Chiefs Director of Player Personnel/College Scouting Ryne Nutt Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“The first thing I want to do is kind of recognize some of our area guys and our directors who don’t get a lot of pub. I just feel like this is the chance to kind of give them some recognition, so I’d like to do that. They bust their butts all year long – eight months a year. The travel, the meetings, the calls – they do so much, they’re the unsung heroes of our organization I feel, especially in this process. We have two directors, (Co-Director of College Scouting) Pat Sperduto and (Co-Director of College Scouting) David Hinson, our two college directors, (Senior College Scouting Executive) Terry Delp does the Midwest, Dru Grigson (who) we just hired, his role will be determined later on here. (Southwest Regional Scout) Jason Lamb does the southwest, (National Scout) Jon Howard does the west national, (Western Regional Scout) Greg Castillo does the west regional and then you have (Northeast Area Scout) Cassidy Kaminski doing the northeast and (Mid-Atlantic Area Scout) Will Christopherson does the Mid-Atlantic, so that’s our staff there. Madison Aponte is our&nbsp;Player Personnel Coordinator&nbsp;who helps kind of as a liaison between myself and them and she does a phenomenal job as well. That’s the crew, they do a heck of a job (and) I want to give them their due. With that said, you guys can shoot. Give me the questions you’d like.”

Q: How does Josh Simmons rank as an offensive tackle prospect before the injury?

NUTT:&nbsp;“Josh (Simmons) is – you could make your case for the best, but he’s definitely in the top three in this draft class in terms of what he provides. The only difference maybe between him and some other guys is he started two years and some of these other guys, like the LSU kid (Patriots LT Will Campbell) I think started more and you could say experience and stuff like that, but Josh is physically – he is elite. I mean, he is big, he’s strong, his feet jump off the tape. When you put this tape on, his set is as pretty as it looks now in terms of offensive line pass setting. He got better every year, his first year at Ohio State he flipped to the left side from the right side the year prior and I think it just took him a little time to adjust to just everything, like a new playbook, a new surrounding (and) a new position essentially. It’s not as easy as people think going from the right side to the left side, there is a big difference and sometimes it just takes people a little longer and I think that was the case with Josh. This last year, you can watch those six games, and it’s not unfair to say he was the best tackle up to that point. It stinks he got injured because I do think – I mean, I guess it’s good for us because we got him and that’s the only way we would’ve gotten him because that kid, he was a top-20 pick. It stinks for the kid, it hurt him on his wall and the money but things happen for a reason and it’s kind of not where you start, it’s where you finish and I think just the set up here that we have with (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid and (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck is going to be great for this kid. In terms of years past, I would say Josh, when he was healthy at this year, this tape, would be one of the better ones in the last few years. He kind of reminds me of (Vikings LT) Christian Darrisaw who’s done really well for the Vikings. He’s got a little bit of (Chargers LT Rashawn) Slater in him who plays for the Chargers. The kid’s arms are longer than I think people think, the (NFL) Combine measured him at 33 (inches) but his Pro Day – or 34 and an eighth, and I think that’s closer to what we kind of had, I think we had around 34 when we brought him in. The kid is super talented and super willing to work, and we’re excited to have him where we got him.”

Q: What’s the strategy knowing that Brashard Smith’s on the board and trying to determine when you should make the pick?

NUTT:&nbsp;“We knew before the draft (that) this was a very deep running back class. There were guys that fell into the fourth round that we thought would be gone in the beginning of (round) three and possibly maybe even (round) two, so we kind of knew it was deep. We knew Brashard (Smith) was somebody we liked, kind of in the mid-rounds but with it being so deep, there was maybe a chance to get him. What happened was, in the fifth (round), there was a player in Jeff Bassa who was there, who was clearly the best player on our board. That would’ve been the time to take a running back but when you have another player that is higher on the board, (General Manager) Brett (Veach) likes to go by, ‘Listen, we’ve worked on this board for eight months, let’s let this thing speak to us.’ So, we took the player we had slightly higher in Jeff Bassa and then it allowed Brett to refocus and say, ‘Okay, I’m going to take a running back now. I know who I want.’ We get to the seventh round and Brett felt like giving up another seventh-round pick to move up was well worth it – I think everybody did – to get the kid that we liked in the mid-rounds. That was kind of the thinking there.”

Q: On the process of drafting Jalen Royals.

NUTT:&nbsp;“First off, his (Jalen Royals) game is very similar to Rashee’s (Rice). Where you watch a kid who lines up primarily on the left side, that’s how some offenses in college work, they want to go fast, so they’ll have the receiver line up on the same side every time to do that. So, you’re wondering, ‘Alright, he’s always playing on the left side, is he going to be able to move around?’ and he does, he plays outside but he primarily plays inside in the slot. When I say he’s like Rashee in terms – he’s got big hands, strong hands and he’s very good after the catch. You saw him downfield too on some of those clips, I’m sure you saw him and the kid had what, 15 plus touchdowns in 2023? He was on pace in 2024 to kind of smash the 2023 production before he got injured so we thought – RAC (Run After Catch) is a big part of our offense, that’s something we look for in receivers, we look for speed, the kid had that, 4.40 (40-yard dash), we look for strength, he has that, he’s got RAC and then we look for route running and that’s probably an area where Rashee had to kind of develop a little bit, so we kind of thought they were similar in that respect. He came on the scene, we watched his tape before the Senior Bowl, (General Manager) Brett (Veach) will kind of pick guys that you pick and choose and we’re like, ‘Hey, this guy’s kind of interesting.’ Then, he goes to the Senior Bowl, and we thought he did well, so he got even more on the radar. Then, he goes to the Combine and runs a 4.40, you know what I mean, and he jumps a 36 (inch broad jump) and we’re like, ‘Oh, this kid’s explosive.’ Then, you get the kind of coaches involved and we Zoom him, and we talk and we’re like, ‘Yeah, we could use this kid.’ With Rashee coming back from injury and trying to get right, the hopes are this kid can step in and try to get some playing time and help us out.”

Q: What role does Omarr Norman-Lott fit for you guys?

NUTT:&nbsp;“He’s (Omarr Norman-Lott) got some similarities to Turk (Panthers DT Tershawn Wharton). He’s bigger, he’s not as fast but their play style’s very similar. This kid was like 99th-percentile in terms of rush win-rate. He was one of the top defensive tackles in winning one-on-one pass rush and that’s what we first off need and that’s what we saw could add value. These guys, these interior linemen that are athletic, this kid jumped 31 and a half (inches), 9’5” (feet), he has big hands, those guys go quick, we knew they go quick. We thought – and an interior guy that can rush as well goes even quicker so (General Manager) Brett (Veach) was pretty – before the draft, before that round, Brett was pretty adamant about, ‘Okay, he’s one of these guys we have to consider,’ and we put up a list of four or five guys and he was one of them and he ended up being one of the top guys left and that was a position of need as well. We feel like he can come in and help rush the passer. I feel like he didn’t start a ton in his career there at Tennessee, but it’s really what you do with snaps, and they rotate a lot. So, really it’s just what he does in those 20 to 25 snaps a game and the kid was high-motor, he was highly productive and highly disruptive and those are the things we look for and I think we’ll be able to – (Defensive Line) Coach (Joe) Cullen’s the best defensive line coach in the NFL, I believe and he’ll be able to get that out of him and I think more. Even against the run, the kid I thought was solid and stout enough so that might be an area, just because he's 305 pounds, that can be a little better, but we’re excited to get this kid and work with him because we think there’s a ton of potential.”

Q: What is the unique trait or characteristic of each of the draft picks that separated them from their competition?

Chiefs Director of Player Personnel/College Scouting Ryne Nutt QuotesApril 28, 2025OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“The first thing I want to do is kind of recognize some of our area guys and our directors who don’t get a lot of pub. I just feel like this is the chance to kind of give them some recognition, so I’d like to do that. They bust their butts all year long – eight months a year. The travel, the meetings, the calls – they do so much, they’re the unsung heroes of our organization I feel, especially in this process. We have two directors, (Co-Director of College Scouting) Pat Sperduto and (Co-Director of College Scouting) David Hinson, our two college directors, (Senior College Scouting Executive) Terry Delp does the Midwest, Dru Grigson (who) we just hired, his role will be determined later on here. (Southwest Regional Scout) Jason Lamb does the southwest, (National Scout) Jon Howard does the west national, (Western Regional Scout) Greg Castillo does the west regional and then you have (Northeast Area Scout) Cassidy Kaminski doing the northeast and (Mid-Atlantic Area Scout) Will Christopherson does the Mid-Atlantic, so that’s our staff there. Madison Aponte is our&nbsp;Player Personnel Coordinator&nbsp;who helps kind of as a liaison between myself and them and she does a phenomenal job as well. That’s the crew, they do a heck of a job (and) I want to give them their due. With that said, you guys can shoot. Give me the questions you’d like.”Q: How does Josh Simmons rank as an offensive tackle prospect before the injury?NUTT:&nbsp;“Josh (Simmons) is – you could make your case for the best, but he’s definitely in the top three in this draft class in terms of what he provides. The only difference maybe between him and some other guys is he started two years and some of these other guys, like the LSU kid (Patriots LT Will Campbell) I think started more and you could say experience and stuff like that, but Josh is physically – he is elite. I mean, he is big, he’s strong, his feet jump off the tape. When you put this tape on, his set is as pretty as it looks now in terms of offensive line pass setting. He got better every year, his first year at Ohio State he flipped to the left side from the right side the year prior and I think it just took him a little time to adjust to just everything, like a new playbook, a new surrounding (and) a new position essentially. It’s not as easy as people think going from the right side to the left side, there is a big difference and sometimes it just takes people a little longer and I think that was the case with Josh. This last year, you can watch those six games, and it’s not unfair to say he was the best tackle up to that point. It stinks he got injured because I do think – I mean, I guess it’s good for us because we got him and that’s the only way we would’ve gotten him because that kid, he was a top-20 pick. It stinks for the kid, it hurt him on his wall and the money but things happen for a reason and it’s kind of not where you start, it’s where you finish and I think just the set up here that we have with (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid and (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck is going to be great for this kid. In terms of years past, I would say Josh, when he was healthy at this year, this tape, would be one of the better ones in the last few years. He kind of reminds me of (Vikings LT) Christian Darrisaw who’s done really well for the Vikings. He’s got a little bit of (Chargers LT Rashawn) Slater in him who plays for the Chargers. The kid’s arms are longer than I think people think, the (NFL) Combine measured him at 33 (inches) but his Pro Day – or 34 and an eighth, and I think that’s closer to what we kind of had, I think we had around 34 when we brought him in. The kid is super talented and super willing to work, and we’re excited to have him where we got him.”Q: What’s the strategy knowing that Brashard Smith’s on the board and trying to determine when you should make the pick?NUTT:&nbsp;“We knew before the draft (that) this was a very deep running back class. There were guys that fell into the fourth round that we thought would be gone in the beginning of (round) three and possibly maybe even (round) two, so we kind of knew it was deep. We knew Brashard (Smith) was somebody we liked, kind of in the mid-rounds but with it being so deep, there was maybe a chance to get him. What happened was, in the fifth (round), there was a player in Jeff Bassa who was there, who was clearly the best player on our board. That would’ve been the time to take a running back but when you have another player that is higher on the board, (General Manager) Brett (Veach) likes to go by, ‘Listen, we’ve worked on this board for eight months, let’s let this thing speak to us.’ So, we took the player we had slightly higher in Jeff Bassa and then it allowed Brett to refocus and say, ‘Okay, I’m going to take a running back now. I know who I want.’ We get to the seventh round and Brett felt like giving up another seventh-round pick to move up was well worth it – I think everybody did – to get the kid that we liked in the mid-rounds. That was kind of the thinking there.”Q: On the process of drafting Jalen Royals.NUTT:&nbsp;“First off, his (Jalen Royals) game is very similar to Rashee’s (Rice). Where you watch a kid who lines up primarily on the left side, that’s how some offenses in college work, they want to go fast, so they’ll have the receiver line up on the same side every time to do that. So, you’re wondering, ‘Alright, he’s always playing on the left side, is he going to be able to move around?’ and he does, he plays outside but he primarily plays inside in the slot. When I say he’s like Rashee in terms – he’s got big hands, strong hands and he’s very good after the catch. You saw him downfield too on some of those clips, I’m sure you saw him and the kid had what, 15 plus touchdowns in 2023? He was on pace in 2024 to kind of smash the 2023 production before he got injured so we thought – RAC (Run After Catch) is a big part of our offense, that’s something we look for in receivers, we look for speed, the kid had that, 4.40 (40-yard dash), we look for strength, he has that, he’s got RAC and then we look for route running and that’s probably an area where Rashee had to kind of develop a little bit, so we kind of thought they were similar in that respect. He came on the scene, we watched his tape before the Senior Bowl, (General Manager) Brett (Veach) will kind of pick guys that you pick and choose and we’re like, ‘Hey, this guy’s kind of interesting.’ Then, he goes to the Senior Bowl, and we thought he did well, so he got even more on the radar. Then, he goes to the Combine and runs a 4.40, you know what I mean, and he jumps a 36 (inch broad jump) and we’re like, ‘Oh, this kid’s explosive.’ Then, you get the kind of coaches involved and we Zoom him, and we talk and we’re like, ‘Yeah, we could use this kid.’ With Rashee coming back from injury and trying to get right, the hopes are this kid can step in and try to get some playing time and help us out.”Q: What role does Omarr Norman-Lott fit for you guys?NUTT:&nbsp;“He’s (Omarr Norman-Lott) got some similarities to Turk (Panthers DT Tershawn Wharton). He’s bigger, he’s not as fast but their play style’s very similar. This kid was like 99th-percentile in terms of rush win-rate. He was one of the top defensive tackles in winning one-on-one pass rush and that’s what we first off need and that’s what we saw could add value. These guys, these interior linemen that are athletic, this kid jumped 31 and a half (inches), 9’5” (feet), he has big hands, those guys go quick, we knew they go quick. We thought – and an interior guy that can rush as well goes even quicker so (General Manager) Brett (Veach) was pretty – before the draft, before that round, Brett was pretty adamant about, ‘Okay, he’s one of these guys we have to consider,’ and we put up a list of four or five guys and he was one of them and he ended up being one of the top guys left and that was a position of need as well. We feel like he can come in and help rush the passer. I feel like he didn’t start a ton in his career there at Tennessee, but it’s really what you do with snaps, and they rotate a lot. So, really it’s just what he does in those 20 to 25 snaps a game and the kid was high-motor, he was highly productive and highly disruptive and those are the things we look for and I think we’ll be able to – (Defensive Line) Coach (Joe) Cullen’s the best defensive line coach in the NFL, I believe and he’ll be able to get that out of him and I think more. Even against the run, the kid I thought was solid and stout enough so that might be an area, just because he's 305 pounds, that can be a little better, but we’re excited to get this kid and work with him because we think there’s a ton of potential.”Q: What is the unique trait or characteristic of each of the draft picks that separated them from their competition?

Chiefs Quotes: 4-28-25

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– The Kansas State men’s basketball team has been selected to play in the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic, which is set for Thursday, Nov. 20 and Friday, Nov. 21 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

The Wildcats will be joined in the field by NCAA Tournament participants Mississippi State and New Mexico and recent College Basketball Crown winner Nebraska.

This year’s Hall of Fame Classic will mark the event’s 25th&nbsp;year of operation in Kansas City and will return to its traditional two-day, four-team bracketed format beginning on Thursday, Nov. 20 with the championship and third-place games set for Friday, Nov. 21. A complete bracket, along with ticket information, television details and game times, for the four-team tournament will be announced later.

K-State will be making its fourth appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic and the first since 2021. The Wildcats finished as the tournament runner-up in their first two visits, defeating No. 18 Gonzaga before losing to top-ranked Duke in 2010 and defeating Missouri before losing to No. 9 North Carolina in 2015. The team lost to No. 13 Arkansas and No. 14 Illinois in their most recent appearance in 2021.

Nebraska will be making its second appearance and first since 2018, while Mississippi State and New Mexico will be competing in the tournament for the first time.

K-State leads the all-time series with all three potential opponents, including 3-1 with Mississippi State, 4-2 with New Mexico and 128-94 with Nebraska. The Wildcats last met the Bulldogs in 2019, the Lobos in 2006 and Cornhuskers in 2023.

The Hall of Fame Classic was created by the Kansas City-based National Association of Basketball Classic (NABC) in 2001 as the Guardians Classic and was later known as the CBE Classic and CBE Hall of Fame Classic before being rebranded as the Hall of Fame Classic in 2017.

Last season, the Hall of Fame Classic was a single day competition with Utah State defeating Iowa, 77-69, and Wichita State defeating Saint Louis, 88-63.

More information on the Hall of Fame Classic can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://nabc.com/classic/" target="_blank">here</a>.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– The Kansas State men’s basketball team has been selected to play in the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic, which is set for Thursday, Nov. 20 and Friday, Nov. 21 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.The Wildcats will be joined in the field by NCAA Tournament participants Mississippi State and New Mexico and recent College Basketball Crown winner Nebraska.This year’s Hall of Fame Classic will mark the event’s 25th&nbsp;year of operation in Kansas City and will return to its traditional two-day, four-team bracketed format beginning on Thursday, Nov. 20 with the championship and third-place games set for Friday, Nov. 21. A complete bracket, along with ticket information, television details and game times, for the four-team tournament will be announced later.K-State will be making its fourth appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic and the first since 2021. The Wildcats finished as the tournament runner-up in their first two visits, defeating No. 18 Gonzaga before losing to top-ranked Duke in 2010 and defeating Missouri before losing to No. 9 North Carolina in 2015. The team lost to No. 13 Arkansas and No. 14 Illinois in their most recent appearance in 2021.Nebraska will be making its second appearance and first since 2018, while Mississippi State and New Mexico will be competing in the tournament for the first time.K-State leads the all-time series with all three potential opponents, including 3-1 with Mississippi State, 4-2 with New Mexico and 128-94 with Nebraska. The Wildcats last met the Bulldogs in 2019, the Lobos in 2006 and Cornhuskers in 2023.Possible tournament opponents:<ul>
 <li>Mississippi State (21-13) earned its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, along with its third straight 20-win season, under head coach&nbsp;Chris Jans&nbsp;in 2024-25. The Bulldogs finished in a four-way tie for ninth with Arkansas, Georgia and Vanderbilt in the SEC with an 8-10 mark.</li><li>Nebraska (21-14) won 20 or more games for the second straight season under head coach&nbsp;Fred Hoiberg, defeating Arizona State, Georgetown, Boise State and UCF to claim the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament championship. The Huskers finished 7-13 in Big Ten play.</li><li>New Mexico (27-8) won the Mountain West regular-season championship with a 17-3 record and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The Lobos will be led by first-year head coach&nbsp;Eric Olen, who guided UC San Diego to a Big West regular-season and tournament titles and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.</li>
 </ul>The Hall of Fame Classic was created by the Kansas City-based National Association of Basketball Classic (NABC) in 2001 as the Guardians Classic and was later known as the CBE Classic and CBE Hall of Fame Classic before being rebranded as the Hall of Fame Classic in 2017.Last season, the Hall of Fame Classic was a single day competition with Utah State defeating Iowa, 77-69, and Wichita State defeating Saint Louis, 88-63.More information on the Hall of Fame Classic can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://nabc.com/classic/" target="_blank">here</a>.

K-State to Play in 2025 Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City

(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/06a96517-043e-4f49-9fd9-e3ba192a97e8?elinkdata=25839">BRACKET</a> | <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dff38548-106a-406a-b614-554e7e0251a6?elinkdata=25839">TOURNAMENT INFORMATION</a>) Kansas Conference Co-Champion Kansas Wesleyan is the No. 2 seed in the KCAC Baseball Tournament and will face No. 7 seeded Friends at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Missouri in the tournament's first round.

Kansas Wesleyan earned a share of the KCAC title in 2025, marking the third straight regular season title for the Coyotes, a first in program history. The Coyotes finished with a 30-6 KCAC record, tying Oklahoma Wesleyan for the top spot in the conference standings. OKWU earned the No. 1 seed by winning the conference tiebreaker over KWU.

In the regular season series, the Coyotes swept the Falcons on February 28 and March 1.

KWU enters the tournament with a 35-13 overall record and posting a 30-6 KCAC mark, marking the first time in program history KWU has won 30-plus conference games in back-to-back seasons. KWU earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament after conference tiebreak rules were applied after KWU and Oklahoma Wesleyan tied for the KCAC Regular Season Championship.

Offensively, the Coyotes hit .302 as a team which ranks sixth in the KCAC. KWU's slugging average of .557 ranks fourth in the conference and KWU is third in the KCAC in total extra base hits, while leading the KCAC in triples with 16 and is fourth in home runs with 88. KWU ranks eighth in the NAIA in home runs.

On the mound, the Coyotes bring a KCAC best 4.79 ERA into Wednesday's game. KWU had a 1.46 WHIP (Walks + Hits per Innings Pitched), which ranks second in the KCAC. KWU ranks 21st in the NAIA in ERA and 25th in WHIP.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f9adfeef-a62f-4294-911b-1593d23da9a6?elinkdata=25839">Tyler Favretto</a> ranks third in batting average with a .423 average, which ranks No. 37 in the NAIA. He leads the KCAC and is second nationally in walks with 55. He ranks seventh in the KCAC in home runs with 14.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4e051518-4b2a-4130-a5c4-28933d36e03f?elinkdata=25839">Jacob Williamson</a> ranks sixth in the KCAC in home runs with 15, which ranks 32nd in the NAIA.

Reliever <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/55f9f23d-671f-4dcf-b57e-731f91fdfe47?elinkdata=25839">Ritter Steinmann</a> leads the KCAC with a 3.28 ERA in 49.1 innings pitched. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/18e75ab3-dd6b-4845-b389-917417eadc15?elinkdata=25839">Brett Maddock</a> is fifth with a 4.14 ERA in 87 innings. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f3fce77f-e422-420b-899f-64908f84cbc2?elinkdata=25839">Nathan Righi</a> ranks sixth I the KCAC in strikeouts with 72, while Maddock is ninth with 67.

Friends enters the KCAC Tournament with a 27-21 record overall and a 20-16 mark in the KCAC, tying for sixth with McPherson. McPherson won the tiebreaker with Friends, giving the Falcons the No. 7 seed in the tournament.

The Falcons rank fourth in the KCAC in batting average, hitting .319 as a team. Bernie Socarras ranks fifth in the KCAC in average at .417, Miles Hartman ranks second in the KCAC in walks with 37. Zeke Henson ranks 14th in the KCAC with 13 home runs.

Francisco Moscoso is fifth in the KCAC in strikeouts with 82, and ranks eighth in ERA at 4.33.

The winner of Wednesday's game will play on Thursday at 12:15 against the winner between Ottawa and McPherson. The loser will drop into an elimination game, playing at 9 a.m. on Thursday against the Ottawa vs. McPherson loser.

(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/06a96517-043e-4f49-9fd9-e3ba192a97e8?elinkdata=25839">BRACKET</a> | <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dff38548-106a-406a-b614-554e7e0251a6?elinkdata=25839">TOURNAMENT INFORMATION</a>) Kansas Conference Co-Champion Kansas Wesleyan is the No. 2 seed in the KCAC Baseball Tournament and will face No. 7 seeded Friends at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Missouri in the tournament's first round.Kansas Wesleyan earned a share of the KCAC title in 2025, marking the third straight regular season title for the Coyotes, a first in program history. The Coyotes finished with a 30-6 KCAC record, tying Oklahoma Wesleyan for the top spot in the conference standings. OKWU earned the No. 1 seed by winning the conference tiebreaker over KWU.In the regular season series, the Coyotes swept the Falcons on February 28 and March 1.KWU enters the tournament with a 35-13 overall record and posting a 30-6 KCAC mark, marking the first time in program history KWU has won 30-plus conference games in back-to-back seasons. KWU earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament after conference tiebreak rules were applied after KWU and Oklahoma Wesleyan tied for the KCAC Regular Season Championship.Offensively, the Coyotes hit .302 as a team which ranks sixth in the KCAC. KWU's slugging average of .557 ranks fourth in the conference and KWU is third in the KCAC in total extra base hits, while leading the KCAC in triples with 16 and is fourth in home runs with 88. KWU ranks eighth in the NAIA in home runs.On the mound, the Coyotes bring a KCAC best 4.79 ERA into Wednesday's game. KWU had a 1.46 WHIP (Walks + Hits per Innings Pitched), which ranks second in the KCAC. KWU ranks 21st in the NAIA in ERA and 25th in WHIP.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f9adfeef-a62f-4294-911b-1593d23da9a6?elinkdata=25839">Tyler Favretto</a> ranks third in batting average with a .423 average, which ranks No. 37 in the NAIA. He leads the KCAC and is second nationally in walks with 55. He ranks seventh in the KCAC in home runs with 14.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4e051518-4b2a-4130-a5c4-28933d36e03f?elinkdata=25839">Jacob Williamson</a> ranks sixth in the KCAC in home runs with 15, which ranks 32nd in the NAIA.Reliever <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/55f9f23d-671f-4dcf-b57e-731f91fdfe47?elinkdata=25839">Ritter Steinmann</a> leads the KCAC with a 3.28 ERA in 49.1 innings pitched. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/18e75ab3-dd6b-4845-b389-917417eadc15?elinkdata=25839">Brett Maddock</a> is fifth with a 4.14 ERA in 87 innings. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f3fce77f-e422-420b-899f-64908f84cbc2?elinkdata=25839">Nathan Righi</a> ranks sixth I the KCAC in strikeouts with 72, while Maddock is ninth with 67.Friends enters the KCAC Tournament with a 27-21 record overall and a 20-16 mark in the KCAC, tying for sixth with McPherson. McPherson won the tiebreaker with Friends, giving the Falcons the No. 7 seed in the tournament.The Falcons rank fourth in the KCAC in batting average, hitting .319 as a team. Bernie Socarras ranks fifth in the KCAC in average at .417, Miles Hartman ranks second in the KCAC in walks with 37. Zeke Henson ranks 14th in the KCAC with 13 home runs.Francisco Moscoso is fifth in the KCAC in strikeouts with 82, and ranks eighth in ERA at 4.33.The winner of Wednesday's game will play on Thursday at 12:15 against the winner between Ottawa and McPherson. The loser will drop into an elimination game, playing at 9 a.m. on Thursday against the Ottawa vs. McPherson loser.

⚾️ KCAC Co-Champion KWU is No. 2 seed in KCAC Tournament, faces No. 7 Friends on Wednesday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordan Alvarez’s long home run backed a solid start by Hunter Brown as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Sunday in the series finale to avoid being swept.

Alvarez snapped Houston’s 26-inning scoreless streak, crushing Kris Bubic’s sinker 436 feet to center for a three-run homer and a 3-0 Astros lead in the third inning.

Brown (4-1), who allowed one run on seven hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over six innings, surrendered a lone hit in each of the first four innings but struck out seven while not allowing a runner past second.

Brown’s 28-inning shutout streak – fifth longest in franchise history – ended in the fifth inning on a two-out single by Jonathan India and an RBI double by Bobby Witt Jr.

Leading off the fifth, Chas McCormick doubled and scored on Jeremy Peña’s single. McCormick had three hits and scored three runs for the Astros.

Peña’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth extended Houston’s lead to 6-1. Peña collected three RBIs in his first game batting leadoff.

Yainer Diaz added a solo home run in the seventh.

Bubic (2-2) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks, striking out four in five innings.

India had a pair of singles and drove in a run while Witt extended his hitting streak to a career-best 19 games.

Isaac Paredes drew a four-pitch walk ahead of Alvarez’s three-run blast.

Alvarez, who led left-handed major leaguers with a .362 average against left-handed pitchers in 2024, hit his first homer of this season against a left-hander.

The Astros open a three-game homestand Monday against Detroit with Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (1-2, 2.63 ERA) opposing RHP Ronel Blanco (2-2, 5.01).

Tuesday, the Royals begin a three-game series against the Rays in Tampa with Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 3.90) against RHP Taj Bradley (2-1, 5.08).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745797590457.jpeg" alt="Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run with Chas McCormick (20) and Isaac Paredes (15) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)" />
 <figcaption>Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run with Chas McCormick (20) and Isaac Paredes (15) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordan Alvarez’s long home run backed a solid start by Hunter Brown as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Sunday in the series finale to avoid being swept.Alvarez snapped Houston’s 26-inning scoreless streak, crushing Kris Bubic’s sinker 436 feet to center for a three-run homer and a 3-0 Astros lead in the third inning.Brown (4-1), who allowed one run on seven hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over six innings, surrendered a lone hit in each of the first four innings but struck out seven while not allowing a runner past second.Brown’s 28-inning shutout streak – fifth longest in franchise history – ended in the fifth inning on a two-out single by Jonathan India and an RBI double by Bobby Witt Jr.Leading off the fifth, Chas McCormick doubled and scored on Jeremy Peña’s single. McCormick had three hits and scored three runs for the Astros.Peña’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth extended Houston’s lead to 6-1. Peña collected three RBIs in his first game batting leadoff.Yainer Diaz added a solo home run in the seventh.Bubic (2-2) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks, striking out four in five innings.India had a pair of singles and drove in a run while Witt extended his hitting streak to a career-best 19 games.<h2>Key moment</h2>Isaac Paredes drew a four-pitch walk ahead of Alvarez’s three-run blast.<h2>Key stat</h2>Alvarez, who led left-handed major leaguers with a .362 average against left-handed pitchers in 2024, hit his first homer of this season against a left-hander.<h2>Up next</h2>The Astros open a three-game homestand Monday against Detroit with Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (1-2, 2.63 ERA) opposing RHP Ronel Blanco (2-2, 5.01).Tuesday, the Royals begin a three-game series against the Rays in Tampa with Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 3.90) against RHP Taj Bradley (2-1, 5.08).

⚾️ Alvarez’s  home run backs Brown’s solid start in Astros win over Royals

Kansas Wesleyan Baseball claimed its third straight KCAC Championship on Saturday, but the Coyotes will have to share. KWU swept the Avila Eagles in the regular season finale at Dean Evans Stadium to share the KCAC Regular Season Championship with Oklahoma Wesleyan.

It's the third straight championship for the Coyotes, a program first, and the Coyotes picked up their 30th KCAC win, marking the first time in school history the team has won 30 KCAC games in back-to-back seasons.

The Coyotes will be the No. 2 seed in the KCAC Tournament after conference tiebreak procedures were applied. Oklahoma Wesleyan took two of three games from Ottawa in Bartlesville, the last game completed in a downpour with the Eagles winning 18-16, after a nearly four-hour long weather delay in the seventh inning.

In Saturday's opener, Avila took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a laser shot homer by Jack Virden over the wall in right field.

Wesleyan drew even in the bottom of the third. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6f85e8b0-e04e-401b-be15-ee9a0685eda6?elinkdata=25777">Eric Romero</a> led off the inning with a single to third and went to second on a wild pitch. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5a0978c9-81a3-46ee-a32d-5222390e20b5?elinkdata=25777">Jacob Williamson</a> followed with a double that skipped over third base into the corner for a double to bring in the first run. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/816221e2-b678-4669-9b58-6600f6bcfcf1?elinkdata=25777">Tyler Favretto</a> moved the runner with a ground out and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ac7e05bb-fedb-4c0c-bc0e-a0c4ff049885?elinkdata=25777">Garrett Garfield</a> tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

Avila took the lead in the fourth and held advantage until the bottom of the fifth. After a walk to Favretto, Garfield reached on an error. Two batters later <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f6d574ad-de66-4304-a832-43eaa667d8de?elinkdata=25777">Carter Allen</a> launched a ball out to left for a 3-run homer to put the Coyotes up 5-3.

The Coyotes added another in the sixth when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cc303b02-ee7d-4cc2-8712-a9d7d1393a56?elinkdata=25777">Blake Dale</a> was hit by a pitch and then scored on Williamson's single to left.

The Eagles got a run in the eighth, but the Coyotes had an answer. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/de37d06b-3acb-4349-953b-3ca2af273c84?elinkdata=25777">Coulson Riggs</a> singled and two batters later, Williamson launched a ball out to left center to make it 8-4.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2bffe832-c886-4854-8a23-a50ff410c04a?elinkdata=25777">Ritter Steinmann</a> closed the door in the ninth, striking out the side for the save, his seventh of the season after entering the game in the top of the eighth.

Williamson had three of KWU's eight hits in the game and drove in four runs. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/529e0f55-854b-4d61-b76c-21ef2c739e52?elinkdata=25777">Nathan Righi</a> got the win to improve to 7-2 on the season allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.

The Coyotes got an incredible pitching performance by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/505481af-375a-4bbe-925a-fa19d2228008?elinkdata=25777">Shaw Lee</a> in the series finale.

Lee took a no hitter into the seventh inning before Avila's Zach Dillman pushed one through the left side to end the no-hit bid.

Williamson continued to swing a hot bat, breaking the scoreless tie with a homer to lead off the bottom of the third inning.

The Coyotes added two more in the fourth. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b4b01250-fef1-46bc-9b51-a4e2296ef4db?elinkdata=25777">Joe Finder</a> led off with a double and then scored on a hit by Riggs. After a wild pitch, Romero singled home Riggs to make it 3-0.

Wesleyan added one more run in the sixth as Finder was hit by a pitch to start the inning and later in the inning pinch runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3258dc3a-5bb4-4fb2-a052-69ff4227ad23?elinkdata=25777">Alex Garcia</a> scored on a wild pitch.

The seventh inning hit was only the second base runner that Avila had in the entire game, the only other a leadoff walk to start the game.

Favretto and Riggs had two hits each for the Coyotes.

Lee improved to 5-0 with the 1-hit win, striking out six and walking one.

Kansas Wesleyan Baseball claimed its third straight KCAC Championship on Saturday, but the Coyotes will have to share. KWU swept the Avila Eagles in the regular season finale at Dean Evans Stadium to share the KCAC Regular Season Championship with Oklahoma Wesleyan.It's the third straight championship for the Coyotes, a program first, and the Coyotes picked up their 30th KCAC win, marking the first time in school history the team has won 30 KCAC games in back-to-back seasons.The Coyotes will be the No. 2 seed in the KCAC Tournament after conference tiebreak procedures were applied. Oklahoma Wesleyan took two of three games from Ottawa in Bartlesville, the last game completed in a downpour with the Eagles winning 18-16, after a nearly four-hour long weather delay in the seventh inning.In Saturday's opener, Avila took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a laser shot homer by Jack Virden over the wall in right field.Wesleyan drew even in the bottom of the third. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6f85e8b0-e04e-401b-be15-ee9a0685eda6?elinkdata=25777">Eric Romero</a> led off the inning with a single to third and went to second on a wild pitch. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5a0978c9-81a3-46ee-a32d-5222390e20b5?elinkdata=25777">Jacob Williamson</a> followed with a double that skipped over third base into the corner for a double to bring in the first run. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/816221e2-b678-4669-9b58-6600f6bcfcf1?elinkdata=25777">Tyler Favretto</a> moved the runner with a ground out and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ac7e05bb-fedb-4c0c-bc0e-a0c4ff049885?elinkdata=25777">Garrett Garfield</a> tied the game with a sacrifice fly.Avila took the lead in the fourth and held advantage until the bottom of the fifth. After a walk to Favretto, Garfield reached on an error. Two batters later <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f6d574ad-de66-4304-a832-43eaa667d8de?elinkdata=25777">Carter Allen</a> launched a ball out to left for a 3-run homer to put the Coyotes up 5-3.The Coyotes added another in the sixth when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cc303b02-ee7d-4cc2-8712-a9d7d1393a56?elinkdata=25777">Blake Dale</a> was hit by a pitch and then scored on Williamson's single to left.The Eagles got a run in the eighth, but the Coyotes had an answer. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/de37d06b-3acb-4349-953b-3ca2af273c84?elinkdata=25777">Coulson Riggs</a> singled and two batters later, Williamson launched a ball out to left center to make it 8-4.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2bffe832-c886-4854-8a23-a50ff410c04a?elinkdata=25777">Ritter Steinmann</a> closed the door in the ninth, striking out the side for the save, his seventh of the season after entering the game in the top of the eighth.Williamson had three of KWU's eight hits in the game and drove in four runs. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/529e0f55-854b-4d61-b76c-21ef2c739e52?elinkdata=25777">Nathan Righi</a> got the win to improve to 7-2 on the season allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.The Coyotes got an incredible pitching performance by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/505481af-375a-4bbe-925a-fa19d2228008?elinkdata=25777">Shaw Lee</a> in the series finale.Lee took a no hitter into the seventh inning before Avila's Zach Dillman pushed one through the left side to end the no-hit bid.Williamson continued to swing a hot bat, breaking the scoreless tie with a homer to lead off the bottom of the third inning.The Coyotes added two more in the fourth. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b4b01250-fef1-46bc-9b51-a4e2296ef4db?elinkdata=25777">Joe Finder</a> led off with a double and then scored on a hit by Riggs. After a wild pitch, Romero singled home Riggs to make it 3-0.Wesleyan added one more run in the sixth as Finder was hit by a pitch to start the inning and later in the inning pinch runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3258dc3a-5bb4-4fb2-a052-69ff4227ad23?elinkdata=25777">Alex Garcia</a> scored on a wild pitch.The seventh inning hit was only the second base runner that Avila had in the entire game, the only other a leadoff walk to start the game.Favretto and Riggs had two hits each for the Coyotes.Lee improved to 5-0 with the 1-hit win, striking out six and walking one.

⚾️ KWU claims share of KCAC Championship after sweeping Avila

(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6881be86-dcdb-4ef3-9b0d-ba3559e572f4?elinkdata=25808">BRACKET</a> | <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8e60cbd2-9126-471b-92d9-81926913dfc8?elinkdata=25808">TOURNAMENT INFORMATION</a>) Kansas Wesleyan Softball is the No. 8 seed and will face top seeded Friends University in the first round of the 2025 KCAC Softball Championships on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Branson RecPlex in Branson, Missouri.

The Coyotes reached the tournament by winning three of their last four games ending up in a tie for seventh with Tabor and Saint Mary, and earned the eighth seed after conference tiebreak procedures were followed.

KWU enters the tournament with a 23-21 overall record and finished with a 14-12 record in the KCAC. The Coyotes swept Bethany in the regular season finale doubleheader that was delayed three days by weather before coming away with a 3-0 win in the second game to close out the sweep.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d37ac346-cb9a-4c51-b671-b3d719f4fdd8?elinkdata=25808">Keira Hammen</a> leads the Coyote hitters with a .389 average, eight homeruns and 27 RBI. She ranks sixth in the KCAC in homers and 30th in the KCAC in RBI and in the Top 20 in batting average.

As a team the Coyotes rank ninth in the KCAC in batting average, hitting .284 as a team. They rank third in the conference with 22 homers and sixth in doubles with 63.

The Coyote pitching staff is solid, ranking second in the KCAC in ERA at 3.01. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/55b384da-c0b3-4006-88ca-089b5b65939d?elinkdata=25808">Alli Mickelsen</a> paces KWU's staff with a 10-2 record, ranking third in the KCAC with a 2.09 ERA and nine in strikeouts with 67. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7326e11b-6fde-4cb1-ba33-61442676f795?elinkdata=25808">Caitlyn Collier</a> ranks 10th in the conference in strikeouts with 65 and ninth in ERA at 2.87. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2a26ef58-97a3-4b54-bb54-57c49102fe72?elinkdata=25808">Bella Allen</a> also is solid with a 3.48 ERA ranking 14th in the KCAC.

Friends is the No. 1 seed and enters the tournament with a 33-11 record overall and finished with a 21-5 in the KCAC.

The Falcons lead the KCAC in homers with 46 and rank second in batting average, hitting .358 as a team. Elena Montoya ranks fifth in the KCAC with a .441 batting average. Becca Dunn ranks second in the KCAC with 57 RBI. Priscilla Mora's 15 homers leads the KCAC.

Friends' pitching staff revolves around Riley Wertz, who ranks second in the KCAC in ERA and second in the NAIA in strikeouts.

Friends swept the regular season meetings between teams, winning 8-0 and 15-5.

(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6881be86-dcdb-4ef3-9b0d-ba3559e572f4?elinkdata=25808">BRACKET</a> | <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8e60cbd2-9126-471b-92d9-81926913dfc8?elinkdata=25808">TOURNAMENT INFORMATION</a>) Kansas Wesleyan Softball is the No. 8 seed and will face top seeded Friends University in the first round of the 2025 KCAC Softball Championships on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Branson RecPlex in Branson, Missouri.The Coyotes reached the tournament by winning three of their last four games ending up in a tie for seventh with Tabor and Saint Mary, and earned the eighth seed after conference tiebreak procedures were followed.KWU enters the tournament with a 23-21 overall record and finished with a 14-12 record in the KCAC. The Coyotes swept Bethany in the regular season finale doubleheader that was delayed three days by weather before coming away with a 3-0 win in the second game to close out the sweep.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d37ac346-cb9a-4c51-b671-b3d719f4fdd8?elinkdata=25808">Keira Hammen</a> leads the Coyote hitters with a .389 average, eight homeruns and 27 RBI. She ranks sixth in the KCAC in homers and 30th in the KCAC in RBI and in the Top 20 in batting average.As a team the Coyotes rank ninth in the KCAC in batting average, hitting .284 as a team. They rank third in the conference with 22 homers and sixth in doubles with 63.The Coyote pitching staff is solid, ranking second in the KCAC in ERA at 3.01. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/55b384da-c0b3-4006-88ca-089b5b65939d?elinkdata=25808">Alli Mickelsen</a> paces KWU's staff with a 10-2 record, ranking third in the KCAC with a 2.09 ERA and nine in strikeouts with 67. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7326e11b-6fde-4cb1-ba33-61442676f795?elinkdata=25808">Caitlyn Collier</a> ranks 10th in the conference in strikeouts with 65 and ninth in ERA at 2.87. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2a26ef58-97a3-4b54-bb54-57c49102fe72?elinkdata=25808">Bella Allen</a> also is solid with a 3.48 ERA ranking 14th in the KCAC.Friends is the No. 1 seed and enters the tournament with a 33-11 record overall and finished with a 21-5 in the KCAC.The Falcons lead the KCAC in homers with 46 and rank second in batting average, hitting .358 as a team. Elena Montoya ranks fifth in the KCAC with a .441 batting average. Becca Dunn ranks second in the KCAC with 57 RBI. Priscilla Mora's 15 homers leads the KCAC.Friends' pitching staff revolves around Riley Wertz, who ranks second in the KCAC in ERA and second in the NAIA in strikeouts.Friends swept the regular season meetings between teams, winning 8-0 and 15-5.

🥎 Coyotes are No. 8 seed in KCAC Tournament, face No. 1 Friends in first round

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Two more Kansas State football players received the call of a lifetime from NFL franchises on Saturday as running back&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;and safety&nbsp;Marques Sigle&nbsp;were selected on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Giddens was chosen with the 14th&nbsp;pick of the fifth round – No. 151 overall – by the Indianapolis Colts, while Sigle was selected nine picks later with the 23rd&nbsp;pick of the round – No. 160 overall – by the San Francisco 49ers.

With&nbsp;Jacob Parrish’s selection in the third round by Tampa Bay on Friday night, the Wildcats have now had 10 players drafted over the last three years, their most over a three-year stretch since 12 players were selected between 2002 and 2004.

A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens became the sixth Wildcat all time to be selected by Indianapolis, including the second in the last three years as he joins cornerback Julius Brents, who was taken in the second round of the 2023 draft. Sigle is the seventh Wildcat to be selected by San Francisco and the first since DJ Reed in 2018.

Giddens finished his three-year K-State career by ranking in the top 10 in school history in 11 career categories, most notably a No. 2 ranking in rushing yards per attempt (5.97), third in rushing yards (3,087), fourth in total scrimmage yards (3,766) and receiving yards by a running back (679). He became just the fourth player in school history to produce multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining fellow NFL Draft picks Darren Sproles, Daniel Thomas, Deuce Vaughn.

Giddens was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and All-Big 12 Second Team selection a year ago after rushing for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries, while he hauled in 21 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown. He set a school record by averaging 6.55 yards per carry in 2024, breaking the previous record of 6.49 yards per carry by Darren Sproles in 2003. It was the sixth-highest average in Big 12 history (minimum 200 carries). Additionally, he finished eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (133.42), 10th in all-purpose yards per game (133.42), 13th in rushing yards per game (111.92) and 14th in in total rushing yards.

Giddens had 13 career 100-yard rushing games with seven of those coming in 2024, including a 187-yard effort against Oklahoma State and a 182-yard output the next game at Colorado to become the first Wildcat with at least 180 rushing yards in consecutive games in six years.

Sigle played in 50 career games – including the final 25 at K-State after transferring in from North Dakota State – as he totaled 174 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 26 total passes defended. As a senior, the Omaha, Nebraska, native posted career highs with three interceptions – including one he returned for a touchdown at West Virginia – and 6.5 tackles for loss in addition to 60 tackles and three pass breakups. He tied for eighth in the Big 12 in interceptions and ranked third in interception-return yards (93).

During his first season in Manhattan in 2023, Sigle earned All-Big 12 honors after tallying a career-high 63 tackles and 10 total passes defended as he also earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Two more Kansas State football players received the call of a lifetime from NFL franchises on Saturday as running back&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;and safety&nbsp;Marques Sigle&nbsp;were selected on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft.Giddens was chosen with the 14th&nbsp;pick of the fifth round – No. 151 overall – by the Indianapolis Colts, while Sigle was selected nine picks later with the 23rd&nbsp;pick of the round – No. 160 overall – by the San Francisco 49ers.With&nbsp;Jacob Parrish’s selection in the third round by Tampa Bay on Friday night, the Wildcats have now had 10 players drafted over the last three years, their most over a three-year stretch since 12 players were selected between 2002 and 2004.A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens became the sixth Wildcat all time to be selected by Indianapolis, including the second in the last three years as he joins cornerback Julius Brents, who was taken in the second round of the 2023 draft. Sigle is the seventh Wildcat to be selected by San Francisco and the first since DJ Reed in 2018.Giddens finished his three-year K-State career by ranking in the top 10 in school history in 11 career categories, most notably a No. 2 ranking in rushing yards per attempt (5.97), third in rushing yards (3,087), fourth in total scrimmage yards (3,766) and receiving yards by a running back (679). He became just the fourth player in school history to produce multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining fellow NFL Draft picks Darren Sproles, Daniel Thomas, Deuce Vaughn.Giddens was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and All-Big 12 Second Team selection a year ago after rushing for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries, while he hauled in 21 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown. He set a school record by averaging 6.55 yards per carry in 2024, breaking the previous record of 6.49 yards per carry by Darren Sproles in 2003. It was the sixth-highest average in Big 12 history (minimum 200 carries). Additionally, he finished eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (133.42), 10th in all-purpose yards per game (133.42), 13th in rushing yards per game (111.92) and 14th in in total rushing yards.Giddens had 13 career 100-yard rushing games with seven of those coming in 2024, including a 187-yard effort against Oklahoma State and a 182-yard output the next game at Colorado to become the first Wildcat with at least 180 rushing yards in consecutive games in six years.Sigle played in 50 career games – including the final 25 at K-State after transferring in from North Dakota State – as he totaled 174 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 26 total passes defended. As a senior, the Omaha, Nebraska, native posted career highs with three interceptions – including one he returned for a touchdown at West Virginia – and 6.5 tackles for loss in addition to 60 tackles and three pass breakups. He tied for eighth in the Big 12 in interceptions and ranked third in interception-return yards (93).During his first season in Manhattan in 2023, Sigle earned All-Big 12 honors after tallying a career-high 63 tackles and 10 total passes defended as he also earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

K-State’s Giddens, Sigle Selected on Final Day of 2025 NFL Draft

GREEN BAY, Wis.&nbsp;– The Kansas Jayhawks had a pair of players drafted on Saturday as running back Devin Neal and offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue were selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Neal was picked by the New Orleans Saints at pick No. 184, while Cabeldue went to the Seattle Seahawks at pick No. 192. With two draft picks for the second-consecutive season, the Jayhawks have now had multiple selections in back-to-back drafts for the first time since 1996-97.&nbsp;

Neal was a four-year starter at Kansas and graduated as the program’s all-time leading rusher with 4,393 career rushing yards on 760 carries. He also holds the KU school record for career rushing touchdowns (49), scrimmage touchdowns (53) and 100-yard rushing games (20). Neal is the only player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards three times in his career, doing so in 2022, 2023 and 2024. His rushing yardage totals of 1,280 yards (2023) and 1,266 yards (2024) rank No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in school history for a single season.

The Lawrence, Kansas native, Neal was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, highlighted by earning second team honors in 2023. He was named a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award as a senior. Neal received multiple National Player of the Week awards after rushing for 207 yards and three touchdowns vs. Colorado on Nov. 23, 2024, and he received four Big 12 weekly honors during his career. Following the season, Neal was selected to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl before participating at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

Neal becomes the first Kansas running back selected in the NFL Draft since Moran Norris was a fourth-round pick of the Saints in 2001. Neal is now the seventh Kansas player to be drafted by the Saints and first since Norris.

Cabeldue was a four-year starter at tackle for the Jayhawks, starting 50 games during his time at Kansas, including every game in 2021, 2022 and 2024. As a senior, he helped pave the way for an offense that ran for 211.4 yards per game and allowed just 10 sacks.

From Clovis, New Mexico, Cabeldue was the No. 34 ranked tackle in the country last season by PFF, receiving an 80.0 grade, which included marks of 80.2 as a pass blocker and 76.6 in run blocking. For his efforts, he was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection.

Cabeldue becomes only the second Kansas player ever drafted by the Seahawks, joining Terry Beeson, who was a second round pick in 1977. He now becomes the third Jayhawk alum in Seattle, joining former teammate Mike Novitsky and Steven Sims on the Seahawks’ roster.&nbsp;

GREEN BAY, Wis.&nbsp;– The Kansas Jayhawks had a pair of players drafted on Saturday as running back Devin Neal and offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue were selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.Neal was picked by the New Orleans Saints at pick No. 184, while Cabeldue went to the Seattle Seahawks at pick No. 192. With two draft picks for the second-consecutive season, the Jayhawks have now had multiple selections in back-to-back drafts for the first time since 1996-97.&nbsp;Neal was a four-year starter at Kansas and graduated as the program’s all-time leading rusher with 4,393 career rushing yards on 760 carries. He also holds the KU school record for career rushing touchdowns (49), scrimmage touchdowns (53) and 100-yard rushing games (20). Neal is the only player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards three times in his career, doing so in 2022, 2023 and 2024. His rushing yardage totals of 1,280 yards (2023) and 1,266 yards (2024) rank No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in school history for a single season.The Lawrence, Kansas native, Neal was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, highlighted by earning second team honors in 2023. He was named a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award as a senior. Neal received multiple National Player of the Week awards after rushing for 207 yards and three touchdowns vs. Colorado on Nov. 23, 2024, and he received four Big 12 weekly honors during his career. Following the season, Neal was selected to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl before participating at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.Neal becomes the first Kansas running back selected in the NFL Draft since Moran Norris was a fourth-round pick of the Saints in 2001. Neal is now the seventh Kansas player to be drafted by the Saints and first since Norris.Cabeldue was a four-year starter at tackle for the Jayhawks, starting 50 games during his time at Kansas, including every game in 2021, 2022 and 2024. As a senior, he helped pave the way for an offense that ran for 211.4 yards per game and allowed just 10 sacks.From Clovis, New Mexico, Cabeldue was the No. 34 ranked tackle in the country last season by PFF, receiving an 80.0 grade, which included marks of 80.2 as a pass blocker and 76.6 in run blocking. For his efforts, he was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection.Cabeldue becomes only the second Kansas player ever drafted by the Seahawks, joining Terry Beeson, who was a second round pick in 1977. He now becomes the third Jayhawk alum in Seattle, joining former teammate Mike Novitsky and Steven Sims on the Seahawks’ roster.&nbsp;

KU's Neal, Cabeldue Selected in 2025 NFL Draft

RIVERSIDE, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football beat Baker in a thrilling 26-20 win on Saturday in the KCAC Semifinals, but then lost to Ottawa University 28-13 in the KCAC Championship game at the KC Current Training Center.

In the semifinal, the Coyotes and Wildcats met meaning it would be an exciting game as the three regular season meetings were decided by a total of 10 points, including two 1-point games.

Wesleyan was first on the board as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d01cad49-c549-45a5-aea2-fa3f67572f28?elinkdata=25746">Chihiro Iwata</a> converted a fourth down from the 3-yard line running it in for the score with 6:45 to go in the first and the PAT was good making it 7-0 Coyotes.

The Coyotes would stop Baker on the ensuing drive on fourth down, but after driving to the Baker 10, the Coyotes could not punch it in.

The teams went back and forth until Baker was able to score on a drive that was extended by three KWU penalties and the Wildcats were able to tie it up with two minutes left in the first half.

The Coyotes took a 13-7 lead with 11:54 left in the game as Iwata again made it happen running the ball, a 7-yard scramble in for the score, but the PAT was no good and it was a 13-7 game.

Baker quickly answered with a 61-yard touchdown pass to tie things at 13-all.

Wesleyan answered right back as the Coyotes drove the distance as Iwata hit <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8c73cbc6-f006-48ae-818d-c0aef39f153b?elinkdata=25746">Aliyah Wood</a> for a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Coyotes up 19-13 with 6:26 left.

Baker came right back and scores getting a couple big plays to keep the drive going, pushing it across and converting the PAT with 2:08 to go.

The Coyotes would then take over. A pass interference penalty would extend the drive and later in the drive Iwata found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7921784c-3d91-4275-9244-8fe122fbd787?elinkdata=25746">Jazmine Whitfield</a> to convert a fourth down to keep the drive alive. The Coyotes got a big first down as Iwata found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f0aececd-b50e-4f27-8fdd-26ab830b52e7?elinkdata=25746">Ciaran DeCuir</a> for a first down at the Baker 20. Iwata would come through on third down at the 15, hitting DeCuir for the scoring play and the PAT was good with four seconds left.

Baker tried one last desperation play but could not do anything with it and the Coyotes got the win.

Iwata was 31 of 47 passing for 272 yards and two touchdowns. She also ran nine times for 45 yards and two scores. Wood had 13 catches for 88 yards and DeCuir had seven for 95 to pace the Coyote receivers.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/366347a3-3ff3-44fc-9a29-d9c7d139abaf?elinkdata=25746">Nyjah Green</a> had five flag pulls to lead the KWU defense. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/994f2d8d-3edc-40e3-994e-d5f090e882ef?elinkdata=25746">Alexa Mansur</a> had four.

The Coyotes then faced the veteran Ottawa squad for the KCAC Championship.

Wesleyan was the first on the board, as Iwata found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/123838ad-fe26-43eb-8be3-ba28cee62baf?elinkdata=25746">Angel Roman</a> for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 5:59 left in the first inning.

Ottawa came back and tied it with a score with 15 seconds in the first quarter.

The Braves then added three more touchdowns to take a 28-7 lead with 3:01 left in the third quarter.

The Coyotes were able to keep the Braves out of the endzone as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b41e9932-5482-4ac7-90a3-768a3ba88a92?elinkdata=25746">Ashley Hawthorne</a> broke up a pass at the KWU 3 giving the ball back to the Coyotes.

Wesleyan would cover the 77 yards in nine plays to score as Iwata ran it in from eight yards out with 1:25 to go. The big play on the drive was a 39-yard pass to Whitfield that got the Coyotes down to the Ottawa 14.

Iwata was 20 of 33 passing for 189 yards and one touchdown. She added 43 yards rushing on seven carries and another score. Roman led the Coyote receivers with six catches for 51 yards.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e5664acf-1acc-4e0e-b842-388f1fdc8689?elinkdata=25746">Samari McKinney</a> had seven flag pulls for the Coyotes to lead the way. Hawthorne had two pass breakups.

The Coyotes now turn attention to the NAIA Flag Football Finals, as flag football still remains as an emerging sport at the NAIA level, and not yet at National Championship status.

RIVERSIDE, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football beat Baker in a thrilling 26-20 win on Saturday in the KCAC Semifinals, but then lost to Ottawa University 28-13 in the KCAC Championship game at the KC Current Training Center.In the semifinal, the Coyotes and Wildcats met meaning it would be an exciting game as the three regular season meetings were decided by a total of 10 points, including two 1-point games.Wesleyan was first on the board as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d01cad49-c549-45a5-aea2-fa3f67572f28?elinkdata=25746">Chihiro Iwata</a> converted a fourth down from the 3-yard line running it in for the score with 6:45 to go in the first and the PAT was good making it 7-0 Coyotes.The Coyotes would stop Baker on the ensuing drive on fourth down, but after driving to the Baker 10, the Coyotes could not punch it in.The teams went back and forth until Baker was able to score on a drive that was extended by three KWU penalties and the Wildcats were able to tie it up with two minutes left in the first half.The Coyotes took a 13-7 lead with 11:54 left in the game as Iwata again made it happen running the ball, a 7-yard scramble in for the score, but the PAT was no good and it was a 13-7 game.Baker quickly answered with a 61-yard touchdown pass to tie things at 13-all.Wesleyan answered right back as the Coyotes drove the distance as Iwata hit <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8c73cbc6-f006-48ae-818d-c0aef39f153b?elinkdata=25746">Aliyah Wood</a> for a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Coyotes up 19-13 with 6:26 left.Baker came right back and scores getting a couple big plays to keep the drive going, pushing it across and converting the PAT with 2:08 to go.The Coyotes would then take over. A pass interference penalty would extend the drive and later in the drive Iwata found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7921784c-3d91-4275-9244-8fe122fbd787?elinkdata=25746">Jazmine Whitfield</a> to convert a fourth down to keep the drive alive. The Coyotes got a big first down as Iwata found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f0aececd-b50e-4f27-8fdd-26ab830b52e7?elinkdata=25746">Ciaran DeCuir</a> for a first down at the Baker 20. Iwata would come through on third down at the 15, hitting DeCuir for the scoring play and the PAT was good with four seconds left.Baker tried one last desperation play but could not do anything with it and the Coyotes got the win.Iwata was 31 of 47 passing for 272 yards and two touchdowns. She also ran nine times for 45 yards and two scores. Wood had 13 catches for 88 yards and DeCuir had seven for 95 to pace the Coyote receivers.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/366347a3-3ff3-44fc-9a29-d9c7d139abaf?elinkdata=25746">Nyjah Green</a> had five flag pulls to lead the KWU defense. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/994f2d8d-3edc-40e3-994e-d5f090e882ef?elinkdata=25746">Alexa Mansur</a> had four.The Coyotes then faced the veteran Ottawa squad for the KCAC Championship.Wesleyan was the first on the board, as Iwata found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/123838ad-fe26-43eb-8be3-ba28cee62baf?elinkdata=25746">Angel Roman</a> for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 5:59 left in the first inning.Ottawa came back and tied it with a score with 15 seconds in the first quarter.The Braves then added three more touchdowns to take a 28-7 lead with 3:01 left in the third quarter.The Coyotes were able to keep the Braves out of the endzone as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b41e9932-5482-4ac7-90a3-768a3ba88a92?elinkdata=25746">Ashley Hawthorne</a> broke up a pass at the KWU 3 giving the ball back to the Coyotes.Wesleyan would cover the 77 yards in nine plays to score as Iwata ran it in from eight yards out with 1:25 to go. The big play on the drive was a 39-yard pass to Whitfield that got the Coyotes down to the Ottawa 14.Iwata was 20 of 33 passing for 189 yards and one touchdown. She added 43 yards rushing on seven carries and another score. Roman led the Coyote receivers with six catches for 51 yards.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e5664acf-1acc-4e0e-b842-388f1fdc8689?elinkdata=25746">Samari McKinney</a> had seven flag pulls for the Coyotes to lead the way. Hawthorne had two pass breakups.The Coyotes now turn attention to the NAIA Flag Football Finals, as flag football still remains as an emerging sport at the NAIA level, and not yet at National Championship status.

KWU Flag Football beats Baker in semifinals, falls to Ottawa in KCAC Championship

Fourteen practices into his first season as Kansas Wesleyan's football coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3924ecc0-64f5-4f2e-bc64-045bbe272046?elinkdata=25715">Matt Middleton</a> is pleased. Not satisfied by any means but happy with the initial steps in the lengthy building process of his program.

Middleton, his staff and a sizable crowd got a glimpse of what the Coyotes have accomplished the past month during an approximately 80-play intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at JRI Hospitality Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex. It was the final practice of the spring session for the 82-man squad.

"The biggest thing for us was to see what we had," said Middleton who came to KWU in December after two seasons as an assistant at Division II powerhouse Harding. "We don't know the personnel because we haven't been here, we need see who we have, what they're capable of, what they can do with holes we need to fill."

Middleton, who coached quarterbacks and fullbacks at Harding, unveiled a balanced and fast-paced attack. Transfer quarterbacks <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8a30fc1a-c8c7-4e9f-ab1b-881d9081466f?elinkdata=25715">Henry Austad</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c6bcbc75-52a2-4faf-b8e6-fcf559da82a1?elinkdata=25715">Caden Middleton</a>, the coach's son, alternated the early series and were impressive.

Running backs <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f6ba011c-ef2a-48bd-8088-37b6b088316b?elinkdata=25715">Luke Armstrong</a>, a returning NAIA First-Team All-American, and veteran <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7f237137-1cee-43fe-bec6-bb3dd95d621c?elinkdata=25715">D'Heaven Domena</a> excelled as did freshman wide receivers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e79d91a-e05f-48cb-9b8e-a2c2adb04b72?elinkdata=25715">Will Wilcox</a>, veteran <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b7e99a6d-18f6-4ac8-847b-3a09d82da9f1?elinkdata=25715">Rhadarious Lomax-Spivey</a> who sat out last season and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9d1386b1-fd18-4a8a-b068-f41215dbcccf?elinkdata=25715">Dejaylon Beal</a>. Beal caught touchdown passes of 65 and 55 yards from quarterback <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a0617163-e158-47c5-88b7-8cc29b9214d0?elinkdata=25715">Kai Wilkinson</a> late in the scrimmage.

"When you watch film, it's never as bad as you think it is or never as good as you think it is - somewhere in the middle," coach Middleton said. "We've got some playmakers, and I know we busted (big plays) all over the place today but what I was proud of was when we didn't bust plays, we still made plays and extended plays and that was the biggest thing.

"The two touchdowns at the end were extended plays so I think we're learning to play through the whistle and if things don't go our way, finding a way to make something happen. It's a new system; it took a few practices, I think probably seven is when it started to click a little bit. Today you were seeing us in it."

Injuries played a big role much of the spring; the defense impacted most.

"The first group we've got some talent, but I'll be honest we've been beat up defensive line-wise and you can see that today," Middleton said. "We just don't have our guys right now and have had to play some guys on limited reps. We'll get those things fixed and get some depth in here and get some stuff corrected. But they gave great effort and they're getting after it."

Linebacker <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/66196645-e6a2-4abb-b519-943f5c67b8ab?elinkdata=25715">Freronnta Allen</a> had the defensive play of the day intercepting a Wilkinson pass and returning it for a touchdown.

Shoring up depth on both sides of the ball will be the primary focus until fall camp begins August 8.

"We've got to go get some immediate help, we've got to go get some people to come in and be in the two-deep right now and help us," Middleton said. "Anytime you have a team that loses 33 seniors and a lot of others you're in a situation where you're replacing a whole lot of production. We've got a lot of spots that we can fill in."

Fourteen practices into his first season as Kansas Wesleyan's football coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3924ecc0-64f5-4f2e-bc64-045bbe272046?elinkdata=25715">Matt Middleton</a> is pleased. Not satisfied by any means but happy with the initial steps in the lengthy building process of his program.Middleton, his staff and a sizable crowd got a glimpse of what the Coyotes have accomplished the past month during an approximately 80-play intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at JRI Hospitality Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex. It was the final practice of the spring session for the 82-man squad."The biggest thing for us was to see what we had," said Middleton who came to KWU in December after two seasons as an assistant at Division II powerhouse Harding. "We don't know the personnel because we haven't been here, we need see who we have, what they're capable of, what they can do with holes we need to fill."Middleton, who coached quarterbacks and fullbacks at Harding, unveiled a balanced and fast-paced attack. Transfer quarterbacks <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8a30fc1a-c8c7-4e9f-ab1b-881d9081466f?elinkdata=25715">Henry Austad</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c6bcbc75-52a2-4faf-b8e6-fcf559da82a1?elinkdata=25715">Caden Middleton</a>, the coach's son, alternated the early series and were impressive.Running backs <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f6ba011c-ef2a-48bd-8088-37b6b088316b?elinkdata=25715">Luke Armstrong</a>, a returning NAIA First-Team All-American, and veteran <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7f237137-1cee-43fe-bec6-bb3dd95d621c?elinkdata=25715">D'Heaven Domena</a> excelled as did freshman wide receivers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e79d91a-e05f-48cb-9b8e-a2c2adb04b72?elinkdata=25715">Will Wilcox</a>, veteran <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b7e99a6d-18f6-4ac8-847b-3a09d82da9f1?elinkdata=25715">Rhadarious Lomax-Spivey</a> who sat out last season and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9d1386b1-fd18-4a8a-b068-f41215dbcccf?elinkdata=25715">Dejaylon Beal</a>. Beal caught touchdown passes of 65 and 55 yards from quarterback <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a0617163-e158-47c5-88b7-8cc29b9214d0?elinkdata=25715">Kai Wilkinson</a> late in the scrimmage."When you watch film, it's never as bad as you think it is or never as good as you think it is - somewhere in the middle," coach Middleton said. "We've got some playmakers, and I know we busted (big plays) all over the place today but what I was proud of was when we didn't bust plays, we still made plays and extended plays and that was the biggest thing."The two touchdowns at the end were extended plays so I think we're learning to play through the whistle and if things don't go our way, finding a way to make something happen. It's a new system; it took a few practices, I think probably seven is when it started to click a little bit. Today you were seeing us in it."Injuries played a big role much of the spring; the defense impacted most."The first group we've got some talent, but I'll be honest we've been beat up defensive line-wise and you can see that today," Middleton said. "We just don't have our guys right now and have had to play some guys on limited reps. We'll get those things fixed and get some depth in here and get some stuff corrected. But they gave great effort and they're getting after it."Linebacker <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/66196645-e6a2-4abb-b519-943f5c67b8ab?elinkdata=25715">Freronnta Allen</a> had the defensive play of the day intercepting a Wilkinson pass and returning it for a touchdown.Shoring up depth on both sides of the ball will be the primary focus until fall camp begins August 8."We've got to go get some immediate help, we've got to go get some people to come in and be in the two-deep right now and help us," Middleton said. "Anytime you have a team that loses 33 seniors and a lot of others you're in a situation where you're replacing a whole lot of production. We've got a lot of spots that we can fill in."

Offense stands out in KWU Football's spring scrimmage

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Wacha scattered four hits over six innings, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 2-0 for the second straight night Saturday to run their winning streak to six.

Wacha (1-3) once again received little run support, but the veteran right-hander made the meager production stand up on chilly evening at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out six while walking two and never allowed a runner past second base.

Steven Cruz worked the seventh for Kansas City, his seventh appearance this season without allowing a run. John Schreiber left runners on the corners in the eighth, and Carlos Estévez had a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and scored in the first inning for the Royals, extending his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.

Framber Valdez (1-3) gave up a sacrifice fly to Mark Canha in the first inning and Pasquantino's shot down the right-field line in the fifth. Otherwise, the Astros left-hander kept Kansas City in check, allowing three hits and two walks over eight innings.

Valdez had tossed seven shutout innings against the Royals last August in a 3-2 victory.

The Astros, who have lost five straight at the K, have managed just nine hits while getting shut out over the first two games of the series. They had rolled into Kansas City having won three straight and five of their last six games.

Isaac Parades hit a two-out double and Jeremy Peña followed with a single to give Houston runners on the corners in the eighth inning. Schreiber bounced back to strike out Christian Walker with a four-seam fastball to end the threat.

The Royals have only scored seven runs in the 32 innings that Wacha has pitched this season.

RHP Hunter Brown (3-1, 1.16) tries to extend a 24-inning scoreless streak for Houston in the series finale Sunday. LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.45) gets the start for Kansas City after tossing seven shutout innings against the Rockies his last time out.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745720098244.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Wacha scattered four hits over six innings, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 2-0 for the second straight night Saturday to run their winning streak to six.Wacha (1-3) once again received little run support, but the veteran right-hander made the meager production stand up on chilly evening at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out six while walking two and never allowed a runner past second base.Steven Cruz worked the seventh for Kansas City, his seventh appearance this season without allowing a run. John Schreiber left runners on the corners in the eighth, and Carlos Estévez had a perfect ninth for his seventh save.Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and scored in the first inning for the Royals, extending his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.Framber Valdez (1-3) gave up a sacrifice fly to Mark Canha in the first inning and Pasquantino's shot down the right-field line in the fifth. Otherwise, the Astros left-hander kept Kansas City in check, allowing three hits and two walks over eight innings.Valdez had tossed seven shutout innings against the Royals last August in a 3-2 victory.The Astros, who have lost five straight at the K, have managed just nine hits while getting shut out over the first two games of the series. They had rolled into Kansas City having won three straight and five of their last six games.<h2>Key moment</h2>Isaac Parades hit a two-out double and Jeremy Peña followed with a single to give Houston runners on the corners in the eighth inning. Schreiber bounced back to strike out Christian Walker with a four-seam fastball to end the threat.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals have only scored seven runs in the 32 innings that Wacha has pitched this season.<h2>Up next</h2>RHP Hunter Brown (3-1, 1.16) tries to extend a 24-inning scoreless streak for Houston in the series finale Sunday. LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.45) gets the start for Kansas City after tossing seven shutout innings against the Rockies his last time out.

⚾ Pasquantino homers as KC beats Astros for the second straight night

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

The Southeast of Saline softball team split their mid-season tournament games on Friday, falling to Wamego 11-0 but bouncing back to defeat El Dorado 5-4 on a walk-off Abby Wyatt single.

Game One: Wamego 11, SE of Saline 0

The opener of this two-game set would be one to forget for SES, whose bats went truly cold for the first time all season.

Southeast would be blanked for the first time in the campaign, finding just five hits and a pair of walks against the Wamego starter, and striking out eight times.

The Lady Raiders scored four runs in the first and third, adding another in the fourth and two more in the fifth to win by mercy rule.

Game Two: SE of Saline 5, El Dorado 4

Not discouraged by a rough start, the Lady Trojans bounced back in a game two pitchers duel that saw the teams even at 2 apiece going into the fifth.

El Dorado added a run in the fifth and Southeast responded with one of their own in the sixth, but with another in the seventh, the Wildcats put Southeast down to their final three outs.

With their backs to the wall, SES went to work, tying the game on a Kyiah Samuelson RBI single, and walking it off when Abby Wyatt did the same in the very next at bat.

In the circle, Karlee Zurfluh and Carlee Dye combined to allow just four earned runs, walking just two batters while striking out six.

With this split, SES moves to 11-3, good enough to lead the Osage City regional standings with two weeks left to go in the regular season.

The Lady Trojans will return to league play on Tuesday when they travel to Minneapolis for a date with the Lady Lions.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Southeast of Saline softball team split their mid-season tournament games on Friday, falling to Wamego 11-0 but bouncing back to defeat El Dorado 5-4 on a walk-off Abby Wyatt single.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715807615208.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Game One: Wamego 11, SE of Saline 0The opener of this two-game set would be one to forget for SES, whose bats went truly cold for the first time all season.Southeast would be blanked for the first time in the campaign, finding just five hits and a pair of walks against the Wamego starter, and striking out eight times.The Lady Raiders scored four runs in the first and third, adding another in the fourth and two more in the fifth to win by mercy rule.Game Two: SE of Saline 5, El Dorado 4Not discouraged by a rough start, the Lady Trojans bounced back in a game two pitchers duel that saw the teams even at 2 apiece going into the fifth.El Dorado added a run in the fifth and Southeast responded with one of their own in the sixth, but with another in the seventh, the Wildcats put Southeast down to their final three outs.With their backs to the wall, SES went to work, tying the game on a Kyiah Samuelson RBI single, and walking it off when Abby Wyatt did the same in the very next at bat.In the circle, Karlee Zurfluh and Carlee Dye combined to allow just four earned runs, walking just two batters while striking out six.With this split, SES moves to 11-3, good enough to lead the Osage City regional standings with two weeks left to go in the regular season.The Lady Trojans will return to league play on Tuesday when they travel to Minneapolis for a date with the Lady Lions.

🥎 Southeast splits midseason tournament with Wamego and El Dorado

The Salina South softball team handled their business on Friday night, sweeping the Lady Salthawks of Hutchinson in victories of 15-5 and 9-8.

Game One: Salina South 15, Hutch 5

The Lady Salthawk bats looked ready to compete in the opener, scoring a run in the first, two more in the second, and two in the third, marking their best offensive output in nearly two weeks.

Unfortunately for Hutch, it didn’t take long for South to capitalize on a few miscues, and in the home half of the second, the Lady Cougars sent nine straight batters to the plate, each of whom would reach first safely.

That led to a seven-run outburst that put South in front 8-3, and with three more runs in the third and four in the fourth this game would conclude in just five innings.

Every single member of the Salina South lineup scored or drove in at least one run, led by Paityn Fritz who went 3-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an RBI single.

In the circle, Macy Yost settled down after the third, allowing just three earned runs in her seventh win of the season.

The nightcap of this two-game set was much closer, with Hutch nearly tying things up in the final frame.

Once again it was the Lady Salthawks who struck first, and actually held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the third.

Macy Yost and Chloe Helsel quickly flipped that script, driving in three runs on a pair of singles to flip a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead.

South would add another in the fourth and fifth, and three more in the sixth, holding a 9-5 advantage into the final inning.

Hutch kept battling, plating three and putting the tying run on third, but a strikeout of Jayanna Cornejo would seal the deal and secure the win for the Lady Cougars.

With this sweep, South improves to 14-4 while Hutch drops to 3-15 on the year.

These wins also vault the green and gold into fourth place in the regional standings, up two spots from the 6-seed they held going into Friday.

The Lady Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Valley Center.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Salina South softball team handled their business on Friday night, sweeping the Lady Salthawks of Hutchinson in victories of 15-5 and 9-8.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715807615208.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Game One: Salina South 15, Hutch 5The Lady Salthawk bats looked ready to compete in the opener, scoring a run in the first, two more in the second, and two in the third, marking their best offensive output in nearly two weeks.Unfortunately for Hutch, it didn’t take long for South to capitalize on a few miscues, and in the home half of the second, the Lady Cougars sent nine straight batters to the plate, each of whom would reach first safely.That led to a seven-run outburst that put South in front 8-3, and with three more runs in the third and four in the fourth this game would conclude in just five innings.Every single member of the Salina South lineup scored or drove in at least one run, led by Paityn Fritz who went 3-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an RBI single.In the circle, Macy Yost settled down after the third, allowing just three earned runs in her seventh win of the season.Game Two: Salina South 9, Hutch 8The nightcap of this two-game set was much closer, with Hutch nearly tying things up in the final frame.Once again it was the Lady Salthawks who struck first, and actually held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the third.Macy Yost and Chloe Helsel quickly flipped that script, driving in three runs on a pair of singles to flip a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead.South would add another in the fourth and fifth, and three more in the sixth, holding a 9-5 advantage into the final inning.Hutch kept battling, plating three and putting the tying run on third, but a strikeout of Jayanna Cornejo would seal the deal and secure the win for the Lady Cougars.With this sweep, South improves to 14-4 while Hutch drops to 3-15 on the year.These wins also vault the green and gold into fourth place in the regional standings, up two spots from the 6-seed they held going into Friday.The Lady Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Valley Center.

🥎 Lady Cougars hold off Hutch in Friday sweep 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Second-seeded Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football cruised past the seventh-seeded Cottey College Comets 45-6 in the quarterfinals of the KCAC Flag Football Tournament on Friday at the KC Current Training Center.

The Coyotes were in control from the opening snap. Cottey started with the ball but the Coyotes turned it into points quickly as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/76383d6b-b620-4092-815d-9fda42de059a?elinkdata=25653">Angel Roman</a> picked off a pass and then lateralled to <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4f1a6743-6b78-41cc-8aa4-6c6ba7a59cd2?elinkdata=25653">Alexa Mansur</a> who took it to the Cottey 2-yard line. From there, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e2fde1d7-7d08-4dbd-bd36-69a418952716?elinkdata=25653">Chihiro Iwata</a> dropped a pass to Sofia Tafua and KWU led 6-0 with 8:50 left in the first.

After a failed Cottey drive, the Coyotes were right back to work, this time capping the scoring drive with an eight yard pass from Iwata to Tafua to make it 12-0 with 1:47 left in the first.

KWU only needed two plays on the next drive as Iwata dropped a pass to Roman for a 24-yard scoring play with 10:35 left in the second to put the Coyotes up 18-0.

The Coyotes added another score in the second, as Iwata again found Roman, this time from five yards out and it was 25-0 with 4:32 left in the first half.

KWU started the second half with the ball and scoring out of the gates. Tafua led the scoring drive dropping a perfectly placed lass to Roman from 24 yards out and the PAT was good making it 32-0 with 8:47 left in the third.

The Coyotes scored again in the fourth as Tafua found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/425fafe4-1bfa-4ad7-993d-cc01064e087a?elinkdata=25653">Yui Watanabe</a> for four yards out to make it 38-0 with 10:14 to go in the game.

Cottey got its only score of the game when the Comets saw Alyssa Hollis break free for a 66-yard touchdown pass with 9:23 to go in the game.

The Coyotes would score one more time, as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c111ac01-ad70-42cb-b882-12fa3c36411e?elinkdata=25653">Angelina Briano</a> led the final scoring drive, hitting <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2a568676-3de4-4b69-b1ab-b95b2873c088?elinkdata=25653">Ashley Hawthorne</a> for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to make it 45-6.

Iwata was 13 of 15 passing for 197 yards and two scores. Tafua was 9 of 13 for 127 yards and two scores and Briano was 5 of 6 for 47 yards and one touchdown as the top three passers for the Coyotes in the game. Tafua added 10 yards rushing.

Tafua had 103 yards receiving in the game as well on three catches, Roman caught four passes for 55 yards and three scores.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Second-seeded Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football cruised past the seventh-seeded Cottey College Comets 45-6 in the quarterfinals of the KCAC Flag Football Tournament on Friday at the KC Current Training Center.The Coyotes were in control from the opening snap. Cottey started with the ball but the Coyotes turned it into points quickly as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/76383d6b-b620-4092-815d-9fda42de059a?elinkdata=25653">Angel Roman</a> picked off a pass and then lateralled to <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4f1a6743-6b78-41cc-8aa4-6c6ba7a59cd2?elinkdata=25653">Alexa Mansur</a> who took it to the Cottey 2-yard line. From there, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e2fde1d7-7d08-4dbd-bd36-69a418952716?elinkdata=25653">Chihiro Iwata</a> dropped a pass to Sofia Tafua and KWU led 6-0 with 8:50 left in the first.After a failed Cottey drive, the Coyotes were right back to work, this time capping the scoring drive with an eight yard pass from Iwata to Tafua to make it 12-0 with 1:47 left in the first.KWU only needed two plays on the next drive as Iwata dropped a pass to Roman for a 24-yard scoring play with 10:35 left in the second to put the Coyotes up 18-0.The Coyotes added another score in the second, as Iwata again found Roman, this time from five yards out and it was 25-0 with 4:32 left in the first half.KWU started the second half with the ball and scoring out of the gates. Tafua led the scoring drive dropping a perfectly placed lass to Roman from 24 yards out and the PAT was good making it 32-0 with 8:47 left in the third.The Coyotes scored again in the fourth as Tafua found <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/425fafe4-1bfa-4ad7-993d-cc01064e087a?elinkdata=25653">Yui Watanabe</a> for four yards out to make it 38-0 with 10:14 to go in the game.Cottey got its only score of the game when the Comets saw Alyssa Hollis break free for a 66-yard touchdown pass with 9:23 to go in the game.The Coyotes would score one more time, as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c111ac01-ad70-42cb-b882-12fa3c36411e?elinkdata=25653">Angelina Briano</a> led the final scoring drive, hitting <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2a568676-3de4-4b69-b1ab-b95b2873c088?elinkdata=25653">Ashley Hawthorne</a> for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to make it 45-6.Iwata was 13 of 15 passing for 197 yards and two scores. Tafua was 9 of 13 for 127 yards and two scores and Briano was 5 of 6 for 47 yards and one touchdown as the top three passers for the Coyotes in the game. Tafua added 10 yards rushing.Tafua had 103 yards receiving in the game as well on three catches, Roman caught four passes for 55 yards and three scores.