OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, so I don’t have any of the information – we’ll treat this like a normal Monday, so I don’t have any injury information for you right now. I’ll get it to you Wednesday – what would be a Wednesday, so in a couple (of) days. Listen, we look forward to this challenge of playing the Ravens, they’re a heck of a football team. (Ravens Head Coach) John (Harbaugh) does a great job, along with his coaches, of preparing their guys, and we know that it’ll be a battle royal. It’s one of those games (that) we’ve played over the years and it’s always a knockdown (and) drag-out, so this won’t be any different. We’re glad that we have an opportunity to play here at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and we know the fans will be loud and aggressive. We’ve just got to make sure that we take care of our business as a football team and eliminate those early season mistakes that take place with every team. You’ve got to make sure that you limit those and hang on to the football. Fumbles are always up early in the season (so) you’ve got to make sure that you take care of the ball. All those fundamentals that we’ve talked about during training camp and you guys (the media) have asked me about, we’ve got to make sure we’ve got those down pat by the time we get there (to the game). Anyways, with that, the time’s yours.”

Q: What do you like about the additions of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Samaje Perine?

REID:&nbsp;“Samaje (Perine) is the newest member. We all know what he did to us when he was at Cincinnati with that screenplay. Samaje’s done this over his career where he’s been a phenomenal third-down back, but he’s also a good runner. I think that you know that he’s really a good person. I mean, that word has traveled around the National Football League on what kind of guy he is – locker room guy and so on. We welcome that. The opportunity to have a guy in here that can do the run game and the pass game, I think he's a good well-rounded football player that’s extremely intelligent, that is a great addition that (General Manager) Brett (Veach) added to the team. With JuJu (Smith-Schuster), we welcome JuJu back with open arms. He’s healthy and ready to go. His knee – he had the knee (injury) before, but we were able to manage that. We’ll continue to manage it. He looks great right now. He jumped right back in and had some good practices for us. It’s just a matter of him getting banged around a little bit having not been in camp. He’ll get all that as the season goes, but it’s good to have him back in the mix there for sure.”

Q: Do you see a realistic chance that Hollywood Brown plays in the first game?

REID:&nbsp;“I don’t think you’ll have Hollywood (Brown) this week. Hollywood won’t be back this week and we’ll just see how it goes. The kid’s amazing. His progress has been incredible, but I don’t – I wouldn’t predict him being there this week.”

Q: Is there going to be some intent to try and get every healthy receiver in the mix Week 1 to build their chemistry with Patrick Mahomes?

REID:&nbsp;“Well, I think all of them have that. Obviously, one that is unknown is (Xavier) Worthy having not played in an NFL game, a real NFL game, other than a preseason game with him and practice. What I’ve seen is that they have a pretty good thing going, and we’ll just see how it goes when things are flying here – fast and furious. The other guys, he’s got a history with and knows and trusts.”

Q: How comfortable are you with Xavier Worthy heading into game one of the regular season?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Sam (McDowell), I think he wants to do the right thing. So, he spends a lot of time with Pat (Patrick Mahomes), and the other receivers (and) the veteran guys just figuring out what Pat’s expecting, or where he needs to be, or what the coaches are asking him to do. He’s not afraid to ask and then, he’s been willing to try everything. Whether it’s an inside route, one of those intermediate routes, or long routes, he’s been very willing to get in there and mix it up. I like what I’ve seen, I just – like any rookie that’s coming into this thing, you want to see how they do in the games, but you’d think he’d probably do okay.”

Q: Have you prepared for the mandatory interviews the NFL will be doing with coaches during every game? What are your thoughts on it?

REID:&nbsp;“I’m not very good during games on interviews. I’m sure I’m not going to tickle anybody’s fancy there, with these interviews. Listen, I’ve got to do it – I’m going to do it. I’m an NFL team guy, so I’m going to do it, but don’t expect much.”

Q: Do you anticipate JuJu Smith-Schuster and Samaje Perine to be available against the Ravens?

REID:&nbsp;“Yes absolutely, yeah, I think so. I just have to see with (Samaje) Perine on where he’s at and picking everything up. I’m not going to put him in a bad situation obviously, but I think he’s going to be fine. He’s been in here cranking away, so we’ll see how everything goes.”

Q: How do you feel about your roster right now? Do you think you have everything you need?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think (General Manager) Brett (Veach) and his guys have done a great job with this whole thing and practice squad included there. I know there’ll be changes as things go on, I get all that, but I like what we’ve got here and we’ve just got to – the bottom line is you’ve got to do it and play now. It’s not going to change that much from what you have right now. We’ve got to make sure that we get in and practice and go through that whole process and really focus in on the Ravens, so we’ll have a chance to do that starting tomorrow.”

Q: What do you tell the new guys who weren’t a part of last year’s AFC Championship or the pageantry of opening night to get their mindset ready for the game?

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, so I don’t have any of the information – we’ll treat this like a normal Monday, so I don’t have any injury information for you right now. I’ll get it to you Wednesday – what would be a Wednesday, so in a couple (of) days. Listen, we look forward to this challenge of playing the Ravens, they’re a heck of a football team. (Ravens Head Coach) John (Harbaugh) does a great job, along with his coaches, of preparing their guys, and we know that it’ll be a battle royal. It’s one of those games (that) we’ve played over the years and it’s always a knockdown (and) drag-out, so this won’t be any different. We’re glad that we have an opportunity to play here at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and we know the fans will be loud and aggressive. We’ve just got to make sure that we take care of our business as a football team and eliminate those early season mistakes that take place with every team. You’ve got to make sure that you limit those and hang on to the football. Fumbles are always up early in the season (so) you’ve got to make sure that you take care of the ball. All those fundamentals that we’ve talked about during training camp and you guys (the media) have asked me about, we’ve got to make sure we’ve got those down pat by the time we get there (to the game). Anyways, with that, the time’s yours.”Q: What do you like about the additions of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Samaje Perine?REID:&nbsp;“Samaje (Perine) is the newest member. We all know what he did to us when he was at Cincinnati with that screenplay. Samaje’s done this over his career where he’s been a phenomenal third-down back, but he’s also a good runner. I think that you know that he’s really a good person. I mean, that word has traveled around the National Football League on what kind of guy he is – locker room guy and so on. We welcome that. The opportunity to have a guy in here that can do the run game and the pass game, I think he's a good well-rounded football player that’s extremely intelligent, that is a great addition that (General Manager) Brett (Veach) added to the team. With JuJu (Smith-Schuster), we welcome JuJu back with open arms. He’s healthy and ready to go. His knee – he had the knee (injury) before, but we were able to manage that. We’ll continue to manage it. He looks great right now. He jumped right back in and had some good practices for us. It’s just a matter of him getting banged around a little bit having not been in camp. He’ll get all that as the season goes, but it’s good to have him back in the mix there for sure.”Q: Do you see a realistic chance that Hollywood Brown plays in the first game?REID:&nbsp;“I don’t think you’ll have Hollywood (Brown) this week. Hollywood won’t be back this week and we’ll just see how it goes. The kid’s amazing. His progress has been incredible, but I don’t – I wouldn’t predict him being there this week.”Q: Is there going to be some intent to try and get every healthy receiver in the mix Week 1 to build their chemistry with Patrick Mahomes?REID:&nbsp;“Well, I think all of them have that. Obviously, one that is unknown is (Xavier) Worthy having not played in an NFL game, a real NFL game, other than a preseason game with him and practice. What I’ve seen is that they have a pretty good thing going, and we’ll just see how it goes when things are flying here – fast and furious. The other guys, he’s got a history with and knows and trusts.”Q: How comfortable are you with Xavier Worthy heading into game one of the regular season?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Sam (McDowell), I think he wants to do the right thing. So, he spends a lot of time with Pat (Patrick Mahomes), and the other receivers (and) the veteran guys just figuring out what Pat’s expecting, or where he needs to be, or what the coaches are asking him to do. He’s not afraid to ask and then, he’s been willing to try everything. Whether it’s an inside route, one of those intermediate routes, or long routes, he’s been very willing to get in there and mix it up. I like what I’ve seen, I just – like any rookie that’s coming into this thing, you want to see how they do in the games, but you’d think he’d probably do okay.”Q: Have you prepared for the mandatory interviews the NFL will be doing with coaches during every game? What are your thoughts on it?REID:&nbsp;“I’m not very good during games on interviews. I’m sure I’m not going to tickle anybody’s fancy there, with these interviews. Listen, I’ve got to do it – I’m going to do it. I’m an NFL team guy, so I’m going to do it, but don’t expect much.”Q: Do you anticipate JuJu Smith-Schuster and Samaje Perine to be available against the Ravens?REID:&nbsp;“Yes absolutely, yeah, I think so. I just have to see with (Samaje) Perine on where he’s at and picking everything up. I’m not going to put him in a bad situation obviously, but I think he’s going to be fine. He’s been in here cranking away, so we’ll see how everything goes.”Q: How do you feel about your roster right now? Do you think you have everything you need?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think (General Manager) Brett (Veach) and his guys have done a great job with this whole thing and practice squad included there. I know there’ll be changes as things go on, I get all that, but I like what we’ve got here and we’ve just got to – the bottom line is you’ve got to do it and play now. It’s not going to change that much from what you have right now. We’ve got to make sure that we get in and practice and go through that whole process and really focus in on the Ravens, so we’ll have a chance to do that starting tomorrow.”Q: What do you tell the new guys who weren’t a part of last year’s AFC Championship or the pageantry of opening night to get their mindset ready for the game?

Chiefs Quotes: 8-30-24

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –&nbsp;The Kansas City Chiefs have announced additional details for Red Wednesday, the 2024 edition of the club’s traditional Red Friday celebration that will take place on Wednesday, September 4. The 33rd&nbsp;observance of the legacy event will take place the day before the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens for the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game.

For the 11th&nbsp;consecutive year, the club will sell a limited-edition commemorative flag for a minimum donation of $5 to celebrate this annual tradition and benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. This year’s flag – featuring a special back-to-back championship design to honor the team’s victories in Super Bowls LVII and LVIII – will be sold at more than 135 Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald’s restaurants, Kansas City-area Hy-Vee locations and at street corners and other public locations throughout the metro area. Net proceeds from flag sales will again benefit RMHC-KC. A complete map of flag sale locations is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefs.com/redwednesday/" target="_blank">www.chiefs.com/redwednesday/</a>.

Over the past 10 years, the sale of Red Friday flags has raised more than $5.5 million to help RMHC-KC continue its mission of keeping families close in times of sickness and need. Fans who don’t live in the greater Kansas City and St. Joseph areas can secure their flags online at&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.chiefs.com/" target="_blank">shop.chiefs.com</a>&nbsp;beginning the morning of Wednesday, September 4 for $10, with both domestic and international shipping options available for online orders. Net proceeds from online sales domestically will also benefit RMHC-KC.

“The Red Friday – and now Red Wednesday – tradition is one of the most unique ways that the organization and the community come together to support each other as well as support a special cause,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “We’ve broken some Red Friday records recently and with the back-to-back champions flag, we expect this year will be no different. The work that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City does for the families they serve, combined with the giving spirit of the community, is inspiring to our entire organization and carrying on this tradition makes for the perfect way to start the 2024 football season.”

Red Wednesday (Red Friday) honors the long-standing tradition of selling team-themed commemorative items around the city to raise money for local charities that was started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters in 1992. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised approximately $6 million for local charities with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.

Once again, this year’s celebration will kick off the week leading up to Red Wednesday and will continue through the home opener against the Ravens with a number of events and other opportunities for the team to connect with the community and for Chiefs Kingdom to connect with the club.

Flag Sales – Wednesday, September 4

Chiefs Kingdom flags will be available at Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald’s locations beginning Wednesday morning. Flags will also be available at Kansas City-area Hy-Vee locations and at street corners throughout the metro. Fans outside of the Kansas City and St. Joseph areas can secure their flag at&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.chiefs.com/" target="_blank">shop.chiefs.com</a>&nbsp;beginning Wednesday morning. Like in-person flag purchases, flags purchased online domestically will benefit RMHC-KC. Fans are encouraged to use the #RedWednesday hashtag on their social media channels when they secure their flag.

Red Wednesday Run presented by GEHA – Wednesday, September 4

The fifth-annual Red Wednesday Run presented by GEHA virtual 5K is officially set for Wednesday, September 4. While Red Wednesday serves as the official day of the race, registration for the virtual race is open now and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 6. With no official racecourse for the event, Chiefs fans throughout the country and all over the world can participate in the Red Wednesday Run by running or walking in their neighborhood, in a local park, on a nature trail or from their treadmill.

Registration is currently open at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefs.com/redwednesdayrun/" target="_blank">www.chiefs.com/redwednesdayrun/</a>. All registrants will receive this year’s special edition Red Wednesday flag benefiting RMHC-KC and a Red Wednesday Run t-shirt mailed directly to the address provided during registration. Additionally, all race participants will receive a seven-day all-access pass redeemable at either Chiefs Fit location. Once participants complete the 5K, they’re asked to take a photo in their Chiefs/Red Friday Run gear with their Red Friday flag and post on social media using #RedWednesday.

World’s Largest Tailgate – Thursday, September 5

The Chiefs World’s Largest Tailgate returns for a second year in a row to help celebrate the start of the football season. As part of the countdown to kickoff of the 2024 season, the Chiefs are inviting fans from around the globe to join in the virtual fun of this year’s event, the “Tailgate Games.” The show will stream unique tailgate-themed competitions to mobile devices and living rooms across Chiefs Kingdom and throughout the world for free on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefslive.com/" target="_blank">www.chiefslive.com</a>.

Co-hosted by actor and comedian Rob Riggle and broadcaster Hayley Lewis, the World’s Largest Tailgate: Tailgate Games features GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium’s iconic tailgate experience, celebrates Chiefs fans’ welcoming spirit and highlights the fun of friendly competition. The Broadcast Boys – podcasters Lucas Brody and Nelson Vergara – will serve as special Tailgate Games correspondents while the stream will also feature guest appearances from YouTube star Funny Marco, comedian and actor Desi Banks, actress and comedian Heidi Gardner, as well as Chiefs Hall of Fame WR/KR Dante Hall and others.

The hour-long show begins streaming at 5 p.m. CT from the parking lots outside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Fans can visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefslive.com/" target="_blank">www.chiefslive.com</a>&nbsp;now to reserve their free virtual seat to attend.

In addition, Chiefs jerseys, flags, artwork, red lighting and other visuals will start appearing around Kansas City beginning today as the city prepares for Red Wednesday and the start of the football season. Specific media opportunities, including interview, b-roll and visual opportunities will be distributed in the coming days.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –&nbsp;The Kansas City Chiefs have announced additional details for Red Wednesday, the 2024 edition of the club’s traditional Red Friday celebration that will take place on Wednesday, September 4. The 33rd&nbsp;observance of the legacy event will take place the day before the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens for the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game.For the 11th&nbsp;consecutive year, the club will sell a limited-edition commemorative flag for a minimum donation of $5 to celebrate this annual tradition and benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. This year’s flag – featuring a special back-to-back championship design to honor the team’s victories in Super Bowls LVII and LVIII – will be sold at more than 135 Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald’s restaurants, Kansas City-area Hy-Vee locations and at street corners and other public locations throughout the metro area. Net proceeds from flag sales will again benefit RMHC-KC. A complete map of flag sale locations is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefs.com/redwednesday/" target="_blank">www.chiefs.com/redwednesday/</a>.Over the past 10 years, the sale of Red Friday flags has raised more than $5.5 million to help RMHC-KC continue its mission of keeping families close in times of sickness and need. Fans who don’t live in the greater Kansas City and St. Joseph areas can secure their flags online at&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.chiefs.com/" target="_blank">shop.chiefs.com</a>&nbsp;beginning the morning of Wednesday, September 4 for $10, with both domestic and international shipping options available for online orders. Net proceeds from online sales domestically will also benefit RMHC-KC.“The Red Friday – and now Red Wednesday – tradition is one of the most unique ways that the organization and the community come together to support each other as well as support a special cause,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “We’ve broken some Red Friday records recently and with the back-to-back champions flag, we expect this year will be no different. The work that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City does for the families they serve, combined with the giving spirit of the community, is inspiring to our entire organization and carrying on this tradition makes for the perfect way to start the 2024 football season.”Red Wednesday (Red Friday) honors the long-standing tradition of selling team-themed commemorative items around the city to raise money for local charities that was started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters in 1992. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised approximately $6 million for local charities with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.Once again, this year’s celebration will kick off the week leading up to Red Wednesday and will continue through the home opener against the Ravens with a number of events and other opportunities for the team to connect with the community and for Chiefs Kingdom to connect with the club.Flag Sales – Wednesday, September 4Chiefs Kingdom flags will be available at Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald’s locations beginning Wednesday morning. Flags will also be available at Kansas City-area Hy-Vee locations and at street corners throughout the metro. Fans outside of the Kansas City and St. Joseph areas can secure their flag at&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.chiefs.com/" target="_blank">shop.chiefs.com</a>&nbsp;beginning Wednesday morning. Like in-person flag purchases, flags purchased online domestically will benefit RMHC-KC. Fans are encouraged to use the #RedWednesday hashtag on their social media channels when they secure their flag.Red Wednesday Run presented by GEHA – Wednesday, September 4The fifth-annual Red Wednesday Run presented by GEHA virtual 5K is officially set for Wednesday, September 4. While Red Wednesday serves as the official day of the race, registration for the virtual race is open now and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 6. With no official racecourse for the event, Chiefs fans throughout the country and all over the world can participate in the Red Wednesday Run by running or walking in their neighborhood, in a local park, on a nature trail or from their treadmill.Registration is currently open at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefs.com/redwednesdayrun/" target="_blank">www.chiefs.com/redwednesdayrun/</a>. All registrants will receive this year’s special edition Red Wednesday flag benefiting RMHC-KC and a Red Wednesday Run t-shirt mailed directly to the address provided during registration. Additionally, all race participants will receive a seven-day all-access pass redeemable at either Chiefs Fit location. Once participants complete the 5K, they’re asked to take a photo in their Chiefs/Red Friday Run gear with their Red Friday flag and post on social media using #RedWednesday.World’s Largest Tailgate – Thursday, September 5The Chiefs World’s Largest Tailgate returns for a second year in a row to help celebrate the start of the football season. As part of the countdown to kickoff of the 2024 season, the Chiefs are inviting fans from around the globe to join in the virtual fun of this year’s event, the “Tailgate Games.” The show will stream unique tailgate-themed competitions to mobile devices and living rooms across Chiefs Kingdom and throughout the world for free on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefslive.com/" target="_blank">www.chiefslive.com</a>.Co-hosted by actor and comedian Rob Riggle and broadcaster Hayley Lewis, the World’s Largest Tailgate: Tailgate Games features GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium’s iconic tailgate experience, celebrates Chiefs fans’ welcoming spirit and highlights the fun of friendly competition. The Broadcast Boys – podcasters Lucas Brody and Nelson Vergara – will serve as special Tailgate Games correspondents while the stream will also feature guest appearances from YouTube star Funny Marco, comedian and actor Desi Banks, actress and comedian Heidi Gardner, as well as Chiefs Hall of Fame WR/KR Dante Hall and others.The hour-long show begins streaming at 5 p.m. CT from the parking lots outside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Fans can visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chiefslive.com/" target="_blank">www.chiefslive.com</a>&nbsp;now to reserve their free virtual seat to attend.In addition, Chiefs jerseys, flags, artwork, red lighting and other visuals will start appearing around Kansas City beginning today as the city prepares for Red Wednesday and the start of the football season. Specific media opportunities, including interview, b-roll and visual opportunities will be distributed in the coming days.

Chiefs announce plans for Red Wednesday celebration for 2024 NFL kickoff game

The Kansas Wesleyan Coaches' Show is officially back ahead of the 24th-ranked Coyote's first game against 14th-ranked Evangel this Saturday.

On this week's show, we sat down and visited with head coach Matt Myers, starting quarterback Byron McNair, offensive coordinator James Bauer and defensive coordinator Justin Sullivan.

The Yotes kick off their season on Saturday, August 31 at 7pm when they take on Evangel at JRI Stadium in Salina.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eBy8rWEXx4g?"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Wesleyan Coaches' Show is officially back ahead of the 24th-ranked Coyote's first game against 14th-ranked Evangel this Saturday.On this week's show, we sat down and visited with head coach Matt Myers, starting quarterback Byron McNair, offensive coordinator James Bauer and defensive coordinator Justin Sullivan.The Yotes kick off their season on Saturday, August 31 at 7pm when they take on Evangel at JRI Stadium in Salina.

Kansas Wesleyan Coaches Show- Week One

Hello and happy Friday, everybody, it’s Tyler Henry, back with another KINA Sports Update presented by Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine…

Last night marked the official start of the season for KU football and it was a good one as Devin Neal ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns on eight first-half carries to help No. 22 Kansas beat Lindenwood 48-3 in Kansas City.

Kansas outscored Lindenwood 27-0 in the second quarter at Children’s Mercy Park, and Daniels, who played only in the first half for Kansas, was 9 of 15 for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

KU faces a Big Ten opponent in Illinois next taking on the Fighting Illini at 6pm next Saturday.

Elsewhere in KC Zach Dezenzo drew a go-ahead bases-loaded walk and the Houston Astros took advantage of two Kansas City errors in a four-run eighth inning to beat the Royals 6-3 on Thursday night.

With two runners on and Astros trailing 3-2, Yainer Diaz hit a grounder to pitcher Lucas Erceg, who tried to barehand the comebacker, bobbled it and rushed a throw that got away from first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. José Altuve scored from second on the play to tie the score.

The Royals pick up the series tonight at 7:10 in Houston looking to set up a series win on Saturday

And finally this weekend will see the official kickoff of the K-State football season as the Wildcats host UT Martin at 6pm on Saturday

K-State enters the campaign ranked 18th in the nation in this year’s AP Poll

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F0ewU-QTED4"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY SALINA POST(Transcript)Hello and happy Friday, everybody, it’s Tyler Henry, back with another KINA Sports Update presented by Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine…_________Last night marked the official start of the season for KU football and it was a good one as Devin Neal ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns on eight first-half carries to help No. 22 Kansas beat Lindenwood 48-3 in Kansas City.Kansas outscored Lindenwood 27-0 in the second quarter at Children’s Mercy Park, and Daniels, who played only in the first half for Kansas, was 9 of 15 for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception.KU faces a Big Ten opponent in Illinois next taking on the Fighting Illini at 6pm next Saturday._________Elsewhere in KC Zach Dezenzo drew a go-ahead bases-loaded walk and the Houston Astros took advantage of two Kansas City errors in a four-run eighth inning to beat the Royals 6-3 on Thursday night.With two runners on and Astros trailing 3-2, Yainer Diaz hit a grounder to pitcher Lucas Erceg, who tried to barehand the comebacker, bobbled it and rushed a throw that got away from first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. José Altuve scored from second on the play to tie the score.The Royals pick up the series tonight at 7:10 in Houston looking to set up a series win on Saturday_________And finally this weekend will see the official kickoff of the K-State football season as the Wildcats host UT Martin at 6pm on SaturdayK-State enters the campaign ranked 18th in the nation in this year’s AP Poll_________

910 KINA Sports Headlines — August 30

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;With the 2024 NFL season kicking off one week from today, 19 former Kansas State players have been placed on active rosters, practice squads or injured reserve lists as the 32 organizations set their initial rosters for the season earlier this week.

The 19 former Wildcats on opening-weekend NFL rosters are the most since they also had 19 to open the 2009 season. Of the 19 players, 12 are on offense and seven are on defense. Four players off last year’s squad enter their rookie seasons, a list that includes second-round draft pick Ben Sinnott (Washington), third-round draft pick Cooper Beebe (Dallas), seventh-round selection KT Leveston (Los Angeles Rams) and rookie free agent Khalid Duke (Tennessee – practice squad).

Leveston, along with Minnesota offensive lineman Dalton Risner, were placed on injured reserve but were designated for return, which means they will miss at least four games but will be allowed to be added back to the active roster later in the season.

Aside from the four players from last year, Adrian Martinez, a K-State quarterback in 2022, is on a regular-season roster for the first time in his career as he is on the New York Jets’ practice squad. Martinez is coming off a UFL campaign in which he was named league MVP and helped the Birmingham Stallions win the UFL Championship.

The longest-tenured former K-State players on NFL rosters are Tyler Lockett and Cornelius Lucas, both entering their 10th&nbsp;seasons. Lockett has spent his entire career with the Seattle Seahawks, while Lucas is in his fifth year with the Washington Commanders after having spent time with the Detroit Lions (2014-16), Los Angeles Rams (2017), New Orleans Saints (2018) and Chicago Bears (2019). Additionally, Cody Whitehair is entering his ninth season in the NFL but his first with the Las Vegas Raiders after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears.

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;With the 2024 NFL season kicking off one week from today, 19 former Kansas State players have been placed on active rosters, practice squads or injured reserve lists as the 32 organizations set their initial rosters for the season earlier this week.The 19 former Wildcats on opening-weekend NFL rosters are the most since they also had 19 to open the 2009 season. Of the 19 players, 12 are on offense and seven are on defense. Four players off last year’s squad enter their rookie seasons, a list that includes second-round draft pick Ben Sinnott (Washington), third-round draft pick Cooper Beebe (Dallas), seventh-round selection KT Leveston (Los Angeles Rams) and rookie free agent Khalid Duke (Tennessee – practice squad).Leveston, along with Minnesota offensive lineman Dalton Risner, were placed on injured reserve but were designated for return, which means they will miss at least four games but will be allowed to be added back to the active roster later in the season.Aside from the four players from last year, Adrian Martinez, a K-State quarterback in 2022, is on a regular-season roster for the first time in his career as he is on the New York Jets’ practice squad. Martinez is coming off a UFL campaign in which he was named league MVP and helped the Birmingham Stallions win the UFL Championship.The longest-tenured former K-State players on NFL rosters are Tyler Lockett and Cornelius Lucas, both entering their 10th&nbsp;seasons. Lockett has spent his entire career with the Seattle Seahawks, while Lucas is in his fifth year with the Washington Commanders after having spent time with the Detroit Lions (2014-16), Los Angeles Rams (2017), New Orleans Saints (2018) and Chicago Bears (2019). Additionally, Cody Whitehair is entering his ninth season in the NFL but his first with the Las Vegas Raiders after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears.

Nineteen Wildcats Set for 2024 NFL Season

Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“(It’s) certainly exciting to say that we are officially one week away from the (season) opener, and we look forward to seeing that crowd and that excitement. We’ll certainly have some fun watching that (Super Bowl LVIII) banner drop, but I think the most exciting part of the night will be the opportunity to play one of the best teams in the National Football League in the Baltimore Ravens. I have a ton of respect for (Ravens General Manager) Eric DeCosta and the job he does and (Ravens Head) Coach (John) Harbaugh, so it’s going to be a lot of fun and certainly looking forward to it. With that being said, I want to thank my coaching staff and the personnel staff for the last few days getting this 53-man roster set. For the most part, I anticipate this will be the roster going into Week 1, but as you guys know, we’ll always continue to monitor the waiver wire and if we can get a little better, we’ll do that. I think we had a good, productive offseason with the guys that we were able to retain. A couple free agency players and then a draft class and undrafted free agency class that had eight guys make the team – really nine if you count Matt Araiza. Then, in the last few days adding JuJu (Smith-Schuster), Samaje (Perine), Cam Thomas and Eric Scott, so again, thanks to my staff for all their hard work and the coaching staff for their help in this process. With that, I’ll take your questions.”

Q: Why do you feel like it didn’t work out for Kadarius Toney in the long-term here?

VEACH:&nbsp;“I think we’re certainly disappointed (and) I think he’s (Kadarius Toney) disappointed – I mean, we really like the kid. I know that people could have different takes on Kadarius, but I know in this building, he’s a bright kid (and) he’s a smart kid. I think when you look back on it, some of the stuff is a stroke of bad luck in regards to some of the injuries, you can’t control. Like walking out of the first day of training camp last year and tearing his MCL. That was something that was just unfortunate. Some of the things, I think, that we talked about was – sometimes you can make some bad luck turn into good luck by just doing some little things in the offseason to take care of your body. I think that’s a process that he’s working through and again, it’s certainly not for a lack of talent. That’s a situation where I think (that) when you move on from players like that, I think everyone feels disappointed. As far as our relationship with the kid, I really like the kid and I don’t think that – we’ve seen the end of him.&nbsp; I think he’ll have a chance. If he’s able tighten up some of the offseason stuff and get his body right, I think he’ll go out there and make a ton of plays for another team.”

Q: How do you view the Kadarius Toney trade even though you didn’t get the long-term production?

VEACH:&nbsp;“Well, I mean, I don’t think we’re sitting here going for a third-straight Super Bowl had we not made that trade (for Kadarius Toney) so from that standpoint, (I’d) do it all over again in a heartbeat. It’s always disappointing when a player’s tenure comes to an end in that situation meaning you’ll have players that the age catches up to them. You’ll have players where maybe it’s, obviously, a really serious injury and then you’ll have players that you move on from where the talent just wasn’t there. I think when you have to move on from a player and the full product or the finished product or untapping all that talent wasn’t realized, there’s a disappointment. I think it goes both ways. I’m certainly sure that there would be things that he (Kadarius Toney) would do different in regards to just some of the offseason stuff and taking care of the body. Again, I think it’s a process. He’s a really smart kid and I do think he’ll figure it out. I think he’ll end up making plays for a team down the road here but as far as our interaction and working with the kid, he was actually a lot of fun to be around. (I) just hope for the kid that he can get a little luck on his side and stay healthy.”

Q: How do you see Samaje Perine fitting in?

VEACH:&nbsp;“That was a big role. When we finished our offseason and we went into training camp, one of the positions where we were concerned – you may hit another question, Adam (Teicher), but I’ll hit the (Samaje) Perine question, but was certainly d end. I think if you look – since I’ve been here, we’ve always carried five d ends. Game day, it might be four, some games it’s five but I think on the active roster, we’ve always carried five d ends. Then, with, obviously, BJ’s (Thompson) situation and then (Charles) Omenihu’s injury, we were on the lookout to add a fifth defensive end. In addition to that, that third down, Jerick McKinnon role. We obviously have some guys that can run and catch but the proficiency in pass pro – I think one of the things that Samaje brings to the table is that he’s been one of the best in the NFL the last few years on third down in regards to targets and pass protections. He’s just a veteran player that fills that role and (we’re) certainly excited to bring him in and get him up and running. Hopefully he’s up to speed quickly enough to be active on Thursday night.”

Q: What did you think of the depth coming out of camp? How do you feel you’ve addressed it?

VEACH:&nbsp;“I think we were able to address some glaring needs. Again, the fifth defensive end and the third down running back position. I think it’s similar – when you get to this point of the season – with every GM. I think there’s always something else you can do. Getting through OTAs and getting through training camp, working with the coaching staff and the personnel staff, I think we feel good but there’s always room for improvement. We have some unproven pieces at the corner position, but I do think we have some talent there and some guys have played in the past. Again, I think there’s always room to get better and I think we wouldn’t be doing our job if we weren’t continually combing through the waiver wire and the transactions.”

Q:&nbsp;What’s the early year hope for Hollywood Brown?

VEACH:&nbsp;“Well, I don’t like talking about medical because if I say something and he’s ahead of that timeline or behind that timeline then I don’t want to put any more pressure on the kid. I would say that – and I’m sure it’s been reported – I mean, I probably can confidently say it was similar to (Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver) Tyreek (Hill), and I think given that timeline I think it falls within the timeline that Tyreek went through, but I know he’s here every day. He’s to the point now where he can laugh without pain, so that’s a good thing. He’s certainly trending in the right direction, and look, there was a reason why we didn’t put him on the IR (injured reserve list) to start the season. I think within that window, defer to (Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance) Rick (Burkholder), but I feel like he’s probably on that trajectory Tyreek was on.”

Q:&nbsp;What went into putting together the back end of the wide receiver room?

VEACH:&nbsp;“A lot of it has to do with special teams. I think with JuJu (Smith-Schuster), once we got out of the Jacksonville game, Hollywood (Brown) got hurt and had some conversations with JuJu (Smith-Schuster)’s agent. As we were kind of going through our roster, I think some of the other guys – (Nikko) Remigio had a good camp, Justyn Ross had a good camp, Montrell Washington had a good camp, but some of the things, you know, (Arrowhead Pride Editor-in-Chief) Pete (Sweeney) how (Head) Coach (Andy Reid) works with just alike components and certainly you’ll have Hollywood (Brown) and (Xavier) Worthy, and now Hollywood (Brown) being out, you’ll have Mecole (Hardman). Some of the things that Travis (Kelce) does, Noah Gray does really well. Then, with Rashee (Rice), he did fill in that JuJu (Smith-Schuster) role and there’s some of the intermediate stuff that he does well with Travis (Kelce) that we thought JuJu (Smith-Schuster) did better than the other players. He’s a bigger player than some of those smaller guys. Then, with some of the intermediate route running, I think he had maybe a little bit better feel, and Justyn’s (Ross) working on that. We all know Justyn (Ross) can make plays outside the numbers and use his size. I think as he continues to develop, that will be something that he’ll need to work on, and I think we feel confident he will. I just think that JuJu (Smith-Schuster)’s experience in that offense and that feel for that position gives us the ability to kind of sub these guys out, give them blows and hopefully still match that kind of production.”

Q:&nbsp;Did you want Louis Rees-Zammit on the practice squad or did you encourage him to pursue other opportunities out there?

VEACH:&nbsp;“We kept it open. We wanted the kid to really look at maybe some different opportunities as well. Pretty remarkable when you think about a player that doesn’t have any professional American football experience – no middle school, no high school, no big-time college experience. We were kind of thinking about it going through camp, imagine not having any sort of foundational background just to be thrown in and be doing one-on-one pass protections with a Drue Tranquill or Nick Bolton, I mean that’s pretty incredible. I think for him, it’ll just be finding out that exact position – running back, maybe a big slot receiver. I think he does have some potential as a returner. I’m not so sure he couldn’t be a kicker. I mean, he had an outstanding leg. You know with this new rule, he can do some different things, provide some versatility. I think the Jacksonville thing and their relationship overseas and what that brings to the table going overseas twice a year, I think that was probably something that interested him. (He’s a) phenomenal kid, (a) phenomenal worker, and again, just thinking back on the tremendous amount of progress he made in a short amount of time, I think he’ll continue to grow and develop, and I think he found a really good spot there in Jacksonville.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you have conversations with Trey Smith about an extension?

VEACH:&nbsp;“Yeah, we’ve been in conversations with Trey (Smith), and we still have some time here. We’ll get a chance to talk to both Trey’s (Smith) and Nick’s (Bolton) people. It is a little tricky when you get in the offseason. It’s hard to kind of work on four deals all at the same time not knowing where they’re going to end and not knowing where the money’s going to be allocated, so you do unfortunately have to do it kind of systematically and it does take time and does drag out. Fortunately, we were able to knock Harrison (Butker) out rather quickly, and obviously, Creed (Humphrey) was tricky. That took some time. He’s a tremendous player, but excited to get him done and now we still have some time here before the season starts, and we’ll see if we can continue to make some progress with the last few guys here – our younger guys that are going to be up next year.”

Q:&nbsp;Why is the roster turnover good on offense for you and the sameness on the defensive side?

VEACH:&nbsp;“Well, I think that just the combination of just contractually from the rookie contracts and just adding depth and I think we – one of the strengths that we have on our staff is how our coaches develop players. I think we’re looking at our roster and you see Kingsley (Suamataia) and (Hunter) Nourzad and (C.J.) Hanson and (Ethan) Driskell. You’re taking four rookies with no NFL experience into a season, but I think just the progression that they’ve made from the first day they’ve been here (and) through training camp. (I) can’t speak enough about (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck and the job he does. We’ve seen it over the years with (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags and (Defensive Backs) Coach (Dave) Merritt. I mean really all of our coaches, we take a lot of – we have a lot of confidence, I should say, in our coaching staff, and I think there’s that value that as we progress here and you’re paying your quarterback, obviously, rightfully so, the quarterback, the tight end, the d (defensive)-end, the center, everything’s at the top of the market. It’s just the reality of this business. You got to draft, and you got to develop young talent. With that mix of taking care of your veteran players that have earned it and continuing to draft and develop talent. It’s almost a necessity that we have to do it. Again, I think we put a lot of emphasis on the type of players that we bring in here. A lot of these guys are super smart, super versatile and have room to grow.”

Q: What do you see in the young group of backup offensive linemen regarding production this season and in the future?

VEACH:&nbsp;“I think – and we talk about this every year, I think the versatility stands out. Hunter Nourzad is a guy that obviously may be best suited to play center, but I think he gives a guard flex. I think (C.J.) Hanson needs some time, but I think he’s probably more suited to play center as well. I do think that he’s got a lot of room to grow, he’s super athletic. I think he just needs to get a little bit bigger and stronger, but I think he has guard/center flex. (Ethan) Driskell is just one of those type of players that has rare physical traits, he’s a big guy, he’s athletic. Again, like Hanson, there’ll be some anchoring issues and there will be some weight issues early on, but he was a guy that I think it was rough the first preseason game and then it got a little bit better and then it got a little bit better and then you can see him grow and get a little more confidence at practice. One of the hard parts of it is you see that, (then) there’s certainly another team seeing that. Then, we bring a player in here and we work with him, we develop him, we go through the rough patches and then all of a sudden to have him break free on the waiver wire, someone is getting a young player under a rookie contract with a ton of work that we put into it. I think there’s always that desire to see it through the end. Again, (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck has done this with many players over the years.”

Q: What are the toughest positions to develop these days?

VEACH:&nbsp;“That’s a good question. I think it’s probably team dependent and scheme dependent, so I can’t speak for every team and where they view that question going. I know for us, the linebacker position has been tricky for us because that’s another coach on the field. I think we’ve gone through some learning phases there but (Defensive Coordinator) Steve (Spagnuolo) does a great job in communicating exactly what he wants. We are very specific in regards to linebacker and safeties when it comes to free agencies in the draft. There are a lot of players that maybe go high in the draft that potentially weren’t even under consideration for us. I think that question is more scheme specific. I know that there’s a high threshold for those two positions, certainly quarterback is a tough position and then I think (that) you can probably follow up that question (with) what positions are hard to find on the waiver wire. To me, it’s the cornerback position because every team is looking for – I don’t know how many teams sit there and say that they have their three or four deep in regards to just Pro Bowl type players. It’s a hard position to play, I mean the receivers are so talented, you’re out there on an island a ton of the time. I think over the years the one position that is extremely difficult to find on the waiver wire is corner and that’s why I think you have to be a little bit proactive with trades and having communications with teams. Over the years I think we’ve done a pretty good job of identifying guys and putting claims in for the right guys, but you do have to continue to take chances with that turnover, with that position.”

Q: What did you see in Peyton Hendershot, Cameron Thomas and Eric Scott that made you want them?

VEACH:&nbsp;“When you get to the final touches of a 53-man roster, I think you’re looking for special teams. Whether that be – prior to signing Samaje (Perine), we were still looking for running back, tight end, special teams help. I think (Peyton) Hendershot is a guy that has played a ton of special teams reps there, so that if you don’t get it all the time from that running back position you have to get it from somewhere else and we have a good linebacker core. It would be good to do more at that tight end position. It also would be good to take Noah (Gray) off some of those things. I think Noah continues to get better, and he’s a guy that I think we want to feature (in the offense) a little bit more so knowing that, it’s good to have the ability to take him off of some of those special teams (reps). I had mentioned earlier in the press conference that I don’t think we had a fifth defensive end so that was something that we just needed from a depth standpoint. I think Cam (Cameron Thomas) is a guy that we like coming out and he’s a high motor player and he has some George Karlaftis qualities with the way he plays and how he attacks things. With (Eric) Scott we’re just – again, that goes back to the waiver wire and we’re just always throwing some numbers at that and again, (we’re) fortunate that we have a great coaching staff that if they have it, we‘ll get it out of them. When you have a guy that has traits, always wanting to take a chance there.”

Q: What are your thoughts on Jaden Hicks and what have you learned from him this far?

VEACH:&nbsp;“He’s done a great job. I think you guys saw it at practice early on at OTAs. It wasn’t one of those guys that we drafted, and he had some ups and downs then he started making plays. I think from the time he stepped on the field here; he had a good grasp of things and then that kind of translated right into training camp. Right off the bat, the Jacksonville game, he was the one player that stands out, and he’s continued to grow and develop, and I think he’s on track to have a special career here. I think he is going to have a big role on this defense. It’s funny, I was at home watching some preseason games after we got done playing one night and I think I randomly texted (Saints Safety) Tyrann Mathieu just to check in and say hi. We were exchanging texts and he kind of ended it with, “And 21 is a stud.” It’s not just apparent to us and to the media here that has been here and seen it. Even the league has taken notice of it and a guy like Tyrann Mathieu, he sets a standard there, so when he is sitting there watching games – and we aren’t talking Chiefs, we are just exchanging texts about families and what have you – so when he mentions it, I think it’s kind of taken the same way in by the rest of the league. He’s done a great job, and again, we are excited for him and where his future can go.”

Q: You have four defensive tackles, that’s a small number. Is that just how the numbers worked out?

VEACH:&nbsp;“I think that the corner position and the defensive line position, I think is just one of those things that where we’re going to continue to look at and monitor. That was certainly – that caused the urgency to get Cam (Cameron Thomas), again just as a defensive end. On the defensive line in particular, we did have some numbers that were close. We felt like we would have a good chance to get some of these guys on the practice squad to use the elevation. There is a little of us buying some time to get – I mean (Charles) Omenihu is going to be the big piece for us down the stretch. I think when we find a guy that we feel adds a little more upfield rush in that group – I think Turk (Tershawn) Wharton’s had a great camp. He is way ahead of where he was last year coming off that knee injury, so you have Chris (Jones), you have Turk (Tershawn) Wharton who had a great camp – I think we have an experienced player in Derrick (Nnadi). That third position or that fourth position with Derrick (Nnadi) (and) Mike Pennel – you know the end of the season he (Mike Pennel) had last year and that Super Bowl he had last year, he continues to define odds because he is an older guy, but he continues to bring juice to that room. I think if you had a guy that you can supplement in here that has some upfield rush, might be a smaller guy – we weren’t able to find that in the waiver wire (and) we will continue to do that. We also know that as this goes on here, we are going to get Charles (Omenihu) back and he is kind of that last missing piece of that defensive line for us.”

Q: You mentioned signing Samaje Perine and we haven’t seen him move yet, what is the update on him?

VEACH:&nbsp;“He’s (Samaje Perine) in the building now. It is just a matter of us turning the papers in. He is good to go, and I think he’s already got the playbook and got the first few meetings in with the coaches here. I’m sure you will see that on the transaction wire here soon.”

Q:&nbsp;Is there a sense of fulfillment thinking about where you were in the first day of free agency to where you are now that you have a roster set for Week 1?

Chiefs Quotes: 8-29-24

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Devin Neal ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns on eight first-half carries and No. 22 Kansas beat Lindenwood 48-3 on Thursday night in the opener for both teams.

Kansas outscored Lindenwood 27-0 in the second quarter at Children’s Mercy Park. Lindenwood, in its third year as an FCS program, played its first game against an FBS opponent.

Daniels, who played only in the first half for Kansas, was 9 of 15 for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

“For the first game, it was about what I hoped for,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “I thought Jalon (Daniels) played really well. I thought Devin and Daniel (Hishaw) ran the ball hard. I thought all our backs ran the ball hard.

"I thought the defense was solid. There are still some things with communication where we've got to be better. It was a good night, but there are some things as we step up and play a Big Ten opponent (Illinois) next, we've got to be better.”

The Jayhawks are playing home games in Kansas City — two at Children’s Mercy Park and four at Arrowhead Stadium — because of stadium renovations.

“I thought the atmosphere was great at the beginning of the game,” Leipold said. “There was energy. After a few of those big plays, in the second half it tapered down a little bit.”

Lindenwood averted a shutout with a 34-yard field goal by Logan Seibert with 6:12 left.

After forcing a three-and-out on Lindenwood's first series, Kansas marched 65 yards in nine plays for its first touchdown. Neal punched it in from the 5. Kansas had to convert a fourth-and-3 on the drive.

But that's all the offense Kansas could muster in the first quarter. Lindenwood ran 20 plays in the first quarter, compared to just 12 for Kansas, and the Lions held the ball for almost 10 minutes.

Turnovers hurt Kansas early in the first half. Quentin Skinner fumbled on Kansas' second drive. Daniels then threw an interception, ending the Jayhawks' third drive early in the second quarter.

Luke Grimm said he and Daniels read different coverages, but Daniels took the blame.

“Luke read the defense perfectly," Daniels said. "That play was on me. I have to give props to the DB for making that play.”

Neal gave the Jayhawks a 14-0 lead in the second quarter on a 1-yard scamper, capping a seven-play, 85-yard drive.

Mello Dotson put Kansas up 20-0 with an interception return. He stepped in front of a pass on the right sideline and raced 33 yards untouched. The extra point caromed off the upright.

“At the beginning of that play, the quarterback was staring down his receiver,” Dotson said. “He gave him a sign to run the out route. I saw the quarterback give him that sign and I knew the ball was coming my way.”

Daniels then hit Grimm with a 58-yard touchdown strike to extend the lead to 27-0, vindicating Daniels.

“I just had to forget the (bad) play and make sure my next throw was the right throw.”

Hishaw's 1-yard run with 4 seconds left in the half made it 34-0.

Lindenwood saw the difference between the two levels of Division I in the trenches. The Lions averaged just 3.5 yards per play, compared to 8.2 yards per play for Kansas. Kansas will need to address the turnovers on offense as the quality of opponent ramps up next week.

Lindenwood: Hosts Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Kansas: At Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 7.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725011060418.jpeg" alt="Kansas running back Devin Neal (4) runs for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Lindenwood Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas running back Devin Neal (4) runs for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Lindenwood Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Devin Neal ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns on eight first-half carries and No. 22 Kansas beat Lindenwood 48-3 on Thursday night in the opener for both teams.Kansas outscored Lindenwood 27-0 in the second quarter at Children’s Mercy Park. Lindenwood, in its third year as an FCS program, played its first game against an FBS opponent.Daniels, who played only in the first half for Kansas, was 9 of 15 for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception.“For the first game, it was about what I hoped for,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “I thought Jalon (Daniels) played really well. I thought Devin and Daniel (Hishaw) ran the ball hard. I thought all our backs ran the ball hard."I thought the defense was solid. There are still some things with communication where we've got to be better. It was a good night, but there are some things as we step up and play a Big Ten opponent (Illinois) next, we've got to be better.”The Jayhawks are playing home games in Kansas City — two at Children’s Mercy Park and four at Arrowhead Stadium — because of stadium renovations.“I thought the atmosphere was great at the beginning of the game,” Leipold said. “There was energy. After a few of those big plays, in the second half it tapered down a little bit.”Lindenwood averted a shutout with a 34-yard field goal by Logan Seibert with 6:12 left.After forcing a three-and-out on Lindenwood's first series, Kansas marched 65 yards in nine plays for its first touchdown. Neal punched it in from the 5. Kansas had to convert a fourth-and-3 on the drive.But that's all the offense Kansas could muster in the first quarter. Lindenwood ran 20 plays in the first quarter, compared to just 12 for Kansas, and the Lions held the ball for almost 10 minutes.Turnovers hurt Kansas early in the first half. Quentin Skinner fumbled on Kansas' second drive. Daniels then threw an interception, ending the Jayhawks' third drive early in the second quarter.Luke Grimm said he and Daniels read different coverages, but Daniels took the blame.“Luke read the defense perfectly," Daniels said. "That play was on me. I have to give props to the DB for making that play.”Neal gave the Jayhawks a 14-0 lead in the second quarter on a 1-yard scamper, capping a seven-play, 85-yard drive.Mello Dotson put Kansas up 20-0 with an interception return. He stepped in front of a pass on the right sideline and raced 33 yards untouched. The extra point caromed off the upright.“At the beginning of that play, the quarterback was staring down his receiver,” Dotson said. “He gave him a sign to run the out route. I saw the quarterback give him that sign and I knew the ball was coming my way.”Daniels then hit Grimm with a 58-yard touchdown strike to extend the lead to 27-0, vindicating Daniels.“I just had to forget the (bad) play and make sure my next throw was the right throw.”Hishaw's 1-yard run with 4 seconds left in the half made it 34-0.<h2>The takeaway</h2>Lindenwood saw the difference between the two levels of Division I in the trenches. The Lions averaged just 3.5 yards per play, compared to 8.2 yards per play for Kansas. Kansas will need to address the turnovers on offense as the quality of opponent ramps up next week.<h2>Up next</h2>Lindenwood: Hosts Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 7.Kansas: At Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 7.

🏈 No. 22 Kansas uses big 2nd quarter to rout Lindenwood 

HOUSTON (AP) — Zach Dezenzo drew a go-ahead bases-loaded walk and the Houston Astros took advantage of two Kansas City errors in a four-run eighth inning to beat the Royals 6-3 on Thursday night.

With two runners on and Astros trailing 3-2, Yainer Diaz hit a grounder to pitcher Lucas Erceg (2-5), who tried to barehand the comebacker, bobbled it and rushed a throw that got away from first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. José Altuve scored from second on the play to tie the score. Pasquantino’s glove hand appeared to collide with Diaz, and he exited the game with an apparent injury.

After reliever John Schreiber intentionally walked Ben Gamel to load the bases, Jeremy Peña grounded into a force out at home. Dezenzo then drew a walk to force in Diaz with the tiebreaking run. Mauricio Dubón followed with a single to left field to score Ben Gamel, and Peña also scored on a fielding error by left fielder MJ Melendez to make it 6-3.

“It’s been like that the whole year,” Dubón said. “We’ve been fighting. Dezenzo had an unreal at-bat and gave me a chance to make something happen.”

Ryan Pressly (1-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win after being activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day, and Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 29th save of the season.

“These guys like big moments like that,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “That’s a huge win for us, right there.”

The Royals had taken the lead in the seventh after two errors by the Astros. With one out, Salvador Perez reached first on a fielding error by Peña. Paul DeJong, nearly grounded into a double play, but the throw to first was late. Melendez walked, and Maikel Garcia reached base after third baseman Shay Whitcomb bobbled a groundball, loading the bases. Kyle Isbel then followed with a three-run double down the left-field line off Bryan Abreu for the 3-2 lead.

“We took advantage of an error,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “That’s what you have to do -- when a good team makes a mistake, you have to take advantage of it. We made a mistake, and they took advantage of it. Same thing on the other side.”

Astros starter Hunter Brown — pitching on his 26th birthday — allowed two hits and no earned runs while striking out four and walking one in 6 2/3 innings.

Brown last faced the Royals on April 11, when he gave up nine runs on 11 hits in just two-thirds of an inning. He turned his season around after that start, posting an 11-5 record and a 2.98 ERA in 23 appearances since.

“I could not wait to pitch against these guys,” Brown said. “I got bounced in the first inning, and that was definitely still on my mind even though it was however many months ago. So, once I got through the first inning, that was awesome. I was very thankful. That was a birthday gift, in itself.”

Veteran outfielder Jason Heyward made a splash in his Astros debut. After being released by the Dodgers and signing with Houston earlier this week, Heyward had a two-run double down the right-field line off Royals starter Brady Singer in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Houston a 2-0 lead.

Singer allowed five hits and two runs while striking out six and walking one in six innings.

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was ejected in the fourth inning after appearing to complain about a strike-three call from home plate umpire Alex Tosi.

“When Alex argues balls and strikes, 99% of the time, he’s right,” Espada said.

Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who leads the American League in hits, batting average and runs, went 0 for 4 after hitting safely in 16 of his previous 17 games.

Royals: RF Hunter Renfroe (right hamstring strain) is “feeling better” and started running and doing a full workout on Wednesday, manager Matt Quatraro said.

Astros: RF Kyle Tucker (shin contusion) has “looked really good” in drills and sprinting exercises, and “we’re getting there,” Espada said before the game.

Royals RHP Seth Lugo (14-8, 3.19 ERA) will start against Astros LHP Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.27) on Friday,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725010825004.jpeg" alt="Houston Astros' Zach Dezenzo celebrates after drawing a bases-loaded walk during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)" />
 <figcaption>Houston Astros' Zach Dezenzo celebrates after drawing a bases-loaded walk during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON (AP) — Zach Dezenzo drew a go-ahead bases-loaded walk and the Houston Astros took advantage of two Kansas City errors in a four-run eighth inning to beat the Royals 6-3 on Thursday night.With two runners on and Astros trailing 3-2, Yainer Diaz hit a grounder to pitcher Lucas Erceg (2-5), who tried to barehand the comebacker, bobbled it and rushed a throw that got away from first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. José Altuve scored from second on the play to tie the score. Pasquantino’s glove hand appeared to collide with Diaz, and he exited the game with an apparent injury.After reliever John Schreiber intentionally walked Ben Gamel to load the bases, Jeremy Peña grounded into a force out at home. Dezenzo then drew a walk to force in Diaz with the tiebreaking run. Mauricio Dubón followed with a single to left field to score Ben Gamel, and Peña also scored on a fielding error by left fielder MJ Melendez to make it 6-3.“It’s been like that the whole year,” Dubón said. “We’ve been fighting. Dezenzo had an unreal at-bat and gave me a chance to make something happen.”Ryan Pressly (1-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win after being activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day, and Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 29th save of the season.“These guys like big moments like that,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “That’s a huge win for us, right there.”The Royals had taken the lead in the seventh after two errors by the Astros. With one out, Salvador Perez reached first on a fielding error by Peña. Paul DeJong, nearly grounded into a double play, but the throw to first was late. Melendez walked, and Maikel Garcia reached base after third baseman Shay Whitcomb bobbled a groundball, loading the bases. Kyle Isbel then followed with a three-run double down the left-field line off Bryan Abreu for the 3-2 lead.“We took advantage of an error,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “That’s what you have to do -- when a good team makes a mistake, you have to take advantage of it. We made a mistake, and they took advantage of it. Same thing on the other side.”Astros starter Hunter Brown — pitching on his 26th birthday — allowed two hits and no earned runs while striking out four and walking one in 6 2/3 innings.Brown last faced the Royals on April 11, when he gave up nine runs on 11 hits in just two-thirds of an inning. He turned his season around after that start, posting an 11-5 record and a 2.98 ERA in 23 appearances since.“I could not wait to pitch against these guys,” Brown said. “I got bounced in the first inning, and that was definitely still on my mind even though it was however many months ago. So, once I got through the first inning, that was awesome. I was very thankful. That was a birthday gift, in itself.”Veteran outfielder Jason Heyward made a splash in his Astros debut. After being released by the Dodgers and signing with Houston earlier this week, Heyward had a two-run double down the right-field line off Royals starter Brady Singer in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Houston a 2-0 lead.Singer allowed five hits and two runs while striking out six and walking one in six innings.Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was ejected in the fourth inning after appearing to complain about a strike-three call from home plate umpire Alex Tosi.“When Alex argues balls and strikes, 99% of the time, he’s right,” Espada said.Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who leads the American League in hits, batting average and runs, went 0 for 4 after hitting safely in 16 of his previous 17 games.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: RF Hunter Renfroe (right hamstring strain) is “feeling better” and started running and doing a full workout on Wednesday, manager Matt Quatraro said.Astros: RF Kyle Tucker (shin contusion) has “looked really good” in drills and sprinting exercises, and “we’re getting there,” Espada said before the game.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Seth Lugo (14-8, 3.19 ERA) will start against Astros LHP Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.27) on Friday,

⚾ Astros take advantage of two errors in 4-run eighth to beat Royals 

Hello and happy Thursday, everybody, it’s Tyler Henry, back with another KINA Sports Update presented by Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine…

On Wednesday Rookie Jhonkensy Noel singled home Josh Naylor with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, reclaiming sole possession of first place in the AL Central.

The Guardians trailed 5-2 entering the seventh, but scored four times to take their first lead of the afternoon. Bo Naylor homered off starter Michael Wacha, while Josh Naylor, Will Brennan and Noel had RBI singles against Lucas Erceg.

KC still sits 2.5 games ahead of the Twins for the second AL Wild Card spot, and two games back of the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot. This comes with just nine series’ left in the season

More locally the Kansas Wesleyan Coaches Luncheon Series returns for the 2024-25 season with an updated format and locations.

The first luncheon will be at held on campus inside Muir Gym on the KWU campus, on Thursday, September 5, at 11:30 a.m, and will feature the fall sport coaches - Matt Myers, Garrett Young, Joe Schwartz, Bruce Palmbaum and Jessica Biegert. Additionally, any new coaches and staff to the KWU athletics program will be introduced.

And speaking of Kansas Wesleyan &nbsp;the Everett Morgan Strength Training Center - will host a soft opening on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m. after undergoing extensive renovations over the summer

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0eqwCKbroHY"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY SALINA POST(Transcript)Hello and happy Thursday, everybody, it’s Tyler Henry, back with another KINA Sports Update presented by Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine…_________On Wednesday Rookie Jhonkensy Noel singled home Josh Naylor with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, reclaiming sole possession of first place in the AL Central.The Guardians trailed 5-2 entering the seventh, but scored four times to take their first lead of the afternoon. Bo Naylor homered off starter Michael Wacha, while Josh Naylor, Will Brennan and Noel had RBI singles against Lucas Erceg.KC still sits 2.5 games ahead of the Twins for the second AL Wild Card spot, and two games back of the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot. This comes with just nine series’ left in the season_________More locally the Kansas Wesleyan Coaches Luncheon Series returns for the 2024-25 season with an updated format and locations.The first luncheon will be at held on campus inside Muir Gym on the KWU campus, on Thursday, September 5, at 11:30 a.m, and will feature the fall sport coaches - Matt Myers, Garrett Young, Joe Schwartz, Bruce Palmbaum and Jessica Biegert. Additionally, any new coaches and staff to the KWU athletics program will be introduced._________And speaking of Kansas Wesleyan &nbsp;the Everett Morgan Strength Training Center - will host a soft opening on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m. after undergoing extensive renovations over the summer_________

910 KINA Sports Headlines — August 29

The Kansas Wesleyan Coaches Luncheon Series returns for the 2024-25 season with an updated format and locations. The Coaches Luncheon Series is presented by the Jeff Wells Agency of American Family Insurance.

The Jeff Wells Agency recently extended its continued sponsorship of the Coaches Luncheon for the next three years, starting in 2024-25.

The first luncheon will be at held on campus inside Muir Gym on the KWU campus, on Thursday, September 5, starting at 11:30 a.m. The Luncheon will feature the fall sport coaches - Matt Myers (football), Garrett Young (men's and women's cross country), Joe Schwartz (women's soccer), Bruce Palmbaum (men's soccer) and Jessica Biegert (women's volleyball). Additionally, any new coaches and staff to the KWU athletics program will be introduced.

The Luncheon will feature a meal provided by JRI Hospitality through its partnership at the on-campus food service provider for Kansas Wesleyan this year.

Additional Luncheon dates and locations are being set and will be announced as soon as they are made available.

Tickets for the luncheons are $15 each and can be purchased online at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/49007885-b395-4f2d-a0a3-3f559af8f8a0?elinkdata=11603" target="_blank">www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or spots at the luncheons can be reserved by contacting the KWU Athletics Office at 785.833.4561. Initial reservation deadlines are one week prior to the event.

The Kansas Wesleyan Coaches Luncheon Series returns for the 2024-25 season with an updated format and locations. The Coaches Luncheon Series is presented by the Jeff Wells Agency of American Family Insurance.The Jeff Wells Agency recently extended its continued sponsorship of the Coaches Luncheon for the next three years, starting in 2024-25.The first luncheon will be at held on campus inside Muir Gym on the KWU campus, on Thursday, September 5, starting at 11:30 a.m. The Luncheon will feature the fall sport coaches - Matt Myers (football), Garrett Young (men's and women's cross country), Joe Schwartz (women's soccer), Bruce Palmbaum (men's soccer) and Jessica Biegert (women's volleyball). Additionally, any new coaches and staff to the KWU athletics program will be introduced.The Luncheon will feature a meal provided by JRI Hospitality through its partnership at the on-campus food service provider for Kansas Wesleyan this year.Additional Luncheon dates and locations are being set and will be announced as soon as they are made available.Tickets for the luncheons are $15 each and can be purchased online at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/49007885-b395-4f2d-a0a3-3f559af8f8a0?elinkdata=11603" target="_blank">www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or spots at the luncheons can be reserved by contacting the KWU Athletics Office at 785.833.4561. Initial reservation deadlines are one week prior to the event.

The Kansas Wesleyan Coaches Luncheon Series returns for 2024-25 beginning September 5

Kansas Wesleyan's weight room - the Everett Morgan Strength Training Center - will host a soft opening on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m.

The weight room is opening after a complete renovation, including branded weights, new equipment and the construction of an office for the university's first full-time strength and conditioning coach. Custom racks, benches, dumbbells, new flooring, cardio equipment, TVs and a new sound system are all being installed, with the expectation that KWU will have one of the best strength and conditioning facilities in the NAIA.

"This is another feather in the cap of Kansas Wesleyan," said Ken Oliver, executive vice president of advancement and university operations. "Numerous supporters have come together to help fund this project, which will better the physical development and preparation of countless Coyotes. We look forward to this space being an important part of the KWU experience!"

The Everett Morgan Strength Training Center is a vital part of the KWU lifestyle, as it serves a critical role for both athletics and the entirety of the KWU student body. It is also used as an academic lab.

Kansas Wesleyan's weight room - the Everett Morgan Strength Training Center - will host a soft opening on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m.The weight room is opening after a complete renovation, including branded weights, new equipment and the construction of an office for the university's first full-time strength and conditioning coach. Custom racks, benches, dumbbells, new flooring, cardio equipment, TVs and a new sound system are all being installed, with the expectation that KWU will have one of the best strength and conditioning facilities in the NAIA."This is another feather in the cap of Kansas Wesleyan," said Ken Oliver, executive vice president of advancement and university operations. "Numerous supporters have come together to help fund this project, which will better the physical development and preparation of countless Coyotes. We look forward to this space being an important part of the KWU experience!"The Everett Morgan Strength Training Center is a vital part of the KWU lifestyle, as it serves a critical role for both athletics and the entirety of the KWU student body. It is also used as an academic lab.

Everett Morgan Strength Training Center to reopen Thursday

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Aug. 28, 2024 —&nbsp;The night before the 2024 NFL regular season kicks off, NFL Network celebrates the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.&nbsp;On Wednesday, Sept. 4, “America's Game: 2023 Kansas City Chiefs" premieres at 8 p.m. ET, telling the story of the Super Bowl LVIII champion Chiefs. This year's edition of “America's Game" features interviews with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive tackle Chris Jones and head coach Andy Reid.&nbsp;Narrated by actor and Chiefs fan Paul Rudd, “America's Game" delves deep into the Chiefs' third Super Bowl title in five years. In the hour-long show, Mahomes, Kelce, Jones and Reid recount the season in their own words.&nbsp;Among the topics discussed in “America's Game: 2023 Kansas City Chiefs":&nbsp;

This year's edition of “America's Game" is the 58th episode of the long-running special which celebrates the Super Bowl champions.Provided below are select quotes from “America's Game: 2023 Kansas City Chiefs":

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Aug. 28, 2024 —&nbsp;The night before the 2024 NFL regular season kicks off, NFL Network celebrates the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.&nbsp;On Wednesday, Sept. 4, “America's Game: 2023 Kansas City Chiefs" premieres at 8 p.m. ET, telling the story of the Super Bowl LVIII champion Chiefs. This year's edition of “America's Game" features interviews with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive tackle Chris Jones and head coach Andy Reid.&nbsp;Narrated by actor and Chiefs fan Paul Rudd, “America's Game" delves deep into the Chiefs' third Super Bowl title in five years. In the hour-long show, Mahomes, Kelce, Jones and Reid recount the season in their own words.&nbsp;Among the topics discussed in “America's Game: 2023 Kansas City Chiefs":&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>​Taylor Swift attending the Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears and the media attention the team received throughout the season</li><li>The connection between Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce</li><li>Dropping to 9-6 following the loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day after winning six of seven games to start the season</li><li>​Becoming the first team since the 2004 New England Patriots to repeat as Super Bowl champions</li>
 </ul>This year's edition of “America's Game" is the 58th episode of the long-running special which celebrates the Super Bowl champions.Provided below are select quotes from “America's Game: 2023 Kansas City Chiefs":<ul>
 <li>“It's fun going to work when it's the biggest game. Don't try to make it more serious or make it more than what it is – it's still football. We got here because we showed our personalities and we are who we are, and we also did that while we put in the work."&nbsp;– Travis Kelce on playing in Super Bowl LVIII</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“I became aware of her being at the game that week;&nbsp;[Travis Kelce] said she was thinking about coming and being at the game…He's a guy that is full of life, and loves to go out there and enjoy it. That's why it didn't surprise anybody on the team; people act like it was a distraction and I was like 'No, this is just Travis, that's how he always is.'"&nbsp;– Patrick Mahomes on Taylor Swift attending the Chiefs' Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>"They've worked a lot of snaps together but there is a certain chemistry I've seen over the years when you get a quarterback and a player like that where they just connect.&nbsp;It's hard to explain other than there is a trust that I know this guy is going to be where I want him to be or need him to be, and whatever chaotic situation that's placed upon you during those quick five seconds of a play."&nbsp;– Andy Reid on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“I told [Las Vegas Raiders] coach [Antonio] Pierce I appreciate you kicking our tail because it kind of woke us up.&nbsp;Sometimes you need to get your tail kicked to figure it out."&nbsp;– Andy Reid on losing to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“We don't think our defensive coordinator gets talked about as much as he should…The most dominant piece is Spags."&nbsp;– Chris Jones on Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“They scored off a trick play.&nbsp;This is their best football; if that's what they're giving us and that's what they have to score on, for four quarters you're not going to do that."&nbsp;– Chris Jones on falling behind 10-0 in Super Bowl LVIII to the San Francisco 49ers</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“When that momentum starts going in our favor, I want them to call the plays fast.&nbsp;It's kind of like when a basketball team goes on a run and the other team has to call a timeout, you want to put the pressure on them."&nbsp;– Patrick Mahomes</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“There's a certain sense of urgency and focus that I thrive in. I love that feeling of we have to have it right now."&nbsp;– Travis Kelce</li>
 </ul>

'America's Game 2023 Kansas City Chiefs' Premieres Wednesday, Sept. 4 on NFL Network

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Jhonkensy Noel singled home Josh Naylor with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, reclaiming sole possession of first place in the AL Central on Wednesday.

The Guardians trailed 5-2 entering the seventh, but scored four times to take their first lead of the afternoon. Bo Naylor homered off starter Michael Wacha, while Josh Naylor, Will Brennan and Noel had RBI singles against Lucas Erceg (2-4).

Erceg was charged with one run allowed, his first in 12 appearances and 13 1/3 innings since joining the Royals in a July 30 trade with Oakland.

Andrés Giménez tacked on a sacrifice fly in the eighth as Cleveland avoided a four-game sweep in the series. The Guardians and rookie manager Stephen Vogt had been alone atop the Central for 154 days until Kansas City pulled into a tie Tuesday.

Eli Morgan (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory. Emmanuel Clase earned his AL-best 39th save — with his career-high 26th straight conversion — and matched Cody Allen’s franchise record with 149.

Kansas City had its seven-game road winning streak snapped and is 23-14 since the All-Star break. The Royals have clinched the season tiebreaker over the Guardians.

Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey hit solo homers off Guardians ace Tanner Bibee, who gave up five runs in five innings.

Pasquantino had a career-high four hits and is fourth in the majors with 97 RBIs. Witt continues to lead baseball with a .346 batting average, 185 hits and 114 runs.

Kansas City starter Michael Wacha was denied his 100th career win. The right-hander pitched six innings and gave up five runs with seven strikeouts.

Royals: SS Bobby Witt Jr. (right middle finger bruise) has started all 134 games in the second spot in the batting order. The AL MVP candidate was hit by a pitch from Pedro Avila in the seventh inning Tuesday, but remained in the game.

Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb (right fingernail tear) played catch at Progressive Field, one day after throwing three innings of live batting practice. The 36-year-old starter is eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list on Aug. 31.

Royals: RHP Brady Singer (9-9, 3.38 ERA) starts the opener of a four-game series at AL West-leading Houston on Thursday.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Jhonkensy Noel singled home Josh Naylor with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, reclaiming sole possession of first place in the AL Central on Wednesday.The Guardians trailed 5-2 entering the seventh, but scored four times to take their first lead of the afternoon. Bo Naylor homered off starter Michael Wacha, while Josh Naylor, Will Brennan and Noel had RBI singles against Lucas Erceg (2-4).Erceg was charged with one run allowed, his first in 12 appearances and 13 1/3 innings since joining the Royals in a July 30 trade with Oakland.Andrés Giménez tacked on a sacrifice fly in the eighth as Cleveland avoided a four-game sweep in the series. The Guardians and rookie manager Stephen Vogt had been alone atop the Central for 154 days until Kansas City pulled into a tie Tuesday.Eli Morgan (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory. Emmanuel Clase earned his AL-best 39th save — with his career-high 26th straight conversion — and matched Cody Allen’s franchise record with 149.Kansas City had its seven-game road winning streak snapped and is 23-14 since the All-Star break. The Royals have clinched the season tiebreaker over the Guardians.Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey hit solo homers off Guardians ace Tanner Bibee, who gave up five runs in five innings.Pasquantino had a career-high four hits and is fourth in the majors with 97 RBIs. Witt continues to lead baseball with a .346 batting average, 185 hits and 114 runs.Kansas City starter Michael Wacha was denied his 100th career win. The right-hander pitched six innings and gave up five runs with seven strikeouts.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: SS Bobby Witt Jr. (right middle finger bruise) has started all 134 games in the second spot in the batting order. The AL MVP candidate was hit by a pitch from Pedro Avila in the seventh inning Tuesday, but remained in the game.Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb (right fingernail tear) played catch at Progressive Field, one day after throwing three innings of live batting practice. The 36-year-old starter is eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list on Aug. 31.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Brady Singer (9-9, 3.38 ERA) starts the opener of a four-game series at AL West-leading Houston on Thursday.

⚾ Guardians rally for victory over Royals, reclaim top spot in AL Central

BROOKVILLE - Reese Krone is a wide receiver’s dream for a quarterback.

“Reese is smart with his passes and rarely throws INTs,” Ell-Saline junior receiver Collin Dent said. “He’s also not the guy that leads you right into a defender to get laid out. I like his deep passes a lot; he puts on your hands so you don’t have to track it down.”

“Usually his passes are right at my chest every time with solid speed,”&nbsp; junior receiver Lucas Correa said. “When I have someone on me he does a good job of getting the ball on my back shoulder or leading it in front of me.”

The 6-4, 220-pound Krone describes himself as a strong-armed, aggressive QB.

“I can throw the ball deep, which is rare in 8-man football, and I have a very aggressive style of running,” Krone said.

Krone’s teammates can’t say enough about last year’s tight end, who hauled in 17 passes for 252 yards and five touchdowns.

“The time has come, and I believe Reese will be able to step up,” senior running back Melvin Lutes said. “I believe he has the necessary skills, and I know he has the capacity to be a good leader.”

“I don’t think anyone will be able to stop our passing game with his arm and our receivers,” junior wideout Kas Kramer said.&nbsp;

Krone’s potential at quarterback is unmatched according to sophomore LB/TE Branton Gosvener, who thinks his quarterback could be the piece that takes the Cardinals all the way to state.

Even standouts from opposing schools took notice of Krone.

“He moves well for a guy his size and has deceptive speed and bounce,” said Moundridge standout Kreighton Kanitz, now playing basketball at Barton CC.

“He was really good under pressure and was great at reading a defense; he tore us apart,” Lincoln star quarterback Logan Meier said.

Playing quarterback is nothing new to the Cardinal field general, who was under center throughout his time in middle school and on JV.

That comfort won’t come without high expectations however, after Ell-Saline made a run to the 8-Man Division-I semifinals in 2023.

“He has big shoes to fill, but I feel that he will be able to handle the pressure and step up for the team,” sophomore defensive back Sawyer Cook said. “He has improved in the weight room and taking on the role of leader.”

That sentiment of Krone’s improvement and the team’s high ceiling are echoed all throughout the Cardinal locker room.

“He has the potential to take us far this year,” sophomore running back Luke Walker said. “He has been working hard to improve his ability in the weight room and has been a good leader. I think he is a great teammate, and his height and overall size makes him both a great passer and lethal on the run.”

Krone’s best touchdown reception last year wasn’t one where his physicality was highlighted, but one where his football IQ was show.

In one of the team's final regular season games, Krone realized there was a specific formation and motion set that would allow him a free path downfield with minimal to no one-on-one coverage.

Krone relayed that information to head coach Joe Roche, who implemented the play and watched his tight end streak 50 yards downfield for a Cardinal touchdown.

Instant gratification for the red and white unit.

“It was a great feeling to be rewarded for my effort to pick apart the defense,” Krone noted. “I was really proud of my coaches for trusting me and proud of myself for seeing that play pan out in my head.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724861637691.jpeg" alt="Reese Krone takes off after receiving a pass in a 2023 game for the Cardinals. Photo courtesy of Gary Van Cleave." />
 <figcaption>Reese Krone takes off after receiving a pass in a 2023 game for the Cardinals. Photo courtesy of Gary Van Cleave.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROOKVILLE - Reese Krone is a wide receiver’s dream for a quarterback.“Reese is smart with his passes and rarely throws INTs,” Ell-Saline junior receiver Collin Dent said. “He’s also not the guy that leads you right into a defender to get laid out. I like his deep passes a lot; he puts on your hands so you don’t have to track it down.”“Usually his passes are right at my chest every time with solid speed,”&nbsp; junior receiver Lucas Correa said. “When I have someone on me he does a good job of getting the ball on my back shoulder or leading it in front of me.”<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 6-4, 220-pound Krone describes himself as a strong-armed, aggressive QB.“I can throw the ball deep, which is rare in 8-man football, and I have a very aggressive style of running,” Krone said.Krone’s teammates can’t say enough about last year’s tight end, who hauled in 17 passes for 252 yards and five touchdowns.“The time has come, and I believe Reese will be able to step up,” senior running back Melvin Lutes said. “I believe he has the necessary skills, and I know he has the capacity to be a good leader.”“I don’t think anyone will be able to stop our passing game with his arm and our receivers,” junior wideout Kas Kramer said.&nbsp;Krone’s potential at quarterback is unmatched according to sophomore LB/TE Branton Gosvener, who thinks his quarterback could be the piece that takes the Cardinals all the way to state.Even standouts from opposing schools took notice of Krone.“He moves well for a guy his size and has deceptive speed and bounce,” said Moundridge standout Kreighton Kanitz, now playing basketball at Barton CC.“He was really good under pressure and was great at reading a defense; he tore us apart,” Lincoln star quarterback Logan Meier said.Playing quarterback is nothing new to the Cardinal field general, who was under center throughout his time in middle school and on JV.That comfort won’t come without high expectations however, after Ell-Saline made a run to the 8-Man Division-I semifinals in 2023.“He has big shoes to fill, but I feel that he will be able to handle the pressure and step up for the team,” sophomore defensive back Sawyer Cook said. “He has improved in the weight room and taking on the role of leader.”That sentiment of Krone’s improvement and the team’s high ceiling are echoed all throughout the Cardinal locker room.“He has the potential to take us far this year,” sophomore running back Luke Walker said. “He has been working hard to improve his ability in the weight room and has been a good leader. I think he is a great teammate, and his height and overall size makes him both a great passer and lethal on the run.”Krone’s best touchdown reception last year wasn’t one where his physicality was highlighted, but one where his football IQ was show.In one of the team's final regular season games, Krone realized there was a specific formation and motion set that would allow him a free path downfield with minimal to no one-on-one coverage.Krone relayed that information to head coach Joe Roche, who implemented the play and watched his tight end streak 50 yards downfield for a Cardinal touchdown.Instant gratification for the red and white unit.“It was a great feeling to be rewarded for my effort to pick apart the defense,” Krone noted. “I was really proud of my coaches for trusting me and proud of myself for seeing that play pan out in my head.”Krone loves playing smash-mouth football, especially on fake handoffs to a running back.“I’m just thinking about who I’m going to run over,” Krone said. “My first instinct as a runner is to go through the defenders. You won’t see me doing any juke moves. My state of mind while carrying the ball is strictly putting my head down and getting physical.”Krone also registered 13.5 sacks on defense, along with five tackles for loss. He collected 64 tackles, including 40 solo, 14 QB hurries, 10 tipped passes and 2 forced fumbles.The Cardinals, 10-2 a year ago, kick off their season on Sept. 6 against Hanover.