KANSAS (<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UmfKHbT8DsOJhtJIq8xozanJhVmTSMviHUA-rJ49nwE/edit?usp=sharing">2025-26 Commissioner's Cup Standings</a>) —&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan University sits at the top of the 2025-26 KCAC Commissioner's Cup Standings following the Fall 2025 season, the conference office announced Friday.&nbsp;

The KCAC Commissioner's Cup is awarded annually as a symbol of excellence in athletics representing&nbsp;20&nbsp;championships. Member institutions can&nbsp;earn points for their finish of each varsity team in those 20&nbsp;officially recognized conference sports.

It was a strong fall for the Coyotes. KWU took home the KCAC Women's Cross Country Championship title, with a second-place finish at the KCAC Men's Cross Country Championships. 

Kansas Wesleyan also finished in third place in both the Men's and Women's Soccer Final Regular Season Standings, along with a fifth-place finish in the women's volleyball regular season standings, and ranking fifth in overall record (regardless of division) in football. 

This success across the board secured 67 points in the Commissioner's Cup standings for the Coyotes following the fall season.&nbsp;Rounding out the top five in the Commissioner's Cup Standings following the fall are Evangel University (61.5 points), the University of Saint Mary (52.5), Friends University (50.5), and Oklahoma Wesleyan University (47.0).

KANSAS (<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UmfKHbT8DsOJhtJIq8xozanJhVmTSMviHUA-rJ49nwE/edit?usp=sharing">2025-26 Commissioner's Cup Standings</a>) —&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan University sits at the top of the 2025-26 KCAC Commissioner's Cup Standings following the Fall 2025 season, the conference office announced Friday.&nbsp;The KCAC Commissioner's Cup is awarded annually as a symbol of excellence in athletics representing&nbsp;20&nbsp;championships. Member institutions can&nbsp;earn points for their finish of each varsity team in those 20&nbsp;officially recognized conference sports.It was a strong fall for the Coyotes. KWU took home the KCAC Women's Cross Country Championship title, with a second-place finish at the KCAC Men's Cross Country Championships. Kansas Wesleyan also finished in third place in both the Men's and Women's Soccer Final Regular Season Standings, along with a fifth-place finish in the women's volleyball regular season standings, and ranking fifth in overall record (regardless of division) in football. This success across the board secured 67 points in the Commissioner's Cup standings for the Coyotes following the fall season.&nbsp;Rounding out the top five in the Commissioner's Cup Standings following the fall are Evangel University (61.5 points), the University of Saint Mary (52.5), Friends University (50.5), and Oklahoma Wesleyan University (47.0).

Kansas Wesleyan leads Commissioner's Cup standings after fall seasons

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — P.J. Haggerty scored 37 points, Nate Johnson added 14, and Kansas State turned a tight halftime lead into a runaway, beating Mississippi State 98–77 on Thursday night.

Haggerty shot 13 of 21 from the field, hit four 3-pointers and went 7 of 8 at the line, repeatedly beating closeouts off the bounce. Johnson knocked down two 3s and handed out four assists, while Abdi Bashir Jr. chipped in 12 with four makes from deep.

Kansas State (5–0) buried 14 threes and assisted on 22 of its 37 field goals. Leading 44–36 at the break, the Wildcats broke the game open with a 13–5 surge. Haggerty sliced to the rim for a layup, Johnson drilled a transition 3 and Haggerty followed with another from the left wing for a 52–41 cushion.

Mississippi State (2–2) briefly countered behind Jayden Epps, who hit back-to-back 3s to close the gap to 57–47, but David Castillo answered with a 3 of his own.

McGriff scored seven straight points in the final stretch, Castillo knocked down two free throws, and Bashir buried a corner 3 to push the lead past 20 with under three minutes left.

Josh Hubbard led the Bulldogs with 23 points, and Brandon Walker scored 18 off the bench, but MSU struggled from deep (7 of 25) and couldn’t keep pace with the Wildcats’ perimeter fire

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763694610340.jpeg" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — P.J. Haggerty scored 37 points, Nate Johnson added 14, and Kansas State turned a tight halftime lead into a runaway, beating Mississippi State 98–77 on Thursday night.Haggerty shot 13 of 21 from the field, hit four 3-pointers and went 7 of 8 at the line, repeatedly beating closeouts off the bounce. Johnson knocked down two 3s and handed out four assists, while Abdi Bashir Jr. chipped in 12 with four makes from deep.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763722715491.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State (5–0) buried 14 threes and assisted on 22 of its 37 field goals. Leading 44–36 at the break, the Wildcats broke the game open with a 13–5 surge. Haggerty sliced to the rim for a layup, Johnson drilled a transition 3 and Haggerty followed with another from the left wing for a 52–41 cushion.Mississippi State (2–2) briefly countered behind Jayden Epps, who hit back-to-back 3s to close the gap to 57–47, but David Castillo answered with a 3 of his own.McGriff scored seven straight points in the final stretch, Castillo knocked down two free throws, and Bashir buried a corner 3 to push the lead past 20 with under three minutes left.Josh Hubbard led the Bulldogs with 23 points, and Brandon Walker scored 18 off the bench, but MSU struggled from deep (7 of 25) and couldn’t keep pace with the Wildcats’ perimeter fire

🏀 Haggerty erupts for 37 as K-State blows past Mississippi State

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association this morning announced on MLB Network that&nbsp;Bobby Witt Jr.&nbsp;has been named the overall Heart &amp; Hustle Award winner for the second consecutive season.

Created by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association in 2005, the Heart &amp; Hustle Award is voted on by alumni and active Major League players and is presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.

The MLBPAA formed 30 committees, comprised of alumni players with established relationships to each team. One player from each Major League team is chosen by the committees based on the passion, desire and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field. As the season draws to a close, fans, all Alumni and active players vote to select the final winner from the 30 team winners.

Witt Jr. has been Kansas City’s nominee in each of his first four Major League seasons. Since the award was established in 2005, he’s the second player to win the award twice, joining Hall of Famer&nbsp;Craig Biggio, who was named the Heart &amp; Hustle winner in 2006 and 2007.

Witt Jr., 25, has led the Majors in hits in each of the last two seasons, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat (excluding 2020) since&nbsp;Whit Merrifield&nbsp;did so for the Royals from 2018-19. Witt Jr. also led the Majors with 47 doubles in 2025.

He slashed .295/.351/.501 (184-for-623) in 157 games with Kansas City in 2025 and recorded 23 home runs and 38 stolen bases, becoming the first player in Major League history with at least 20 HR and 30 steals in each of his first four big league seasons.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association this morning announced on MLB Network that&nbsp;Bobby Witt Jr.&nbsp;has been named the overall Heart &amp; Hustle Award winner for the second consecutive season.Created by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association in 2005, the Heart &amp; Hustle Award is voted on by alumni and active Major League players and is presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.The MLBPAA formed 30 committees, comprised of alumni players with established relationships to each team. One player from each Major League team is chosen by the committees based on the passion, desire and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field. As the season draws to a close, fans, all Alumni and active players vote to select the final winner from the 30 team winners.Witt Jr. has been Kansas City’s nominee in each of his first four Major League seasons. Since the award was established in 2005, he’s the second player to win the award twice, joining Hall of Famer&nbsp;Craig Biggio, who was named the Heart &amp; Hustle winner in 2006 and 2007.Witt Jr., 25, has led the Majors in hits in each of the last two seasons, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat (excluding 2020) since&nbsp;Whit Merrifield&nbsp;did so for the Royals from 2018-19. Witt Jr. also led the Majors with 47 doubles in 2025.He slashed .295/.351/.501 (184-for-623) in 157 games with Kansas City in 2025 and recorded 23 home runs and 38 stolen bases, becoming the first player in Major League history with at least 20 HR and 30 steals in each of his first four big league seasons.

Bobby Witt Jr. Named MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award Winner for Second Straight Season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, Chiefs players will take part in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative, wearing custom cleats to spread awareness for select non-profit organizations representing different causes.

My Cause My Cleats is in its ninth season as the NFL’s leading player campaign allowing players, coaches, and staff members to spotlight causes and nonprofits that they resonate with. This season, over 1,800 players, coaches, staff and NFL Legends will participate in My Cause My Cleats to shed light on initiatives important to them including cancer awareness and prevention, health and disease awareness, social justice, youth empowerment, mental health and others.

The following players, along with others, will represent various charitable organizations during Sunday’s My Cause My Cleats game against the Indianapolis Colts:

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/matt-araiza/">P Matt Araiza</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/harrison-butker/">K Harrison Butker</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/mike-danna/">DE Mike Danna</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/ashton-gillotte/">DE Ashton Gillotte</a>

The Lord's Kitchen Ministries and Place of Hope

Food Insecurity, Veteran Housing, Addiction Recovery; Foster Kids, Teen Moms, Human Trafficking

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jaden-hicks/">DB Jaden Hicks</a>

<a href="https://givingmachineskc.org/">DT Chris Jones</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/george-karlaftis/">DE George Karlaftis</a>

Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/travis-kelce/">TE Travis Kelce</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/patrick-mahomes/">QB Patrick Mahomes</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/trent-mcduffie/">CB Trent McDuffie</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jaylon-moore/">OL Jaylon Moore</a>

<a href="https://supporting.afsp.org/home">DT Derrick Nnadi</a>

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/omarr-norman-lott/">DT Omarr Norman-Lott</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/rashee-rice/">WR Rashee Rice</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/trey-smith/">G Trey Smith</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/robert-tonyan/">TE Robert Tonyan</a>

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jaylen-watson/">CB Jaylen Watson</a>

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jared-wiley/">TE Jared Wiley</a>

Youth (Health/Wellness, Football Camps, Programming)

<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/xavier-worthy/">WR Xavier Worthy</a>

This year, fans will be more involved and informed on player causes than ever. In collaboration with Stand Together, a philanthropic community providing changemakers with the resources to transform lives and society, a brand-new database will be available to fans to elevate player storytelling and allow fans to access more information on player causes, donate, bid on custom cleats, and create their own AI-generated cleats.

In partnership with Rayze, a platform connecting donors, individuals, businesses and nonprofits founded by NFL Legend Carl Nassib, fans will be able to donate to player-specific 501(c)3 organizations they are supporting this year, with 100 percent of the proceeds going back to these foundations. In addition, fans will be able to donate on select game-worn cleats on NFL Auction. In collaboration with Adobe, a custom cleat generator has been built using Adobe Firefly to allow fans to design their own AI-generated cleats inspired by causes they care about.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, Chiefs players will take part in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative, wearing custom cleats to spread awareness for select non-profit organizations representing different causes.My Cause My Cleats is in its ninth season as the NFL’s leading player campaign allowing players, coaches, and staff members to spotlight causes and nonprofits that they resonate with. This season, over 1,800 players, coaches, staff and NFL Legends will participate in My Cause My Cleats to shed light on initiatives important to them including cancer awareness and prevention, health and disease awareness, social justice, youth empowerment, mental health and others.The following players, along with others, will represent various charitable organizations during Sunday’s My Cause My Cleats game against the Indianapolis Colts:PlayerFoundationCause<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/matt-araiza/">P Matt Araiza</a>Matthew Friedman Memorial FoundationBrain Aneurysm Awareness<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/harrison-butker/">K Harrison Butker</a>Herzog FoundationChristian Education<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/mike-danna/">DE Mike Danna</a>Braden's Hope for ChildhoodCancerCancer Awareness &amp; Prevention<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/ashton-gillotte/">DE Ashton Gillotte</a>The Lord's Kitchen Ministries and Place of HopeFood Insecurity, Veteran Housing, Addiction Recovery; Foster Kids, Teen Moms, Human Trafficking<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jaden-hicks/">DB Jaden Hicks</a>Children's Mercy Kansas CityCancer Awareness &amp; Prevention<a href="https://givingmachineskc.org/">DT Chris Jones</a>Light the World Giving MachineFood Insecurity, Health and Wellness<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/george-karlaftis/">DE George Karlaftis</a>Kansas City Public Schools Education FoundationSocial Justice (Education, EconomicAdvancement, Police Relations)<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/travis-kelce/">TE Travis Kelce</a>Eighty-Seven and RunningYouth (Health/Wellness, Football Camps,Programming)<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/patrick-mahomes/">QB Patrick Mahomes</a>15 and the MahomiesFoundationYouth (Health/Wellness, Football Camps,Programming)<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/trent-mcduffie/">CB Trent McDuffie</a>T22 McDuffie Foundation and Solace HouseYouth (Health/Wellness, Football Camps,Programming)<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jaylon-moore/">OL Jaylon Moore</a>Commonwealth ImpactFoundationHunger and Food Insecurity<a href="https://supporting.afsp.org/home">DT Derrick Nnadi</a>American Foundation for Suicide PreventionMental Health<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/omarr-norman-lott/">DT Omarr Norman-Lott</a>World Wildlife FundDefenders of Wildlife<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/rashee-rice/">WR Rashee Rice</a>Rashee Rice Legacy FoundationMental Health<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/trey-smith/">G Trey Smith</a>UncorneredStreet Violence<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/robert-tonyan/">TE Robert Tonyan</a>Gi Gi’s Playhouse (Illinois)Health Disease Awareness/Prevention<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jaylen-watson/">CB Jaylen Watson</a>Best Buddies - MissouriIntellectual and Developmental Disabilities<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/jared-wiley/">TE Jared Wiley</a>Bridge East Temple FoundationYouth (Health/Wellness, Football Camps, Programming)<a href="https://mycausemycleats.org/player/xavier-worthy/">WR Xavier Worthy</a>The Worthy 1's FoundationSingle Moms &amp; YouthThis year, fans will be more involved and informed on player causes than ever. In collaboration with Stand Together, a philanthropic community providing changemakers with the resources to transform lives and society, a brand-new database will be available to fans to elevate player storytelling and allow fans to access more information on player causes, donate, bid on custom cleats, and create their own AI-generated cleats.In partnership with Rayze, a platform connecting donors, individuals, businesses and nonprofits founded by NFL Legend Carl Nassib, fans will be able to donate to player-specific 501(c)3 organizations they are supporting this year, with 100 percent of the proceeds going back to these foundations. In addition, fans will be able to donate on select game-worn cleats on NFL Auction. In collaboration with Adobe, a custom cleat generator has been built using Adobe Firefly to allow fans to design their own AI-generated cleats inspired by causes they care about.

Chiefs Players take part in My Cause My Cleats on Sunday afternoon

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Junior guard P.J. Haggerty was among 50 players to be listed on the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Watch List as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

The John R. Wooden Award is given annually to the most outstanding player in college basketball and is awarded based on votes considering a player’s performance on and off the court.

Haggerty is one of 11 Big 12 players on the list, including Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson and JT Toppin, BYU’s AJ Dybansta and Ritchie Saunders, Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, Arizona’s Koa Peat, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Houston’s Emanuel Sharp, Joseph Tugler and Milos Uzan.

This is the fourth time Haggerty has been named to the watch list for a national player of the year award, as he was among 20 candidates for the 2026 NABC Division I Player of the Year on Oct. 30 while he was selected to the watch lists for the 2025-26 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is given annually to the Player of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association earlier this month.

Haggerty is off to a great start to the season, as he ranks second nationally in scoring at 26 points per game. He is one of three Wildcats to open the season with four consecutive games of 20 or more points, which includes a 31-point, 10-rebound performance in the win over Tulsa on Monday night. He is the first Wildcat with such a stat line since Michael Beasley in 2008.

Haggerty received a number of preseason accolades, including All-America honors from CBS Sports, Jay Bilas, The Field of 68, Jon Rothstein and @CBBAnalytics and All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches. He was also named to the watch list for the Jerry West Award, which is given annually the nation’s top shooting guard.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Junior guard P.J. Haggerty was among 50 players to be listed on the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Watch List as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.The John R. Wooden Award is given annually to the most outstanding player in college basketball and is awarded based on votes considering a player’s performance on and off the court.Haggerty is one of 11 Big 12 players on the list, including Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson and JT Toppin, BYU’s AJ Dybansta and Ritchie Saunders, Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, Arizona’s Koa Peat, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Houston’s Emanuel Sharp, Joseph Tugler and Milos Uzan.This is the fourth time Haggerty has been named to the watch list for a national player of the year award, as he was among 20 candidates for the 2026 NABC Division I Player of the Year on Oct. 30 while he was selected to the watch lists for the 2025-26 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is given annually to the Player of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association earlier this month.Haggerty is off to a great start to the season, as he ranks second nationally in scoring at 26 points per game. He is one of three Wildcats to open the season with four consecutive games of 20 or more points, which includes a 31-point, 10-rebound performance in the win over Tulsa on Monday night. He is the first Wildcat with such a stat line since Michael Beasley in 2008.Haggerty received a number of preseason accolades, including All-America honors from CBS Sports, Jay Bilas, The Field of 68, Jon Rothstein and @CBBAnalytics and All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches. He was also named to the watch list for the Jerry West Award, which is given annually the nation’s top shooting guard.

🏀 Haggerty Named to John R. Wooden Preseason Watch List

McPHERSON - Kansas Wesleyan Men's Basketball had an eight-point lead at halftime of Wednesday's Kansas Conference game at Holman Fieldhouse against the McPherson College Bulldogs.

Halfway through the second half, the Coyotes were down six points.

But Wesleyan's resilient group did not give up, instead the Coyotes clawed back and escaped with a 75-73 win over the Bulldogs.

The win gives head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5295fdae-120a-4e22-8225-95bb934bfc48?elinkdata=33489">Jordan Murdock</a> his first conference win in his career. KWU improved to 3-4 overall, 1-1 in the rugged KCAC.

A 7-1 run by McPherson broke a 54-all tie in the second half, giving the Bulldogs a 61-55 lead with 9:24 to go.

The Coyotes weren't done though. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5ed3cfc0-e619-403b-bebb-f2099e8017a9?elinkdata=33489">Gabe Phillips</a> hit a pair of free throws and the Coyotes also got free throws by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d050666e-a7bc-4bdf-ab95-7af721e95b3e?elinkdata=33489">Alec Grill</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d1784f9d-b6cf-47c8-b2cb-b948475e0887?elinkdata=33489">Caiden Punt</a> to draw back even at 61-all with 7:08 left.

McPherson held the lead until a bucket by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/108dd800-dc03-4381-90ba-5da2e0ca5472?elinkdata=33489">Evens Appolon</a> and a 3-pointer by Punt pushed the Coyotes up three with 5:28 to go.

The teams battled back and forth with McPherson leading 71-70 with 1:28 left when the Coyotes got another Appolon basket and then turned a McPherson turnover into points on a score by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/69b26f8c-bc47-47ef-9fa0-1a55ee8fce34?elinkdata=33489">Wyatt Powell</a> to lead 74-71.

McPherson scored with eight seconds left to get within a point, but <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e53ecce8-8f2a-4958-90fa-60096e2c84b7?elinkdata=33489">Brandon Avedon</a> would hit 1 of 2 free throws to give the Coyotes a 75-73 lead with 5.5 seconds left. McPherson inbounded and drove the length of the floor and a desperation shot as time expired fell short giving the Coyotes the win.

The Coyotes built an early 7-4 lead in the first half on a Powell score, but then the teams got in a basket trading contest, also trading the lead back and forth until a Powell 3-pointer gave the Coyotes a 20-18 lead with 11:19 to go.

Another Powell bucket gave the Coyotes a 36-25 lead with 5:27 to go in the first and a bucket by Phillips with 3:53 left in the half gave KWU its biggest lead of the night at 39-27.

Punt and Powell had 17 points each for the Coyotes. Punt added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Phillips had 15 and Appolon had 10 and eight rebounds. KWU dominated on the boards 45-29.

McPHERSON - Kansas Wesleyan Men's Basketball had an eight-point lead at halftime of Wednesday's Kansas Conference game at Holman Fieldhouse against the McPherson College Bulldogs.Halfway through the second half, the Coyotes were down six points.But Wesleyan's resilient group did not give up, instead the Coyotes clawed back and escaped with a 75-73 win over the Bulldogs.The win gives head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5295fdae-120a-4e22-8225-95bb934bfc48?elinkdata=33489">Jordan Murdock</a> his first conference win in his career. KWU improved to 3-4 overall, 1-1 in the rugged KCAC.A 7-1 run by McPherson broke a 54-all tie in the second half, giving the Bulldogs a 61-55 lead with 9:24 to go.The Coyotes weren't done though. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5ed3cfc0-e619-403b-bebb-f2099e8017a9?elinkdata=33489">Gabe Phillips</a> hit a pair of free throws and the Coyotes also got free throws by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d050666e-a7bc-4bdf-ab95-7af721e95b3e?elinkdata=33489">Alec Grill</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d1784f9d-b6cf-47c8-b2cb-b948475e0887?elinkdata=33489">Caiden Punt</a> to draw back even at 61-all with 7:08 left.McPherson held the lead until a bucket by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/108dd800-dc03-4381-90ba-5da2e0ca5472?elinkdata=33489">Evens Appolon</a> and a 3-pointer by Punt pushed the Coyotes up three with 5:28 to go.The teams battled back and forth with McPherson leading 71-70 with 1:28 left when the Coyotes got another Appolon basket and then turned a McPherson turnover into points on a score by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/69b26f8c-bc47-47ef-9fa0-1a55ee8fce34?elinkdata=33489">Wyatt Powell</a> to lead 74-71.McPherson scored with eight seconds left to get within a point, but <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e53ecce8-8f2a-4958-90fa-60096e2c84b7?elinkdata=33489">Brandon Avedon</a> would hit 1 of 2 free throws to give the Coyotes a 75-73 lead with 5.5 seconds left. McPherson inbounded and drove the length of the floor and a desperation shot as time expired fell short giving the Coyotes the win.The Coyotes built an early 7-4 lead in the first half on a Powell score, but then the teams got in a basket trading contest, also trading the lead back and forth until a Powell 3-pointer gave the Coyotes a 20-18 lead with 11:19 to go.Another Powell bucket gave the Coyotes a 36-25 lead with 5:27 to go in the first and a bucket by Phillips with 3:53 left in the half gave KWU its biggest lead of the night at 39-27.Punt and Powell had 17 points each for the Coyotes. Punt added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Phillips had 15 and Appolon had 10 and eight rebounds. KWU dominated on the boards 45-29.

🏀 Coyote Men’s Basketball rallies late, holds on to beat McPherson 75-73

McPHERSON - Shots just weren't falling for the Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball team on Wednesday inside McPherson's Holman Fieldhouse.

Fortunately for the Coyotes, McPherson had the same problem.

After shooting 15 percent in the first quarter, the Coyotes shot 39 percent the rest of the game and pulled away for a 66-52 win over the Bulldogs.

The Coyotes used solid efforts in the second and third quarters to take the big lead and get the win to stay unbeaten in KCAC play at 2-0 and improve to 4-2 overall.

Wesleyan jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first minute of the game on a 3-pointer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8f7cdff7-8fc0-4658-9c7d-66bffb10368d?elinkdata=33454">Adriana DiPrima</a>, but after over two scoreless minutes, McPherson was able to tie it up.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/eaf52caa-237e-4079-b97f-a00049057fe2?elinkdata=33454">Paige Chauncey</a> scored with 5:30 left in the first to tie the game at 5-5, but neither team scored again for nearly three minutes when free throws by McPherson gave the Bulldogs a 7-5 lead.

Another triple by DiPrima gave the Coyotes an 11-8 lead but McPherson scored at the end of the quarter to make it 11-10 after one period.

McPherson tied it up at 16-all in the second, but buckets from <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fa3b9d8c-f383-476d-8793-3808fdd0e87a?elinkdata=33454">Jocelyn Hall</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dbd8aceb-ccc9-4924-a9f7-55c4612f8a1e?elinkdata=33454">Izzy McCool</a> and a 3-pointer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/35e8460e-eef2-41ed-9d53-623ef3acbb6f?elinkdata=33454">Odessa Ozuna</a> fueled a 7-0 run for the Coyotes making it 23-16 with 3:34 left in the half.

The Bulldogs got within a point, but KWU closed the half with six straight points on triples by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7e76286f-bf87-4108-83c0-a497f322e144?elinkdata=33454">Madison Lambert</a> and Ozuna to lead 29-22 at the break.

Three free throws by McCool pushed the KWU lead out to 10 at 32-22 with 7:29 left in the third. A three-point play by Ozuna with 2:53 to go in the third made the lead 18 at 44-36.

The Coyotes the Bulldogs at arm's length for a majority of the fourth quarter, pushing the lead out to 20 at 62-42 on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c9497d30-6a2e-42cf-a075-a20e6444fa9c?elinkdata=33454">Emma Gertken's</a> free throws with 2:33 left.

McPherson cut the lead to 14 late, but never got any closer the rest of the way.

McCool led the Coyotes with 12 points and added seven rebounds. Ozuna had 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and six steals. Hall led the Coyotes with 11 rebounds while adding six points. KWU was 23 of 71 shooting for 32.4 percent for the game.

McPHERSON - Shots just weren't falling for the Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball team on Wednesday inside McPherson's Holman Fieldhouse.Fortunately for the Coyotes, McPherson had the same problem.After shooting 15 percent in the first quarter, the Coyotes shot 39 percent the rest of the game and pulled away for a 66-52 win over the Bulldogs.The Coyotes used solid efforts in the second and third quarters to take the big lead and get the win to stay unbeaten in KCAC play at 2-0 and improve to 4-2 overall.Wesleyan jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first minute of the game on a 3-pointer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8f7cdff7-8fc0-4658-9c7d-66bffb10368d?elinkdata=33454">Adriana DiPrima</a>, but after over two scoreless minutes, McPherson was able to tie it up.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/eaf52caa-237e-4079-b97f-a00049057fe2?elinkdata=33454">Paige Chauncey</a> scored with 5:30 left in the first to tie the game at 5-5, but neither team scored again for nearly three minutes when free throws by McPherson gave the Bulldogs a 7-5 lead.Another triple by DiPrima gave the Coyotes an 11-8 lead but McPherson scored at the end of the quarter to make it 11-10 after one period.McPherson tied it up at 16-all in the second, but buckets from <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fa3b9d8c-f383-476d-8793-3808fdd0e87a?elinkdata=33454">Jocelyn Hall</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dbd8aceb-ccc9-4924-a9f7-55c4612f8a1e?elinkdata=33454">Izzy McCool</a> and a 3-pointer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/35e8460e-eef2-41ed-9d53-623ef3acbb6f?elinkdata=33454">Odessa Ozuna</a> fueled a 7-0 run for the Coyotes making it 23-16 with 3:34 left in the half.The Bulldogs got within a point, but KWU closed the half with six straight points on triples by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7e76286f-bf87-4108-83c0-a497f322e144?elinkdata=33454">Madison Lambert</a> and Ozuna to lead 29-22 at the break.Three free throws by McCool pushed the KWU lead out to 10 at 32-22 with 7:29 left in the third. A three-point play by Ozuna with 2:53 to go in the third made the lead 18 at 44-36.The Coyotes the Bulldogs at arm's length for a majority of the fourth quarter, pushing the lead out to 20 at 62-42 on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c9497d30-6a2e-42cf-a075-a20e6444fa9c?elinkdata=33454">Emma Gertken's</a> free throws with 2:33 left.McPherson cut the lead to 14 late, but never got any closer the rest of the way.McCool led the Coyotes with 12 points and added seven rebounds. Ozuna had 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and six steals. Hall led the Coyotes with 11 rebounds while adding six points. KWU was 23 of 71 shooting for 32.4 percent for the game.

🏀 KWU WBB overcomes shooting woes, beats Bulldogs 66-52

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dd568de4-65dc-4ab9-b827-49ca12f89cf9?elinkdata=33384">Garrett Young</a> likes the way his Kansas Wesleyan men's cross country team is running at crunch time.

The Coyotes will compete in the NAIA National Championship starting at 8:30 a.m. central time Friday at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. They qualified by finishing second behind the host school and fifth-ranked Saint Mary in the Kansas Conference Championship Nov. 8 in Leavenworth.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ef22b118-2715-43f7-af1c-11287284a2ad?elinkdata=33384">Damion Jackson</a>, a junior from Gypsum, was the individual champion with a time of 24 minutes, 57.76 seconds. He finished second in the 2024 conference race and was 111th in last year's NAIA event in Columbia, Mo.

"The guys we went through some ups and downs this year," Young said. "I think we knew the talent was there the entire time; it was kind of getting everyone on the same page and executing. We had a couple off meets. I do think we kind of rallied there in the last two meets of the season."

The Coyotes compiled 44 point in the KCAC race, 12 behind fifth-ranked Saint Mary which had 32.

KWU is tied for 24th with Park in the final NAIA Coaches Top 25 rankings which doesn't disappoint Young.

"I really like the low bar and lower expectations," he said. "I think we are going to shoot for some pretty high goals this week."

Jackson credits a laser focus for his success in the KCAC meet.

"I took my watch off, which I don't usually do," he said. "Just wanted to focus on Saint Mary's number one (runner) and not worry about my time or my pace or anything else. He started pulling away at one point, but I knew as long as I kept him within a certain distance, I'd be able to kick and catch back up. I hit that last bit and had to give it everything."

Joining Jackson in Florida will be seniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/818986c6-ac40-45bc-beb5-e26cdefede2f?elinkdata=33384">Jake Cruz</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c28428ba-9b90-48af-93cf-236bfcd8035a?elinkdata=33384">Austin Schaeffer</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6fea2458-de18-4fe8-9d2a-fcbb31b81d58?elinkdata=33384">Ty Davidson</a>, juniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/36bf8dab-7ebf-47d5-a8b8-7cc823aec2db?elinkdata=33384">Ethan Ochana</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e13939f-bdd6-4206-9843-cd125ccf4b50?elinkdata=33384">Wyatt Johnson</a> and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dabafbad-0d2e-44c0-99c6-c9a13a1070cd?elinkdata=33384">Evan Pearce</a>. Cruz and Schaeffer also ran at nationals last year; Davidson was an alternate but chose to focus on indoor track. This will be the first trip to NAIA nationals for Johnson, Ochana and Pearce. Cruz placed sixth, Ochana 10th, Pearce 12th and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/569f2f39-b2e4-4cb4-a403-f954a897a372?elinkdata=33384">Braulio Torres</a> 15th in the KCAC.

Jackson said previous NAIA experience helps, but the team's prerace training is more beneficial. Tallahassee's heat and humidity could be factors so the Coyotes have spent time in the saunas at the Salina YMCA after their training runs to help them acclimate.

"It does help that I have that experience compared to someone who's probably never gone and is probably a lot more anxious," he said. "You have to keep your wits. It may be a big race but for the most part you've raced against quite a few of these people before. Even if haven't, I just know that it's another race. Not putting too much stress on myself.

"The heat is something that everyone's going to go through. We've trained for this with the saunas, we've run in the heat, and we've kept practicing no matter what."

Young said a fast start is imperative Friday.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dd568de4-65dc-4ab9-b827-49ca12f89cf9?elinkdata=33384">Garrett Young</a> likes the way his Kansas Wesleyan men's cross country team is running at crunch time.The Coyotes will compete in the NAIA National Championship starting at 8:30 a.m. central time Friday at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. They qualified by finishing second behind the host school and fifth-ranked Saint Mary in the Kansas Conference Championship Nov. 8 in Leavenworth.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ef22b118-2715-43f7-af1c-11287284a2ad?elinkdata=33384">Damion Jackson</a>, a junior from Gypsum, was the individual champion with a time of 24 minutes, 57.76 seconds. He finished second in the 2024 conference race and was 111th in last year's NAIA event in Columbia, Mo."The guys we went through some ups and downs this year," Young said. "I think we knew the talent was there the entire time; it was kind of getting everyone on the same page and executing. We had a couple off meets. I do think we kind of rallied there in the last two meets of the season."The Coyotes compiled 44 point in the KCAC race, 12 behind fifth-ranked Saint Mary which had 32.KWU is tied for 24th with Park in the final NAIA Coaches Top 25 rankings which doesn't disappoint Young."I really like the low bar and lower expectations," he said. "I think we are going to shoot for some pretty high goals this week."Jackson credits a laser focus for his success in the KCAC meet."I took my watch off, which I don't usually do," he said. "Just wanted to focus on Saint Mary's number one (runner) and not worry about my time or my pace or anything else. He started pulling away at one point, but I knew as long as I kept him within a certain distance, I'd be able to kick and catch back up. I hit that last bit and had to give it everything."Joining Jackson in Florida will be seniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/818986c6-ac40-45bc-beb5-e26cdefede2f?elinkdata=33384">Jake Cruz</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c28428ba-9b90-48af-93cf-236bfcd8035a?elinkdata=33384">Austin Schaeffer</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6fea2458-de18-4fe8-9d2a-fcbb31b81d58?elinkdata=33384">Ty Davidson</a>, juniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/36bf8dab-7ebf-47d5-a8b8-7cc823aec2db?elinkdata=33384">Ethan Ochana</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e13939f-bdd6-4206-9843-cd125ccf4b50?elinkdata=33384">Wyatt Johnson</a> and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dabafbad-0d2e-44c0-99c6-c9a13a1070cd?elinkdata=33384">Evan Pearce</a>. Cruz and Schaeffer also ran at nationals last year; Davidson was an alternate but chose to focus on indoor track. This will be the first trip to NAIA nationals for Johnson, Ochana and Pearce. Cruz placed sixth, Ochana 10th, Pearce 12th and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/569f2f39-b2e4-4cb4-a403-f954a897a372?elinkdata=33384">Braulio Torres</a> 15th in the KCAC.Jackson said previous NAIA experience helps, but the team's prerace training is more beneficial. Tallahassee's heat and humidity could be factors so the Coyotes have spent time in the saunas at the Salina YMCA after their training runs to help them acclimate."It does help that I have that experience compared to someone who's probably never gone and is probably a lot more anxious," he said. "You have to keep your wits. It may be a big race but for the most part you've raced against quite a few of these people before. Even if haven't, I just know that it's another race. Not putting too much stress on myself."The heat is something that everyone's going to go through. We've trained for this with the saunas, we've run in the heat, and we've kept practicing no matter what."Young said a fast start is imperative Friday.

👟 Men's Cross Country NAIA Nationals Preview: Surging Coyotes ready to take on NAIA Cross Country Championship Field

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e35da8c-5cb8-43c9-8045-a18fd349a26b?elinkdata=33419">Garrett Young</a> challenged his Kansas Wesleyan women's cross country team numerous times this fall and they never failed to respond.

He is asking the Coyotes to take on one final "tall task," this one Friday during the NAIA National Championship.

"Telling a group of athletes 'I want you to get out at a pace I know you can't sustain for an entire race is a tall task,'" he said. "But they have to accept that 'I'm going to go out, I'm going to do this, and I'm going come out the other side okay.'"

KWU will compete in the 6,000-meter race at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. The event begins at 7:30 a.m. central time.

The Coyotes qualified for nationals by winning the Kansas Conference Championship on Nov. 8 in Leavenworth. They upset prerace favorite and 10th-ranked Saint Mary on the Spires' home course. It was KWU's first women's KCAC cross country title since 2013.

"Saint Mary has been in control of our conference for cross country for a while now, so beating them on their home course was phenomenal; it was amazing," said senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7a6a1aff-d3aa-4519-a2b5-2085a2a79626?elinkdata=33419">Kirstin Hackney</a> who finished third. "I don't think they were expecting it, so that made it even better."

Senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a243658e-da95-4f05-a261-2f433f25a106?elinkdata=33419">Kierra Jensen</a> led the way with a second-place finish followed by Hackney, senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/673059ab-6646-45de-81ee-e40cce144e89?elinkdata=33419">Josie Koppes</a> in sixth, senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a59e3b6e-9f42-44de-b83e-d3aa304b5739?elinkdata=33419">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> seventh and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cef192a1-4537-4ef2-aebd-164c3b39ec39?elinkdata=33419">Micah Dickens</a> ninth.

The Coyotes placed 14th in last year's NAIA race in Columbia, Mo. with Ehrlich leading the way in 49th. She'll be joined in Florida by Jensen, Hackney, Koppes, Dickens, senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/313cd605-76b7-4d99-8e58-8cbfb00dff11?elinkdata=33419">Charlee Lind</a> and junior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e63fd027-cf18-4ef9-a699-56e8169b8b54?elinkdata=33419">Shelby Lingle</a>.

KWU is ranked 11th going into the race and Young is confident the team will prove themselves one more time.

"From the very get go winning a conference championship was on the goal sheet so I am really proud of the way they bought into everything," he said. "I asked some pretty big things out of them so having their trust and having their belief was really important this season.

"Bringing back six out of our top seven that ran at nationals and essentially everyone else eight through 12, we definitely came in this year with high goals, high expectations. They worked really hard to get to the point that they're at."

Hackney said teamwork has been and is the secret sauce.

"Knowing that we have people that are really good in certain areas can make it easier going into it, especially on a course that we don't know much about," she said. "Trust the training, know that we've done this before. It's a 6K and we've done that 100 times, we can do it again."

Young isn't worried about the course that will host the World Cross Country Championships in January. Weather, though, is a concern.

"The course is pretty fast," he said. "It's a net downhill; it's got one sharp uphill. But it's Florida, and it's scheduled to be in the 80s all week. Our race is at 7:30 so I'm expecting a balmy 70 or 75 degrees. The weather's been pretty warm here all things considered, so I think we're ready for it."

"We run all the time in the summer so should be able to deal with it," Hackney said. "We're going to figure it out, hopefully. We'll find out."

Apalachee Regional Park was the site of the 2022 NAIA Championship. Ehrlich is the only member of the current squad who competed there.

Hackney said conquering this year's challenge is a matter of focusing on the task at hand.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e35da8c-5cb8-43c9-8045-a18fd349a26b?elinkdata=33419">Garrett Young</a> challenged his Kansas Wesleyan women's cross country team numerous times this fall and they never failed to respond.He is asking the Coyotes to take on one final "tall task," this one Friday during the NAIA National Championship."Telling a group of athletes 'I want you to get out at a pace I know you can't sustain for an entire race is a tall task,'" he said. "But they have to accept that 'I'm going to go out, I'm going to do this, and I'm going come out the other side okay.'"KWU will compete in the 6,000-meter race at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. The event begins at 7:30 a.m. central time.The Coyotes qualified for nationals by winning the Kansas Conference Championship on Nov. 8 in Leavenworth. They upset prerace favorite and 10th-ranked Saint Mary on the Spires' home course. It was KWU's first women's KCAC cross country title since 2013."Saint Mary has been in control of our conference for cross country for a while now, so beating them on their home course was phenomenal; it was amazing," said senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7a6a1aff-d3aa-4519-a2b5-2085a2a79626?elinkdata=33419">Kirstin Hackney</a> who finished third. "I don't think they were expecting it, so that made it even better."Senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a243658e-da95-4f05-a261-2f433f25a106?elinkdata=33419">Kierra Jensen</a> led the way with a second-place finish followed by Hackney, senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/673059ab-6646-45de-81ee-e40cce144e89?elinkdata=33419">Josie Koppes</a> in sixth, senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a59e3b6e-9f42-44de-b83e-d3aa304b5739?elinkdata=33419">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> seventh and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cef192a1-4537-4ef2-aebd-164c3b39ec39?elinkdata=33419">Micah Dickens</a> ninth.The Coyotes placed 14th in last year's NAIA race in Columbia, Mo. with Ehrlich leading the way in 49th. She'll be joined in Florida by Jensen, Hackney, Koppes, Dickens, senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/313cd605-76b7-4d99-8e58-8cbfb00dff11?elinkdata=33419">Charlee Lind</a> and junior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e63fd027-cf18-4ef9-a699-56e8169b8b54?elinkdata=33419">Shelby Lingle</a>.KWU is ranked 11th going into the race and Young is confident the team will prove themselves one more time."From the very get go winning a conference championship was on the goal sheet so I am really proud of the way they bought into everything," he said. "I asked some pretty big things out of them so having their trust and having their belief was really important this season."Bringing back six out of our top seven that ran at nationals and essentially everyone else eight through 12, we definitely came in this year with high goals, high expectations. They worked really hard to get to the point that they're at."Hackney said teamwork has been and is the secret sauce."Knowing that we have people that are really good in certain areas can make it easier going into it, especially on a course that we don't know much about," she said. "Trust the training, know that we've done this before. It's a 6K and we've done that 100 times, we can do it again."Young isn't worried about the course that will host the World Cross Country Championships in January. Weather, though, is a concern."The course is pretty fast," he said. "It's a net downhill; it's got one sharp uphill. But it's Florida, and it's scheduled to be in the 80s all week. Our race is at 7:30 so I'm expecting a balmy 70 or 75 degrees. The weather's been pretty warm here all things considered, so I think we're ready for it.""We run all the time in the summer so should be able to deal with it," Hackney said. "We're going to figure it out, hopefully. We'll find out."Apalachee Regional Park was the site of the 2022 NAIA Championship. Ehrlich is the only member of the current squad who competed there.Hackney said conquering this year's challenge is a matter of focusing on the task at hand.

👟 Women's Cross Country NAIA Nationals Preview: Coyotes ready for NAIA National Championship Challenge

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, as far as injuries go for today’s practice, Kingsley (Suamataia) won’t practice but (is) doing well he had a concussion, but he’s doing pretty good right now. Then Xavier (Worthy) tweaked his ankle a little bit, he did the walk through, but we will see about practice as we go forward here. Look forward to the challenge of playing Indianapolis. A good football team (and) well coached so look forward to coming GEHA Field At Arrowhead Stadium. It’s a great venue here and we love playing here. With that, time is yours.”

Q: Will Isiah Pacheco return to practice this week?

Q: On penalties and what the team can do at this point of the season to be more consistent.

REID:&nbsp;“I mentioned it to you after the game, just the penalties. In this league they get you. Even though you might overcome it, you’ve utilized certain plays to do it and plays are valuable as you go through a game here and you have to take care of that part of it, start there and then take care of the turnovers and make sure we’re giving the guys good stuff to work with which we look at first.”

Q: On Travis Kelce mentioning on his podcast that most of the team’s issues are self-inflicted.

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I told you I start with myself. It happens. I’d tell you, yes. We have good guys, and they work hard so we’ll make sure we take care of it.”

Q: What’s the balance between adjusting to this team’s record and overacting to it?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, we’re not overreacting, but there is a certain urgency you got to have. To make sure that you clean up some of the stuff we’ve had. Overreacting doesn’t help, what helps is that you take care of your business individually and then collectively as a team. It’s what you have to do.”

Q: Is the framework of the offense still the right path?

REID:&nbsp;“You guys see it all, you know this. When you do it in crucial situations, that gets you. Then it’s tough to overcome at times. Whether it’s a third down and short or where you’re down at the two-yard line and then you have to back up, those types of things, those come back to haunt you when you’re playing good teams. We might be able to overcome it against a not very good team, but against good teams, you got to be sharp. There’s not a huge secret to that. You guys watch it like we watch it. As coaches we got to make sure we are giving the guys the stuff they can do the best at.”

Q: Is it concerning that the offense hasn’t had as quick of starts as you would like and do you think you need to give Patrick Mahomes more rhythm in the first quarter?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, Nate (Taylor) every year is different. I approach it that way. Every game is different, so I go back and we look at everything. So, for games that maybe we didn’t start (quick), why? And let’s answer it or whatever. We’re not running the ball, let’s look at why. That’s the way we address it, and we do it on every play and make sure we come up with a better solution.”

Q: On the offensive scheme shifting throughout the season.

REID:&nbsp;“We’re not in a position where we need to wholesale that (the current offensive scheme). That’s not where we’re at right now. We need to just clean up some things. The nice part about this offense is you got a lot of directions you can go with it. A whole lot of things – different things you can do with it. It’s important that we do the right things and get ourselves in the right place.”

Q: What are your thoughts on the Indianapolis Colts?

REID:&nbsp;“He’s (Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen) done a nice job there. The quarterback (Colts QB Daniel Jones) is playing well for him. Defensively, they have a great scheme, and they’re very accurate with what they do, solid. Then special teams, they’ve just done a good job there. He’s got a good football team all the way around. It’s not by chance that he’s sitting where he is sitting record wise.”

Q: You’ve played deep into the season every year now. Do you think part of the problem is that everyone has so much film on you guys and fatigue?

REID:&nbsp;“I’m really tired of these press conferences (laughter). I don’t think so. There is enough changeover in today’s world, it keeps it fresh and so on. I think we’re okay there.”

Q: How do you evaluate Patrick Mahomes’ year compared to previous years?

REID:&nbsp;“I mean listen; he’s (Patrick Mahomes) really having a good year. We’ve got a couple of things we got to clean up all the way around, but he’s played great football. The margin between winning and losing this week is like this (motions small). We’ve got to take care of this (the small margin) and get ourselves where we can do a little bit better all the way around.”

Q: What did you learn about Josh Simmons last week?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, listen, for being away for a few weeks there I thought he (Josh Simmons) did a nice job. Got to clean up a couple things – with the penalties and that. His effort, his attitude, and everything was great. He was able to keep everything focused back to the football part of it. He had to take care of business, and he took care of it and that’s where he is at.”

<a>Q:&nbsp;</a>How can you turn the corner and be more consistent?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think it just comes with the history that we’ve had and knowing that we have the guys to do it. It’s about going out there and proving it now and getting better at practice, getting better in the film room (and) getting extra time at the facility. But talking with the guys throughout the building this week, I think guys are excited for the opportunity to go out there and prove that. But like I said, you got to go out there and do it. You can’t just keep talking about it, you got to go out there and do it, and it starts with me and has to feed through the entire team.”

Q:&nbsp;What was the most frustrating part about the loss in Denver?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“For me, it was just getting the ball with four minutes left and not getting points and not getting a first down or really anything. Just being in those moments before and knowing how important it is to get some momentum in your team by at least moving the ball a little bit and changing the field position and not being able to do that was big. That was the most disappointing part for me because even though I didn’t feel like we played to our best level (and) our best standard, there was still an opportunity to win the football game, and we weren’t able to do that.”

Q:&nbsp;On the offense being improved from last season but capitalizing on situational football.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I’ve preached that for the last few years. These games are a couple plays here and there. There’s not a lot of times in this league where you’re blowing teams out. There’s a couple plays here and there that you have to make and we’ve been able to make those plays these last few years and we’re not doing that this year. Now it’s about giving ourselves more opportunities to make those plays and then when we get those opportunities, going out there and doing it. I’m excited for it. We have a lot of good football teams coming up, starting off with the Colts, but it’s a great opportunity to go out there and get our season turned around and get going in the right direction.”

Q:&nbsp;Have you seen common denominators on the deep passes that you haven’t connected on?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, I’m just not making the throws. That’s pretty much the biggest thing. Guys are getting open and giving me chances to make the plays down the field. I give them chances to make plays and if you look at the one to Tyquan (Thornton) later in the game, it wasn’t necessarily the best thrown ball but it gave him (Tyquan Thornton) a chance and I think that’s something I can learn from with guys like Xavier’s (Worthy) early, is that it might not be the perfect pass that’s going to be a touchdown and catch like that, but if I can throw the ball and just give him (Xavier Worthy) a chance to make a play, he’ll make the play on it, then he can make the play and score the touchdown from there. Being better there and giving guys chances usually works out.”

Q:&nbsp;On Xavier Worthy’s deep route in the first quarter and if he had the right angle.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, the angle stuff is one thing. I think what I’ve learned from just playing for awhile now is that those deep passes – like I said those deep passes don’t have to be perfect. I think we always want to make the perfect throw, but if he (Xavier Worthy) wins like that, you can flatten his angle (and) you can throw the ball with more air underneath it then he can adjust and that’s why he is the player that he is so why not give him that opportunity and try to throw the ball perfectly down the field and it looks awesome when it happens but obviously there’s more misses than there is completions. If you look at the best deep ball throwers in the league and in the history of the NFL, they weren’t always just these perfectly thrown balls, but they were giving guys chances and they were going out there and making plays.”

Q:&nbsp;On Colts Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo and if the Colts run the same type of defense as the Cincinnati Bengals when Coach Anarumo was in Cincinnati.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“They (Indianapolis Colts) definitely do some of the stuff, (Colts Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Lou) Anarumo is a great defensive coordinator, a great coach, and he has his stuff, but what I think makes him such a great defensive coordinator is that he tailors his scheme to the team that he’s playing with. He wants to go with their strengths. Getting their guys in the best position to succeed and even from some of the trades that they’ve made, they’ve adjusted their defense as well. I think that’s something that makes him a great coach is that he’s not stuck in his ways of how he calls things, he adjusts his scheme to the team that’s around him and obviously they have done a lot of great things this year.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you care whether you are under center or shotgun?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Nah my preference is to win so whatever way that happens, I’m good with.”

Q:&nbsp;Is it difficult to prepare for a guy like Colts Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo when he changes his scheme so much?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Obviously, there’s going to be some difficulties there but at the same time we’ve played him (Colts Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo) so many times that you just go back and watch every game that you’ve played against him and see the different things that he has done to you, the changeups he has thrown at you and then you know there is going to be a wrinkle that he has this game (and) try and make a positive play out of it. It doesn’t have to be a home run shot or whatever it is but getting the ball to a checkdown, getting the ball to a guy that can get five to six yards and then get back into the flow of the game. I think that’s something that’s important against him is that he’ll continue to throw different things at you just to make sure that you’re not settled with what he’s calling and that’s something that I have to continue to be great with throughout the entire football game.”

Q:&nbsp;How have you felt on your decision making with run pass options (RPOs)?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I feel like I’ve done a good job of it. I think there’s times when I should hand it (off) and there’s times I should throw the ball more. You have to continue to read and get better and better with it. More than anything, I think it’s just giving guys chances either catching the ball or running the ball even if the perfect look is not there. There’s times where I might’ve thrown it and we got five or six yards and that’s a positive play, but you can hand the ball off and kind of keep defenses honest as well. That’s stuff that I’ve worked with throughout my entire career and it’s something that has been huge in our offense for a long time. I think for us, it’s just continuing to get better and better each and every game.”

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“There’s multiple. There’s times – (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck and (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid and all of them, they coach multiple ways of reading it. There’s times where we’re reading a certain guy and there’s times, we’re reading coverages and there’s times where you’re reading space. It just kind of depends on that week and the team that you’re playing and being able to adjust accordingly. Like I said, our goal is to get five or six yards every single time we run RPO, either running the ball or throwing the ball and I think we’ve done a good job at that throughout this season, but at the end of the day, like I said sometimes you have to hand the ball off, even if the throw gets you five or six yards just to keep the defense honest and to set up other stuff throughout the rest of the game.”

Q:&nbsp;On lack of intermediate throws.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It’s just kind of the coverages that we’ve been getting. Teams are playing more man coverage against us, which gives more opportunities to throw the ball down the field but until we can prove that we can hit those throws down the field teams are going to continue to play man coverage. That’s something that’s going to be important for us is to hit some of those throws and once we start hitting some of the throws like you saw this last game against Denver, you hit one deep throw and all of a sudden the offense opens up and then you’re able to hit other throws as well. I think we’ve always done a really good job of being able to take what’s there, it’s just about hitting some of those deeper throws to loosen the defense up and then give us opportunities to throw the ball everywhere throughout the offense.”

Q:&nbsp;Can you pinpoint why you have had slower starts on offense this season?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I mean there has been games where we’ve had great starts, and we’ve usually won them and there have been games when we don’t have good starts and we’ve lost them this year. I think just learning from those. I mean this last week, you just hit the throw to Xavier (Worthy), that’s a great start and then to Tyquan (Thornton) after that. It’s just little things here and there but those little things add up, and I think that’s something that we have to continue to get better and better at. I have to be better at getting us going in the right direction. If I’m going to make that throw to Xavier I have to hit it, if not I have to hit Travis (Kelce) to keep the chains moving. Those are decisions that I have to make and when I make those decisions, I have to go out there and execute them.”

Q:&nbsp;How do you handle the sense of urgency throughout the week?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Just like if you were going to a big divisional game or a playoff game or whatever it is, you just have to know what’s at stake. You try to prepare yourself throughout the week and do the little extra stuff so that your mind can be settled on gameday and then you can go out there and just play, knowing that you need to go out there and win the football game and knowing we’re going – we’re playing against a really good football team that’s playing great football right now. It’s a great opportunity at the end of the day. Obviously, we’re 5-5, not where we want to be at, but we get to write the rest of this season’s story, and it starts this week with the Colts at (GEHA Field at) Arrowhead (Stadium) and I’m excited for us to go out there and do it.”

Q:&nbsp;How do you hold teammates accountable?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“First, you have to go out and do it. I’m always a big, you have to go out and show you’re going to put in the work and I think if you do that, you can ask guys and push guys to do more. We have a lot of great dudes in this locker room and you can see that their mindset and the way that they’re walking around the building this week is that they’re pushing themselves to be even better, knowing that we’re this close, you just have to continue to push yourself to kind of breakthrough that barrier and get to where we want to be at as a football team. I’m excited. Like I said, it’s not where we want to be at and it has been a rough kind of high-low season, but we get to write the rest of the story so let’s go out there and do it.”

Q:&nbsp;On Josh Simmons’ performance Sunday.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“He’s (Josh Simmons) a great football player, and he has gotten better every week that he’s played, and he’ll continue to get better. For him, it’s just continuing to stack days on days of just getting better, pushing himself to be the best player that he can be. Like I said, since OTAs when he got out there and the way he was rehabbing and the way he was getting back at it to training camp and to the season, he’s gotten better and better. I think the sky’s the limit, and he has got to keep pushing to get better.”

Q:&nbsp;On the decision of RPOs based on opponent.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, there is. The first play of the game this last week with that safety pressure and we knew they might get into a run blitz type of thing and you throw the ball to Rashee (Rice), you get a first down and kind of get things going. That’s the stuff that you want, but then there’s times where you throw the ball and it might get three yards like I did Travis (Kelce) later in the game and you want to make sure you give guys chances to run the football on plays like that. Just reading the coverages, understanding what the defense is doing and then making the best decision you feel like for the team.”

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“First, I want to thank the entire Kansas City and this club for having my six for the time I was away from the team. It showed how much love this team and city has for me, and I can’t wait to give it back to them.”

Q:&nbsp;Is there anything that you want to share about your absences?

SIMMONS:&nbsp;“I kind of want to keep that in house. (With) all due respect. I know everybody wants to (know), but it’s something I kind of want to keep inside.”

Q:&nbsp;How do you think you played in your first game back?

SIMMONS:&nbsp;“There’s always room (for growth). But I think as a front we swung as hard as we could. There are obviously some things you can’t control. They’re (Denver Broncos) also a really good football team. I think it’s just kind of picking up on the film and cleaning some stuff up.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you feel a little rust?

SIMMONS:&nbsp;“A little bit. I mean 15 (Nik Bonitto) is an extremely gifted player, so going against that wasn’t fair looking back, but I think with the teammates that I had throughout that week they helped me up and kind of helped brush that stuff off.”

Q:&nbsp;On Colts RB Jonathan Taylor.

BOLTON:&nbsp;“Obviously this year he (Jonathan Taylor) looks fresh (and) he looks rejuvenated. He’s running the ball very well, doing a lot of different things for them (Indianapolis Colts). Obviously scheme wise, some things are similar (and) some things are different. They have a lot of key guys that are the same. They find different ways to use those guys and get them out in space and obviously get the ball to 28 (Jonathan Taylor) whenever they get the chance to.”

Q:&nbsp;What have you seen differently from Colts QB Daniel Jones?

BOLTON:&nbsp;“First and foremost, taking care of the football. He’s (Daniel Jones) doing a great job of getting the ball out to his pass catchers and giving them a chance to make plays with the ball. They do a great job of getting guys out in space, attacking schemes and he’s doing a good job at getting people the ball on time and on target. I think he’s confident, looks driven and a great opportunity for him and another opportunity for us to play at home.”

Q:&nbsp;On Colts rookie TE Tyler Warren.

Chiefs Quotes: 11-20-25

KWU announced Wednesday morning that the 2026 version of Night with the Yotes, one of the university's marquee events, will be held on Friday, Feb. 20. 

Tickets will go on sale in the near future.&nbsp;Last year, more than 600 people attended and 75 corporate sponsors helped the university raise in excess of $200,000. That set a new high water mark in the event's 14 years.&nbsp;

Continued sound and light upgrades to Sams Chapel, long-term planning for KWU's strength and conditioning areas and general upgrades for Art and Design, Theatre and DECA were among the specific areas supported.

For more information on Night with the Yotes 2026, stay tuned to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwu.edu/NWTY26">www.kwu.edu/NWTY26</a>&nbsp;or call the university's Advancement Office at 785-833-4392. You can also contact KWU Advancement to donate or support the event.

KWU announced Wednesday morning that the 2026 version of Night with the Yotes, one of the university's marquee events, will be held on Friday, Feb. 20. Tickets will go on sale in the near future.&nbsp;Last year, more than 600 people attended and 75 corporate sponsors helped the university raise in excess of $200,000. That set a new high water mark in the event's 14 years.&nbsp;Continued sound and light upgrades to Sams Chapel, long-term planning for KWU's strength and conditioning areas and general upgrades for Art and Design, Theatre and DECA were among the specific areas supported.For more information on Night with the Yotes 2026, stay tuned to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwu.edu/NWTY26">www.kwu.edu/NWTY26</a>&nbsp;or call the university's Advancement Office at 785-833-4392. You can also contact KWU Advancement to donate or support the event.