Category: Sports
FHSU’s Brown named MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week for second time
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Junior kicker/punter Dante Brown earned MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors on Monday (Sept. 24) for his efforts in the 55-20 win over Missouri Southern last weekend. It is the second time he has earned the honor this year, also getting the nod after his performance against Central Missouri in the first week of the season.
Brown finished with 13 kicking points in the 55-20 win for Fort Hays State over Missouri Southern. He was a perfect 2-of-2 on field goal attempts, connecting from 48 and 43 yards, and went 7-of-7 on PAT tries. He was also effective on his three punts in the game, averaging 52 yards per punt with a game-long of 65 yards. He is now 7-of-8 on field goal attempts this season, connecting four times from 40 or more yards and his only miss was from outside 40 yards. He is averaging 42.7 yards per punt for the season.
Brown joins Central Oklahoma quarterback Chandler Garrett (Offensive Athlete of the Week) and Pittsburg State defensive lineman Cole Morris (Defensive Athlete of the Week) as the weekly honorees from the conference office.
Tigers hold steady at No. 18 in AFCA Division II Poll
FHSU Athletics
WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State remains No. 18 for a second straight week in the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Monday. Fort Hays State is one of three MIAA schools in the Top 25 this week.
The Tigers are now 3-1 overall after a 55-20 win at Missouri Southern on Saturday. Pittsburg State (4-0), the only unbeaten team remaining in the MIAA, is the highest ranked MIAA team at No. 10. Northwest Missouri State fell from No. 4 in the poll to No. 17 this week following its first loss of the season at Central Oklahoma on Saturday night. Central Oklahoma travels to Hays this week with a record of 2-2. Central Missouri, previously No. 19 in the poll, fell out of the Top 25 this week after a loss at Washburn on Saturday.
Last week’s No. 1 ranked team, Texas A&M-Commerce, fell to No. 22 CSU-Pueblo over the weekend, making Minnesota State the nation’s new No. 1 team this week.
— Photo courtesy FHSU Athletics / Nicole Heitmann
Tiger women’s soccer drops MIAA opener to Hornets
EMPORIA, Kan. – Starting conference play with a clean slate, the Fort Hays State women’s soccer team hoped to begin their MIAA season on a high note. However, a second half offensive surge was not enough as Emporia State captured the 3-2 win over Fort Hays State in a Sunday tilt. With the loss, the Tigers drop to 2-4-2 overall and 0-1 in MIAA play. The Hornets add to their wins to boast 6-1-1 record and 1-0 conference mark.
The Hornets got on the board first as Daniela Cardona earned her first goal of the season following a solo shot from 30-yards out on the right side. Emporia State would take the 1-0 lead into halftime over the Tigers.
The second half saw offensive breakthroughs for both squads as four goals were tallied between the two teams. Quickly into the first two minutes of the second half, Vianei Sanchez netted her third goal of her senior campaign at the 46:15 mark. Sanchez completed a header from a corner kick by Jordan Thompson to tie up the match at 1-1. The Tigers would not settle down as Nikita Woods managed her first goal in an FHSU uniform following a touch shot eight yards out off the foot of Shayla Podlena just 37 seconds later. This 2-1 lead would be Fort Hays State’s only lead of the match.
After calming down the Fort Hays State offense, Emporia State regained the momentum after a Tanna Benefiel goal off a header from a free kick. Ashlyn Lakin would record the assist for the equalizing goal. The Hornets would sting one last time in the match to reclaim the lead following another assist from Lakin, this time connecting with Rachel Marshall on a header from 10 yards out. This would turn out to be the game-winning goal as Emporia State captured the 3-2 victory.
Emporia State out-shot Fort Hays State 21-5 and 6-4 in shots on goal. Five different Tigers attempted a shot in the match. Three yellow cards were handed out in the match with Jordan Thompson collecting one in the final minutes of play for the Tigers and the other two going to the Hornets.
Megan Kneefel was once again the anchor in goal, this time collecting three saves in her 90 minutes of play. Kneefel has recorded 36 saves on the season and mimics her team’s record. The winning goalie for the Hornets was Jillian Patton who notched two saves in the contest.
Fort Hays State is back home for two matches this upcoming weekend, starting with a 7 p.m. Friday (Sept. 28) battle against Central Oklahoma. Sunday’s (Sept. 30) match against Northeastern State is slated for 1 p.m. inside FHSU Soccer Stadium.
Lopez two goals leads No. 21 Tigers to upset of No. 8 RiverHawks
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team upset eighth-ranked Northeastern State 4-1 on Sunday (Sept. 23). The Tigers improved to 5-2-1 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA, while the RiverHawks dip to 6-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.
In a rematch of the 2017 Central Region Championship where Northeastern State defeated Fort Hays State 2-1 in Philippi, W.V., the Tigers got the best of the RiverHawks this time around as they used four second half goals and Tiger goalkeeper Fernando Pina picked up ten saves, holding the RiverHawk offense to one goal in the match.
The first half was a defensive battle between the conference rivals as neither team was able to capitalize. The Tigers outshot the RiverHawks 11-3 heading into intermission.
Luis Torres started the offense for the Tigers with his third goal of the season in the 54th minute, with an assist to Raul Fierro for setting him up and giving the Tigers the 1-0 lead. Santiago Agudelo connected on his team-leading seventh goal in the 68th minute of the contest to increase the Tiger lead to 2-0 over the RiverHawks.
In the 71st minute, midfielder Rogelio Lopez picked up a pass from Moises Peralta and found the back of the net to stretch the lead to 3-0. RiverHawk striker Joe Garcia was able to get Northeastern State on the board in the 75th minute after scoring on a rebound from a penalty kick save from Pina. The Tigers weren’t done just yet, as Lopez picked up his second goal of the contest in the 79th minute, with the help on a Nathan De La Hoya assist.
Fernando Pina picked up the win in goal for the Tigers, moving to 2-0 overall on the season. Pina’s ten saves move him into second in program history for saves in a single match. Santiago Agudelo led the offense with five shots in the match.
The Tigers are back in action next weekend when they continue their road trip in Shawnee, Okla. to battle the Oklahoma Baptist Bison Thursday (Sept. 27). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Mahomes throws 3 TD passes as Chiefs beat 49ers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is just as efficient at home as he is on the road.
He gets the same results, too.
After winning his first three starts, all away from Arrowhead Stadium, the second-year pro finally made his regular-season home debut Sunday. Mahomes responded by torching San Francisco’s banged-up pass defense for 314 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-27 victory over the 49ers.
Mahomes now has 13 touchdown passes without an interception, breaking the NFL record for TD passes in the first three weeks of a season. Peyton Manning threw 12 to start the 2013 campaign.
Mahomes’ touchdown passes to Chris Conley, Demetrius Harris and Sammy Watkins , along with a pair of TD runs by Kareem Hunt, helped Kansas City (3-0) race to a 35-7 lead late in the first half.
Few leads are safe against the Chiefs’ porous defense, though.
The 49ers (1-2) rallied behind running backs Matt Breida and Alfred Morris, who kept gouging the Chiefs’ defensive front, and Jimmy Garoppolo, who threw for 251 yards and two scores . It was Garoppolo’s 11-yard pass to Marquis Goodwin early in the third quarter that started the comeback, and Morris scored on a short touchdown run later in the quarter to make it 35-24.
After the Chiefs tacked on a field goal early in the fourth to extend their lead, the 49ers came back with a grinding, 17-play drive that wiped out more than half the period. But it ended in a strange sequence that began with Garoppolo taking a hard hit from Steven Nelson along the sideline. Garoppolo easily could have stepped out of bounds, but instead he was crushed on his throwing shoulder and had to leave.
C.J. Beathard came in and threw what appeared to be a fourth-down touchdown pass to George Kittle, but it was wiped out by offensive pass interference.
There was only 5:17 left, but rather than go for it on fourth-and-goal at the Kansas City 25, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan elected to kick a field goal — keeping it a two-possession game.
San Francisco proceeded to kick it deep rather than try an onside kick. The Chiefs picked up a first down on a penalty, and Hunt churned his way for two more first downs to put the game away.
The 49ers have not won in Arrowhead Stadium since Dec. 26, 1982.
FOSTER’S FRUSTRATION
49ers LB Reuben Foster had a rough return from a two-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policy. Foster was hit with a personal foul for hitting Mahomes as the QB was sliding in the first half, Kelce beat him in pass defense, and the young linebacker left early in the fourth quarter when he was shaken up on a tackle.
INJURIES
49ers: The defensive backfield was in tatters by the fourth quarter. CB Richard Sherman left with a calf injury, FS Adrian Colbert hurt his ankle and backup CB Tarvarius Moore left with a wrist injury. SS Jaquiski Taylor was already inactive with a shoulder injury.
Chiefs: LB Dee Ford left with a groin injury in the fourth quarter. … Conley briefly left with a right ankle injury, though he returned to make his TD catch. … SS Eric Berry (heel) remained inactive for the third straight week. He has not practiced since early in camp.
UP NEXT
49ers: Play the Chargers in Los Angeles next Sunday.
Chiefs: Visit the AFC West-rival Broncos next Monday night.
Flacco shines as Ravens deal Broncos first loss
BALTIMORE (AP) — Joe Flacco picked apart Denver’s depleted defense for 277 yards and a touchdown, and the Baltimore Ravens defeated the previously unbeaten Broncos 27-14 Sunday.
Connecting with eight receivers, Flacco went 25 for 40 without an interception on a rainy afternoon. He threw 28 passes in the first half alone, when Baltimore (2-1) took control.
Flacco’s success came against a Denver backfield that began the day without injured cornerback Adam Jones (thigh) and lost cornerback Tramaine Brock (groin) in the first quarter. As a result, rookie Isaac Yiadom saw significant playing time at right corner.
Javorious Allen caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and ran for a score for the Ravens.
Denver was coming off two home wins, both by virtue of fourth-quarter comebacks. This time, the Broncos could not rally after Allen’s 1-yard TD run made it 27-14 midway through the third quarter.
Denver was inside the Baltimore 5 with 9 minutes left before Case Keenum was intercepted by Patrick Onwuasor, whose 89-yard return for a touchdown was wiped out by a block in the back.
The Broncos’ next drive ended at the Baltimore 11.
Keenum completed 22 of 34 passes for 192 yards.
Denver got a touchdown after blocking a punt and also swatted away a field goal try. Chris Harris took the second blocked kick 58 yards for a touchdown, but an illegal block nullified the second-quarter score.
On the ensuing series, Broncos rookie running back Phillip Lindsay was ejected for throwing a punch during the scramble for a fumble by Keenum.
A wild first half ended with Baltimore up 20-14.
After Denver’s Joseph Jones blocked a punt to set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Royce Freeman, Alex Collins ran in from the 6 for Baltimore.
Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders made it 14-7 with a 35-yard end around, his first career rushing touchdown.
Justin Tucker sandwiched a pair of 52-yard field goals around a 12-yard touchdown throw by Flacco.
Tucker now has six career games with multiple field goals of 50 yards or more, an NFL record. He has also connected on his last eight attempts from at least 50 yards.
LEWIS RETURNS
The Ravens welcomed back linebacker Ray Lewis, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August following a 17-year career with Baltimore.
After the players were introduced, the song “Hot in Herre” by Nelly boomed over the PA.
Lewis emerged from the tunnel wearing his yellow Hall of Fame jacket and performed his trademark dance while the soggy crowd cheered.
Lewis was presented with his Hall of Fame ring during a ceremony at halftime. He was joined by Jonathan Ogden, the Ravens’ other HOF member.
INJURIES
Broncos: S Darian Stewart left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury but returned.
Ravens: MLB C.J. Mosley was inactive with a bruised knee.
UP NEXT
Broncos host Kansas City in an AFC West showdown Monday night.
Ravens travel to Pittsburgh for a Sunday night matchup between AFC North teams.
Gallagher, Keller leads Royals to series split with Tigers
DETROIT (AP) — Rookie Brad Keller pitched seven strong innings, Cam Gallagher broke a sixth-inning tie with a two-run single and the Kansas City Royals held on to beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Sunday.
The teams split the four-game series that finished Detroit’s home season. The Royals won the season series 11-8.
The Royals led 3-1 in the ninth. Niko Goodrum led off the inning with a bunt single off Wily Peralta. Ronny Rodriguez added a one-out base hit, and Grayson Greiner walked to load the bases.
Victor Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to pull the Tigers within 3-2 before Peralta struck out Jim Adduci to earn his 13th save.
Keller (9-6) allowed one run on three hits, walking three and striking out two. He improved to 5-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his last eight starts.
Daniel Norris needed 98 pitches to complete five innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks. He struck out three.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the first on Adalberto Mondesi’s 12th home run and could have added to the margin in the third. Kansas City loaded the bases with one out, but Hunter Dozier grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Kansas City stranded two more batters in the fourth but had pushed Norris’ pitch count to 84.
Jeimer Candelario led off the fourth with a single — Detroit’s first hit — and Christin Stewart moved him to third with a hit-and-run single before Nicholas Castellanos tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
The Royals regained the lead with two runs in the sixth off Drew VerHagen (3-3). With two out, Alcides Escobar and Rosell Herrera singled before Herrera stole second. Gallagher blooped a ball to shallow left, and Stewart couldn’t make a sliding catch.
GET IN THERE
Harold Castro made his major league debut, entering as a pinch-runner for Greiner in the ninth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: CF JaCoby Jones missed the game after aggravating a shoulder injury while attempting a diving catch on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Royals: Start a two-game series in Cincinnati on Tuesday. Eric Skoglund (1-5, 5.60 ERA) starts the opener against Matt Harvey (7-9, 4.92).
Tigers: Begin a three-game series in Minnesota on Tuesday, with Spencer Turnbull (0-1, 10.80) taking the mound.
Tigers roll past winless Lions
JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State racked up 653 yards of offense and scored their second most points in an MIAA game as they roll past Missouri Southern 55-20 Saturday night at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. The Tigers (3-1) scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions in building a 21-3 first quarter lead and led 35-6 at halftime and were up 52-6 late in the third quarter.
It’s FHSU’s sixth straight win over the Lions and fourth straight in Joplin. MSSU (0-4) has 17 straight games dating back to 2016 and drops their first game under interim coach Joe Bettasso.
Chris Brown Postgame Press Conference
Jacob Mezera Postgame Interview
Tevin Evans Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Jacob Mezera completed 15 of 23 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns to move into second place on the Tigers career touchdown pass list with 51. Mezera hit Manny Ramsey on a 15-yard strike to put them up 14-0. He also connected with tight Jacoby Williams on an 11-yard score and twice with tight end Matt Wendelberger from 21 and nine yards.
Wendelberger tied a career-high with seven receptions for a career-best 145 yards.
Charles Tigner scored on a 55-yard run on the Tigers second play of the game and finished with 116 yards, the second 100-yard game in his career.
Backup quarterback Chance Fuller played much of the second half and completed 10 of 18 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. The Texas redshirt freshman hit Manny Ramsey on a 47-yard strike then hit Andrew Jay on a 13-yard TD pass to push their lead to 42-6 early in the third.
Tevin Evans made his first start and led the defense with 14 tackles. Tanner Hoekman, Connor Shedeed and Hayden Kreutzer.
Hays High Volleyball third in Wamego
By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post
WAMEGO, Kan.-Christin Nunnery knew her team needed to find a way to dig deep and win some tough matches. They needed to play through some adversity. The Hays High Lady Indian Volleyball team did just that as they went 4-2 and finished third on Saturday at the Wamego Tournament.
Things did not start out well for the Lady Indians as they opened with a three set loss to Riley County (15-25, 25-11, 20-25). Hays would follow that up with a three set win over St. Marys (23-25, 25-15, 25-19) to even their pool play
record at 1-1. Next up was Mission Valley which turned into a straight set win (27-25, 25-17). In the last match of pool play the Lady Indians needed a win over Holton to guarantee a spot in the championship bracket and they did just that dispatching the Lady Wildcats in three sets (25-21, 23-25, 25-22). Hays trailed 22-18 in the third set but flipped the script and scored the last seven points to secure the victory.
The Lady Indians opened up championship bracket play against Circle High School. Hays looked like they had endured a long day of volleyball as they fell (20-25, 15-25). The loss sent Hays High to the third place match against the powerful Nemaha Central Thunder. The Lady Indians summoned their inner strength and competitive drive and dominated the Thunder winning in two sets (25-20, 25-18) to take third place.
Hays put up some impressive stats on the day. Senior Hannah McGuire led the team in assists each match and finished with 98 assists for the day. Tasiah Nunnery led the team in kills each match and finished with 73 of them. Kallie Leiker, Brooklyn Schaffer and McGuire paced they team in digs throughout the day while Jaycee Dale and Jaysa Wichers were dominant at the net throughout the tournamen.
With the 4-2 finish the Lady Indians improve to 8-8 on the season. They will play their first home matches of the season on Thursday as they host a quadrangular with Salina South, Abilene and Norton.
CHRISTIN NUNNERY INTERVIEW
TMP-Marian volleyball finishes second at Holcomb Invite
HOLCOMB, Kan. – The TMP-Marian volleyball team went 3-2 and finisheds second at the Holcomb Invitational Saturday. The Monarchs finished second in pool play with a 2-1 record. They picked up a two-set sweep of Goodland (25-22, 25-16), lost in two Ulysses (19-25, 17-25) then beat Lakin (25-12, 25-16).
The Monarchs knocked off Dodge City in the the first round of bracket play (25-18, 26-24) then fell to Ulysses in the championship match (23-25, 17-25).
Emilee Lane led TMP with 47 kills on the day. Sophia Coulter had 49 asists, Jillian Lowe had 41 digs and Emilee Augustine 40. Kallyn DeWitt provided seven blocks.
The Monarchs are now 13-10 on the season.
Listen to the Holthus Hotline with ‘Voice of the Chiefs’ Mitch Holthus
High school football scoreboard week 4
Western Athletic Conference
Hays (1-2) 28 Garden City (0-3) 35
Dodge City (2-1) 15 Great Bend (2-1) 35
Liberal (1-2) 8 Wichita Southeast (2-0) 14
Mid-Continent League
Smith Center (2-1) 21 Plainville (2-1) 10
Central Plains League
Ellis (0-3) 44 LaCrosse (2-1) 34
Great West Activities Conference
Oakley (2-1) 22 Goodland (0-3) 0
Ulysses (2-1) 0 Scott City (3-0) 47
2A District 7
Ellinwood (2-1) (0-0) 0 Lakin (3-0) (0-0) 47
Lyons (0-3) (0-0) 21 Sterling (0-3) (0-0) 55
2A District 8
Hoisington (2-1) (0-0) 42 TMP (1-2) (0-0) 0
Phillipsburg (3-0) (0-0) 56 Norton (1-2) (0-0) 20
Minneapolis (1-2) (0-0) 14 Ellsworth (1-2) (0-0) 13
3A District 7
Larned (0-3) (0-0) 0 Pratt (3-0) (0-0) 55
3A District 8
Colby (3-0) (0-0) 39 Beloit (2-1) (0-0) 14
8Man 1 – District 5
Central Plains (3-0) (0-0) 46 Little River (3-0) (0-0) 0
St. John (0-3) (0-0) 6 Macksville (1-2) (0-0) 52
Moundridge (1-2) (0-0) 26 Pratt-Skyline (1-2) (0-0) 18
8Man 1 – District 6
Kiowa Co. (3-0) (0-0) 12 Hodgeman Co. (3-0) (0-0) 62
Ness City (2-1) (0-0) 54 South Gray (1-2) (0-0) 18
Spearville(2-1) (0-0) 60 Kinsley (1-2) (0-0) 14
8Man 1 – District 7
Victoria (2-1) (0-0) 52 Lincoln (2-1) (0-0) 0
Clifton-Clyde (3-0) (0-0) 64 Hill City (2-1) (0-0) 14
Washington Co. (2-1) (0-0) 8 Stockton (1-2) (0-0) 56
8Man 1 – District 8
Wichita Co. (3-0) (0-0) 20 Hoxie (3-0) (0-0) 36
St. Francis (3-0) (0-0) 50 Decatur Community (2-1) (0-0) 0
Trego Community (2-1) (0-0) 58 Rawlins Co. (1-2) (0-0) 12
8Man 2 – District 5
Osborne (2-1) (0-0) 60 Sylvan-Lucas (2-1) (0-0) 14
Northern Valley (3-0) (0-0) 14 Thunder Ridge (2-1) (0-0) 24
Wilson (1-2) (0-0) 6 Logan-Palco (1-2) (0-0) 52
8Man 2 – District 6
Greeley Co. (1-2) (0-0) 38 Dighton (1-2) (0-0) 62
Quinter (0-2) (0-0) 28 Triplains-Brewster (1-2) (0-0) 36
8Man 2 – District 8
Otis-Bison (2-1) (2-0) 46 Satanta (2-1) (1-0) 0
6-Man
North
Golden Plains (3-0) 92 Cheylin (2-0) 47
South
Pawnee Heights (2-0) 21 Ashland (2-0) 67
Moscow (1-2) 44 Deerfield (0-2) 0
Rolla (0-3) 13 Fowler (1-2) 61

Listen as the ‘Voice of the Chiefs’ Mitch Holthus recaps last week’s win at Pittsburgh and previews Sunday’s home opener with San Francisco.