By ADAM COULTER Salina Post Contributor

Sacred Heart scored a pair of early touchdowns and never looked back in a 31-12 win over Bennington on Friday night.&nbsp;

A 47-yard touchdown pass from Maddox Wells to Noah Hines gave the Knights an early 6-0 lead with 6:15 to go in the opening quarter. Carson Lehman tacked on a 2-point conversation to make the score 8-0.

Less than three minutes of gametime later, Sacred Heart struck again. A pitch from Wells to Bryson Gotti followed by a 55-yard strike to Lehman extended the lead to 14-0 with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter. Hines added another 2-point conversation as the Knights went on top 16-0.

That would be the last scoring play until midway through the third quarter. Bennington closed the gap to 16-6 as Logan Gillett caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Payge Rodenbeek. The 2-point conversation was unsuccessful and Sacred Heart held a 10-point lead with 5:51 to go.

The Knights scored their first of two fourth quarter touchdowns with 10:50 remaining in the game. Dominic Matteucci rushed for an 8-yard score and added a 2-point conversation making the score 24-6.

The Bulldogs then found the end zone once more as Isaiah Garrett caught a 4-yard touchdown pass to make the score 24-12 with 9:31 left on the clock. Again, the 2-point conversation was no good.

Finally, a 1-yard carry by Matteucci and PAT with 1:12 to go made the final score 31-12.

Sacred Heart improves to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in district play. Bennington falls to 0-6 and 0-3 in the district.

The Knights return to the road next Friday night at Herington with a 7pm kickoff. As always, the game can be seen and heard at <a href="http://salinapost.com/">salinapost.com</a>.

You can watch the full broadcast of last night's game below.

By ADAM COULTER Salina Post ContributorSacred Heart scored a pair of early touchdowns and never looked back in a 31-12 win over Bennington on Friday night.&nbsp;<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>A 47-yard touchdown pass from Maddox Wells to Noah Hines gave the Knights an early 6-0 lead with 6:15 to go in the opening quarter. Carson Lehman tacked on a 2-point conversation to make the score 8-0.Less than three minutes of gametime later, Sacred Heart struck again. A pitch from Wells to Bryson Gotti followed by a 55-yard strike to Lehman extended the lead to 14-0 with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter. Hines added another 2-point conversation as the Knights went on top 16-0.That would be the last scoring play until midway through the third quarter. Bennington closed the gap to 16-6 as Logan Gillett caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Payge Rodenbeek. The 2-point conversation was unsuccessful and Sacred Heart held a 10-point lead with 5:51 to go.The Knights scored their first of two fourth quarter touchdowns with 10:50 remaining in the game. Dominic Matteucci rushed for an 8-yard score and added a 2-point conversation making the score 24-6.The Bulldogs then found the end zone once more as Isaiah Garrett caught a 4-yard touchdown pass to make the score 24-12 with 9:31 left on the clock. Again, the 2-point conversation was no good.Finally, a 1-yard carry by Matteucci and PAT with 1:12 to go made the final score 31-12.Sacred Heart improves to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in district play. Bennington falls to 0-6 and 0-3 in the district.The Knights return to the road next Friday night at Herington with a 7pm kickoff. As always, the game can be seen and heard at <a href="http://salinapost.com/">salinapost.com</a>.You can watch the full broadcast of last night's game below.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SSjrct-fXTE?start=1210s"></iframe>
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Sacred Heart returns home and notches first win against Bennington

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball visited the other athletic facility named after the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation in the Kansas Conference on Friday night and came away happy.

The Coyotes dominated the Avila Eagles in straight sets 25-10, 25-15, 25-13 inside Avila's Mabee Fieldhouse on Friday night.

The Mabee Foundation has played a prominent role in fundraising for many organizations by providing 'challenge' grants to help these organizations complete projects in a timely fashion.

It was a dominating performance by the Coyotes. KWU hit .386 for the match, while Avila hit negative at -.010; KWU had 55 offensive points, Avila had 28; KWU had 41 kills, Avila had 24; KWU had eight blocks, Avila had zero; KWU had 41 digs, Avila had 27.

The Coyotes opened the match with a 4-1 lead, but Avila was back within two points at 6-4. Then it was all Coyotes. Five straight points from KWU capped by a <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4dec8b45-568c-49e8-bea3-b27d15e3317e?elinkdata=13416">Gianna Adriaanse</a> kill made it 11-4, and after the teams traded points to make it 12-6, KWU rolled off another six straight to make it 18-6. Avila got three in a row, but KWU finished the set on a 7-1 run to take the set 25-10.

Avila scored the first point of the second set, but before anyone could take a breath, Wesleyan sprinted out to an 8-2 lead. The teams traded 2-point runs back and forth until the Coyotes scored six of seven points to take a 16-6 lead. KWU led 21-14 before closing the set scoring four of the last five points to win 25-15.

Avila jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third set, but the Coyotes quickly climbed back into it, tying things at 6-6 on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/16289766-220e-459f-8bb3-fd324bca3cdb?elinkdata=13416">Tristyn Hedman's</a> service ace. Avila took a 7-6 lead, but then here came the Coyotes. KWU scored 12 straight points to take total control of the set at 18-7. The Eagles scored three of the next four, but then the Coyotes were at it again, scoring five of the next six to take a 24-11 lead. After two Avila points, the Coyotes closed it out with a kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8ac0e064-5515-4a68-8836-c8dd8ff4b16a?elinkdata=13416">Rylee Serpan</a>.

Serpan led a balanced attack for the Coyotes with nine kills, while <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/78ac115a-201f-48d6-82f1-eb5b44489391?elinkdata=13416">Kylee Harris</a> had eight, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/938236d6-cb28-4246-bc9f-e48da2a50ffb?elinkdata=13416">Kyla Moore</a> six, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2be76837-60c3-48d2-9154-f9c1e2d75620?elinkdata=13416">Sara Bebout</a> five and Adriaanse four. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6264ed44-73eb-4a6d-b4b9-55e5381a31f6?elinkdata=13416">Josie Deckinger</a> had 13 assists as the Coyotes used three different setters in the match and ran different offensive sets in the match as well. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09c4cbb1-e945-4f6d-80f5-c2ca91e514d2?elinkdata=13416">Kate Bebout</a> had three blocks and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b5ba444-d1ba-4c63-a866-3eb8bcf21268?elinkdata=13416">Savannah Koga</a> had four assist blocks. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f1b431a5-5232-42a0-933c-4f47a2731cd3?elinkdata=13416">Kori Arnold</a> had 13 digs.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball visited the other athletic facility named after the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation in the Kansas Conference on Friday night and came away happy.The Coyotes dominated the Avila Eagles in straight sets 25-10, 25-15, 25-13 inside Avila's Mabee Fieldhouse on Friday night.The Mabee Foundation has played a prominent role in fundraising for many organizations by providing 'challenge' grants to help these organizations complete projects in a timely fashion.It was a dominating performance by the Coyotes. KWU hit .386 for the match, while Avila hit negative at -.010; KWU had 55 offensive points, Avila had 28; KWU had 41 kills, Avila had 24; KWU had eight blocks, Avila had zero; KWU had 41 digs, Avila had 27.The Coyotes opened the match with a 4-1 lead, but Avila was back within two points at 6-4. Then it was all Coyotes. Five straight points from KWU capped by a <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4dec8b45-568c-49e8-bea3-b27d15e3317e?elinkdata=13416">Gianna Adriaanse</a> kill made it 11-4, and after the teams traded points to make it 12-6, KWU rolled off another six straight to make it 18-6. Avila got three in a row, but KWU finished the set on a 7-1 run to take the set 25-10.Avila scored the first point of the second set, but before anyone could take a breath, Wesleyan sprinted out to an 8-2 lead. The teams traded 2-point runs back and forth until the Coyotes scored six of seven points to take a 16-6 lead. KWU led 21-14 before closing the set scoring four of the last five points to win 25-15.Avila jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third set, but the Coyotes quickly climbed back into it, tying things at 6-6 on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/16289766-220e-459f-8bb3-fd324bca3cdb?elinkdata=13416">Tristyn Hedman's</a> service ace. Avila took a 7-6 lead, but then here came the Coyotes. KWU scored 12 straight points to take total control of the set at 18-7. The Eagles scored three of the next four, but then the Coyotes were at it again, scoring five of the next six to take a 24-11 lead. After two Avila points, the Coyotes closed it out with a kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8ac0e064-5515-4a68-8836-c8dd8ff4b16a?elinkdata=13416">Rylee Serpan</a>.Serpan led a balanced attack for the Coyotes with nine kills, while <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/78ac115a-201f-48d6-82f1-eb5b44489391?elinkdata=13416">Kylee Harris</a> had eight, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/938236d6-cb28-4246-bc9f-e48da2a50ffb?elinkdata=13416">Kyla Moore</a> six, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2be76837-60c3-48d2-9154-f9c1e2d75620?elinkdata=13416">Sara Bebout</a> five and Adriaanse four. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6264ed44-73eb-4a6d-b4b9-55e5381a31f6?elinkdata=13416">Josie Deckinger</a> had 13 assists as the Coyotes used three different setters in the match and ran different offensive sets in the match as well. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09c4cbb1-e945-4f6d-80f5-c2ca91e514d2?elinkdata=13416">Kate Bebout</a> had three blocks and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b5ba444-d1ba-4c63-a866-3eb8bcf21268?elinkdata=13416">Savannah Koga</a> had four assist blocks. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f1b431a5-5232-42a0-933c-4f47a2731cd3?elinkdata=13416">Kori Arnold</a> had 13 digs.

Coyotes dominate Eagles in straight sets

For the first time, both Kansas Wesleyan Women's and Men's Cross Country teams are ranked in the NAIA Top 25 polls at the same time.

"This group has really pushed the program forward and it's pleasing to see the raters take notice," KWU head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1efc37b0-4b9e-4093-9227-7edb1f93a3c6?elinkdata=13393">Garrett Young</a> said. "We have had incredible support from the administration and it's put our program in a really great position to be successful."

The women held steady at No. 18 in the second rating of the season that was released on October 3 after being ranked in the first rating of the season on September 26. KWU received votes in the preseason rating, sitting at the No. 28 position if the rating extended beyond the Top 25.

The rating marks the first time the Coyotes have appeared in the NAIA Top 25 since the 2010 season when KWU was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country.

The Coyotes are led by local talent <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2d2d4bb3-f235-408c-a6b3-d1793ac6709d?elinkdata=13393">Madisyn Ehrlich</a>, who has been the top finisher at both meets this season. Along with <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/91e16737-e2cc-4bf0-b15d-20b4a8b0fabf?elinkdata=13393">Kierra Jensen</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/483111f9-cce8-4229-9972-2f8b0cd4e249?elinkdata=13393">Charlee Lind</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1d45c224-651f-4be4-a7b9-1c50e673871e?elinkdata=13393">Alayna Behrman</a> who have all been in the top five for the Coyotes this season.

"We have four different All-Americans on our roster, but only one graduating senior in the bunch. It's a young group but they've made some really incredible strides and should surprise some people in November," Young said.

On the men's side, after receiving votes in last season's preseason rating, KWU jumped into the rankings for the entire regular season, debuting at No. 24 and reaching as high as No. 20 in the next to last rating of the season.

The Coyotes went on to finish second at the KCAC Championships and earn the team's first NAIA Nationals bid since 2016. KWU went on to finish 14th at the NAIA National Championships, setting a new high-water mark for a team finish at the National Championships.

Fast forward a year and the Coyotes are right there amongst the nation's best again. KWU opened the year ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Preseason Rating, and are currently No. 16 in the latest rating, which was released October 3.

Wesleyan's top 5 has been consistent through both competitions this season with fifth-year athlete <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fac78e3f-915b-4a62-a7e3-b9602d05f366?elinkdata=13393">Austin Hess</a> leading the way, followed by returning All-American <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/381d7bbe-4028-4156-bbf0-dde113d5382c?elinkdata=13393">Damion Jackson</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fe035bb2-0561-4aa3-ab16-75549149813f?elinkdata=13393">Julian Avila</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2392cd57-9260-4a99-8d97-1022f871812c?elinkdata=13393">Giovanni Rios</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/56a391c9-18ef-4741-8fc8-378de139e777?elinkdata=13393">Jake Cruz</a>.

"We have a really experienced group for the first time in my tenure," Young said. "Like the women, we have four different NAIA All-Americans between cross country and track. I think this group really wants to prove that last year wasn't a fluke and that this is a Top 10 program."

Wesleyan is back on the course this weekend, heading to Columbia, Missouri to run in the Brian T. Simpson Invitational, hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

For the first time, both Kansas Wesleyan Women's and Men's Cross Country teams are ranked in the NAIA Top 25 polls at the same time."This group has really pushed the program forward and it's pleasing to see the raters take notice," KWU head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1efc37b0-4b9e-4093-9227-7edb1f93a3c6?elinkdata=13393">Garrett Young</a> said. "We have had incredible support from the administration and it's put our program in a really great position to be successful."The women held steady at No. 18 in the second rating of the season that was released on October 3 after being ranked in the first rating of the season on September 26. KWU received votes in the preseason rating, sitting at the No. 28 position if the rating extended beyond the Top 25.The rating marks the first time the Coyotes have appeared in the NAIA Top 25 since the 2010 season when KWU was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country.The Coyotes are led by local talent <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2d2d4bb3-f235-408c-a6b3-d1793ac6709d?elinkdata=13393">Madisyn Ehrlich</a>, who has been the top finisher at both meets this season. Along with <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/91e16737-e2cc-4bf0-b15d-20b4a8b0fabf?elinkdata=13393">Kierra Jensen</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/483111f9-cce8-4229-9972-2f8b0cd4e249?elinkdata=13393">Charlee Lind</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1d45c224-651f-4be4-a7b9-1c50e673871e?elinkdata=13393">Alayna Behrman</a> who have all been in the top five for the Coyotes this season."We have four different All-Americans on our roster, but only one graduating senior in the bunch. It's a young group but they've made some really incredible strides and should surprise some people in November," Young said.On the men's side, after receiving votes in last season's preseason rating, KWU jumped into the rankings for the entire regular season, debuting at No. 24 and reaching as high as No. 20 in the next to last rating of the season.The Coyotes went on to finish second at the KCAC Championships and earn the team's first NAIA Nationals bid since 2016. KWU went on to finish 14th at the NAIA National Championships, setting a new high-water mark for a team finish at the National Championships.Fast forward a year and the Coyotes are right there amongst the nation's best again. KWU opened the year ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Preseason Rating, and are currently No. 16 in the latest rating, which was released October 3.Wesleyan's top 5 has been consistent through both competitions this season with fifth-year athlete <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fac78e3f-915b-4a62-a7e3-b9602d05f366?elinkdata=13393">Austin Hess</a> leading the way, followed by returning All-American <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/381d7bbe-4028-4156-bbf0-dde113d5382c?elinkdata=13393">Damion Jackson</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fe035bb2-0561-4aa3-ab16-75549149813f?elinkdata=13393">Julian Avila</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2392cd57-9260-4a99-8d97-1022f871812c?elinkdata=13393">Giovanni Rios</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/56a391c9-18ef-4741-8fc8-378de139e777?elinkdata=13393">Jake Cruz</a>."We have a really experienced group for the first time in my tenure," Young said. "Like the women, we have four different NAIA All-Americans between cross country and track. I think this group really wants to prove that last year wasn't a fluke and that this is a Top 10 program."Wesleyan is back on the course this weekend, heading to Columbia, Missouri to run in the Brian T. Simpson Invitational, hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Both KWU Cross Country teams ranked for first time in school history

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

The Southeast of Saline Trojans continued their dominant march last week, lashing the Lyons Lions by a final score of 66-0.

With this win, the Trojans rolled to a perfect 5-0, setting up a crucial run to the finish line with three big district games to close out the regular season.

“I really felt like we did some good things offensively and defensively,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “Our JV kids put together a really good drive and everybody in pads got to play. We feel confident and these games are important but we’re still focused on going 1-0 every single week.”

To continue their run of 1-0 every week, Southeast will have to slay another Trojan foe in the form of 2-3 Hillsboro.

The Maroon Trojans have played a brutal schedule, with their three losses coming at the hands of teams with a combined record of 14-1.

“Hillsboro always has athletes and that’s a scary proposition,” Gebhardt said. “They’ve got big guys up front, they have a seasoned offensive line and they have a good mix of athletes.”

This will also be a big game for District 6, which sees Southeast (2-0), and Ellsworth (3-0) each looking to put Hillsboro behind them in the standings.

SES will need another strong performance to pick up a big win on the road tonight, but with improvement in mind, Southeast will be ready to go on the campus of Tabor College tonight.

“Every monday when we watch film we see mistakes and we want to continue to focus on fixing those,” he said. “Every week presents a different challenge but we want to continue to get better.”

Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 in Hillsboro, and as always the game can be streamed with live video and commentary on Salina Post (see below), or heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM), with Devin Hanney and Russ Cossell on the call.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Southeast of Saline Trojans continued their dominant march last week, lashing the Lyons Lions by a final score of 66-0.<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>With this win, the Trojans rolled to a perfect 5-0, setting up a crucial run to the finish line with three big district games to close out the regular season.“I really felt like we did some good things offensively and defensively,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “Our JV kids put together a really good drive and everybody in pads got to play. We feel confident and these games are important but we’re still focused on going 1-0 every single week.”To continue their run of 1-0 every week, Southeast will have to slay another Trojan foe in the form of 2-3 Hillsboro.The Maroon Trojans have played a brutal schedule, with their three losses coming at the hands of teams with a combined record of 14-1.“Hillsboro always has athletes and that’s a scary proposition,” Gebhardt said. “They’ve got big guys up front, they have a seasoned offensive line and they have a good mix of athletes.”This will also be a big game for District 6, which sees Southeast (2-0), and Ellsworth (3-0) each looking to put Hillsboro behind them in the standings.SES will need another strong performance to pick up a big win on the road tonight, but with improvement in mind, Southeast will be ready to go on the campus of Tabor College tonight.“Every monday when we watch film we see mistakes and we want to continue to focus on fixing those,” he said. “Every week presents a different challenge but we want to continue to get better.”Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 in Hillsboro, and as always the game can be streamed with live video and commentary on Salina Post (see below), or heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM), with Devin Hanney and Russ Cossell on the call.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vq96W1C440Q"></iframe>
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SES travels to Hillsboro for bonus Trojan War

The Salina Post Game of the Week takes us to Minneapolis Kansas tonight for an all-NCAA clash as the Lions look to defend their home turf from the Trojans.

Minneapolis enters this contest at 2-3, fresh off a 28-21 win over the Halstead Dragons last week, while Beloit looks to bounce back at 3-2 after dropping two of their last three, including a narrow 14-7 loss at the hands of a state power in Norton last week.

The NCAA is still in reach for Beloit, who comes into this matchup at 1-1 in league play, and will have an opportunity to face Ellsworth, who currently sits atop the standings next week.

NCAA Standings 1. Ellsworth (4-0, 5-0) 2. SE of Saline (3-0, 5-0) 3. Beloit (1-1, 3-2) 4. Minneapolis (1-2, 2-3) 5. Lyons (1-4, 1-4) 6. Sacred Heart (0-1, 0-4) 7. Republic County (0-2, 2-3)

This game will also be a big one for both teams in district seven, as just three weeks remain to jockey for playoff seedings.

District 7 Standings 1. Norton (2-0, 5-0) 2. Beloit (1-1, 3-2) 3. Phillipsburg (1-1, 3-2) T4. Minneapolis (0-1, 2-3) T4. Russell (0-1, 2-3)

The Lions are led by quarterback Owen Just, who has looked excellent in his junior campaign, completing 58% of his passes for 959 yards and 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions this season.

Beloit, meanwhile, has relied on an excellent rushing attack anchored by junior Joel Rexroat, who has toted the rock 126 times for 723 yards and eight touchdowns thus far.

Kickoff between the Lions and Trojans is set for 7:00 at Minneapolis High School, and this game can be streamed with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post at the link below.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Salina Post Game of the Week takes us to Minneapolis Kansas tonight for an all-NCAA clash as the Lions look to defend their home turf from the Trojans.Minneapolis enters this contest at 2-3, fresh off a 28-21 win over the Halstead Dragons last week, while Beloit looks to bounce back at 3-2 after dropping two of their last three, including a narrow 14-7 loss at the hands of a state power in Norton last week.<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>The NCAA is still in reach for Beloit, who comes into this matchup at 1-1 in league play, and will have an opportunity to face Ellsworth, who currently sits atop the standings next week.NCAA Standings 1. Ellsworth (4-0, 5-0) 2. SE of Saline (3-0, 5-0) 3. Beloit (1-1, 3-2) 4. Minneapolis (1-2, 2-3) 5. Lyons (1-4, 1-4) 6. Sacred Heart (0-1, 0-4) 7. Republic County (0-2, 2-3)This game will also be a big one for both teams in district seven, as just three weeks remain to jockey for playoff seedings.District 7 Standings 1. Norton (2-0, 5-0) 2. Beloit (1-1, 3-2) 3. Phillipsburg (1-1, 3-2) T4. Minneapolis (0-1, 2-3) T4. Russell (0-1, 2-3)The Lions are led by quarterback Owen Just, who has looked excellent in his junior campaign, completing 58% of his passes for 959 yards and 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions this season.Beloit, meanwhile, has relied on an excellent rushing attack anchored by junior Joel Rexroat, who has toted the rock 126 times for 723 yards and eight touchdowns thus far.Kickoff between the Lions and Trojans is set for 7:00 at Minneapolis High School, and this game can be streamed with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post at the link below.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dDk38WnQxLU"></iframe>
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Minneapolis hosts Beloit in District 7 showdown

Tyler Henry and Devin Hanney get you ready for an exciting week six of high school football across North Central Kansas.

The Salina Post Sports Friday Night Preview show is presented by Kansas Wesleyan University.

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 </figure>Tyler Henry and Devin Hanney get you ready for an exciting week six of high school football across North Central Kansas.The Salina Post Sports Friday Night Preview show is presented by Kansas Wesleyan University.

Salina Post Sport Friday Night Preview (10/11/24)

Kansas Wesleyan returns several athletes who played key roles in the Coyotes' success during the 2023-24 season.

They finished 23-9 and tied Southwestern for second in the Kansas Conference standings with an 18-4 record. They received the conference's second automatic bid to the NAIA Championships and played an Opening Round game inside Mabee Arena.

That was then, though, and while KWU has a strong cast of veterans back there were some significant losses.

"We've had this group of guys for the past three years and they've been on a great run," Monson said Thursday during the KCAC's men's basketball media day. "We graduated a couple of them last year, a couple of really good ones especially <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/93b33ab2-2142-4d02-a947-ef6159d5f2df?elinkdata=13370">Jun Murdock</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1ac5dd57-734d-44fb-93ce-3736ffa1004c?elinkdata=13370">Thurbil Bile</a>."

Murdock was a two-time All-American point guard and ran the offense for three wildly successful seasons. Bile was the starting center that last two years.

Monson, though, is not distraught. Three starters and five others from last year's team are back and are joined by a stellar recruiting class. The list of returnees starts with senior forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c6569acc-6c18-4a26-8703-a07691f2dc3f?elinkdata=13370">Alex Littlejohn</a> who earned All-America honors last season when he averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds.

"Even on bad nights it seems like he's always getting that," Monson said. "He's very versatile and it makes my life as a coach a lot easier."

Starting guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e34b1f62-7f13-4506-9cd2-71f71d31a0bf?elinkdata=13370">Easton Hunter</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3ca9ae8f-549f-49ae-b78b-7b91ef25d8ff?elinkdata=13370">Izaiah Hale</a> return for their senior seasons as well. Forwards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bbc02a85-2507-4459-b0f5-ca5279724b3e?elinkdata=13370">Gabe Phillips</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74046c62-8e24-4ab6-afdb-4af1de4abaea?elinkdata=13370">Grant Dye</a> and guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cb6e0631-dcb1-4d98-bb52-f154c485bd00?elinkdata=13370">Jameer Clemons</a>, D.J. Hudspeth and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a6365de4-f335-46fe-9b24-6f0e2bd8eeeb?elinkdata=13370">Caden Hale</a> also return - Hale the heir apparent at point guard.

"I think he always gets lost in the shuffle because he was Jun's backup," Monson said. "He's taken a big step forward; he averaged almost eight points a game off the bench and has done a really good job of taking control that point guard position and just leading the team."

Monson spent the offseason addressing the team's biggest needs - size and depth.

"We had some injuries, and some things happened so we brought in a slew of transfers to help us build some depth back up and get bigger," he said. "When you're starting big man (Bile) was 6-5 it's not really a good thing especially if you get LSU-Shreveport in the first round the national tournament, so we addressed that."

Monson's KCAC colleagues and others are impressed. Wesleyan was picked second behind defending champion Oklahoma Wesleyan in the coaches' and media polls taken Thursday. Southwestern was third and Evangel fourth in both polls.

The Coyotes are indeed bigger, in a big way. The list of newcomers starts with <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5267f1d5-4250-44d9-9356-74b51eda9e0c?elinkdata=13370">Evens Appolon</a>, a 6-foot-9, 255-pound center who was at Central Methodist a year ago.

"He was pretty much a redshirt last year and he's been great," Monson said.

Other sizable additions are 6-6 <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4af4ff11-dc58-4e00-a8f2-c7381e9c396b?elinkdata=13370">Miles Fant</a>, Iowa Central; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e8e5e157-7d8f-4624-a083-1b8cefb2c23d?elinkdata=13370">Stefan Spray</a>, 6-6 Barton Community College; 6-5 <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6a0803f0-180c-421c-aea3-bf8a7e3aab35?elinkdata=13370">Dreylin Kemp</a>, Butler CC; 6-5 <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/78bb7783-3d6e-4b75-8a05-fab391bced07?elinkdata=13370">Eric Green</a>, Coffeyville CC, and 6-8 Dan Morgan from Lone Star CC who was a redshirt last season.

"We feel really good about our size, and I think we got a lot of versatility with it," Monson said. "You add Alex to that mix and obviously it becomes pretty good."

Monson also added backcourt help in <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/44c5b8c6-b4b4-47ed-9a7c-20fe458c5b90?elinkdata=13370">Tucker Bowman</a>, Central Arkansas; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85924a27-cc5f-487e-abf2-b952572c736b?elinkdata=13370">Landon Wagler</a>, Hutchinson CC, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/daa7b693-2879-4130-97f6-0f1a9fd12b77?elinkdata=13370">Sage Koelsch</a>, Pratt CC. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b2e5f7e2-77b5-47b3-ac37-0847dd0ca89f?elinkdata=13370">Carson Jones</a>, a freshman, could see varsity time as well, according to Monson.

"We've got a lot of guys that we're trying to sift through right now," he said. "I think the most pleasant thing for me is to see guys step up in the absence of some guys who have been really impact players for us these past couple years. It's been a lot of fun to watch that growth and see them take the next step."

Kansas Wesleyan returns several athletes who played key roles in the Coyotes' success during the 2023-24 season.They finished 23-9 and tied Southwestern for second in the Kansas Conference standings with an 18-4 record. They received the conference's second automatic bid to the NAIA Championships and played an Opening Round game inside Mabee Arena.That was then, though, and while KWU has a strong cast of veterans back there were some significant losses."We've had this group of guys for the past three years and they've been on a great run," Monson said Thursday during the KCAC's men's basketball media day. "We graduated a couple of them last year, a couple of really good ones especially <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/93b33ab2-2142-4d02-a947-ef6159d5f2df?elinkdata=13370">Jun Murdock</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1ac5dd57-734d-44fb-93ce-3736ffa1004c?elinkdata=13370">Thurbil Bile</a>."Murdock was a two-time All-American point guard and ran the offense for three wildly successful seasons. Bile was the starting center that last two years.Monson, though, is not distraught. Three starters and five others from last year's team are back and are joined by a stellar recruiting class. The list of returnees starts with senior forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c6569acc-6c18-4a26-8703-a07691f2dc3f?elinkdata=13370">Alex Littlejohn</a> who earned All-America honors last season when he averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds."Even on bad nights it seems like he's always getting that," Monson said. "He's very versatile and it makes my life as a coach a lot easier."Starting guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e34b1f62-7f13-4506-9cd2-71f71d31a0bf?elinkdata=13370">Easton Hunter</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3ca9ae8f-549f-49ae-b78b-7b91ef25d8ff?elinkdata=13370">Izaiah Hale</a> return for their senior seasons as well. Forwards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bbc02a85-2507-4459-b0f5-ca5279724b3e?elinkdata=13370">Gabe Phillips</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74046c62-8e24-4ab6-afdb-4af1de4abaea?elinkdata=13370">Grant Dye</a> and guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cb6e0631-dcb1-4d98-bb52-f154c485bd00?elinkdata=13370">Jameer Clemons</a>, D.J. Hudspeth and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a6365de4-f335-46fe-9b24-6f0e2bd8eeeb?elinkdata=13370">Caden Hale</a> also return - Hale the heir apparent at point guard."I think he always gets lost in the shuffle because he was Jun's backup," Monson said. "He's taken a big step forward; he averaged almost eight points a game off the bench and has done a really good job of taking control that point guard position and just leading the team."Monson spent the offseason addressing the team's biggest needs - size and depth."We had some injuries, and some things happened so we brought in a slew of transfers to help us build some depth back up and get bigger," he said. "When you're starting big man (Bile) was 6-5 it's not really a good thing especially if you get LSU-Shreveport in the first round the national tournament, so we addressed that."Monson's KCAC colleagues and others are impressed. Wesleyan was picked second behind defending champion Oklahoma Wesleyan in the coaches' and media polls taken Thursday. Southwestern was third and Evangel fourth in both polls.The Coyotes are indeed bigger, in a big way. The list of newcomers starts with <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5267f1d5-4250-44d9-9356-74b51eda9e0c?elinkdata=13370">Evens Appolon</a>, a 6-foot-9, 255-pound center who was at Central Methodist a year ago."He was pretty much a redshirt last year and he's been great," Monson said.Other sizable additions are 6-6 <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4af4ff11-dc58-4e00-a8f2-c7381e9c396b?elinkdata=13370">Miles Fant</a>, Iowa Central; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e8e5e157-7d8f-4624-a083-1b8cefb2c23d?elinkdata=13370">Stefan Spray</a>, 6-6 Barton Community College; 6-5 <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6a0803f0-180c-421c-aea3-bf8a7e3aab35?elinkdata=13370">Dreylin Kemp</a>, Butler CC; 6-5 <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/78bb7783-3d6e-4b75-8a05-fab391bced07?elinkdata=13370">Eric Green</a>, Coffeyville CC, and 6-8 Dan Morgan from Lone Star CC who was a redshirt last season."We feel really good about our size, and I think we got a lot of versatility with it," Monson said. "You add Alex to that mix and obviously it becomes pretty good."Monson also added backcourt help in <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/44c5b8c6-b4b4-47ed-9a7c-20fe458c5b90?elinkdata=13370">Tucker Bowman</a>, Central Arkansas; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85924a27-cc5f-487e-abf2-b952572c736b?elinkdata=13370">Landon Wagler</a>, Hutchinson CC, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/daa7b693-2879-4130-97f6-0f1a9fd12b77?elinkdata=13370">Sage Koelsch</a>, Pratt CC. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b2e5f7e2-77b5-47b3-ac37-0847dd0ca89f?elinkdata=13370">Carson Jones</a>, a freshman, could see varsity time as well, according to Monson."We've got a lot of guys that we're trying to sift through right now," he said. "I think the most pleasant thing for me is to see guys step up in the absence of some guys who have been really impact players for us these past couple years. It's been a lot of fun to watch that growth and see them take the next step."

Coaches, Media pick KWU MBB to finish second in rugged KCAC race

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched like a postseason ace Thursday night, holding the Kansas City Royals to a single run over seven innings and sending the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory that put them back in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/MLB">the American League Championship Series</a>.

The six-time All-Star scattered six hits and struck out four before handing the ball to the New York bullpen, which dominated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-8bad4d90f6891eda52d67b0aa4e4c44d">a tense AL Division Series</a>. Clay Holmes tossed a perfect eighth inning and Luke Weaver breezed through the ninth, extending the scoreless streak by Yankees relievers to 15 2/3 innings this postseason.

New York will play Cleveland or Detroit of the ALCS starting Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-soto-royals-new-york-0e67745813372aaca6bc33b027b4c669">Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-e5552ac80a6c03f893b1da38a804f8bf">Game 3 star Giancarlo Stanton</a>&nbsp;drove in runs for the Yankees, who fittingly clinched a spot in their fourth ALCS in eight years on the road. They won 50 games away from home in the regular season, their most in 21 years.

Michael Wacha&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-417218832d775dd13038728c98244dd4">failed to get through five innings</a>&nbsp;for Kansas City, allowing two runs, six hits and a walk. He didn't get much help from a long-scuffling offense that managed just five runs total over the final three games of the series.

Still, it was a remarkable turnaround for a club that went from 106-loss laughingstock a year ago to making its first postseason appearance since winning the 2015 World Series. And with young stars such as Bobby Witt Jr. signed to long-term deals, there is hope in Kansas City that this was a beginning rather than an ending.

New York set the tone from the start, pouncing on Wacha like it did in the series opener. Torres hit the veteran right-hander's first pitch of the game for a double, and Soto followed with an RBI single on just the third pitch of the night.

Anthony Volpe kept on the pressure with his single in the fifth. And after Alex Verdugo grounded into a forceout and Jon Berti singled to put runners on the corners, Torres lined a two-out single to make it 2-0 and put an end to Wacha's night.

Meanwhile, Cole only seemed to get stronger as he clicked off innings.

The reigning Cy Young Award winner retired his first six batters, worked around a leadoff single in the third and retired eight more before Tommy Pham's single in the fifth. Cole promptly struck out Kyle Isbel on three pitches to end that inning.

Stanton, who hit the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning in Game 3, extended the lead to 3-0 with his single in the sixth.

Tensions that had simmered all night — and all series, after Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. called the Royals' Game 2 win “lucky” — finally boiled over in the sixth. Volpe slapped a hard tag on Maikel Garcia at second base to complete a double play, and the Royals third baseman took umbrage with it. Players spilled out of both dugouts before order was restored.

The near-fracas nearly ignited Kansas City, too. Witt, who had been 1 for 15 in the series, followed with a base hit and Vinnie Pasquantino — who'd been 0 for 14 — had an RBI double. But with the sellout crowd of 39,012 in Kauffman Stadium whipped into a sudden frenzy, Cole got Salvador Perez to pop out lazily to second base to end the inning.

Cole's night ended after he got Isbel to fly out to the warning track with a runner aboard to end the seventh, a deep shot to right field that would have been a tying homer had it been hit to that part of Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees are headed to the ALCS for the 19th time to face the Guardians or Tigers, who play the decisive game of their AL Division Series on Saturday night in Cleveland.

The Royals head into the offseason with some momentum. Most of their key players are signed for next season or under club control, though a couple of decisions loom. Wacha could opt out of his deal after a strong season while 2B Adam Frazier has a mutual option and OF Hunter Renfroe a player option for 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728616643757.jpeg" alt="New York Yankees' Aaron Judge doubles during the sixth inning in Game 4 of an American League Division baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)" />
 <figcaption>New York Yankees' Aaron Judge doubles during the sixth inning in Game 4 of an American League Division baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched like a postseason ace Thursday night, holding the Kansas City Royals to a single run over seven innings and sending the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory that put them back in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/MLB">the American League Championship Series</a>.The six-time All-Star scattered six hits and struck out four before handing the ball to the New York bullpen, which dominated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-8bad4d90f6891eda52d67b0aa4e4c44d">a tense AL Division Series</a>. Clay Holmes tossed a perfect eighth inning and Luke Weaver breezed through the ninth, extending the scoreless streak by Yankees relievers to 15 2/3 innings this postseason.New York will play Cleveland or Detroit of the ALCS starting Monday night at Yankee Stadium.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-soto-royals-new-york-0e67745813372aaca6bc33b027b4c669">Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-e5552ac80a6c03f893b1da38a804f8bf">Game 3 star Giancarlo Stanton</a>&nbsp;drove in runs for the Yankees, who fittingly clinched a spot in their fourth ALCS in eight years on the road. They won 50 games away from home in the regular season, their most in 21 years.Michael Wacha&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-417218832d775dd13038728c98244dd4">failed to get through five innings</a>&nbsp;for Kansas City, allowing two runs, six hits and a walk. He didn't get much help from a long-scuffling offense that managed just five runs total over the final three games of the series.Still, it was a remarkable turnaround for a club that went from 106-loss laughingstock a year ago to making its first postseason appearance since winning the 2015 World Series. And with young stars such as Bobby Witt Jr. signed to long-term deals, there is hope in Kansas City that this was a beginning rather than an ending.New York set the tone from the start, pouncing on Wacha like it did in the series opener. Torres hit the veteran right-hander's first pitch of the game for a double, and Soto followed with an RBI single on just the third pitch of the night.Anthony Volpe kept on the pressure with his single in the fifth. And after Alex Verdugo grounded into a forceout and Jon Berti singled to put runners on the corners, Torres lined a two-out single to make it 2-0 and put an end to Wacha's night.Meanwhile, Cole only seemed to get stronger as he clicked off innings.The reigning Cy Young Award winner retired his first six batters, worked around a leadoff single in the third and retired eight more before Tommy Pham's single in the fifth. Cole promptly struck out Kyle Isbel on three pitches to end that inning.Stanton, who hit the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning in Game 3, extended the lead to 3-0 with his single in the sixth.Tensions that had simmered all night — and all series, after Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. called the Royals' Game 2 win “lucky” — finally boiled over in the sixth. Volpe slapped a hard tag on Maikel Garcia at second base to complete a double play, and the Royals third baseman took umbrage with it. Players spilled out of both dugouts before order was restored.The near-fracas nearly ignited Kansas City, too. Witt, who had been 1 for 15 in the series, followed with a base hit and Vinnie Pasquantino — who'd been 0 for 14 — had an RBI double. But with the sellout crowd of 39,012 in Kauffman Stadium whipped into a sudden frenzy, Cole got Salvador Perez to pop out lazily to second base to end the inning.Cole's night ended after he got Isbel to fly out to the warning track with a runner aboard to end the seventh, a deep shot to right field that would have been a tying homer had it been hit to that part of Yankee Stadium.New York's bullpen did the rest.UP NEXTThe Yankees are headed to the ALCS for the 19th time to face the Guardians or Tigers, who play the decisive game of their AL Division Series on Saturday night in Cleveland.The Royals head into the offseason with some momentum. Most of their key players are signed for next season or under club control, though a couple of decisions loom. Wacha could opt out of his deal after a strong season while 2B Adam Frazier has a mutual option and OF Hunter Renfroe a player option for 2025.

⚾ Cole shuts down the Royals and sends Yankees back to ALCS 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior transfer Coleman Hawkins has been named the Preseason Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Year by the league coaches, as the Big 12 announced its annual preseason poll and all-conference teams on Thursday (Oct. 10).

Hawkins, who earned All-Big Ten honors at Illinois in 2023-24, was selected for the preseason honor alongside Baylor’s Jeremy Roach. Hawkins was also named to the preseason All-Big 12 Second Team by the league coaches, joining Baylor’s Norchad Omier and Roach, Iowa State’s Keshon Gilbert and Kansas’ Dajuan Harris.

Hunter Dickinson of preseason favorite Kansas was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe was tabbed as the Freshman of the Year. Dickinson was joined on the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team by Arizona’s Caleb Love, Houston’s L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts and Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey.

K-State was picked eighth in the new 16-team preseason poll with 133 points, just two points behind seventh-place Texas Tech and 17 points ahead of ninth-place BYU.

Kansas was picked first with 215 points and nine first-place votes followed by closely by reigning champion Houston (211, five first-place votes), third-place Iowa State (194, one first-place vote), fourth-place Baylor (185) and fifth-place Arizona (179 points, one first-place vote).

The rest of the preseason poll included Cincinnati in sixth with 140 followed by Texas Tech, K-State, BYU, TCU, UCF, Arizona State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Colorado and Utah.

Hawkins is the first Wildcat to be selected as the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and the fourth to be chosen for a preseason player honor, joining Michael Beasley (2007-08 Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year), Jacob Pullen (2010-11 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year) and Dean Wade (2018-19 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year).

Hawkins is also the first Wildcat to earn selection to one of the main preseason all-conference teams by the league coaches since Barry Brown Jr. and Dean Wade in 2018-19. He is one of eight players in school history to be chosen for preseason all-conference honors dating to Manny Dies in 1998-99. Others include Pullen and Curtis Kelly in 2010-11, Rodney McGruder in 2012-13 and Marcus Foster in 2014-15.

Arthur Kaluma and Tylor Perry were honorable mention preseason All-Big 12 picks in 2023-24.

Hawkins was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023-24 after averaging a career-high 12.1 points per game for the Fighting Illini while posting career-bests for field goal percentage (45.1), 3-point field goal percentage (36.9) and free throw percentage (79.2). He is the only player in Illinois history with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals.

K-State will tip off the season at 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Nov. 5 against New Orleans, while the lone exhibition is set for 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Oct. 29. All of home game times are set and can be viewed by clicking on this <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2024-25">link</a>.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior transfer Coleman Hawkins has been named the Preseason Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Year by the league coaches, as the Big 12 announced its annual preseason poll and all-conference teams on Thursday (Oct. 10).Hawkins, who earned All-Big Ten honors at Illinois in 2023-24, was selected for the preseason honor alongside Baylor’s Jeremy Roach. Hawkins was also named to the preseason All-Big 12 Second Team by the league coaches, joining Baylor’s Norchad Omier and Roach, Iowa State’s Keshon Gilbert and Kansas’ Dajuan Harris.Hunter Dickinson of preseason favorite Kansas was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe was tabbed as the Freshman of the Year. Dickinson was joined on the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team by Arizona’s Caleb Love, Houston’s L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts and Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey.K-State was picked eighth in the new 16-team preseason poll with 133 points, just two points behind seventh-place Texas Tech and 17 points ahead of ninth-place BYU.Kansas was picked first with 215 points and nine first-place votes followed by closely by reigning champion Houston (211, five first-place votes), third-place Iowa State (194, one first-place vote), fourth-place Baylor (185) and fifth-place Arizona (179 points, one first-place vote).The rest of the preseason poll included Cincinnati in sixth with 140 followed by Texas Tech, K-State, BYU, TCU, UCF, Arizona State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Colorado and Utah.Hawkins is the first Wildcat to be selected as the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and the fourth to be chosen for a preseason player honor, joining Michael Beasley (2007-08 Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year), Jacob Pullen (2010-11 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year) and Dean Wade (2018-19 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year).Hawkins is also the first Wildcat to earn selection to one of the main preseason all-conference teams by the league coaches since Barry Brown Jr. and Dean Wade in 2018-19. He is one of eight players in school history to be chosen for preseason all-conference honors dating to Manny Dies in 1998-99. Others include Pullen and Curtis Kelly in 2010-11, Rodney McGruder in 2012-13 and Marcus Foster in 2014-15.Arthur Kaluma and Tylor Perry were honorable mention preseason All-Big 12 picks in 2023-24.Hawkins was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023-24 after averaging a career-high 12.1 points per game for the Fighting Illini while posting career-bests for field goal percentage (45.1), 3-point field goal percentage (36.9) and free throw percentage (79.2). He is the only player in Illinois history with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals.K-State will tip off the season at 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Nov. 5 against New Orleans, while the lone exhibition is set for 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Oct. 29. All of home game times are set and can be viewed by clicking on this <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2024-25">link</a>.

K-State's Hawkins Named Preseason Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Year

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State and the Big 12 Conference announced game times and television information for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season on Wednesday (Oct. 9).

The Wildcats will appear across ESPN platforms on 23 occasions, including ESPN+ (formerly Big 12 Now) in the first 9 games. In addition, four games will air on ESPN’s linear channels, including the home game with Kansas on Saturday, Feb. 8 (ESPN) and road games at Baylor on Wednesday, Jan. 22 (ESPN2/U), Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 1 (ESPN/2) and Utah on Monday, Feb. 17 (ESPN2).

K-State will have seven games air as part of the expanded CBS package, including the road game at Kansas on Saturday, Jan. 18 and the final home game on Saturday, March 8 against Iowa State appearing on CBS. Five other games will be air on CBS Sports Network, including the Big 12 opener against Cincinnati on Monday, Dec. 30, the road opener at TCU on Saturday, Jan. 4 and home games with Texas Tech (Tuesday, Jan. 14), West Virginia (Saturday, Jan. 25) and Oklahoma State (Wednesday, Jan. 29).

The first linear broadcast of the season will be Saturday, Dec. 7 when the Wildcats play St. John’s in the final edition of the Big 12/BIG EAST Battle at 10:30 a.m., CT on FOX.

K-State will tip off the season at 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Nov. 5 against New Orleans, while the lone exhibition is set for 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Oct. 29. To view all game times, please click on this <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2024-25">link</a>.

The only unknown game time is for the road contest at Wichita State on Dec. 21, which should be announced later in the week.

K-State will host 10 Big 12 games as part of the expanded 20-game league schedule with the additions of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah.

Six of those 10 conference home games will come on weekends, including visits from projected top 10 teams Houston (Saturday, Jan. 11), Kansas (Saturday, Feb. 8) and Iowa State (Saturday, March 8). The Wildcats will also host West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 25 as well as first-ever Sunday conference games with Arizona State (Sunday, Feb. 23) and Colorado (Sunday, March 2).

The expanded conference schedule will tip on Monday, Dec. 30 with a home game against Cincinnati at 6 p.m., CT on CBS Sports Network. It will be the first meeting in Manhattan as conference foes and the first visit by the Bearcats since 1967.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State and the Big 12 Conference announced game times and television information for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season on Wednesday (Oct. 9).The Wildcats will appear across ESPN platforms on 23 occasions, including ESPN+ (formerly Big 12 Now) in the first 9 games. In addition, four games will air on ESPN’s linear channels, including the home game with Kansas on Saturday, Feb. 8 (ESPN) and road games at Baylor on Wednesday, Jan. 22 (ESPN2/U), Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 1 (ESPN/2) and Utah on Monday, Feb. 17 (ESPN2).K-State will have seven games air as part of the expanded CBS package, including the road game at Kansas on Saturday, Jan. 18 and the final home game on Saturday, March 8 against Iowa State appearing on CBS. Five other games will be air on CBS Sports Network, including the Big 12 opener against Cincinnati on Monday, Dec. 30, the road opener at TCU on Saturday, Jan. 4 and home games with Texas Tech (Tuesday, Jan. 14), West Virginia (Saturday, Jan. 25) and Oklahoma State (Wednesday, Jan. 29).The first linear broadcast of the season will be Saturday, Dec. 7 when the Wildcats play St. John’s in the final edition of the Big 12/BIG EAST Battle at 10:30 a.m., CT on FOX.K-State will tip off the season at 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Nov. 5 against New Orleans, while the lone exhibition is set for 7 p.m., CT on Tuesday, Oct. 29. To view all game times, please click on this <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2024-25">link</a>.The only unknown game time is for the road contest at Wichita State on Dec. 21, which should be announced later in the week.K-State will host 10 Big 12 games as part of the expanded 20-game league schedule with the additions of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah.Six of those 10 conference home games will come on weekends, including visits from projected top 10 teams Houston (Saturday, Jan. 11), Kansas (Saturday, Feb. 8) and Iowa State (Saturday, March 8). The Wildcats will also host West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 25 as well as first-ever Sunday conference games with Arizona State (Sunday, Feb. 23) and Colorado (Sunday, March 2).The expanded conference schedule will tip on Monday, Dec. 30 with a home game against Cincinnati at 6 p.m., CT on CBS Sports Network. It will be the first meeting in Manhattan as conference foes and the first visit by the Bearcats since 1967.

Game Times, TV Information Announced for 2024-25 K-State MBB Season

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The entirety of the 2024-25 K-State women’s basketball schedule will be televised by ESPN and FOX platforms, broadcast partners of the Big 12 Conference and Kansas State.

Kansas State has been selected for four games on either ESPN, ESPN2, or FOX as part of the Big 12 television package. The four games are: Thursday, January 30, against Iowa State at 7&nbsp;:30 p.m., on ESPN, Monday, February 17, at West Virginia at 1 p.m. (CT), on FOX, Monday, February 24, against Baylor at 6 p.m., on ESPN2 and Sunday, March 2, at Iowa State at 3 p.m.

K-State will play 17 home games this season exclusively on ESPN+. Brian Smoller and former All-Big 8 Wildcat Missy Heidrick will return for their 14th&nbsp;season as the primary talent, with Sophie Smith and Hannah Whetstone also returning this season as sideline reporters for home women’s basketball games on ESPN+.

The non-conference home games on ESPN+ are: Wednesday, October 30, against Washburn at 6:30 p.m., Monday, November 4, against Green Bay at 11 a.m., Thursday, November 7, against Belmont at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, November 14, against Creighton at 5:30 p.m., Monday, November 18, against Little Rock at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 20, against Milwaukee at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, December 1, against Central Arkansas at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 3, against Eastern Illinois at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, December 5, against USC Upstate at 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday, December 18, against New Mexico State at 6:30 p.m.

Following the conclusion of non-conference action, K-State’s home Big 12 games to air on ESPN+ are: Sunday, December 22, against Cincinnati at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 4, against Texas Tech at 4 p.m., Thursday, January 16, against Arizona at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, January 19, against Arizona State at 1 p.m., Wednesday, February 5, against TCU at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, February 15, against UCF at 4 p.m., and Saturday, February 22, against Kansas at 4 p.m.

K-State’s Big 12 road games on ESPN+ include: at Houston on Wednesday, January 1, at 7 p.m., at Utah on Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. (CT), at BYU on Saturday, January 11, at 5 p.m. (CT), at Colorado on Saturday, January 25, at 2 p.m. (CT), at Oklahoma State on Saturday, February 8, at 2 p.m., at Cincinnati on Wednesday, February 12, at 5:30 p.m., and at Kansas on Sunday, February 2, at 2 p.m.

All K-State women’s basketball home games are produced in-house by K-StateHD.TV for ESPN platforms. K-StateHD.TV is the Emmy Award-winning video production arm of K-State Athletics, providing third-party broadcast, in-house videoboard, and K-State Athletics social/recruiting video production via full-time staff, freelancers, and graduate/undergraduate students.

Nationally recognized as an industry leader, K-StateHD.TV was the first school production unit in the Big 12 to be distributed by a linear network, the first to win an Emmy award, and the first to provide an all-female broadcast production of a Power 5 conference live event, a K-State women’s basketball home game in 2019.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The entirety of the 2024-25 K-State women’s basketball schedule will be televised by ESPN and FOX platforms, broadcast partners of the Big 12 Conference and Kansas State.Kansas State has been selected for four games on either ESPN, ESPN2, or FOX as part of the Big 12 television package. The four games are: Thursday, January 30, against Iowa State at 7&nbsp;:30 p.m., on ESPN, Monday, February 17, at West Virginia at 1 p.m. (CT), on FOX, Monday, February 24, against Baylor at 6 p.m., on ESPN2 and Sunday, March 2, at Iowa State at 3 p.m.K-State will play 17 home games this season exclusively on ESPN+. Brian Smoller and former All-Big 8 Wildcat Missy Heidrick will return for their 14th&nbsp;season as the primary talent, with Sophie Smith and Hannah Whetstone also returning this season as sideline reporters for home women’s basketball games on ESPN+.The non-conference home games on ESPN+ are: Wednesday, October 30, against Washburn at 6:30 p.m., Monday, November 4, against Green Bay at 11 a.m., Thursday, November 7, against Belmont at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, November 14, against Creighton at 5:30 p.m., Monday, November 18, against Little Rock at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 20, against Milwaukee at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, December 1, against Central Arkansas at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 3, against Eastern Illinois at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, December 5, against USC Upstate at 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday, December 18, against New Mexico State at 6:30 p.m.Following the conclusion of non-conference action, K-State’s home Big 12 games to air on ESPN+ are: Sunday, December 22, against Cincinnati at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 4, against Texas Tech at 4 p.m., Thursday, January 16, against Arizona at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, January 19, against Arizona State at 1 p.m., Wednesday, February 5, against TCU at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, February 15, against UCF at 4 p.m., and Saturday, February 22, against Kansas at 4 p.m.K-State’s Big 12 road games on ESPN+ include: at Houston on Wednesday, January 1, at 7 p.m., at Utah on Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. (CT), at BYU on Saturday, January 11, at 5 p.m. (CT), at Colorado on Saturday, January 25, at 2 p.m. (CT), at Oklahoma State on Saturday, February 8, at 2 p.m., at Cincinnati on Wednesday, February 12, at 5:30 p.m., and at Kansas on Sunday, February 2, at 2 p.m.All K-State women’s basketball home games are produced in-house by K-StateHD.TV for ESPN platforms. K-StateHD.TV is the Emmy Award-winning video production arm of K-State Athletics, providing third-party broadcast, in-house videoboard, and K-State Athletics social/recruiting video production via full-time staff, freelancers, and graduate/undergraduate students.Nationally recognized as an industry leader, K-StateHD.TV was the first school production unit in the Big 12 to be distributed by a linear network, the first to win an Emmy award, and the first to provide an all-female broadcast production of a Power 5 conference live event, a K-State women’s basketball home game in 2019.

K-State Announces 2024-25 Women’s Basketball Broadcast Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning amid a battle of the bullpens, and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series at Kauffman Stadium.

Stanton finished with three hits, drove in two runs and stole a base for the first time in four years for the Yankees, who will turn to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-mlb-playoffs-royals-yankees-55c69e03da0c418a922ad02831ea0610">six-time All-Star pitcher Gerrit Cole on Thursday night</a>&nbsp;with a chance to reach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">the American League Championship Series</a>.

The Royals used four relievers before Kris Bubic took over for the eighth. The left-hander struck out Austin Wells before Stanton hit his 3-1 pitch nearly 420 feet to left to give New York the lead.

The Royals tried to answer off Luke Weaver in the bottom half, getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-chiefs-kansas-city-patrick-mahomes-bobby-witt-25b56b7e0ed73261a13434168c102551">Bobby Witt Jr.'s first hit of the series</a>&nbsp;and a two-out single by franchise stalwart Salvador Perez. Weaver recovered to get Yuli Gurriel to fly out to end the threat, and he also handled the ninth to earn the save and cap 4 1/3 scoreless innings by the New York bullpen.

The Yankees won despite another frustrating night in the postseason for MVP front-runner Aaron Judge. He went 0 for 4 with a walk, and is now 1 for 11 with only an infield single through three games against the Royals.

It helped that the powerful Yankees drew nine walks Wednesday night, giving them 22 for the series.

It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-mlb-playoffs-a71e04dca396f35402287621911ad50e">first playoff game at the K in 3,268 days</a>, since the Royals beat the Mets in Game 2 of the 2015 World Series. They won their first title in 30 years a few days later in New York.

The first baseman on that Royals team, Eric Hosmer, was on hand to deliver the first pitch for a crowd that included Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Yankees had some good swings against Seth Lugo's dizzying array of nine pitches, but they had nothing to show for it early on.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-soto-royals-new-york-0e67745813372aaca6bc33b027b4c669">Juan Soto flew out to center in the first</a>&nbsp;on what would have been a homer in 17 ballparks. Judge followed with a liner snared by Witt at shortstop that had an exit velocity of 114 mph. And in the third, Gleyber Torres hit a ball to the warning track in right, moments after a review confirmed that his would-be RBI blooper down the line had landed foul.

The Yankees broke through in the fourth on Stanton's double — Soto came around from first to score, though he might well have been out had Witt delivered a better relay throw to the plate. And in the fifth, Soto added a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

The Royals answered with two in the fifth. Kyle Isbel got them on the board with a two-out double to left, and Michael Massey ripped a sinking liner that somehow missed Soto's glove in right for an RBI triple.

Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt was dinged for both runs on four hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. Lugo went five for Kansas City, allowing two hits and walking four against the team that led the league in free passes this season.

Yankees: Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA) heads back to the mound Thursday night. He allowed four runs — three earned — over five innings in the opener Saturday night but got no decision in the 6-5 win for New York.

Royals: RHP Michael Wacha (13-8, 3.35 ERA) will face Cole again after pitching just four innings Saturday. He allowed three runs but was long gone by the time the Yankees scored the go-ahead run in the seventh.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728527218078.png" alt="Giancarlo Stanton finished with three hits, drove in two runs and stole a base for the first time in four years for the Yankees-Photo courtesy New York Yankees" />
 <figcaption>Giancarlo Stanton finished with three hits, drove in two runs and stole a base for the first time in four years for the Yankees-Photo courtesy New York Yankees</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning amid a battle of the bullpens, and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series at Kauffman Stadium.Stanton finished with three hits, drove in two runs and stole a base for the first time in four years for the Yankees, who will turn to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-mlb-playoffs-royals-yankees-55c69e03da0c418a922ad02831ea0610">six-time All-Star pitcher Gerrit Cole on Thursday night</a>&nbsp;with a chance to reach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">the American League Championship Series</a>.The Royals used four relievers before Kris Bubic took over for the eighth. The left-hander struck out Austin Wells before Stanton hit his 3-1 pitch nearly 420 feet to left to give New York the lead.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728527435203.png" alt="Kansas City Royals' Yuli Gurriel celebrates after hitting a double during the second inning in Game 3 of an American League Division baseball playoff series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Yuli Gurriel celebrates after hitting a double during the second inning in Game 3 of an American League Division baseball playoff series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Royals tried to answer off Luke Weaver in the bottom half, getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-chiefs-kansas-city-patrick-mahomes-bobby-witt-25b56b7e0ed73261a13434168c102551">Bobby Witt Jr.'s first hit of the series</a>&nbsp;and a two-out single by franchise stalwart Salvador Perez. Weaver recovered to get Yuli Gurriel to fly out to end the threat, and he also handled the ninth to earn the save and cap 4 1/3 scoreless innings by the New York bullpen.The Yankees won despite another frustrating night in the postseason for MVP front-runner Aaron Judge. He went 0 for 4 with a walk, and is now 1 for 11 with only an infield single through three games against the Royals.It helped that the powerful Yankees drew nine walks Wednesday night, giving them 22 for the series.It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yankees-royals-new-york-kansas-city-mlb-playoffs-a71e04dca396f35402287621911ad50e">first playoff game at the K in 3,268 days</a>, since the Royals beat the Mets in Game 2 of the 2015 World Series. They won their first title in 30 years a few days later in New York.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRoyals%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0Yv1Jn9vedfcT3GwueeHbHf6MDDoLXMTS4bQC73jW8ha9XjZEQfLT7f5NfYCLGF7Bl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="645" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The first baseman on that Royals team, Eric Hosmer, was on hand to deliver the first pitch for a crowd that included Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.The Yankees had some good swings against Seth Lugo's dizzying array of nine pitches, but they had nothing to show for it early on.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-soto-royals-new-york-0e67745813372aaca6bc33b027b4c669">Juan Soto flew out to center in the first</a>&nbsp;on what would have been a homer in 17 ballparks. Judge followed with a liner snared by Witt at shortstop that had an exit velocity of 114 mph. And in the third, Gleyber Torres hit a ball to the warning track in right, moments after a review confirmed that his would-be RBI blooper down the line had landed foul.The Yankees broke through in the fourth on Stanton's double — Soto came around from first to score, though he might well have been out had Witt delivered a better relay throw to the plate. And in the fifth, Soto added a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.The Royals answered with two in the fifth. Kyle Isbel got them on the board with a two-out double to left, and Michael Massey ripped a sinking liner that somehow missed Soto's glove in right for an RBI triple.Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt was dinged for both runs on four hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. Lugo went five for Kansas City, allowing two hits and walking four against the team that led the league in free passes this season.UP NEXTYankees: Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA) heads back to the mound Thursday night. He allowed four runs — three earned — over five innings in the opener Saturday night but got no decision in the 6-5 win for New York.Royals: RHP Michael Wacha (13-8, 3.35 ERA) will face Cole again after pitching just four innings Saturday. He allowed three runs but was long gone by the time the Yankees scored the go-ahead run in the seventh.___

⚾ Stanton's homer in the 8th lifts Yankees over Royals in Game 3 of the ALDS

SALINA, Kan. - Kansas Wesleyan University has announced that head football coach Matt Myers has stepped back from the head coaching position, effective immediately. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b60737f2-69da-462e-9494-2cfb4f78aa86?elinkdata=13347">David Leonard</a>, football operations and passing game coordinator, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9bc3fd7a-c44c-4cdb-a89c-572c07016924?elinkdata=13347">Chris Snyder</a>, assistant coach and recruiting/retention director, will serve as the interim co-head coaches while a national search is conducted.

Myers will take on another role at KWU in the coming weeks.

"I thank Matt and his family for their contributions to Kansas Wesleyan," said Miguel Paredes, director of athletics. "He did many positive things for this program, and we look forward to the influence his new role will have at the university. It is our hope that this change enables our program to grow and see additional successes, both on and off the field. We have watched David and Chris grow as coaches and campus leaders these past several seasons, and have faith that they are ready to lead our team for the remainder of the campaign."

The search for the next KWU head football coach will begin immediately and is expected to conclude prior to Dec. 1.

SALINA, Kan. - Kansas Wesleyan University has announced that head football coach Matt Myers has stepped back from the head coaching position, effective immediately. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b60737f2-69da-462e-9494-2cfb4f78aa86?elinkdata=13347">David Leonard</a>, football operations and passing game coordinator, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9bc3fd7a-c44c-4cdb-a89c-572c07016924?elinkdata=13347">Chris Snyder</a>, assistant coach and recruiting/retention director, will serve as the interim co-head coaches while a national search is conducted.Myers will take on another role at KWU in the coming weeks."I thank Matt and his family for their contributions to Kansas Wesleyan," said Miguel Paredes, director of athletics. "He did many positive things for this program, and we look forward to the influence his new role will have at the university. It is our hope that this change enables our program to grow and see additional successes, both on and off the field. We have watched David and Chris grow as coaches and campus leaders these past several seasons, and have faith that they are ready to lead our team for the remainder of the campaign."The search for the next KWU head football coach will begin immediately and is expected to conclude prior to Dec. 1.

KWU Announces Football Program Leadership Change

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;The Big 12 Conference and FOX Sports announced Monday that Kansas State’s October 19 game at West Virginia will kick at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will be shown on either FOX or FS1.

The Wildcats and Mountaineers are meeting for the first time in two years after not playing in 2023. K-State has won each of the last two matchups, earning a 34-17 home win in 2021 before a 48-31 triumph in Morgantown in 2022.

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;The Big 12 Conference and FOX Sports announced Monday that Kansas State’s October 19 game at West Virginia will kick at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will be shown on either FOX or FS1.The Wildcats and Mountaineers are meeting for the first time in two years after not playing in 2023. K-State has won each of the last two matchups, earning a 34-17 home win in 2021 before a 48-31 triumph in Morgantown in 2022.

K-State at West Virginia to Kick at Night

The Kansas Wesleyan women's basketball team certainly does not lack experience and veteran leadership in advance of the 2024-25 season.

"This is going to be the oldest team that I've ever had," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e624610-d83f-4024-8a70-aa03f79ca08a?elinkdata=13278">Ryan Showman</a> said Tuesday during the Kansas Conference's virtual media day. "In our top 17 that's in our varsity practices there are nine seniors and seven juniors. Of those seniors four are fifth-year seniors - <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b8f012ba-3286-4319-aefc-1452f100ba3b?elinkdata=13278">LaMyah Ricks</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/37eb3e80-aa71-40a3-b68d-f27d18ce7b06?elinkdata=13278">Jill Stephens</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/edce986f-5145-4094-85bd-225e5f92bd74?elinkdata=13278">Angel Lee</a>, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f6eb268e-7f28-475a-bae4-4b61466b4381?elinkdata=13278">Alexis Dixon</a>."

The Coyotes, who return all five starters from a year ago, are not the only KCAC team with plethora of familiar faces though. Ten others return at least four starters - four have all five back.

"This is going to be a fun, challenging year in our conference with everyone that has returned and with the continuity of the coaching staffs," said Showman, who enters his 13th season as KWU's head coach.

Wesleyan was picked to finish fifth in the coaches' poll conducted Tuesday. Tabor was first, Friends second, Saint Mary third and Evangel fourth. KWU was fourth in the media poll with Tabor first followed by Friends and Saint Mary in a tie for second.

The Coyotes rebounded from a 2-5 start last year and finished 17-13, 14-8 in the conference, before losing to Tabor in the conference tournament semifinals.

Showman expressed cautious optimism Tuesday.

"We return 86 percent of our scoring and 81 percent of our rebounding which on paper looks awesome," he said. "But before anybody gets too worried remember we only scored 67 points a game and shot 37 percent from the field so some of that was smoke and mirrors.

"We had conversations starting in March. I really like the response that we've had from our returners in terms of getting better and being more efficient. Just doing the little things that cost us games last year."

Age, though, has pluses and some minuses.

"A lot of experience back, a lot of players that have been in the league, a lot of players that have been in Kansas Wesleyan, so they know the KCAC grind," he said. "They know what it takes to win, and they know how that razor thin margin that either creates a win or creates a loss.

"Practice has been fun but as every coach knows with an older, experienced, veteran group practice sometimes gets boring, so we've had to come up with some creative ways to keep it interesting until we get going with games."

Showman is counting on three transfers to bolster the returning group. Junior college guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7aa66af4-9bb3-44a6-af38-e58034f9df5c?elinkdata=13278">Kelsey Koza</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a1c6ca05-2943-4f20-9d3b-9312e1ce9a74?elinkdata=13278">Abigail Lombardoni</a> come in from Hesston and Fulton-Montgomery, respectively, while <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a72587bb-b6ca-4ab4-8ef2-8ff58b61105d?elinkdata=13278">Jocelyn Hall</a>, a 6-foot-1 forward, played for Division II Illinois-Springfield last season.

KWU plays eight of its 13 first semester games inside Mabee Arena starting with New Mexico College and Jamestown in the Coyote Classic on November 1 and 2.

"I feel like each of the last few years we were playing some of our best basketball at the end of the year," he said, "so our challenge now is to have some success early, take advantage of some of those home opportunities first semester to build that momentum going into January and February."

The Kansas Wesleyan women's basketball team certainly does not lack experience and veteran leadership in advance of the 2024-25 season."This is going to be the oldest team that I've ever had," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e624610-d83f-4024-8a70-aa03f79ca08a?elinkdata=13278">Ryan Showman</a> said Tuesday during the Kansas Conference's virtual media day. "In our top 17 that's in our varsity practices there are nine seniors and seven juniors. Of those seniors four are fifth-year seniors - <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b8f012ba-3286-4319-aefc-1452f100ba3b?elinkdata=13278">LaMyah Ricks</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/37eb3e80-aa71-40a3-b68d-f27d18ce7b06?elinkdata=13278">Jill Stephens</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/edce986f-5145-4094-85bd-225e5f92bd74?elinkdata=13278">Angel Lee</a>, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f6eb268e-7f28-475a-bae4-4b61466b4381?elinkdata=13278">Alexis Dixon</a>."The Coyotes, who return all five starters from a year ago, are not the only KCAC team with plethora of familiar faces though. Ten others return at least four starters - four have all five back."This is going to be a fun, challenging year in our conference with everyone that has returned and with the continuity of the coaching staffs," said Showman, who enters his 13th season as KWU's head coach.Wesleyan was picked to finish fifth in the coaches' poll conducted Tuesday. Tabor was first, Friends second, Saint Mary third and Evangel fourth. KWU was fourth in the media poll with Tabor first followed by Friends and Saint Mary in a tie for second.The Coyotes rebounded from a 2-5 start last year and finished 17-13, 14-8 in the conference, before losing to Tabor in the conference tournament semifinals.Showman expressed cautious optimism Tuesday."We return 86 percent of our scoring and 81 percent of our rebounding which on paper looks awesome," he said. "But before anybody gets too worried remember we only scored 67 points a game and shot 37 percent from the field so some of that was smoke and mirrors."We had conversations starting in March. I really like the response that we've had from our returners in terms of getting better and being more efficient. Just doing the little things that cost us games last year."Age, though, has pluses and some minuses."A lot of experience back, a lot of players that have been in the league, a lot of players that have been in Kansas Wesleyan, so they know the KCAC grind," he said. "They know what it takes to win, and they know how that razor thin margin that either creates a win or creates a loss."Practice has been fun but as every coach knows with an older, experienced, veteran group practice sometimes gets boring, so we've had to come up with some creative ways to keep it interesting until we get going with games."Showman is counting on three transfers to bolster the returning group. Junior college guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7aa66af4-9bb3-44a6-af38-e58034f9df5c?elinkdata=13278">Kelsey Koza</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a1c6ca05-2943-4f20-9d3b-9312e1ce9a74?elinkdata=13278">Abigail Lombardoni</a> come in from Hesston and Fulton-Montgomery, respectively, while <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a72587bb-b6ca-4ab4-8ef2-8ff58b61105d?elinkdata=13278">Jocelyn Hall</a>, a 6-foot-1 forward, played for Division II Illinois-Springfield last season.KWU plays eight of its 13 first semester games inside Mabee Arena starting with New Mexico College and Jamestown in the Coyote Classic on November 1 and 2."I feel like each of the last few years we were playing some of our best basketball at the end of the year," he said, "so our challenge now is to have some success early, take advantage of some of those home opportunities first semester to build that momentum going into January and February."

KWU WBB picked fourth by media, fifth by coaches in KCAC Media Day polls

Kansas Wesleyan University Women's Volleyball faced off against the Baker University Wildcats in a non-conference mid season match up on Tuesday night inside Mabee Arena. The Coyotes of KWU won in a 3-1 match with scores of 25-12, 25-17, 20-25, 25-19.

In the first set KWU put together a string of runs. The first one putting the Coyotes up 10-7 after a kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a4bcefe7-2c0e-4e80-8c19-e16a9c0126ee?elinkdata=13301">Kate Bebout</a> and anther kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/176388eb-5f14-4253-a356-2e6da84ce31a?elinkdata=13301">Kylee Harris</a>. The Wildcats fought back and kept it within 4 points until they went cold as the Coyotes took advantage and went on a 7 point run to give KWU a 23-11 lead. Most notable in this run was KWU's <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7bfc42d0-573d-4c73-a9bc-acd1c5486fba?elinkdata=13301">Ella Schmid</a>; shutting down any offensive opportunity Baker and giving her teammates well placed passes to give easy sets and explosive kills. Kansas Wesleyan would go on to claim the first set 25-12.

Set two the Wildcats started out hot with a 6-1 lead after a handful of kills by Aby Widhalm of BU. KWU would immediately get it all back with a 5 point run to set at 6-6. The teams would swap points and were tied multiple times all the way till 12-12. KWU put points together on and off again to find a 23-16 lead after a handful kills by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/970c0f58-ad85-4591-972c-cb88aece55f5?elinkdata=13301">Kylee Harris</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2657e616-410f-4c58-81f1-a3de5a345501?elinkdata=13301">Josie Deckinger</a>. KWU took the second set at 25-17 to lead 2-0.

The third set the Coyotes switched from their normal 5-1 to a 6-2 offense. This gave the Coyotes some different looks to score but the Wildcats capitalized on KWU's discomfort. The set was very back and was tied multiple times all the way to 17-17. Baker then went on a four point run to put the Wildcats ahead 21-17 after two attack errors on KWU. BU found four points to win the third set 25-20 and put the game at 1-2 KWU lead.

Going into the fourth set KWU went back to their 5-1 offense and back into their groove. The teams would trade point for point all the way t0 8-8. KWU then went on a 5 point run and take the lead. BU then answered and nearly got back to a tie after a four point run and putting the score at 15-16 Coyote lead. The teams then would trade point for point yet again with KWU holding a one point lead until the Wildcats scored their last point at 19-20. The Coyotes then put the set and game away with a five point run off of three service aces from <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/952684ea-e731-4537-9d4e-7decf8df34c5?elinkdata=13301">Kate Bebout</a> to secure the set at 19-25, and 1-3 for the ball game.

Kansas Wesleyan University Women's Volleyball faced off against the Baker University Wildcats in a non-conference mid season match up on Tuesday night inside Mabee Arena. The Coyotes of KWU won in a 3-1 match with scores of 25-12, 25-17, 20-25, 25-19.In the first set KWU put together a string of runs. The first one putting the Coyotes up 10-7 after a kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a4bcefe7-2c0e-4e80-8c19-e16a9c0126ee?elinkdata=13301">Kate Bebout</a> and anther kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/176388eb-5f14-4253-a356-2e6da84ce31a?elinkdata=13301">Kylee Harris</a>. The Wildcats fought back and kept it within 4 points until they went cold as the Coyotes took advantage and went on a 7 point run to give KWU a 23-11 lead. Most notable in this run was KWU's <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7bfc42d0-573d-4c73-a9bc-acd1c5486fba?elinkdata=13301">Ella Schmid</a>; shutting down any offensive opportunity Baker and giving her teammates well placed passes to give easy sets and explosive kills. Kansas Wesleyan would go on to claim the first set 25-12.Set two the Wildcats started out hot with a 6-1 lead after a handful of kills by Aby Widhalm of BU. KWU would immediately get it all back with a 5 point run to set at 6-6. The teams would swap points and were tied multiple times all the way till 12-12. KWU put points together on and off again to find a 23-16 lead after a handful kills by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/970c0f58-ad85-4591-972c-cb88aece55f5?elinkdata=13301">Kylee Harris</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2657e616-410f-4c58-81f1-a3de5a345501?elinkdata=13301">Josie Deckinger</a>. KWU took the second set at 25-17 to lead 2-0.The third set the Coyotes switched from their normal 5-1 to a 6-2 offense. This gave the Coyotes some different looks to score but the Wildcats capitalized on KWU's discomfort. The set was very back and was tied multiple times all the way to 17-17. Baker then went on a four point run to put the Wildcats ahead 21-17 after two attack errors on KWU. BU found four points to win the third set 25-20 and put the game at 1-2 KWU lead.Going into the fourth set KWU went back to their 5-1 offense and back into their groove. The teams would trade point for point all the way t0 8-8. KWU then went on a 5 point run and take the lead. BU then answered and nearly got back to a tie after a four point run and putting the score at 15-16 Coyote lead. The teams then would trade point for point yet again with KWU holding a one point lead until the Wildcats scored their last point at 19-20. The Coyotes then put the set and game away with a five point run off of three service aces from <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/952684ea-e731-4537-9d4e-7decf8df34c5?elinkdata=13301">Kate Bebout</a> to secure the set at 19-25, and 1-3 for the ball game.

Women's Volleyball gets four-set win over Baker

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Following its bye week, the Kansas football team will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 19, hosting Houston in a game that will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT and be broadcast on ESPN+, the Big 12 Conference announced Monday.

The Oct. 19 matchup with Houston also serves as the University of Kansas’ 112th&nbsp;Homecoming game, with information on events and more&nbsp;<a href="http://kualumni.org/homecoming" target="_blank">available here</a>.

The game will mark the fifth all-time meeting between Kansas and Houston, but the first as conference foes, with the Cougars in their second season competing in the Big 12. Kansas leads the all-time series 4-0, including a 48-30 victory over the Cougars in Houston in the third game of the 2022 season. The Jayhawks previously defeated the Cougars 42-13 in the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl and swept a two-game series over Houston with victories in 1994 (35-13 in Houston) and 1995 (20-13 in Lawrence).

Kansas is 5-5 under head coach Lance Leipold when playing on ESPN+, including a 1-1 record this season.

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Following its bye week, the Kansas football team will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 19, hosting Houston in a game that will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT and be broadcast on ESPN+, the Big 12 Conference announced Monday.The Oct. 19 matchup with Houston also serves as the University of Kansas’ 112th&nbsp;Homecoming game, with information on events and more&nbsp;<a href="http://kualumni.org/homecoming" target="_blank">available here</a>.The game will mark the fifth all-time meeting between Kansas and Houston, but the first as conference foes, with the Cougars in their second season competing in the Big 12. Kansas leads the all-time series 4-0, including a 48-30 victory over the Cougars in Houston in the third game of the 2022 season. The Jayhawks previously defeated the Cougars 42-13 in the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl and swept a two-game series over Houston with victories in 1994 (35-13 in Houston) and 1995 (20-13 in Lawrence).Kansas is 5-5 under head coach Lance Leipold when playing on ESPN+, including a 1-1 record this season.

Kickoff of Kansas vs. Houston Game Set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+

K-State Renews Conference Rivalry with Colorado

Kansas Wesleyan's <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/856fa63c-14a5-4dcd-b648-164390a66f80?elinkdata=13232">Eduardo Flores</a> has been named as the KCAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts last week for the Coyotes.

Student-athletes were selected for their performances from Sept. 30-Oct. 6 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e09f9f1a-5032-4086-8f95-923447358a72?elinkdata=13232">Equity Bank</a>.

Flores played a key role on the back line for the Coyotes in two wins on the road at Tabor and at Saint Mary. He helped hold Tabor to zero shots on goal (four shots overall) in the 1-0 win, as the KWU defense stymied the Bluejay offense the entire match. In the match against Saint Mary, a 3-2 victory for Kansas Wesleyan, the Coyotes surrendered a pair of goals, but they came from the other side of the formation from Flores.

Kansas Wesleyan's <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/856fa63c-14a5-4dcd-b648-164390a66f80?elinkdata=13232">Eduardo Flores</a> has been named as the KCAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts last week for the Coyotes.Student-athletes were selected for their performances from Sept. 30-Oct. 6 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e09f9f1a-5032-4086-8f95-923447358a72?elinkdata=13232">Equity Bank</a>.Flores played a key role on the back line for the Coyotes in two wins on the road at Tabor and at Saint Mary. He helped hold Tabor to zero shots on goal (four shots overall) in the 1-0 win, as the KWU defense stymied the Bluejay offense the entire match. In the match against Saint Mary, a 3-2 victory for Kansas Wesleyan, the Coyotes surrendered a pair of goals, but they came from the other side of the formation from Flores.

Flores earns KCAC Men's Soccer Defensive honor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for a bunch of yards. Travis Kelce caught a whole lot of his passes. And Kareem Hunt plowed into the end zone once again, sending a torrent of red fireworks flying over Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728358707794.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for a bunch of yards. Travis Kelce caught a whole lot of his passes. And Kareem Hunt plowed into the end zone once again, sending a torrent of red fireworks flying over Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.It might as well have been six years ago, the last time that trio of Chiefs played in a home game together.But with injuries having ravaged their offense, the Chiefs were forced to lean on two of their stalwarts and the return of their erstwhile star running back to beat the Saints, 26-13. Mahomes finished with 331 yards through the air, Kelce had a game-high nine catches for 70 yards, and Hunt ran 27 times for 102 yards and a touchdown.“It was a great feeling to get back in the end zone. I missed it very much,” said Hunt, who only returned to the Chiefs a couple of weeks ago, after an injury to starter Isiah Pacheco. “That's why I threw up a heart. To show my love for Kansas City.”There was a lot of love flowing inside Arrowhead Stadium.Just as the Chiefs were moving to 5-0 behind another defensive gem, the Royals were beating the Yankees in Game 2 of their AL Division Series in New York. There were frequent chants of “Let's go Royals!” throughout the game, and when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-playoffs-yankees-royals-973e1a65ef5ba6bede4b849f3329d924">the Royals finished off a 4-2 victory</a>&nbsp;to send the series back to Kansas City tied at a game apiece, a roar ripped through Arrowhead.“There was kind of a lull there toward the end of the game, and I was like, ‘They’re not showing the score. The Yankees came back,'” said Mahomes, who owns a part of the Royals. “But they picked it up and got the win, and it was extremely exciting.”The Chiefs held Saints quarterback Derek Carr to 185 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception before leaving with an oblique injury. It occurred with about 9 1/2 minutes left, when Carr was hit by blitzing defensive back Chamarri Conner on a fourth-down incompletion as he tried to rally New Orleans from a 23-13 deficit.“I couldn’t do what I needed to do in the simplest form," said Carr, who plans to get an MRI exam on Tuesday.The Saints' Alvin Kamara managed 26 yards rushing on 11 carries, becoming the latest high-profile running back to struggle against the Chiefs. They held the Ravens' Derrick Henry to 46 yards rushing, Zack Moss of the Bengals to 34, Falcons star Bijan Robinson to 31 and J.K. Dobbins to 32 in last week's win over the Chargers.“We got outplayed,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said. "We really couldn't get a whole lot going on either side of the ball.”The first half Monday night featured a bit of everything: Hunt's first TD since returning to Kansas City, where his once-promising career was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-kareem-hunt-e02c86492982355676e0be2548b95914">derailed by an off-the-field incident</a>; a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Rashid Shaheed, the shortest of the three Shaheed has caught this season; and yet another lateral by Kelce, which came on the most bizarre of drives.The Chiefs were leading 10-7 when a fumbled pitch and a holding penalty left them facing second-and-34. They got some of it back on a pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster, and then Mahomes hit Kelce over the middle. Kelce lateraled to Samaje Perine, who got within a yard of a first down, and Kansas City converted the fourth-and-short play to set up an eventual field goal.It was exactly that — field goals — that kept New Orleans in the game, though. The Chiefs have struggled to score TDs in the red zone all season, and they were forced to let Harrison Butker kick a trio of chip shots to lead 16-7 at the break.Their red-zone woes continued in the third quarter. On second-and-goal, Smith-Schuster had a pass bounce off his hands at the goal line and into the arms of 324-pound former Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who made his first career interception.The Saints promptly marched 65 yards with Foster Moreau's TD catch getting them within 16-13 with 14:16 to play.But unlike every other game for the Chiefs, which had been decided in the final minutes — if not the final play — they answered the blow by delivering one of their own. Smith-Schuster hauled in a 50-yard pass moments later, and Xavier Worthy took a handoff on first-and-goal at the 3 for a touchdown that extended their cushion early in the fourth quarter.After the Chiefs stopped the Saints on fourth down, they tacked on another field goal with 3:03 left to put away the game."It’s pretty cool to get the band back together,” said Smith-Schuster, who is also back with the Chiefs after a couple of years spent in New England. “Man, I’m telling you, there is no place like this. What we have here is special. It’s unreal.”<h2>Tay-Tay returns</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-arrowhead-b386bd5deb5b6588f255d62068417cae">Taylor Swift was back at Arrowhead Stadium</a>&nbsp;to see Kelce and the Chiefs after missing her boyfriend's previous two road games. She resumes her record-setting Eras Tour on Friday night with the first of three shows in Miami.<h2>Injuries</h2>Saints: CB Will Harris hurt his hamstring in the first half. C Lucas Patrick left briefly in the third quarter with a collarbone injury,Chiefs: LT Wanya Morris left in the first half with a lower leg injury but returned to the game.<h2>Up next</h2>New Orleans hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday.Kansas City has a week off before visiting San Francisco on Oct. 20.