By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jake Locker threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, Alex Smith was intercepted three times and the Tennessee Titans rolled to a 26-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Locker picked apart a Chiefs defense that lost linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive tackle Mike DeVito to Achilles injuries. Locker was 22 of 33 and found eight different players, including former Chiefs wide receiver Dexter McCluster.

Kendall Wright and Delanie Walker had TD catches for the Titans, and Ryan Succop was perfect on four field-goal attempts against the team that released him last weekend.

Smith was 19 of 35 for 202 yards and a touchdown for a Chiefs offense missing suspended wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and right tackle Donald Stephenson.

Kansas Athletics

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The score read Kansas 34, Southeast Missouri State 7, at the beginning of the fourth quarterSaturday evening at Memorial Stadium. All of a sudden, the Redhawks exploded to hang 21-straight points on the Jayhawks after three fourth quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Kyle Snyder.

SEMO trailed by only six points with 1:33 left on the clock. Both teams knew what would ensue after the last touchdown pass. SEMO lined up for an onside kick and when the ball left the tee, just like it had all night, it found its way into Kansas senior wide receiver Nick Harwell’s arms to put a 34-28 seal on a wild finish in the evening contest.

For the fourth-straight year – nine out of the last 10 tries – the Kansas football team opened its season with a victory, edging the second half comeback by a feisty Southeast Missouri State.

In all, the Jayhawk offense posted 457 yards of total offense pounding the Redhawks between the tackles for 261 yards on the ground and going over the top to finish with 196 yards passing with four trips to the endzone. KU’s 457-yard performance was the most for a Kansas team since the Jayhawks tallied 441 yards against Iowa State on Nov. 17, 2012. Both offenses came to play in the game as Southeast Missouri State gained 421 yards from scrimmage – a large majority of which were produced in the second half rally – to finish with four touchdowns of its own.

A tandem of newcomers, Harwell and junior running back De’Andre Mann, led the Jayhawk offense in the first half. After a long anticipated return to the game action after nearly two years of being sidelined, Harwell made his first catch in a KU uniform a memorable one hauling in a seven yard touchdown reception from sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart. Harwell would add on and grab another touchdown pass while finishing the night with a team-high four catches for 46 yards. Cozart finished the game completing 12-of-24 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

In another debut performance, highly touted freshman running back Corey Avery carried the ball 19 times for 91 yards and a 10-yard score becoming the first freshman running back since James Sims in 2010 to record a rushing touchdown in his debut.

After a lackluster first half, SEMO’s Snyder ended the evening connecting on 12-of-27 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, while also throwing three interceptions. Wide receiver Paul McRoberts hauled in six of those passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns nearly completing a 24-point rally to knock off the Jayhawks.

KU began the game playing stout defense stuffing SEMO for five-consecutive three-and-outs in the first quarter. Freshman cornerback Matthew Boating ended the Redhawks’ second drive with his first-career interception, while senior cornerback Dexter McDonald tied his career total with two picks in the contest. McDonald became the first Kansas player to pick off two passes in a game since teammate Isaiah Johnson accomplished the same feat in 2013 against Texas.

SEMO tightened up its own defense after allowing the Jayhawks 24-unanswered first half points. In the end, linebacker Roper Garrett led all tacklers with 14 stops and a forced fumble. For Kansas, senior linebacker Ben Heeney led the tackling brigade with 11 wrap-ups. Junior BUCK Micheal Reynolds added four stops of his own for KU including one and a half TFLs for a loss of four yards.

In all, 20 players made their debut in the Crimson and Blue as the Jayhawks motored through the first half, bursting out to a 24-0 lead. Senior wide receiver Tony Pierson kicked things off with a 39-yard rush to set the stage for a quick three-points on the opening drive, setting up sophomore kicker Matthew Wyman with a 43-yard attempt. Wyman’s try was successful and KU led 3-0.

Boateng kept the momentum for Kansas with his interception on SEMO’s ensuing drive, picking off Snyder on Southeast Missouri State’s own 36-yard line. Three plays later, it was classmate Avery, putting his stamp on the program with his first-career rushing touchdown, increasing the Jayhawks’ lead, 10-0, after a Wyman extra point.

The offense kept the throttle down as Cozart fired two-consecutive touchdown strikes to Harwell for the first and second TD passes of his career. All that action in the first quarter led to 24 points, the most opening period points KU has put on the board since it tallied 28 against Toledo in 2004.

The defense held its own against the SEMO charge with those five-consecutive three-and-outs. The Redhawks tallied just 20 yards during that span, while the Kansas offense boasted a total of 217 yards. Cozart finished the first half with two touchdown passes and 103 yards through the air as KU tallied 235 yards of total offense. SEMO chalked up 146 yards of offense, with Snyder accounting for nearly all of them with 133 through the air.

The second half sang a much different tune for both teams as they seemed to reverse roles. Suddenly the Redhawk defense stiffened and the KU offense struggled to move the ball, while leaving points on the field after missing two field goals, one blocked and one wide left. On the other hand, the KU defense had several miscues in the secondary allowing SEMO to climb back into the game after the three touchdown passes of 37, 68 and 26 yards.

As quickly as they climbed back into the game, the Redhawks saw their chances for an upset slowly dwindle away. Armed with only one timeout after their onside kick attempt bounced into Harwell’s arms, the Jayhawk offense ran out the remaining minute and a half and kicked off their season with a 34-28 victory.

Kansas hits the road for its first true road contest of the 2014 campaign, as the squad treks to Durham, North Carolina, to take on Duke, Saturday, Sept. 20. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jake Waters ran for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:30 left to push 20th-ranked Kansas State past host Iowa State 32-28 on Saturday.

Waters threw for 239 yards and ran for a career-high 138 yards for the Wildcats (2-0, 1-0 Big 12). They trailed by as much as 28-13 late in the first half before Waters rescued them on a game-winning drive.

Waters followed a key 23-yard completion to Tyler Lockett with a 25-yard run with just under two minutes left. Waters then capped an 80-yard drive that took just 1:31 with his second touchdown run of the day.

Jarvis West caught and threw touchdown passes and ran a punt back for a third TD for Iowa State (0-2, 0-1), which was held scoreless in the second half.

It was a tough loss for the Cyclones: They nearly knocked off a ranked opponent just a week after losing by 20 to FCS school North Dakota State.

Kansas State’s Randall Evans ripped the ball away from West for an interception with 9:15 left. The Wildcats went 54 yards in 74 seconds, moving within 28-26 on a 4-yard TD run by Charles Jones.

Waters looked like he had more than enough space to tie the game on a 2-point conversion run. But Kamari Cotton-Moya — who was ejected from last week’s loss for targeting — sprinted to the hole, turned Waters sideways at the goal line and preserved Iowa State’s lead.

That seemed like it would be the game’s key play. But Lockett’s crucial reception, which held up upon review, set the athletic Waters up to close the game out with his feet.

Jones added 75 yards rushing for the Wildcats.

Iowa State was in need of a decent showing after allowing 506 yards and getting shut out for the final 44 minutes last week.

The Wildcats made it look way too easy way too soon.

Lockett went 57 yards off a short catch just four plays in, and Jones walked in untouched from four yards out for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats tacked on a pair of field goals before Iowa State finally woke up.

The Cyclones flipped things around by relying on West’s versatility.

West kicked off his career day with a leaping 17-yard TD catch. He then took a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter.

West capped a brilliant first half with a perfectly thrown 29-yard TD pass to Allen Lazard off a double reverse. That made it 28-13 Iowa State, thrilling a capacity crowd that once seemed resigned to defeat.

West is just the fourth player since 1996 with a passing, receiving and punt return touchdown in the same game, according to STATS LCC.

But Kansas State pulled within 28-20 just before halftime on a plunge from Waters, and the Wildcats defense stuffed Iowa State on a fourth-and-1 to open the second half.

Iowa State answered by stuffing Waters on a fourth and inches early in the fourth quarter, prompting Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads to run onto the field while furiously pumping his fists.

It was a short-lived celebration for Rhoads, who fell to 0-6 against Kansas State.

Get the thoughts of the “Voice of the Chiefs” as they get set to play the Tennessee Titans in their season opener Sunday afternoon. The Holthus Hotline airs every Saturday during the Chiefs season at 8:30 am on your home for Chiefs football 96.9, KFIX.

Part 1

Part 2

Area Scores

Hays 12, Olathe Northwest 10
Phillipsburg 48, Hays-TMP-Marian 0
LaCrosse 28, Olpe 8
Central Plains 42, Victoria 24
Osborne 52, Thunder Ridge 28
Ness City 44, Kinsley 6
Norton 46, Ellis 0
Logan-Palco 50, Golden Plains 0
Wallace County 24, Rawlins County 12
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 68, Hill City 22
Oakley 14, Colby 10
Ellsworth 41, Russell 10
Smith Center 24, Plainville 0
Trego 70, Stockton 56
Otis-Bison 56, Macksville 6

Statewide Scores

Abilene 21, Royal Valley 0
Andale 41, Buhler 20
Andover 21, Goddard-Eisenhower 0
Andover Central 34, Valley Center 31
Anthony-Harper-Chaparral 47, Wichita Independent 13
Arkansas City 34, Winfield 13
Atchison 42, Pleasant Ridge 22
Atchison County 52, Hiawatha 27
Attica/Argonia 66, Cunningham 20
Balko, Okla. 40, Moscow 6
Basehor-Linwood 20, Baldwin 17, OT
Beaver, Okla. 46, Johnson-Stanton County 0
Bennington 8, Remington 7
Bishop Miege 51, BV Northwest 36
Blue Valley Southwest 26, BV North 19
Blue Valley Stillwell 29, SM Northwest 0
Cair Paravel 60, St. John’s Military 26
Caldwell 8, Central Burden 6
Caney Valley 35, Yates Center 0
Chapman 39, Circle 14
Chase 50, Wheatland-Grinnell 0
Chase County 36, West Franklin 21
Cheney 35, Garden Plain 21
Cherryvale 14, Humboldt 0
Chetopa 56, Marmaton Valley 0
Columbus 25, Chanute 14
Concordia 26, Beloit 0
Conway Springs 55, Bluestem 14
DeSoto 70, KC Harmon 8
Dodge City 27, Wichita West 18
El Dorado 17, Mulvane 15
Ell-Saline 20, Inman 8
Emporia 45, Washburn Rural 44
Eudora 35, Bonner Springs 27
Fort Scott 30, Parsons 0
Frankfort 38, Clifton-Clyde 30
Fredonia 27, Erie 6
Goodland 52, Wray, Colo. 28
Greeley County 32, Weskan 31
Halstead 22, Haven 14
Hanover 52, Axtell 12
Hesston 27, Smoky Valley 7
Hodgeman County 58, Kiowa County 12
Holcomb 36, Cimarron 0
Horton 46, Jackson Heights 14
Hugoton 31, Guymon, Okla. 23
Hutchinson Trinity 39, Sedgwick 14
Independence 41, Labette County 10
Junction City 48, Highland Park 12
Kapaun Mount Carmel 35, Wichita East 18
KC Piper 20, Lansing 14
KC Sumner 8, KC Bishop Ward 0
KC Turner 26, KC Washington 14
Kingman 20, Nickerson 0
Lakin 53, Syracuse 8
Larned 21, Hoisington 20
Lawton, Okla. 49, Salina Central 3
Leavenworth 19, Great Bend 0
Lincoln 52, Tescott 6
Linn 52, Wilson 16
Little River 46, Rural Vista 22
Louisburg 19, Ottawa 0
Lyndon 47, Herington 6
Maize 20, Derby 13
Maize South 28, Goddard 0
Manhattan 28, Shawnee Heights 25
Marais des Cygnes Valley 48, Lebo 0
Marion 38, Moundridge 7
Maur Hill – Mount Academy 50, Immaculata 0
McLouth 41, Jefferson North 6
Medicine Lodge 15, Belle Plaine 9
Mission Valley 33, Osage City 12
Nemaha Central 35, Sabetha 27
Neodesha 14, Northeast-Arma 12
Newton 32, Wichita Campus 12
Northern Heights 35, Council Grove 18
Northern Valley 40, Alma, Neb. 15
Oberlin-Decatur 46, Hoxie 14
Olathe East 26, Garden City 14
Olathe North 18, Rogers Heritage, Ark. 13
Olathe South 24, Hutchinson 2
Oskaloosa 32, Valley Falls 30
Oxford 72, South Haven 38
Peabody-Burns 54, Goessel 8
Perry-Lecompton 45, Tonganoxie 20
Phillipsburg 48, Hays-TMP-Marian 0
Pittsburg 27, Coffeyville 14
Prairie View 3, Wellsville 0
Pratt 13, Lyons 3
Pratt Skyline 48, South Barber 32
Quinter 62, Dighton/Healy 40
Riverside 35, Jefferson West 14
Riverton 21, Girard 9
Rock Hills 60, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 6
Rossville 41, Clay Center 7
Santa Fe Trail 35, Iola 0
Satanta 50, Bucklin 0
Scott City 37, Clearwater 0
Silver Lake 18, Holton 7
SM East 40, Gardner-Edgerton 0
SM South 42, SM North 14
Solomon 62, Centre 36
South Central 52, Ashland 6
Southeast 36, Baxter Springs 0
Southeast Saline 54, Salina Sacred Heart 13
Spearville 32, Madison 28
Spring Hill 14, Paola 13
St. James Academy 35, Pleasant Hill, Mo. 7
St. Mary’s 8, Marysville 0
St. Thomas Aquinas 34, Mill Valley 24
Stafford 34, Pretty Prairie 26
Sylvan-Lucas 26, Natoma 6
Topeka 69, KC Schlagle 0
Topeka Hayden 56, Topeka Seaman 7
Troy 30, Washington County 0
Udall 56, Norwich 6
Ulysses 38, Liberal 6
Wakefield 50, BV Randolph 0
Wamego 34, Rock Creek 10
Waverly 26, Southern Coffey 20
Wellington 27, Augusta 13
West Elk 46, St. Paul 0
Wichita Bishop Carroll 43, Wichita Northwest 14
Wichita Collegiate 28, Rose Hill 6
Wichita Heights 35, Wichita Southeast 0
Wichita Home School 45, Veritas Christian 0
Wichita Trinity 32, Douglass 0
Word of Life 36, Bishop Seabury Academy 0