang and his coaching staff officially opened practice earlier today (September 25). The Wildcats bring back six players, including returning starters&nbsp;Nae’Qwan Tomlin,&nbsp;Cam Carter&nbsp;and&nbsp;David N’Guessan, along with one of the top transfer classes in the nation (graduate transfers&nbsp;Ques Glover&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tylor Perry&nbsp;and junior&nbsp;Arthur Kaluma) and a consensus top-30 freshmen class (Dai Dai Ames,&nbsp;R.J. Jones&nbsp;and&nbsp;Macaleab Rich).<a>A limited number of season tickets for the 2023-24 season are still available by calling&nbsp;</a>(800) 221.CATS (2287) and/or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.&nbsp;Pricing for single-game tickets will be announced shortly. Ahearn Fund members will have the first opportunity to purchase single-game tickets starting Monday, Oct. 16. Remaining tickets will be available to the general public starting Wednesday, Oct. 18.

🏀 MBB: K-State's Jerome Tang agrees to contract extension

Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball battled back from a 2 set to 1 match deficit winning the fourth set and had to overcome a deficit in the deciding fifth to knock off the No. 18 ranked Ottawa Braves on Saturday in five sets, and sweeping Hannibal-LaGrange in the KWU Triangular at Mabee Arena.

Wesleyan beat the Braves 25-13, 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 18-16, then swept Hannibal-LaGrange 25-13, 25-13, 25-14.

"We battled, especially in that fifth set. It was back and forth, the score was tied 11 times just in the fifth set," Kansas Wesleyan coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ffd31946-cefa-4591-9fb5-6bee2dd8212d?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Jessica Biegert</a>&nbsp;said. "We really wanted it at the end. Ottawa's a tough team to beat. They're used to winning. Our team really wanted it tonight and it was good to see us come through and beat Ottawa."

Wesleyan, already down 2-to-1 in the fourth, flipped the proverbial switch trailing 16-12 in the set.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8bee7531-283f-4be8-96d1-b9c903a7777b?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Megan Peeler</a>&nbsp;got a kill to start a 6-0 Coyote run in the set that gave KWU an 18-16 lead.

Ottawa drew even at 19-all, but the Coyotes got back-to-back kills from&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1a008a23-f52d-4b9f-af99-0e67ad5e1d91?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kyla Moore</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/47f0347e-0d47-4ef4-a3e9-047169480f90?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kylee Harris</a>&nbsp;to take a 21-19 lead in the set.Leading 21-20, the Coyotes rattled off the final four points to take the set.Wesleyan trailed 11-9 in the fifth when KWU tied it up at 11-all, but trailed again at 13-12.

After a KWU timeout, Peeler put down another kill followed by a Harris kill giving the Coyotes their first match point try. After an Ottawa timeout, the Braves got a kill, but then gave the next point to the Coyotes on a service error setting up another match point. Ottawa tied it at 15, and again at 16 before finally getting back-to-back kills by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/674190bb-7174-487a-af2f-156cdd7bfd33?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Rylee Serpan</a>&nbsp;to end it.

Biegert noted the play of Serpan, the defending NAIA Attacker of the Week, and Harris in turning the momentum in Wesleyan's favor, along with the strong play of the Coyote defense, not only from libero&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/51f8c366-7f03-433e-a040-0430d0690f41?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kelcey Hund</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dca4fe51-0af6-4fbd-b96f-8b85664011a3?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Ella Schmid</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0dbc8a3d-7f0f-46e1-9a76-3ed238ae4d63?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kori Arnold</a>&nbsp;as well.

"Rylee and Kylee are really our go-to's offensively," she said. "When we need to score and get momentum back, they're our big power hitters that know how to put a ball away to get things going in our direction and make a run. We run a different defense than a lot of teams that lets Kelcey have a lot more freedom, but our other defenders stepped up today which was huge.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/651503c5-ed9f-4eca-a0a9-aa8d57621929?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kori Arnold</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c25870eb-5451-4f8e-bf24-cccb5ea9c05d?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Ella Schmid</a>&nbsp;both stepped up on defense and helped out immensely."

Wesleyan came out of the gates hitting on all cylinders taking an 11-5 lead in the opening set, but a decisive 7-0 run that turned a 12-9 lead into a 19-9 lead was the difference in the set for the Coyotes.

After Ottawa scored three straight, the Coyotes scored five in a row to take a 24-12 lead before winning the set 25-13.

Ottawa built an early lead in the second set, leading 13-9 and were able to push out to a 16-11 lead. Wesleyan got back within two at 16-14, but got no closer than two points the rest of the set, winning 25-22.

The third set was back and forth until Ottawa used a 5-0 run to take an 11-7 lead. The Braves pushed it out to 14-9 and led 17-12 when the Coyotes made a run, getting within two at 17-15. 

Wesleyan drew even with the Braves at 21-all on Serpan's kill, and had a 23-21 lead after&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4b571e15-46b3-427e-89b6-00cdd6bbfc52?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Josie Deckinger's</a>&nbsp;service ace, but Ottawa scored the final four points of the set to win 25-23.

Serpan led the Coyotes with 18 kills, while Harris had 16, and Peeler and Deckinger had six each. Deckinger had 40 assists and 16 digs and three blocks. Wesleyan's front line defense combined for 12 team blocks in the match, as&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bc486d38-333d-414c-bcad-d3ef846e20d3?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Sarah Girard</a>&nbsp;and Moore had five each. Hund had 26 digs and Schmid added 13.

The Coyotes didn't show any signs of big game hangover in the match against Hannibal-LaGrange, easily dispatching the Trojans 25-13, 25-13, 25-14.It was all Coyotes from start to finish.

Wesleyan led 6-3 in the opening set before embarking on a 9-0 run that made it 15-3 and Hannibal had no answer as the Coyotes cruised to the first set win.

"We came out and set the tone in the first set and then we were able to experiment a little bit with different lineups and got everyone in off the bench and were still able to control the match," Biegert said. "It was really fun to see that no matter who we put on the court we could keep up our level of play."

The Coyotes trailed 4-3 early in the second set, but five straight points got things going in Wesleyan's direction. Leading 16-10, the Coyotes pulled away with a 6-0 run to make it 22-10. Peeler's kill ended the second set 25-13.

Wesleyan jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the final set behind the service games of&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/41e77080-97c8-4337-8ba0-70901a0032b4?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Marti Strickert</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/464c9c5f-0758-476a-86be-912b500f6e50?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Taylor Suko</a>.

Leading 13-9, the Coyotes pulled away with a 5-1 run that made it 18-10 Coyotes. Back-to-back service aces by Harris gave Wesleyan match point, but Hannibal scored two points before Strickert's kill closed it out.

Harris led a balanced Wesleyan attack with six kills, in two sets of action.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/130cc91e-4797-4134-8eb5-11af274ebb13?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Eden Schilder</a>, Peeler, Moore and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/de8b61e3-bfe3-4bf4-92bb-6e6aaf3f24f1?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Gianna Adriaanse</a>&nbsp;had five kills each. Deckinger had 21 assists in two sets of action. Serpan added four aces in two sets, and Harris had three. Hund finished with 17 digs and was one of only two regular starters to play the entire match as all 15 suited players played at least one set.

Things don't get much easier for the Coyotes this week with two road matches at Tabor in Hillsboro on Wednesday and at Saint Mary on Saturday in Leavenworth.

"Tabor has a lot of new this year, so there's a lot of unknowns there. Saint Mary on Saturday, up there It's always a hard place to play and they're always a really good team at home that we will have to battle with."

Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball battled back from a 2 set to 1 match deficit winning the fourth set and had to overcome a deficit in the deciding fifth to knock off the No. 18 ranked Ottawa Braves on Saturday in five sets, and sweeping Hannibal-LaGrange in the KWU Triangular at Mabee Arena.Wesleyan beat the Braves 25-13, 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 18-16, then swept Hannibal-LaGrange 25-13, 25-13, 25-14."We battled, especially in that fifth set. It was back and forth, the score was tied 11 times just in the fifth set," Kansas Wesleyan coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ffd31946-cefa-4591-9fb5-6bee2dd8212d?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Jessica Biegert</a>&nbsp;said. "We really wanted it at the end. Ottawa's a tough team to beat. They're used to winning. Our team really wanted it tonight and it was good to see us come through and beat Ottawa."Wesleyan, already down 2-to-1 in the fourth, flipped the proverbial switch trailing 16-12 in the set.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8bee7531-283f-4be8-96d1-b9c903a7777b?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Megan Peeler</a>&nbsp;got a kill to start a 6-0 Coyote run in the set that gave KWU an 18-16 lead. Ottawa drew even at 19-all, but the Coyotes got back-to-back kills from&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1a008a23-f52d-4b9f-af99-0e67ad5e1d91?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kyla Moore</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/47f0347e-0d47-4ef4-a3e9-047169480f90?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kylee Harris</a>&nbsp;to take a 21-19 lead in the set.Leading 21-20, the Coyotes rattled off the final four points to take the set.Wesleyan trailed 11-9 in the fifth when KWU tied it up at 11-all, but trailed again at 13-12. After a KWU timeout, Peeler put down another kill followed by a Harris kill giving the Coyotes their first match point try. After an Ottawa timeout, the Braves got a kill, but then gave the next point to the Coyotes on a service error setting up another match point. Ottawa tied it at 15, and again at 16 before finally getting back-to-back kills by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/674190bb-7174-487a-af2f-156cdd7bfd33?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Rylee Serpan</a>&nbsp;to end it.Biegert noted the play of Serpan, the defending NAIA Attacker of the Week, and Harris in turning the momentum in Wesleyan's favor, along with the strong play of the Coyote defense, not only from libero&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/51f8c366-7f03-433e-a040-0430d0690f41?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kelcey Hund</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dca4fe51-0af6-4fbd-b96f-8b85664011a3?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Ella Schmid</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0dbc8a3d-7f0f-46e1-9a76-3ed238ae4d63?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kori Arnold</a>&nbsp;as well."Rylee and Kylee are really our go-to's offensively," she said. "When we need to score and get momentum back, they're our big power hitters that know how to put a ball away to get things going in our direction and make a run. We run a different defense than a lot of teams that lets Kelcey have a lot more freedom, but our other defenders stepped up today which was huge.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/651503c5-ed9f-4eca-a0a9-aa8d57621929?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Kori Arnold</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c25870eb-5451-4f8e-bf24-cccb5ea9c05d?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Ella Schmid</a>&nbsp;both stepped up on defense and helped out immensely."Wesleyan came out of the gates hitting on all cylinders taking an 11-5 lead in the opening set, but a decisive 7-0 run that turned a 12-9 lead into a 19-9 lead was the difference in the set for the Coyotes.After Ottawa scored three straight, the Coyotes scored five in a row to take a 24-12 lead before winning the set 25-13.Ottawa built an early lead in the second set, leading 13-9 and were able to push out to a 16-11 lead. Wesleyan got back within two at 16-14, but got no closer than two points the rest of the set, winning 25-22.The third set was back and forth until Ottawa used a 5-0 run to take an 11-7 lead. The Braves pushed it out to 14-9 and led 17-12 when the Coyotes made a run, getting within two at 17-15. Wesleyan drew even with the Braves at 21-all on Serpan's kill, and had a 23-21 lead after&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4b571e15-46b3-427e-89b6-00cdd6bbfc52?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Josie Deckinger's</a>&nbsp;service ace, but Ottawa scored the final four points of the set to win 25-23.Serpan led the Coyotes with 18 kills, while Harris had 16, and Peeler and Deckinger had six each. Deckinger had 40 assists and 16 digs and three blocks. Wesleyan's front line defense combined for 12 team blocks in the match, as&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bc486d38-333d-414c-bcad-d3ef846e20d3?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Sarah Girard</a>&nbsp;and Moore had five each. Hund had 26 digs and Schmid added 13.The Coyotes didn't show any signs of big game hangover in the match against Hannibal-LaGrange, easily dispatching the Trojans 25-13, 25-13, 25-14.It was all Coyotes from start to finish.Wesleyan led 6-3 in the opening set before embarking on a 9-0 run that made it 15-3 and Hannibal had no answer as the Coyotes cruised to the first set win."We came out and set the tone in the first set and then we were able to experiment a little bit with different lineups and got everyone in off the bench and were still able to control the match," Biegert said. "It was really fun to see that no matter who we put on the court we could keep up our level of play."The Coyotes trailed 4-3 early in the second set, but five straight points got things going in Wesleyan's direction. Leading 16-10, the Coyotes pulled away with a 6-0 run to make it 22-10. Peeler's kill ended the second set 25-13.Wesleyan jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the final set behind the service games of&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/41e77080-97c8-4337-8ba0-70901a0032b4?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Marti Strickert</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/464c9c5f-0758-476a-86be-912b500f6e50?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Taylor Suko</a>.Leading 13-9, the Coyotes pulled away with a 5-1 run that made it 18-10 Coyotes. Back-to-back service aces by Harris gave Wesleyan match point, but Hannibal scored two points before Strickert's kill closed it out.Harris led a balanced Wesleyan attack with six kills, in two sets of action.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/130cc91e-4797-4134-8eb5-11af274ebb13?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Eden Schilder</a>, Peeler, Moore and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/de8b61e3-bfe3-4bf4-92bb-6e6aaf3f24f1?elinkdata=991" target="_blank">Gianna Adriaanse</a>&nbsp;had five kills each. Deckinger had 21 assists in two sets of action. Serpan added four aces in two sets, and Harris had three. Hund finished with 17 digs and was one of only two regular starters to play the entire match as all 15 suited players played at least one set.Things don't get much easier for the Coyotes this week with two road matches at Tabor in Hillsboro on Wednesday and at Saint Mary on Saturday in Leavenworth."Tabor has a lot of new this year, so there's a lot of unknowns there. Saint Mary on Saturday, up there It's always a hard place to play and they're always a really good team at home that we will have to battle with."

Coyote Women's Volleyball takes down No. 18 Ottawa, sweeps Hannibal-LaGrange in triangular

NORTH NEWTON -&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan held the Bethel Threshers without a second half point and just 64 yards of offense as the Coyotes came away with a 24-14 win on Saturday night at Joe W. Goering Field at Thresher Stadium.

The win was the eighth straight win in North Newton for the Coyotes, a streak dating back to 2009 and was the 14th&nbsp;win in the last 15 meetings for the Coyotes in the series.

Wesleyan's defense was again solid, holding Bethel to just 213 yards of total offense in the game, while the Coyote offense had 264 yards of offense, 180 through the air, as KWU got the passing game going.

Bethel scored first on its first drive of the game, capping a 10 play, 66 yard drive with a 35-yard pass from DJ Ciers to Trevon Madison with 6:45 to go in the first.

The scoring drive was the only one of the first quarter. The Coyotes had a short field to work with on the first drive of the second quarter and capitalized.

When the drive stalled at the Bethel 25,&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/308a9f05-502c-438c-a3f1-7e3d273b7404?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Talon Cope</a>&nbsp;got the Coyotes on the board connecting on a 42-yard field goal with 11:12 to go in the half.

Wesleyan's defense then stepped up, forcing two Bethel turnovers that turned into 14 points. The Coyotes forced a fumble by Corey Catron that was recovered by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09aa7bf0-2ff7-4bd3-9c9e-a8a80b84a208?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Deyondre Gomez</a>&nbsp;after being knocked loose by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2e83dedd-92a6-4b3b-a4f7-92307d499c5a?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Julian Urioste</a>&nbsp;and four plays later were in the endzone as&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/242a84d4-d0ad-4e9b-ab32-39651fd12fdd?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Richard Lara</a>&nbsp;hit&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5f7982f2-44de-4fc2-a98d-ca19c0d72c22?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Tyler Boston</a>&nbsp;for a 23-yard touchdown with 8:23 left in the half.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9ece811d-db56-4b11-bcd3-47a3327ed66d?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Quatama Massaquoi</a>&nbsp;picked off a pass on Bethel's next drive and returned it to the Bethel 25 and two plays later Lara hit a wide open&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/244b1186-acf3-48b4-bae1-0d4ce6d724ce?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Nick Allsman</a>&nbsp;for a 24-yard touchdown pass and it was 17-7 Coyotes with 5:57 left.

Madison got Bethel back within a field goal returning a&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0443ec63-b00a-45a1-ab4a-215b0dfc7102?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Griffin Wiltse</a>&nbsp;punt 72 yards for a touchdown with 2:44 to go before the half.The Coyotes led 17-14 at intermission.

On Wesleyan's first drive of the second half, the Coyotes had to score twice. Lara appeared to hit&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3f220727-9f05-44d6-ac98-2b6604778280?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Luke Armstrong</a>&nbsp;for a 64-yard passing touchdown, but Armstrong was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and wiped the points off the board.

Nevertheless, the Coyotes found the endzone again five plays later when Lara hit Armstrong again, this time from three yards out to give KWU a 24-14 lead with 9:29 left in the third.

Neither team had luck getting out of their respective side of the field until late in the fourth when the Coyotes turned Bethel over on downs, taking over at the Bethel 43 with 3:11 left. 

The KWU drive appeared to stall, but Bethel was called for roughing the kicker on the punt and KWU had new life at the Bethel 28 and was able to run out the clock for the win.

Lara was 18 of 28 passing for 180 yards and three scores. Allsman had 49 yards rushing on 15 carries to lead the rushers. Lomax-Spivey had 47 yards receiving on three catches. 

Defensively,&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e2a16675-a4c3-4f44-8ef3-a25af3076edf?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Ricardo Garcia</a>&nbsp;led the Coyotes with eight stops while&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cf104727-3fed-4739-b317-33d527aa615c?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Jhalen Haynes</a>&nbsp;had seven.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/48b2c00e-7196-4587-b790-364a9d388e0d?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Josh King-Bradley</a>&nbsp;had two sacks and Massaquoi had an interception.

Wesleyan returns home next Saturday to face McPherson in the final non-division game for the Coyotes. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Gene Bissell Field at JRI Hospitality Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.

NORTH NEWTON -&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan held the Bethel Threshers without a second half point and just 64 yards of offense as the Coyotes came away with a 24-14 win on Saturday night at Joe W. Goering Field at Thresher Stadium.The win was the eighth straight win in North Newton for the Coyotes, a streak dating back to 2009 and was the 14th&nbsp;win in the last 15 meetings for the Coyotes in the series.Wesleyan's defense was again solid, holding Bethel to just 213 yards of total offense in the game, while the Coyote offense had 264 yards of offense, 180 through the air, as KWU got the passing game going.Bethel scored first on its first drive of the game, capping a 10 play, 66 yard drive with a 35-yard pass from DJ Ciers to Trevon Madison with 6:45 to go in the first.The scoring drive was the only one of the first quarter. The Coyotes had a short field to work with on the first drive of the second quarter and capitalized.When the drive stalled at the Bethel 25,&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/308a9f05-502c-438c-a3f1-7e3d273b7404?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Talon Cope</a>&nbsp;got the Coyotes on the board connecting on a 42-yard field goal with 11:12 to go in the half.Wesleyan's defense then stepped up, forcing two Bethel turnovers that turned into 14 points. The Coyotes forced a fumble by Corey Catron that was recovered by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09aa7bf0-2ff7-4bd3-9c9e-a8a80b84a208?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Deyondre Gomez</a>&nbsp;after being knocked loose by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2e83dedd-92a6-4b3b-a4f7-92307d499c5a?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Julian Urioste</a>&nbsp;and four plays later were in the endzone as&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/242a84d4-d0ad-4e9b-ab32-39651fd12fdd?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Richard Lara</a>&nbsp;hit&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5f7982f2-44de-4fc2-a98d-ca19c0d72c22?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Tyler Boston</a>&nbsp;for a 23-yard touchdown with 8:23 left in the half.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9ece811d-db56-4b11-bcd3-47a3327ed66d?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Quatama Massaquoi</a>&nbsp;picked off a pass on Bethel's next drive and returned it to the Bethel 25 and two plays later Lara hit a wide open&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/244b1186-acf3-48b4-bae1-0d4ce6d724ce?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Nick Allsman</a>&nbsp;for a 24-yard touchdown pass and it was 17-7 Coyotes with 5:57 left.Madison got Bethel back within a field goal returning a&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0443ec63-b00a-45a1-ab4a-215b0dfc7102?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Griffin Wiltse</a>&nbsp;punt 72 yards for a touchdown with 2:44 to go before the half.The Coyotes led 17-14 at intermission.On Wesleyan's first drive of the second half, the Coyotes had to score twice. Lara appeared to hit&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3f220727-9f05-44d6-ac98-2b6604778280?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Luke Armstrong</a>&nbsp;for a 64-yard passing touchdown, but Armstrong was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and wiped the points off the board.Nevertheless, the Coyotes found the endzone again five plays later when Lara hit Armstrong again, this time from three yards out to give KWU a 24-14 lead with 9:29 left in the third.Neither team had luck getting out of their respective side of the field until late in the fourth when the Coyotes turned Bethel over on downs, taking over at the Bethel 43 with 3:11 left. The KWU drive appeared to stall, but Bethel was called for roughing the kicker on the punt and KWU had new life at the Bethel 28 and was able to run out the clock for the win.Lara was 18 of 28 passing for 180 yards and three scores. Allsman had 49 yards rushing on 15 carries to lead the rushers. Lomax-Spivey had 47 yards receiving on three catches. Defensively,&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e2a16675-a4c3-4f44-8ef3-a25af3076edf?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Ricardo Garcia</a>&nbsp;led the Coyotes with eight stops while&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cf104727-3fed-4739-b317-33d527aa615c?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Jhalen Haynes</a>&nbsp;had seven.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/48b2c00e-7196-4587-b790-364a9d388e0d?elinkdata=1011" target="_blank">Josh King-Bradley</a>&nbsp;had two sacks and Massaquoi had an interception.Wesleyan returns home next Saturday to face McPherson in the final non-division game for the Coyotes. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Gene Bissell Field at JRI Hospitality Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.

KWU Football holds Bethel scoreless in second half, comes away with 24-14 win

Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes Coach Show&nbsp;&nbsp;6 p.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;Chiefs Kingdom Show&nbsp;&nbsp;7 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; (Listen at&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;

Kpreps Kansas Pregame Show&nbsp;&nbsp;6 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp; (Listen at&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>) Southeast of Saline Trojans Football Pregame Show&nbsp;6:30 p.m.&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a>

<a href="http://910kina.com/"></a>Southeast of Saline Trojans vs. Clay Center Tigers Football at Clay Center High School 7 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp; (<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a>&nbsp;or Watch and Listen Live on Salina Post)

Sacred Heart Knights vs. Valley Heights Mustang Football at Valley Heights Jr/Sr High School, Blue Rapids, KS&nbsp;7 p.m.&nbsp; (Watch and Listen on Salina Post)

KIN Scoreboard Show&nbsp;&nbsp;10pm&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;

MRN&nbsp; Nascar Live&nbsp;&nbsp;8 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;

Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Pregame Show 12-1 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;

Kansas Wesleyan Coyote vs. McPherson College Bulldogs Football at Kansas Wesleyan University, Gene Bissell Field 1 p.m.&nbsp;

(<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a>&nbsp;or Watch and Listen Live on Salina Post)&nbsp;&nbsp;

PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters&nbsp;&nbsp;9 a.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;

MRN Yellawood 500 at Talladega Super Speedway, Talladega, Al 12 p.m.

&nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Jets at Met Life&nbsp;Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ&nbsp; 6 p.m.(<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://99kg.live/"> KSKG</a>)

<h2>Monday</h2>Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes Coach Show&nbsp;&nbsp;6 p.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;Chiefs Kingdom Show&nbsp;&nbsp;7 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; (Listen at&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;<h2>Friday</h2>Kpreps Kansas Pregame Show&nbsp;&nbsp;6 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp; (Listen at&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>) Southeast of Saline Trojans Football Pregame Show&nbsp;6:30 p.m.&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a><a href="http://910kina.com/"></a>Southeast of Saline Trojans vs. Clay Center Tigers Football at Clay Center High School 7 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp; (<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a>&nbsp;or Watch and Listen Live on Salina Post)Sacred Heart Knights vs. Valley Heights Mustang Football at Valley Heights Jr/Sr High School, Blue Rapids, KS&nbsp;7 p.m.&nbsp; (Watch and Listen on Salina Post)KIN Scoreboard Show&nbsp;&nbsp;10pm&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;<h2>Saturday</h2>MRN&nbsp; Nascar Live&nbsp;&nbsp;8 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Pregame Show 12-1 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan Coyote vs. McPherson College Bulldogs Football at Kansas Wesleyan University, Gene Bissell Field 1 p.m.&nbsp;

(<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a>&nbsp;or Watch and Listen Live on Salina Post)&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Sunday</h2>PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters&nbsp;&nbsp;9 a.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp;MRN Yellawood 500 at Talladega Super Speedway, Talladega, Al 12 p.m.

&nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Jets at Met Life&nbsp;Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ&nbsp; 6 p.m.(<a href="http://910kina.com/">Listen on KINA</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://99kg.live/"> KSKG</a>)

KINA weekly sports schedule

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&amp;id=18206" target="_blank">Final Stats</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/9/23/KS_44__UCF_31_book.PDF" target="_blank">Game Book (.pdf)</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/9/23/K-State_Postgame_Notes.pdf" target="_blank">Postgame Notes</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/9/24/Football_Postgame___Full_Quotes.pdf" target="_blank">Postgame Quotes</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22710&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Highlights</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22709&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Klieman Postgame Press Conference (watch)</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-postgame-press-conference-vs-ucf-september-23-2023/4831" target="_blank">Klieman Postgame Press Conference (listen)</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EumD2G5yXNgLSarXhsUzllnCQ7-ea9GjrtXuVomWN3U/edit#gid=0" target="_blank">Media Downloads</a>

By D. SCOTT FRITCHEN MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State welcomed UCF to the Big 12 Conference, and DJ Giddens said hello to one of the Wildcats’ more memorable individual performances in recent years in a 44-31 win before a much-needed bye week.

Giddens had 30 carries for 207 yards and four touchdowns and added eight receptions for 86 yards for the Wildcats while scoring on runs of 1, 9, 18 and 3 yards. However, one of his biggest plays came when he didn’t even reach paydirt. With the score tied 24-24 late in the third quarter, Giddens caught a third-down swing pass from Will Howard and gained 16 yards for a first down.

Howard coasted around the left side and into the end zone on the next play with 1 minute, 28 seconds left in the third quarter.

“I have to shout out the offensive line and Will for their confidence in me,” Giddens said. “I tried to make one or two people miss. That’s really what it was.”

From there, the Wildcats, 3-1, steadily pulled away from the Knights, 3-1, who played in their first conference game as a Big 12 member in front of a crowd of 51,912 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. As the fourth quarter wore on, K-State head coach Chris Klieman became more animated on the sidelines, cheering on his players after key offensive and defensive plays.

The Wildcats’ victory comes off the heels of a heartbreaking three-point loss at Missouri on a last-play 61-yard field goal last Saturday.

“What a win by our guys and our team coming off a difficult loss last week,” Klieman said. “We talked here that we couldn’t let Missouri beat us twice, and our kids rose up. We played an excellent football team. UCF is really talented. We knew this was going to be the type of game it was — back and forth.”

Howard completed 27-0f-42 passes for 255 yards and tossed one interception, and he rushed for two scores after entering the week questionable to play. He proved capable and grew stronger toward the end — rushing for a 31-yard score for a 44-24 lead.

“I knew I was playing all week for sure,” Howard said. “Once the adrenaline got going, I was fine.”

“It was a huge win,” Howard continued. “Any game in this conference is tough, especially a team like that that’s new to the conference, which wanted to come in and make a stamp. That’s a tough team. It was a big win.”

Timmy McClain completed 14-of-24 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. McClain’s favorite target, Kobe Hudson, had five catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Johnny Richardson had six carries for 76 yards.

“I was proud of our guys because whether it was throwing the ball vertical or handing it to (Richardson), they can score from anywhere, and we held them essentially to 24 points,” Klieman said. “We did some good things on defense. We’ve got to get better but we did some good things.”

K-State out-gained UCF 536 to 407 in total offense. The Wildcats were balanced with 281 rushing yards and 255 passing yards while running off 82 total plays.

“We got back to the ‘Beef’ identity tonight,” said All-American left guard Cooper Beebe. “We knew coming into this game we had to control the clock. We knew the type of offense they had. They’re a high-paced, explosive offense. We had to control the game.”

The Wildcats gave up scoring plays of 27, 69 and 46 yards but stiffened at critical times as the Knights were 5-of-12 on third down. The Knights had 10 penalties, including several delay-of-game penalties due to crowd noise.

“We’re 1-0 in league play going into an open week,” Klieman said. “Couldn’t be more thrilled. We’re by no means a finished product. We have to get a lot better as a football team. We’re still growing and learning as a team, but it was exciting to come back home in front of a great sellout crowd. Our crowd was phenomenal tonight. They were a big factor in a number of delay-of-game penalties they had in the fourth quarter.”

UCF came out of halftime and struck immediately as Hudson reeled in a 46-yard pass from McClain for a 24-21 lead. Then K-State answered as Chris Tennant tied it at 24-24 with a 30-yard field goal.

Things stayed that way until the Wildcats made their charge and Howard connected with Giddens before he kept the ball and rolled into the end zone.

It wasn’t until running back RJ Harvey scored a 1-yard run with 3 seconds left that the Knights added to their scoring total. By then, the K-State Marching Band had already played, “Happy Trails.”

And there was rightfully much happiness in Manhattan.

“It’s awesome to start this tough conference 1-0,” tight end Ben Sinnott said. “It’s very deep and very competitive. We had a bunch of ups and downs to battle. Any game you can come out with a victory and rally guys together and push through brings a team closer.”

Giddens finished with 293 scrimmage yards, third-most in school history and only behind Darren Sproles’ total of 323 scrimmage yards against Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game and his 298 yards against Louisiana in 2004.

Giddens had 14 carries for 107 yards and three touchdowns and six catches for 66 yards in the first half alone. He got K-State on the scoreboard first when he busted a 36-yard run up the middle to set up his 1-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. It marked Giddens’ first touchdown of the season. It gave K-State a game-opening touchdown drive in four straight games for the first time since at least 1990.

UCF took the lead, 10-7, after it followed a 29-yard field goal with a 57-yard touchdown drive following a Howard interception. McClain sucked in the defensive front and completed a pass to Harvey in the flat and the running back raced down the sideline and into the end zone with 1:47 left in the first quarter to snatch the lead from the Wildcats.

But the Knights’ lead didn’t last long. Howard fired back on a 12-play, 84-yard charge in which he alternated between run and pass. He hit Giddens on a short pass that he turned into a 24-yard gain. Five plays later, Giddens cut outside and outraced defenders to the right pylon for a 14-10 advantage.

“I’m glad DJ got to show the world what we see in practice at all times,” Beebe said. “I love that kid to death.”

Kobe Savage forced a fumble and VJ Payne recovered the football at the UCF 38-yard line, and Giddens went to work. He carried four times and followed a 16-yard rush up the middle with an 18-yard touchdown for a 21-10 lead.

When K-State saw a drive stall, UCF quickly went to work. McClain handed off to Harvey who tossed the ball back to McClain on a flea-flicker, and Hudson got 15 yards behind the defensive secondary for a 69-yard catch-and-run to draw to within 21-17.

Jacob Parrish came up with the Wildcats’ defensive play of the first half when he got underneath a McClain pass for an interception at the UCF 39-yard line.

But the feisty Knights wouldn’t go away until the Wildcats were able to clamp down and keep them out of the end zone for most of the final two quarters.

“This shows us where we’re at,” UCF head coach Gus Malzahn said. “We’ve got to play really good. We have to play disciplined. We didn’t do the things that it takes to get a quality win against a really good opponent on their home field. We still have a really good football team.”

Coming off a close loss at Missouri, K-State appears to have a really good team as well.

“We strive on overcoming adversity and always talk about average teams get destroyed by adversity and good teams survive it and great teams get better because of it,” Klieman said. “That’s what we want to be, a great team. We have to continue to get better because of the adversity.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695649401212.jpeg" alt="Giddens’ 4 TDs Carries K-State Past UCF, 44-31" />
 <figcaption>Giddens’ 4 TDs Carries K-State Past UCF, 44-31</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&amp;id=18206" target="_blank">Final Stats</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/9/23/KS_44__UCF_31_book.PDF" target="_blank">Game Book (.pdf)</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/9/23/K-State_Postgame_Notes.pdf" target="_blank">Postgame Notes</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/9/24/Football_Postgame___Full_Quotes.pdf" target="_blank">Postgame Quotes</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22710&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Highlights</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22709&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Klieman Postgame Press Conference (watch)</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-postgame-press-conference-vs-ucf-september-23-2023/4831" target="_blank">Klieman Postgame Press Conference (listen)</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EumD2G5yXNgLSarXhsUzllnCQ7-ea9GjrtXuVomWN3U/edit#gid=0" target="_blank">Media Downloads</a>By D. SCOTT FRITCHEN MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State welcomed UCF to the Big 12 Conference, and DJ Giddens said hello to one of the Wildcats’ more memorable individual performances in recent years in a 44-31 win before a much-needed bye week.Giddens had 30 carries for 207 yards and four touchdowns and added eight receptions for 86 yards for the Wildcats while scoring on runs of 1, 9, 18 and 3 yards. However, one of his biggest plays came when he didn’t even reach paydirt. With the score tied 24-24 late in the third quarter, Giddens caught a third-down swing pass from Will Howard and gained 16 yards for a first down.Howard coasted around the left side and into the end zone on the next play with 1 minute, 28 seconds left in the third quarter.“I have to shout out the offensive line and Will for their confidence in me,” Giddens said. “I tried to make one or two people miss. That’s really what it was.”From there, the Wildcats, 3-1, steadily pulled away from the Knights, 3-1, who played in their first conference game as a Big 12 member in front of a crowd of 51,912 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. As the fourth quarter wore on, K-State head coach Chris Klieman became more animated on the sidelines, cheering on his players after key offensive and defensive plays.The Wildcats’ victory comes off the heels of a heartbreaking three-point loss at Missouri on a last-play 61-yard field goal last Saturday.“What a win by our guys and our team coming off a difficult loss last week,” Klieman said. “We talked here that we couldn’t let Missouri beat us twice, and our kids rose up. We played an excellent football team. UCF is really talented. We knew this was going to be the type of game it was — back and forth.”Howard completed 27-0f-42 passes for 255 yards and tossed one interception, and he rushed for two scores after entering the week questionable to play. He proved capable and grew stronger toward the end — rushing for a 31-yard score for a 44-24 lead.“I knew I was playing all week for sure,” Howard said. “Once the adrenaline got going, I was fine.”“It was a huge win,” Howard continued. “Any game in this conference is tough, especially a team like that that’s new to the conference, which wanted to come in and make a stamp. That’s a tough team. It was a big win.”Timmy McClain completed 14-of-24 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. McClain’s favorite target, Kobe Hudson, had five catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Johnny Richardson had six carries for 76 yards.“I was proud of our guys because whether it was throwing the ball vertical or handing it to (Richardson), they can score from anywhere, and we held them essentially to 24 points,” Klieman said. “We did some good things on defense. We’ve got to get better but we did some good things.”K-State out-gained UCF 536 to 407 in total offense. The Wildcats were balanced with 281 rushing yards and 255 passing yards while running off 82 total plays.“We got back to the ‘Beef’ identity tonight,” said All-American left guard Cooper Beebe. “We knew coming into this game we had to control the clock. We knew the type of offense they had. They’re a high-paced, explosive offense. We had to control the game.”The Wildcats gave up scoring plays of 27, 69 and 46 yards but stiffened at critical times as the Knights were 5-of-12 on third down. The Knights had 10 penalties, including several delay-of-game penalties due to crowd noise.“We’re 1-0 in league play going into an open week,” Klieman said. “Couldn’t be more thrilled. We’re by no means a finished product. We have to get a lot better as a football team. We’re still growing and learning as a team, but it was exciting to come back home in front of a great sellout crowd. Our crowd was phenomenal tonight. They were a big factor in a number of delay-of-game penalties they had in the fourth quarter.”UCF came out of halftime and struck immediately as Hudson reeled in a 46-yard pass from McClain for a 24-21 lead. Then K-State answered as Chris Tennant tied it at 24-24 with a 30-yard field goal.Things stayed that way until the Wildcats made their charge and Howard connected with Giddens before he kept the ball and rolled into the end zone.It wasn’t until running back RJ Harvey scored a 1-yard run with 3 seconds left that the Knights added to their scoring total. By then, the K-State Marching Band had already played, “Happy Trails.”And there was rightfully much happiness in Manhattan.“It’s awesome to start this tough conference 1-0,” tight end Ben Sinnott said. “It’s very deep and very competitive. We had a bunch of ups and downs to battle. Any game you can come out with a victory and rally guys together and push through brings a team closer.”Giddens finished with 293 scrimmage yards, third-most in school history and only behind Darren Sproles’ total of 323 scrimmage yards against Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game and his 298 yards against Louisiana in 2004.Giddens had 14 carries for 107 yards and three touchdowns and six catches for 66 yards in the first half alone. He got K-State on the scoreboard first when he busted a 36-yard run up the middle to set up his 1-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. It marked Giddens’ first touchdown of the season. It gave K-State a game-opening touchdown drive in four straight games for the first time since at least 1990.K-State’s momentum was short lived.UCF took the lead, 10-7, after it followed a 29-yard field goal with a 57-yard touchdown drive following a Howard interception. McClain sucked in the defensive front and completed a pass to Harvey in the flat and the running back raced down the sideline and into the end zone with 1:47 left in the first quarter to snatch the lead from the Wildcats.But the Knights’ lead didn’t last long. Howard fired back on a 12-play, 84-yard charge in which he alternated between run and pass. He hit Giddens on a short pass that he turned into a 24-yard gain. Five plays later, Giddens cut outside and outraced defenders to the right pylon for a 14-10 advantage.Giddens was just getting started.“I’m glad DJ got to show the world what we see in practice at all times,” Beebe said. “I love that kid to death.”Kobe Savage forced a fumble and VJ Payne recovered the football at the UCF 38-yard line, and Giddens went to work. He carried four times and followed a 16-yard rush up the middle with an 18-yard touchdown for a 21-10 lead.When K-State saw a drive stall, UCF quickly went to work. McClain handed off to Harvey who tossed the ball back to McClain on a flea-flicker, and Hudson got 15 yards behind the defensive secondary for a 69-yard catch-and-run to draw to within 21-17.Jacob Parrish came up with the Wildcats’ defensive play of the first half when he got underneath a McClain pass for an interception at the UCF 39-yard line.But the feisty Knights wouldn’t go away until the Wildcats were able to clamp down and keep them out of the end zone for most of the final two quarters.“This shows us where we’re at,” UCF head coach Gus Malzahn said. “We’ve got to play really good. We have to play disciplined. We didn’t do the things that it takes to get a quality win against a really good opponent on their home field. We still have a really good football team.”Coming off a close loss at Missouri, K-State appears to have a really good team as well.“We strive on overcoming adversity and always talk about average teams get destroyed by adversity and good teams survive it and great teams get better because of it,” Klieman said. “That’s what we want to be, a great team. We have to continue to get better because of the adversity.”

Giddens’ 4 TDs Carries K-State Past UCF, 44-31

KANSAS CITY— Kansas State men's basketball head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;served as the Drum Honoree before Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

At every home game, the Chiefs organization invites an honored guest – Drum Honoree – to bang the team's 8-foot-tall drum and lead the Arrowhead faithful in the Chop right before kickoff. Those selected as Drum Honorees demonstrate Kansas City Chiefs founder&nbsp;Lamar Hunt's&nbsp;best qualities, including vision, a pioneering spirit, compassion, humility and love for community.

Since the tradition was reintroduced at Arrowhead beginning in 2012, other Drum Honorees have included owner&nbsp;Clark Hunt, Voice of the Chiefs and K-State Athletics Hall of Fame member&nbsp;Mitch Holthus, Hall of Fame NFL Coach&nbsp;Dick Vermeil&nbsp;and Kansas City Royals shortstop&nbsp;Bobby Witt Jr.Former Chiefs quarterback&nbsp;Chad Henne&nbsp;was the first Drum Honoree of the season.

KANSAS CITY— Kansas State men's basketball head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;served as the Drum Honoree before Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🥁🥁🥁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KStateMBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KStateMBB</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a> <a href="https://t.co/jzjv7xkgE5">pic.twitter.com/jzjv7xkgE5</a>&mdash; K-State Men&#39;s Basketball (@KStateMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/KStateMBB/status/1706058080935420292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>At every home game, the Chiefs organization invites an honored guest – Drum Honoree – to bang the team's 8-foot-tall drum and lead the Arrowhead faithful in the Chop right before kickoff. Those selected as Drum Honorees demonstrate Kansas City Chiefs founder&nbsp;Lamar Hunt's&nbsp;best qualities, including vision, a pioneering spirit, compassion, humility and love for community.Since the tradition was reintroduced at Arrowhead beginning in 2012, other Drum Honorees have included owner&nbsp;Clark Hunt, Voice of the Chiefs and K-State Athletics Hall of Fame member&nbsp;Mitch Holthus, Hall of Fame NFL Coach&nbsp;Dick Vermeil&nbsp;and Kansas City Royals shortstop&nbsp;Bobby Witt Jr.Former Chiefs quarterback&nbsp;Chad Henne&nbsp;was the first Drum Honoree of the season.

🎥 K-State coach Jerome Tang Chiefs drum deck honoree

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, Travis Kelce hauled in one of them to the delight of Taylor Swift, and the Kansas City Chiefs blew out the inept Chicago Bears 41-10 on Sunday.

Jerick McKinnon had a pair of touchdown catches and Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire added touchdown runs, helping the Super Bowl champion Chiefs (2-1) deal the Bears (0-3) their 13th consecutive loss dating to last season.

Kelce finished with seven catches for 69 yards and the 3-yard score, which made it 41-0 early in the second half. The All-Pro tight end celebrated by revving the engine of an imaginary motorcycle while Swift, whom Kelce had invited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">amid rumors of their budding relationship</a>, joyfully pounded the glass of her Arrowhead Stadium suite and his mother, Donna Kelce, cheered alongside.

The game was so lopsided by the third quarter that Mahomes and most of the Chiefs' starters got the rest of the day off.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justin-fields-chicago-bears-nfl-b28d8307fff74f48c81346719f322cba">Embattled Bears quarterback Justin Fields</a>&nbsp;was 11 of 22 for 99 yards with an interception and a meaningless touchdown in the final minutes. He also led the Bears with 47 yards rushing, a good chunk of that coming on a 17-yard scramble, as the league's 27th-ranked offense finished with just 203 yards against one of the NFL's fast-improving defenses.

It was a brutal end to a dismal week of distractions for Chicago.

In the span of a few hours Wednesday, defensive coordinator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alan-williams-bears-defensive-coordinator-d3f16da381b8d1fe38f3935f5b86803a">Alan Williams abruptly resigned</a>, citing the need “to take care of my health and family,” and Fields had to walk back some comments he made blaming his “robotic” play through the first two weeks on the way he had been coached.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus was left to call defensive plays Sunday, just as he did in last weekend's loss to Tampa Bay, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid proceeded to make the former Indianapolis Colts coordinator look utterly lost.

The Chiefs began their assault with the first of Mahomes' two TD passes to McKinnon, then Edwards-Helaire scored from a yard out to make it 14-0 early in the second quarter. When the Bears punted a third consecutive time, Mahomes hit McKinnon again to extend the lead, and Kansas City proceeded to score on its next four possessions.

As for Fields, well, the QB was not just robotic but inaccurate. When one of the league's most porous offensive lines wasn't allowing the Chiefs to pressure him, Fields was consistently missing open targets down field.

He was picked off by Mike Edwards late in the first half, leading to Pacheco's touchdown run. And when Harrison Butker added the second of his two field goals, the Chiefs were able to take a 34-0 lead into the break.

The Bears have not won in Kansas City since Week 5 of the 2015 season. ... Reid won his 271st game, moving him past Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry into fourth place on the career list. ... Mahomes went over 25,000 yards passing for his career. He did it in 83 games, the fastest in NFL history. ... Mahomes had his 22nd game with three TD passes and no interceptions, tying Aaron Rodgers for the most by a QB before turning 30. Mahomes turned 28 last Sunday. ... Kelce needs three more TD catches to pass Tony Gonzalez (76) for second in Chiefs history.

Bears: Starting safety Eddie Jackson was inactive with a foot injury and cornerback Josh Blackwell was dealing with a hamstring injury, all before cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had to be evaluated for a concussion; he later was deemed to have an illness and did not return. Defensive backs Jaquan Brisker and Jaylon Johnson also were hobbled during the game.

Bears: Host the Denver Broncos next Sunday.

Chiefs: Visit the New York Jets next Sunday night.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, Travis Kelce hauled in one of them to the delight of Taylor Swift, and the Kansas City Chiefs blew out the inept Chicago Bears 41-10 on Sunday.Jerick McKinnon had a pair of touchdown catches and Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire added touchdown runs, helping the Super Bowl champion Chiefs (2-1) deal the Bears (0-3) their 13th consecutive loss dating to last season.Kelce finished with seven catches for 69 yards and the 3-yard score, which made it 41-0 early in the second half. The All-Pro tight end celebrated by revving the engine of an imaginary motorcycle while Swift, whom Kelce had invited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">amid rumors of their budding relationship</a>, joyfully pounded the glass of her Arrowhead Stadium suite and his mother, Donna Kelce, cheered alongside.The game was so lopsided by the third quarter that Mahomes and most of the Chiefs' starters got the rest of the day off.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justin-fields-chicago-bears-nfl-b28d8307fff74f48c81346719f322cba">Embattled Bears quarterback Justin Fields</a>&nbsp;was 11 of 22 for 99 yards with an interception and a meaningless touchdown in the final minutes. He also led the Bears with 47 yards rushing, a good chunk of that coming on a 17-yard scramble, as the league's 27th-ranked offense finished with just 203 yards against one of the NFL's fast-improving defenses.It was a brutal end to a dismal week of distractions for Chicago.In the span of a few hours Wednesday, defensive coordinator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alan-williams-bears-defensive-coordinator-d3f16da381b8d1fe38f3935f5b86803a">Alan Williams abruptly resigned</a>, citing the need “to take care of my health and family,” and Fields had to walk back some comments he made blaming his “robotic” play through the first two weeks on the way he had been coached.Bears coach Matt Eberflus was left to call defensive plays Sunday, just as he did in last weekend's loss to Tampa Bay, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid proceeded to make the former Indianapolis Colts coordinator look utterly lost.The Chiefs began their assault with the first of Mahomes' two TD passes to McKinnon, then Edwards-Helaire scored from a yard out to make it 14-0 early in the second quarter. When the Bears punted a third consecutive time, Mahomes hit McKinnon again to extend the lead, and Kansas City proceeded to score on its next four possessions.As for Fields, well, the QB was not just robotic but inaccurate. When one of the league's most porous offensive lines wasn't allowing the Chiefs to pressure him, Fields was consistently missing open targets down field.He was picked off by Mike Edwards late in the first half, leading to Pacheco's touchdown run. And when Harrison Butker added the second of his two field goals, the Chiefs were able to take a 34-0 lead into the break.STATS AND STREAKSThe Bears have not won in Kansas City since Week 5 of the 2015 season. ... Reid won his 271st game, moving him past Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry into fourth place on the career list. ... Mahomes went over 25,000 yards passing for his career. He did it in 83 games, the fastest in NFL history. ... Mahomes had his 22nd game with three TD passes and no interceptions, tying Aaron Rodgers for the most by a QB before turning 30. Mahomes turned 28 last Sunday. ... Kelce needs three more TD catches to pass Tony Gonzalez (76) for second in Chiefs history.INJURIESBears: Starting safety Eddie Jackson was inactive with a foot injury and cornerback Josh Blackwell was dealing with a hamstring injury, all before cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had to be evaluated for a concussion; he later was deemed to have an illness and did not return. Defensive backs Jaquan Brisker and Jaylon Johnson also were hobbled during the game.UP NEXTBears: Host the Denver Broncos next Sunday.Chiefs: Visit the New York Jets next Sunday night.

🏈 Patrick Mahomes throws 3 TD passes, Chiefs rout Bears

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) — Nelson Velázquez hit two home runs and Salvador Perez and Matt Duffy also homered as the Kansas City Royals built a big lead early and held on for a 6-5 win over the slumping Houston Astros Sunday.

The victory completed a three-game sweep and left Houston two games behind the Texas Rangers and tied with the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. Texas and Seattle were playing each other Sunday afternoon.

Houston finished 39-42 at Minute Maid Park, its first losing record at home since 2014.

Kansas City (54-102) has won six straight games and 10 of 11. The Royals raced to a 6-2 lead after tagging rookie Hunter Brown (11-13) for all four homers in just three innings.

Yordan Alvarez hit a solo homer to cut the lead to one run in the fifth. But the defending World Series champions couldn’t do anything after that on a day they went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and lost for the fifth time in six games.

Chas McCormick doubled with one out in the eighth inning, but Carlos Hernandez retired the next two batters to leave him stranded.

James McArthur gave up a single to Jose Altuve with one out in the ninth, but he retired Alex Bregman and Alvarez to end it and get his third save.

Steven Cruz opened the game for the Royals and allowed three hits and run in an inning before Alec Marsh (3-8) took over. He allowed three hits and four runs — three earned — with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for the win.

It’s the fifth win in a row for the 102-loss Royals, who took five of six from the Astros this season.

Altuve hit a leadoff single and moved to third on a one-out single by Alvarez. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when Altuve scored on a single by Jose Abreu with two outs.

The Royals tied it on a homer to right field by Velazquez to start the second. Nick Loftin singled before Duffy put Kansas City up 3-1 with his shot to the seats in left field with one out in the inning.

Yainer Diaz and Mauricio Dubón hit back-to-back singles with no outs in the second. Jeremy Peña moved them both over one with a sacrifice bunt. Houston cut the lead to 3-2 when Diaz scored on a groundout by Altuve.

Bobby Witt Jr. walked to open the third inning before Perez homered on a soaring shot that bounced off the wall in left field to make it 5-2. Five pitches later, Velazquez connected on his second home run of the game to push the lead to 6-2.

Marsh plunked Alvarez with not outs in the third before Kyle Tucker reached on catcher’s interference. Abreu walked to load the bases before Alvarez scored when McCormick grounded into a force out that left Abreu out at second.

The Astros cut the lead to two runs when Tucker scored on a groundout by Diaz before Dubón grounded out to end the inning.

Royals: Perez was activated from the injured list after sitting out since sustaining a mild concussion Sept. 16. … C Tyler Cropley was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to make room for him on the roster.

Astros: OF Michael Brantley missed a sixth straight game Sunday with right shoulder soreness. But he took batting practice on the field before the game and could return as soon as Monday.

Royals: Kansas City is off Monday before opening a three-game series at Detroit Tuesday night when RHP Zack Greinke (1-15, 5.37 ERA) opposes RHP Reese Olson (5-7, 4.13).

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (11-8, 3.44) opposes Seattle RHP Luis Castillo (14-7, 3.06) in the opener of a three-game series against the Mariners Monday night.

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports WriterHOUSTON (AP) — Nelson Velázquez hit two home runs and Salvador Perez and Matt Duffy also homered as the Kansas City Royals built a big lead early and held on for a 6-5 win over the slumping Houston Astros Sunday.The victory completed a three-game sweep and left Houston two games behind the Texas Rangers and tied with the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. Texas and Seattle were playing each other Sunday afternoon.Houston finished 39-42 at Minute Maid Park, its first losing record at home since 2014.Kansas City (54-102) has won six straight games and 10 of 11. The Royals raced to a 6-2 lead after tagging rookie Hunter Brown (11-13) for all four homers in just three innings.Yordan Alvarez hit a solo homer to cut the lead to one run in the fifth. But the defending World Series champions couldn’t do anything after that on a day they went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and lost for the fifth time in six games.Chas McCormick doubled with one out in the eighth inning, but Carlos Hernandez retired the next two batters to leave him stranded.James McArthur gave up a single to Jose Altuve with one out in the ninth, but he retired Alex Bregman and Alvarez to end it and get his third save.Steven Cruz opened the game for the Royals and allowed three hits and run in an inning before Alec Marsh (3-8) took over. He allowed three hits and four runs — three earned — with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for the win.It’s the fifth win in a row for the 102-loss Royals, who took five of six from the Astros this season.Altuve hit a leadoff single and moved to third on a one-out single by Alvarez. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when Altuve scored on a single by Jose Abreu with two outs.The Royals tied it on a homer to right field by Velazquez to start the second. Nick Loftin singled before Duffy put Kansas City up 3-1 with his shot to the seats in left field with one out in the inning.Yainer Diaz and Mauricio Dubón hit back-to-back singles with no outs in the second. Jeremy Peña moved them both over one with a sacrifice bunt. Houston cut the lead to 3-2 when Diaz scored on a groundout by Altuve.Bobby Witt Jr. walked to open the third inning before Perez homered on a soaring shot that bounced off the wall in left field to make it 5-2. Five pitches later, Velazquez connected on his second home run of the game to push the lead to 6-2.Marsh plunked Alvarez with not outs in the third before Kyle Tucker reached on catcher’s interference. Abreu walked to load the bases before Alvarez scored when McCormick grounded into a force out that left Abreu out at second.The Astros cut the lead to two runs when Tucker scored on a groundout by Diaz before Dubón grounded out to end the inning.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: Perez was activated from the injured list after sitting out since sustaining a mild concussion Sept. 16. … C Tyler Cropley was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to make room for him on the roster.Astros: OF Michael Brantley missed a sixth straight game Sunday with right shoulder soreness. But he took batting practice on the field before the game and could return as soon as Monday.UP NEXTRoyals: Kansas City is off Monday before opening a three-game series at Detroit Tuesday night when RHP Zack Greinke (1-15, 5.37 ERA) opposes RHP Reese Olson (5-7, 4.13).Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (11-8, 3.44) opposes Seattle RHP Luis Castillo (14-7, 3.06) in the opener of a three-game series against the Mariners Monday night.

⚾ Royals hit 4 homers, beat slumping Astros for sweep

For the first time since 2008-09,
Kansas is ranked in the Associated Press College Football poll in consecutive
seasons. The 4-0 Jayhawks make their debut into this year’s poll at No. 24 following Saturday's home
win over BYU.

Kansas was ranked twice in the AP Poll during the 2022 season, both at No. 19.&nbsp;

Missouri makes their first appearance at No. 23.

Kansas State (3-1), who was ranked
as high as 15th before losing at Missouri two weeks ago, is just out of this week’s poll as the highest vote-getter not ranked

The Big 12 has three teams
ranked. Texas holds at No. 3 and Oklahoma moves up two to No. 14.

AP COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL 1. Georgia (4-0) 2. Michigan (4-0) 3. Texas (4-0) 4. Ohio State (4-0) 5. Florida State (4-0) 6. Penn State (4-0) 7.&nbsp; Washington (4-0) 8.&nbsp; USC (4-0) 9.&nbsp; Oregon (4-0) 10. Utah (4-0) 11.&nbsp; Notre Dame (4-1) 12. Alabama (3-1) 13. LSU (3-1) 14. Oklahoma (4-0) 15. North Carolina (4-0) 16. Washington State (4-0) 17. Duke (4-0) 18. Miami (Fla.) (4-0) 19. Oregon State (3-1) 20. Ole Miss (3-1) 21. Tennessee (3-1) 22. Florida (3-1) 23. Missouri (4-0) 24. Kansas (4-0) 25. Fresno State (4-0)

Other receiving votes:&nbsp;Kansas St. 57, Kentucky 41, Colorado 32, Louisville 32, UCLA 28, Maryland 20, TCU 17, Tulane 11, Syracuse 8, Wisconsin 6, Air Force 6, Clemson 5, Texas A&amp;M 5.

For the first time since 2008-09,
Kansas is ranked in the Associated Press College Football poll in consecutive
seasons. The 4-0 Jayhawks make their debut into this year’s poll at No. 24 following Saturday's home
win over BYU.Kansas was ranked twice in the AP Poll during the 2022 season, both at No. 19.&nbsp;Missouri makes their first appearance at No. 23.Kansas State (3-1), who was ranked
as high as 15th before losing at Missouri two weeks ago, is just out of this week’s poll as the highest vote-getter not rankedThe Big 12 has three teams
ranked. Texas holds at No. 3 and Oklahoma moves up two to No. 14.Kansas plays at Texas this Saturday.AP COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL 1. Georgia (4-0) 2. Michigan (4-0) 3. Texas (4-0) 4. Ohio State (4-0) 5. Florida State (4-0) 6. Penn State (4-0) 7.&nbsp; Washington (4-0) 8.&nbsp; USC (4-0) 9.&nbsp; Oregon (4-0) 10. Utah (4-0) 11.&nbsp; Notre Dame (4-1) 12. Alabama (3-1) 13. LSU (3-1) 14. Oklahoma (4-0) 15. North Carolina (4-0) 16. Washington State (4-0) 17. Duke (4-0) 18. Miami (Fla.) (4-0) 19. Oregon State (3-1) 20. Ole Miss (3-1) 21. Tennessee (3-1) 22. Florida (3-1) 23. Missouri (4-0) 24. Kansas (4-0) 25. Fresno State (4-0)Other receiving votes:&nbsp;Kansas St. 57, Kentucky 41, Colorado 32, Louisville 32, UCLA 28, Maryland 20, TCU 17, Tulane 11, Syracuse 8, Wisconsin 6, Air Force 6, Clemson 5, Texas A&amp;M 5.

🏈 Jayhawks move into AP top-25, K-State just out

The Kansas City Chiefs return to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium this Sunday to take on the NFC North's Chicago Bears. Kickoff is slated for 3:25 p.m. CT. KC enters the contest with a 1-1 record after defeating the Jaguars 17-9 last Sunday. The Chiefs are 26-9 in the month of September during Head Coach Andy Reid's tenure.

Kansas City is in the midst of its quest for an eighth straight AFC West title. Over the last four seasons the Chiefs have played in three Super Bowls (LIV, LV and LVII). Kansas City has hosted a record five-straight AFC Championship Games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. In 2022, the Chiefs finished with a 14-3 record and the number one seed in the AFC.

KC has clinched seven-consecutive AFC West titles, tying for the secondlongest streak in NFL history (NE - 11, 2009-19). Since 2015, Kansas City has tallied a 42-6 record (.875) against AFC West opponents, the NFL’s best divisional record over an eight-year span since divisional realignment in 2002. 

Under Reid, KC has qualified for the postseason nine times in 10 seasons and has nine 10+ win seasons. Reid owns 270 career victories (regular and postseason combined). He ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time wins list. He has tallied 118 regular season wins in Kansas City.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is in his sixth season as the club’s starting quarterback. As the starter, Mahomes has led the team to five-consecutive home AFC Championship Games, three Super Bowl appearances and earned NFL MVP (2018, 2022) and Super Bowl MVP honors (2019, 2022).

Since 2018, he leads the league in yards (24,488), touchdowns (196), 25+ yard completions (211) and first down throws (1,205). With only 50 interceptions (since 2018), he owns a +146 TD/INT ratio, the highest mark of any active QB in that span. He owns 42 career games of 300+ passing yards. 

TE Travis Kelce has recorded an NFL record seven-straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons (1,338 yards in 2022). He owns 35 games with 100+ receiving yards (most in NFL history for a tight end) and has caught at least one pass in 162 consecutive games (reg. and postseason). Since entering the NFL in 2013, Kelce leads all tight ends in receiving yards (10,370) and receptions (818). He ranks first in touchdowns (70) and catches of 25+yards (81). 

Defensively in 2023, the Chiefs rank third in the NFL in points allowed (23) and have given up only two touchdowns in the first two games. The 2023 Chiefs feature several new faces including two new tackles, Jawaan Taylor (RT) and Donovan Smith (LT). The club drafted DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round (31st overall) and WR Rashee Rice in the second round (55th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft held in Kansas City.

For the first time in six seasons, the Chiefs have a new offensive coordinator. OC Matt Nagy takes on that role for the club after serving in that same capacity from 2016-17. This year’s regular season schedule features eight games vs. seven playoff teams from 2022. The combined 2022 record of Kansas City’s 2023 home and away opponents is 147-140-0 (.512). 

• Head Coach Andy Reid currently sits tied with PFHOF coach Tom Landry for fourth-most combined wins (regular season and postseason) as an NFL head coach with 270. With a win versus the Bears, he would claim out right fourth place on the list.

• QB Patrick Mahomes is second in franchise history with 1,622 yards rushing as a quarterback, trailing only Alex Smith (1,672). With 51 more rushing yards he will become the franchise leader in that category.

• Since entering the NFL in 2017, Mahomes has the third-most games with a passer rating of 100+ with 46 despite playing only one game in 2017. He is one such performance behind Vikings QB Kirk Cousins (47) for second on the list and only four such performances behind Broncos QB Russell Wilson (50) in the top spot.

• With 24,772 career passing yards Mahomes is only 228 yards away from 25,000 for his career. If he were to achieve that mark Sunday against the Bears he will have done so in just 83 career games. That would be the fewest games to reach 25,000 passing yards in NFL history, seven fewer games than the next closest, Rams QB Matthew Stafford (90).

• Mahomes is also closing in on a milestone for career passing touchdowns. At 196 career passing touchdowns he is just four shy of the 200 mark.

• With 47 touchdown connections Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce currently sit fourth all-time for most QB-TE touchdown connections in NFL history. With five more they can pass QB Drew Brees and TE Jimmy Graham (51) for third all-time.

• Kelce currently holds the second-longest active streak of consecutive games played with a pass reception at 144. Only Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins has a longer active streak with 147. Kelce’s streak is already the longest such streak in franchise history and the third-longest in NFL history for a tight end, just seven games from passing PFHOF TE Ozzie Newsome (150) for second.

• With 73 career touchdowns scored, Kelce ranks third in franchise history. With four more touchdowns, Kelce will surpass PFHOF TE Tony Gonzalez (76) for second place on the list.

• Kelce has scored 448 career points. That is third among non-kickers in Chiefs history (seventh overall). With 15 more points he will pass Gonzalez (462) for second most as a non-kicker (and sixth overall).

• WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is close to hitting two career yardage milestones. With 2,949 career yards from scrimmage, he is just 51 yards shy of 3,000. He is also just 99 yards short of 3,000 career receiving yards currently sitting at 2,901.

• CB L’Jarius Sneed has 6.5 career sacks, which is tied for second-most by a defensive back in Chiefs history. With two more sacks he can pass CB Ron Parker for the top spot on that list.

• K Harrison Butker has hit 23 field goals of 50+ yards since 2017. He is just one such field goal shy of breaking into the top five in that category among all NFL kickers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695303185446.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City Chiefs return to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium this Sunday to take on the NFC North's Chicago Bears. Kickoff is slated for 3:25 p.m. CT. KC enters the contest with a 1-1 record after defeating the Jaguars 17-9 last Sunday. The Chiefs are 26-9 in the month of September during Head Coach Andy Reid's tenure.Kansas City is in the midst of its quest for an eighth straight AFC West title. Over the last four seasons the Chiefs have played in three Super Bowls (LIV, LV and LVII). Kansas City has hosted a record five-straight AFC Championship Games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. In 2022, the Chiefs finished with a 14-3 record and the number one seed in the AFC.KC has clinched seven-consecutive AFC West titles, tying for the secondlongest streak in NFL history (NE - 11, 2009-19). Since 2015, Kansas City has tallied a 42-6 record (.875) against AFC West opponents, the NFL’s best divisional record over an eight-year span since divisional realignment in 2002. Under Reid, KC has qualified for the postseason nine times in 10 seasons and has nine 10+ win seasons. Reid owns 270 career victories (regular and postseason combined). He ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time wins list. He has tallied 118 regular season wins in Kansas City.Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is in his sixth season as the club’s starting quarterback. As the starter, Mahomes has led the team to five-consecutive home AFC Championship Games, three Super Bowl appearances and earned NFL MVP (2018, 2022) and Super Bowl MVP honors (2019, 2022).Since 2018, he leads the league in yards (24,488), touchdowns (196), 25+ yard completions (211) and first down throws (1,205). With only 50 interceptions (since 2018), he owns a +146 TD/INT ratio, the highest mark of any active QB in that span. He owns 42 career games of 300+ passing yards. TE Travis Kelce has recorded an NFL record seven-straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons (1,338 yards in 2022). He owns 35 games with 100+ receiving yards (most in NFL history for a tight end) and has caught at least one pass in 162 consecutive games (reg. and postseason). Since entering the NFL in 2013, Kelce leads all tight ends in receiving yards (10,370) and receptions (818). He ranks first in touchdowns (70) and catches of 25+yards (81). Defensively in 2023, the Chiefs rank third in the NFL in points allowed (23) and have given up only two touchdowns in the first two games. The 2023 Chiefs feature several new faces including two new tackles, Jawaan Taylor (RT) and Donovan Smith (LT). The club drafted DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round (31st overall) and WR Rashee Rice in the second round (55th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft held in Kansas City.For the first time in six seasons, the Chiefs have a new offensive coordinator. OC Matt Nagy takes on that role for the club after serving in that same capacity from 2016-17. This year’s regular season schedule features eight games vs. seven playoff teams from 2022. The combined 2022 record of Kansas City’s 2023 home and away opponents is 147-140-0 (.512). <h2>What to Watch For</h2>• Head Coach Andy Reid currently sits tied with PFHOF coach Tom Landry for fourth-most combined wins (regular season and postseason) as an NFL head coach with 270. With a win versus the Bears, he would claim out right fourth place on the list.• QB Patrick Mahomes is second in franchise history with 1,622 yards rushing as a quarterback, trailing only Alex Smith (1,672). With 51 more rushing yards he will become the franchise leader in that category.• Since entering the NFL in 2017, Mahomes has the third-most games with a passer rating of 100+ with 46 despite playing only one game in 2017. He is one such performance behind Vikings QB Kirk Cousins (47) for second on the list and only four such performances behind Broncos QB Russell Wilson (50) in the top spot.• With 24,772 career passing yards Mahomes is only 228 yards away from 25,000 for his career. If he were to achieve that mark Sunday against the Bears he will have done so in just 83 career games. That would be the fewest games to reach 25,000 passing yards in NFL history, seven fewer games than the next closest, Rams QB Matthew Stafford (90).• Mahomes is also closing in on a milestone for career passing touchdowns. At 196 career passing touchdowns he is just four shy of the 200 mark.• With 47 touchdown connections Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce currently sit fourth all-time for most QB-TE touchdown connections in NFL history. With five more they can pass QB Drew Brees and TE Jimmy Graham (51) for third all-time.• Kelce currently holds the second-longest active streak of consecutive games played with a pass reception at 144. Only Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins has a longer active streak with 147. Kelce’s streak is already the longest such streak in franchise history and the third-longest in NFL history for a tight end, just seven games from passing PFHOF TE Ozzie Newsome (150) for second.• With 73 career touchdowns scored, Kelce ranks third in franchise history. With four more touchdowns, Kelce will surpass PFHOF TE Tony Gonzalez (76) for second place on the list.• Kelce has scored 448 career points. That is third among non-kickers in Chiefs history (seventh overall). With 15 more points he will pass Gonzalez (462) for second most as a non-kicker (and sixth overall).• WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is close to hitting two career yardage milestones. With 2,949 career yards from scrimmage, he is just 51 yards shy of 3,000. He is also just 99 yards short of 3,000 career receiving yards currently sitting at 2,901.• CB L’Jarius Sneed has 6.5 career sacks, which is tied for second-most by a defensive back in Chiefs history. With two more sacks he can pass CB Ron Parker for the top spot on that list.• K Harrison Butker has hit 23 field goals of 50+ yards since 2017. He is just one such field goal shy of breaking into the top five in that category among all NFL kickers.