2A: Trinity Catholic at Kingman, Haven hosts Garden Plain

5A: Hutchinson at Bishop Carroll4A: Buhler hosts Abilene2A: Trinity Catholic at Kingman, Haven hosts Garden Plain

Reno County Football Playoff Pairings for October 29, 2021

Kansas High School Football Scores October 22, 2021

Destiny Christian, Okla. 50, Wichita Sunrise 0

Flint Hills Christian 50, Wichita Life Prep 0

Kapaun Mount Carmel 35, Wichita Heights 7

Maur Hill - Mount Academy 24, Riverside 21

Kansas High School Football Scores October 22, 2021Andale 29, Wichita Collegiate 6Andover Central 35, Arkansas City 0Atchison 21, KC Washington 20Attica/Argonia 58, Fairfield 8Axtell 54, Onaga 8BV Northwest 21, BV West 0Basehor-Linwood 34, Pittsburg 27Bennington 34, Herington 28Blue Valley 42, BV Southwest 14Buhler 76, Circle 0Burlingame 36, Doniphan West 28Burlington 20, Iola 18Caldwell 72, Chase 6Canton-Galva 54, Lincoln 0Central Plains 46, Wilson 0Chanute 56, Labette County 0Chapman 42, Concordia 26Chase County 46, Oxford 0Cheney 56, Larned 20Clay Center 66, Council Grove 8Clifton-Clyde 58, Maranatha Academy 6Coffeyville 19, Fort Scott 8Colby 38, Goodland 12Crest 86, Marmaton Valley 50DeSoto 45, Kearney, Mo. 28Derby 52, Maize South 14Destiny Christian, Okla. 50, Wichita Sunrise 0Dighton 34, Bucklin 14Dodge City 57, Wichita Southeast 0Douglass 34, Belle Plaine 14Ell-Saline 43, Ellinwood 7Ellis 15, Cimarron 14Erie 51, Neodesha 0Eudora 33, Spring Hill 7Eureka 32, Jayhawk Linn 6Flint Hills Christian 50, Wichita Life Prep 0Flinthills 52, Udall 6Frankfort 56, Linn 6Galena 37, Baxter Springs 16Garden City 28, Great Bend 21Garden Plain 70, Bluestem 6Gardner-Edgerton 27, SM West 6Girard 13, Frontenac 6Goddard-Eisenhower 42, Valley Center 7Goessel 38, Medicine Lodge 22Halstead 46, Wichita Trinity 13Hanover 52, Wetmore 6Haven 42, Sterling 12Hays-TMP-Marian 40, Lakin 16Hesston 60, Clearwater 20Hill City 54, Oberlin-Decatur 0Hillsboro 48, Hutchinson Trinity 8Hoisington 7, Beloit 6Holcomb 61, Hugoton 21Holton 54, Jefferson West 0Hoxie 64, Rawlins County 28Inman 38, Smith Center 15Jackson Heights 48, Horton 7Junction City 48, Highland Park 8KC Northeast, Mo. 61, KC Harmon 0KC Piper 41, Bonner Springs 21KC Wyandotte 24, KC Schlagle 22Kapaun Mount Carmel 35, Wichita Heights 7Kingman 41, Chaparral 0La Crosse 56, Kiowa County 0Lakeside 56, BV Randolph 6Lawrence 27, Lawrence Free State 19Leavenworth 42, KC Sumner 14Lebo 56, Marais des Cygnes Valley 0Liberal 77, Wichita North 26Little River 48, Solomon 0Lyndon 38, Uniontown 6Macksville 30, Kinsley 22Madison/Hamilton 50, Burden Central 0Maize 42, Hutchinson 14Manhattan 57, Emporia 0Marion 36, Lyons 13Maur Hill - Mount Academy 24, Riverside 21McPherson 56, Augusta 28Meade 52, Hodgeman County 0Mill Valley 55, SM North 0Minneola 54, Satanta 18Moundridge 52, Pretty Prairie 6Mulvane 40, Wellington 26Ness City 50, Spearville 0Norton 20, Phillipsburg 6Oakley 62, Sublette 6Olathe North 35, Olathe Northwest 13Olathe South 28, Olathe East 14Olpe 53, Northeast-Arma 0Osage City 42, Humboldt 30Osawatomie 30, Baldwin 14Osborne 60, Pike Valley 34Oskaloosa 25, McLouth 8Oswego 51, Cedar Vale/Dexter Co-op 6Paola 21, Louisburg 7Parsons 36, Cherryvale 0Perry-Lecompton 27, Santa Fe Trail 21Plainville 56, Salina Sacred Heart 0Platte County, Mo. 39, Lansing 3Pleasanton 20, Central Heights 7Prairie View 35, Anderson County 7Pratt 54, Nickerson 18Quinter 48, Logan/Palco 0Remington 22, Elkhart 6Republic County 18, Ellsworth 12Riley County 25, Marysville 13Riverton 24, Pittsburg Colgan 20Rock Creek 51, Royal Valley 7Rose Hill 10, Independence 3Rossville 51, Mission Valley 6SM Northwest 49, SM South 7Sabetha 42, Hiawatha 0Salina Central 49, Salina South 14Sedan 68, Marmaton Valley 0Sedgwick 28, Conway Springs 14Shawnee Heights 60, KC Turner 0Silver Lake 59, Pleasant Ridge 24Smoky Valley 35, Russell 0South Barber 46, South Haven 0South Central 60, Ingalls 12South Gray 66, Satanta 20Southeast 28, Fredonia 12Southeast Saline 42, Scott City 0St. James Academy 45, Bishop Miege 28St. John's Beloit-Tipton 52, Rock Hills 6St. Mary's 46, Atchison County 12St. Paul 38, Southern Coffey 22St. Thomas Aquinas 35, BV North 14Stafford 58, Hutchinson Central Christian 30Sylvan-Lucas 44, Tescott 0Thunder Ridge def. Southern Cloud, forfeitTonganoxie 38, Ottawa 10Topeka Hayden 31, KC Bishop Ward 28Topeka West 28, Topeka 22, OTTrego 70, Stockton 0Troy 46, Horton 21Valley Falls 28, Washington County 26Valley Heights 46, Northern Heights 0Victoria 47, Otis-Bison 0Wabaunsee 45, Centralia 40Wamego 45, Abilene 7Washburn Rural 42, Topeka Seaman 31Waverly 46, Chetopa 0Wellsville 49, West Franklin 0West Elk 54, Yates Center 6Wheatland-Grinnell 55, Triplains-Brewster 20Wichita Campus 31, Newton 10Wichita East 26, Wichita Bishop Carroll 19Wichita Northwest 61, Hays 40Wichita South 48, Wichita West 28Winfield 24, El Dorado 12POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS=Hartford vs. Centre, ccd.Peabody-Burns vs. Norwich, ccd.

Week 8 of high school football in Kansas, with scores and reports...

Week 8 of high school football in Kansas, with scores and reports...<div><iframe title="October 22, 2021 KWBW Scoreboard Show" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=89ayh-111074c-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&btn-skin=7"></iframe></div>

October 22, 2021 KWBW Scoreboard Show

MAIZE, Kan.-The Hutchinson Salthawk Football team will travel to Maize tonight to take on the Maize Eagles with the kickoff set for 7pm.

Join the Eagle Radio Sports Team on KWBW 1450am/98.5fm or hutch post.com for all the action beginning with the Statewide Kansas Kickoff Show at 6pm followed by the Salthawk Football Pregame at 6:30pm.

Download the BW or Hutchpost app and take it with you to the ball game or listed to Coach Vernon's post game by downloading below.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

MAIZE, Kan.-The Hutchinson Salthawk Football team will travel to Maize tonight to take on the Maize Eagles with the kickoff set for 7pm.Join the Eagle Radio Sports Team on KWBW 1450am/98.5fm or hutch post.com for all the action beginning with the Statewide Kansas Kickoff Show at 6pm followed by the Salthawk Football Pregame at 6:30pm.Download the BW or Hutchpost app and take it with you to the ball game or listed to Coach Vernon's post game by downloading below.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7-3AlnDoXGw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

LIVE VIDEO TV:  Hutch High Football at Maize High for last regular season game

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Eagle Radio Sports for Friday Morning" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=uvjv5-110eff8-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&btn-skin=7"></iframe></div><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

🎙 Eagle Radio Sports for Friday Morning

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coaches and athletic trainers occasionally force Travis Kelce to take a limited role in practice, just as they did this week as the team prepares to visit the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. It's usually the last thing the 32-year-old tight end wants to do. There's no doubt Kelce will take the field on Sunday against the Titans, yet his career hardly started as an NFL iron man. He played just one game as a rookie in 2013 without a catch before a microfracture knee surgery ended his season. Since then, Kelce has played 116 games while sitting out just twice – season finales in 2017 and 2020 when head coach Andy Reid rested his starters. He's also made a catch in each of those 116 games. &nbsp;

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are in catch-up mode sitting at the bottom of the AFC West they've won the past five seasons. The Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to prove they're a team to be reckoned with in the AFC. Now the Chiefs visit Tennessee on Sunday in the first game since Kansas City beat the Titans in January 2020 for the first of back-to-back AFC championships. Titans quarterback says that was two years ago and they're not to get hung up on that loss. Tennessee has won four of five. The Chiefs are 1-3 against AFC teams this season.&nbsp;

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tensions are high in NASCAR as the season races toward next month's championship finales. Drivers are pushing hard and and tempers are rising. Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin had a terse exchange on social media this week over the race in Texas. It brings up key questions: Should non-playoff drivers move out of the way of title contenders? Are drivers taking too many risks trying to make it to the championship round? The Xfinity and Cup series are in Kansas this weekend.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 8 Oklahoma State has proved it can win close games and recent history indicates the Cowboys will play another one Saturday when they visit Iowa State. Each of the last six meetings has been decided by seven points or less with the Cowboys winning all but one. Four of their six wins this season have been by eight points or less. Coach Mike Gundy says his unbeaten Cowboys don't have the type of team that is going to blow out any opponent. Iowa State has posted two straight convincing wins over Kansas and Kansas State.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech is looking for consecutive wins in Big 12 games for the first time under third-year coach Matt Wells when Kansas State visits Saturday. The Red Raiders have done it just once the past five years. The Wildcats have won nine of the past 10 in the series but are on an eight-game losing streak in league games going back to last season. That's the longest skid since Kansas State joined the Big 12 in 1996.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's top four scorers have left with Dru Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon graduating, Xavier Pinson transferring to LSU and Mark Smith heading across the border to Kansas State. Drew Buggs also entered the transfer portal. That left Kobe Brown and Javon Pickett as the only Tigers who played regular minutes last year. Coach Cuonzo Martin has fortified his roster with Kansas State transfer Dajuan Gordon and three other Division I transfers along with a loaded freshman class. The hope now is they come together quickly for a tough nonconference schedule.

UNDATED (AP) — Fifth-ranked Ohio State plays at Indiana on Saturday in one of the top games in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have the No. 1 offense in the country and their defense is picking up steam. No. 25 Purdue has its first ranking since 2007 and will match its conference-best passing offense against visiting Wisconsin's the top pass defense. Sixth-ranked Michigan will host Northwestern. The Wolverines have won 11 of the last 12 against the Wildcats. No. 7 Penn State has not named a starter for its home game against Illinois. Maryland is a 4 1/2-point underdog at Minnesota.&nbsp;

UNDATED (AP) — Eight-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma State is preparing to play an Iowa State team that began this season in the top 10. The Cyclones then lost at home to Iowa before dropping their Big 12 opener at Baylor. They could still get back in position to make their second Big 12 championship game in a row. A win over Oklahoma State would provide a big boost. Both the Cyclones and Cowboys still have to play third-ranked and six-time defending champ Oklahoma. In other Big 12 games this week, Oklahoma is at Kansas; West Virginia goes to TCU; and Kansas State visits Texas Tech.&nbsp;

UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are still alive in the NL Championship Series after snapping out of their hitting funk while getting an outstanding performance from six relievers.

Chris Taylor slammed three home runs and drove in six as the Dodgers clobbered the Braves, 11-2 in Game 5, sending the series back to Atlanta. Taylor belted two-run homers in the second and fifth innings before delivering a solo shot. He overshadowed teammate AJ Pollock, who provided a solo shot and a three-run blast. 

Taylor had four of the Dodgers' 17 hits, while Pollock, Trea Turner and Cody Bellinger had three apiece.

The LA bullpen limited Atlanta to three runs while striking out nine over 8 1/3 innings. Dodgers relievers allowed their team to rebound after starter Joe Kelly left with an injury in the first inning, shortly after giving up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman.

Losing pitcher Max Fried (freed) was lifted with two out in the fifth, charged with five runs and eight hits.

Braves slugger Jorge Soler (soh-LEHR') struck out as a pinch-hitter after being cleared for COVID-19.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner is done for the season following a hamstring injury sustained in Wednesday's loss. 

HOUSTON (AP) — It will be Luis Garcia starting for the Astros against Boston's Nathan Eovaldi (eh-VAHL'-dee) in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series on Friday. 

Astros manager Dusty Baker announced his pitching selection Thursday afternoon as his team holds a three-games-to-two lead in the series. García started Game 2 and gave up a grand slam in the first inning before leaving with no outs in the second because of discomfort in his right knee. 

UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have begun their season in much the same manner they ended the previous regular season.

Cam Reddish scored 20 points and Trae Young added 19 in the Hawks' 113-87 rout of Luka Doncic (LOO'-kah DAHN-chihch) and the Mavericks. Atlanta added to a seven-point, halftime lead by outscoring Dallas, 35-20 in the third quarter. Young scored 12 points and dished out nine assists in the decisive period.

Reddish led a stellar effort from the deep Hawks bench, which contributed 44 points.

Doncic was held to 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting, to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists.

— Tyler Herro (HEE'-roh) scored 27 points in 24 minutes off the bench as the Heat blew out the Bucks, 137-95. Miami took control for good by outscoring the defending NBA champs, 40-17 in the first quarter. Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY'-oh) provided 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Jimmy Butler chipped in 21 points.

— Stephen Curry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 56.8 seconds remaining as part of his 45-point performance in the Warriors' 115-113 triumph over the Clippers. Damion Lee hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:55 remaining and scored 11 points off the bench for Golden State. Paul George had 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the Clippers' season opener.

NBA completes announcement of Top-75 team

UNDATED (AP) — The NBA's 75th Anniversary Team team is actually a 76-man roster following a tie in the voting.

The list of newcomers announced Thursday include Dominique Wilkins and Bob McAdoo, who were curiously left off the top-50 team 25 years ago.

The other newcomers announced on Thursday are Dennis Rodman, Ray Allen, Dwyane (dwayn) Wade, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Paul Pierce, along with Stephen Curry, Reggie Miller, Kawhi (kah-WY') Leonard, Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

After Kanter's Tibet comments, Celtics blacked out in China

UNDATED (AP) — Chinese broadcaster and NBA partner Tencent is not showing current or archived Boston Celtics games on its platforms, in apparent response to comments that Celtics center Enes Kanter made to advocate Tibetan independence.

Kanter, as part of a series of social media posts, also called Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) a "dictator." 

Kanter was wearing shoes emblazoned with the words "Free Tibet" during Wednesday night's game.

It's not immediately clear how long Tencent's plans to not air the Celtics would last.

Browns backups lead win over slumping Broncos

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns put together just enough offense with quarterback Baker Mayfield and running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt out with calf injuries.

Third-string back D'Ernest Johnson rushed for 146 yards in guiding the Browns' offense in a 17-14 victory over Denver. Johnson scored on a 4-yard run in the first half and picked up 52 yards on seven carries as the Browns chewed up the final 5:17.

Case Keenum threw for a TD and was 21 of 33 for 199 yards in his first start in two years.

Denver quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw a pair of TD passes and gutted it out while playing with foot and quadriceps injuries. He finished 23 of 33 for 187 yards with one interception.

The Broncos finished the game without linebacker Von Miller because of a sprained ankle.

The Browns improved to 4-3, while the Broncos dropped their fourth in a row since a 3-0 start.

UNDATED (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have signed veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus in hopes of boosting not only their pass rush but their championship hopes.

A first-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2012, Mercilus had 57 sacks in nine-plus seasons. He has three sacks this season, but only one season of eight-plus sacks. 

The Texans released the 31-year-old this week.

— Wide receiver/return specialist Andre Roberts signed with the Chargers after being released earlier this week by the Texans. Roberts is in his 11th season and is one of the league's top kick and punt returns. 

— Former Cowboys offensive lineman Brandon Knight says he's taking a break from football to address his mental health. Knight went from the Cowboys to Baltimore via waivers this week, but he did not report to the Ravens.

— A Congressional committee is seeking documents and information from the NFL regarding the investigation into the Washington Football Team and how the league handled it. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform said today it sent a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell requesting by Nov. 4 all documents and communication about the probe into the workplace culture within the team. Lawyers representing 40 former employees of the Washington Football Team have urged the league to immediately release the full findings of the investigation. 

UNDATED (AP) — The Florida Panthers are 4-0 for the first time in team history.

Sam Bennett scored the go-ahead goal and Sergei Bobrovsky (boh-BRAHF'-skee) recorded his 300th NHL win as the Panthers dumped the Avalanche, 4-1. Bennett's power-play goal put the Panthers ahead 2-1 midway through the second period.

Anton Lundell (luhn-DEHL') had a goal and an assist for Florida, which also received goals from Carter Verhaeghe (vur-HAY'-gee) and Sam Reinhart.

— Jesperi Kotkaniemi (kaht-kan-YEH'-mee) scored his first goal for Carolina in his return to Montreal, helping the Hurricanes beat the winless Canadiens, 4-1. Sebastian Aho (AH'-hoh) had two goals and an assist against the Habs, who are 0-5 just months after reaching the Stanley Cup Final.

— Daniel Sprong set up the Capitals' first goal and scored on a second-period breakaway to lead a 4-1 victory over the Devils. Evgeny Kuznetsov (kooz-NEHT'-sahv) scored for the third time in two games for Washington, which also received goals from Anthony Mantha and Dmitry Orlov in improving to 3-0-1.

— The Blue Jackets pulled out a 3-2 win over the Islanders on Patrik Laine's (LY'-nayz) goal 1:49 into overtime. Elvis Merzlikins (murz-LEE'-kihns) made 28 saves as Columbus improved to 3-1.

— Alexis Lafrenière (ah-LEX'-ee lah-frehn-YEHR') furnished the tiebreaking goal with 9:07 remaining in the third period of the Rangers' 3-1 verdict over the Predators. Filip Chytil (HEE'-tul) and Barclay Goodrow (GOO'-droh) also scored and Igor Shesterkin (shehs-TUR'-kihn) made 28 saves in New York's third win in a row.

— The Flames blanked the Red Wings, 3-0 as Jacob Markstrom made 33 saves in his ninth career shutout. Erik Gudbranson set up second-period goals by Elias (eh-LEE'-uhs) Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane (mahn-jah-PAH'-nee) before Matthew Tkachuk pushed a shot into an empty net.

— Jason Dickinson, Tanner Pearson and Brock Boeser (BEH'-sur) each scored their first goals of the season to help the Canucks defeat the winless Blackhawks, 4-1. Thatcher Demko made 29 saves and Conor Garland added an empty-netter with 1:02 left to secure Vancouver's first victory in four games.

— Logan Couture (koo-TOOR') and Kevin Labanc scored in the second period of the Sharks' 2-1 win over the Senators. James Reimer finished with 30 saves for the 3-0 Sharks.

— The Jets got their first win of the season as Kyle Connor scored twice and added an assist in a 5-1 downing of the Ducks. Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and assist as Winnipeg won while top forwards Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele (SHY'-flee) were in COVID-19 protocol. 

— Connor McDavid went over the 200-goal threshold for his career by scoring twice in Edmonton's 5-1 thumping of the Coyotes. Zach Hyman also tallied twice for the 4-0 Oilers.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Devils forward Jack Hughes is sidelined indefinitely with a dislocated left shoulder suffered in Tuesday's game against Seattle. 

The Devils say the top pick in the 2019 NHL draft has begun physical therapy and will not need surgery at this time. 

The team says Hughes will be re-evaluated next week. 

DALLAS (AP) — SMU has continued its perfect start to the season.

Tanner Mordecai leads the nation with 29 touchdown passes after tossing three more to lead the 21st-ranked Mustangs to a 55-26 romp over Tulane. Mordecai had 300 of his career-high 427 yards by halftime.

The Mustangs are a victory away from their second 8-0 start in the past three seasons as they get ready to play three of the next four games on the road, a stretch that ends with a trip to No. 2 Cincinnati.

American Athletic Conference rebuilding with 6 C-USA schools

UNDATED (AP) — The American Athletic Conference will add UAB, Texas-San Antonio, Rice, North Texas, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic to the league. 

The AAC is replacing three schools that are scheduled to depart for the Big 12 Conference and is growing to 14 teams. 

The additions all come from Conference USA, leaving that league both searching for new members and trying to fend off other poachers. The Sun Belt has said it is interested in expanding beyond its current 10 football members and some of C-USA's remaining eight schools would be geographic fits.

CHIBA, Japan (AP) — Japanese golfer Hiroshi Iwata topped the leaderboard heading into the second round of the PGA's Zozo Championship.

Iwata fired a 7-unduer 63 that gives him a one-stroke lead over Joaquin Niemann and 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama on the Narashino Country Club course.

Matt Wallace is two strokes back and one ahead of Brendan Steele.

Ko's LPGA streak ends as SKoreans pack Busan leaderboard

BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — Jin Young Ko missed extending an LPGA Tour scoring record in the rain while her South Korean compatriots packed the first-round leaderboard of the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea. 

Ko had 14 straight rounds in the 60s. That tied her with Annika Sorenstam and So Yeon Ryu for the most in tour history. But Ko finished with a 1-under 71 after a birdie on the 18th hole at LPGA International Busan. Ko was seven strokes behind leader Na Rin An's 64.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press</h2>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coaches and athletic trainers occasionally force Travis Kelce to take a limited role in practice, just as they did this week as the team prepares to visit the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. It's usually the last thing the 32-year-old tight end wants to do. There's no doubt Kelce will take the field on Sunday against the Titans, yet his career hardly started as an NFL iron man. He played just one game as a rookie in 2013 without a catch before a microfracture knee surgery ended his season. Since then, Kelce has played 116 games while sitting out just twice – season finales in 2017 and 2020 when head coach Andy Reid rested his starters. He's also made a catch in each of those 116 games. &nbsp;NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are in catch-up mode sitting at the bottom of the AFC West they've won the past five seasons. The Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to prove they're a team to be reckoned with in the AFC. Now the Chiefs visit Tennessee on Sunday in the first game since Kansas City beat the Titans in January 2020 for the first of back-to-back AFC championships. Titans quarterback says that was two years ago and they're not to get hung up on that loss. Tennessee has won four of five. The Chiefs are 1-3 against AFC teams this season.&nbsp;CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tensions are high in NASCAR as the season races toward next month's championship finales. Drivers are pushing hard and and tempers are rising. Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin had a terse exchange on social media this week over the race in Texas. It brings up key questions: Should non-playoff drivers move out of the way of title contenders? Are drivers taking too many risks trying to make it to the championship round? The Xfinity and Cup series are in Kansas this weekend.UNDATED (AP) — No. 8 Oklahoma State has proved it can win close games and recent history indicates the Cowboys will play another one Saturday when they visit Iowa State. Each of the last six meetings has been decided by seven points or less with the Cowboys winning all but one. Four of their six wins this season have been by eight points or less. Coach Mike Gundy says his unbeaten Cowboys don't have the type of team that is going to blow out any opponent. Iowa State has posted two straight convincing wins over Kansas and Kansas State.LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech is looking for consecutive wins in Big 12 games for the first time under third-year coach Matt Wells when Kansas State visits Saturday. The Red Raiders have done it just once the past five years. The Wildcats have won nine of the past 10 in the series but are on an eight-game losing streak in league games going back to last season. That's the longest skid since Kansas State joined the Big 12 in 1996.COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's top four scorers have left with Dru Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon graduating, Xavier Pinson transferring to LSU and Mark Smith heading across the border to Kansas State. Drew Buggs also entered the transfer portal. That left Kobe Brown and Javon Pickett as the only Tigers who played regular minutes last year. Coach Cuonzo Martin has fortified his roster with Kansas State transfer Dajuan Gordon and three other Division I transfers along with a loaded freshman class. The hope now is they come together quickly for a tough nonconference schedule.UNDATED (AP) — Fifth-ranked Ohio State plays at Indiana on Saturday in one of the top games in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have the No. 1 offense in the country and their defense is picking up steam. No. 25 Purdue has its first ranking since 2007 and will match its conference-best passing offense against visiting Wisconsin's the top pass defense. Sixth-ranked Michigan will host Northwestern. The Wolverines have won 11 of the last 12 against the Wildcats. No. 7 Penn State has not named a starter for its home game against Illinois. Maryland is a 4 1/2-point underdog at Minnesota.&nbsp;UNDATED (AP) — Eight-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma State is preparing to play an Iowa State team that began this season in the top 10. The Cyclones then lost at home to Iowa before dropping their Big 12 opener at Baylor. They could still get back in position to make their second Big 12 championship game in a row. A win over Oklahoma State would provide a big boost. Both the Cyclones and Cowboys still have to play third-ranked and six-time defending champ Oklahoma. In other Big 12 games this week, Oklahoma is at Kansas; West Virginia goes to TCU; and Kansas State visits Texas Tech.&nbsp;NLCS-DODGERS/BRAVESDodgers stay aliveUNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are still alive in the NL Championship Series after snapping out of their hitting funk while getting an outstanding performance from six relievers.Chris Taylor slammed three home runs and drove in six as the Dodgers clobbered the Braves, 11-2 in Game 5, sending the series back to Atlanta. Taylor belted two-run homers in the second and fifth innings before delivering a solo shot. He overshadowed teammate AJ Pollock, who provided a solo shot and a three-run blast. Taylor had four of the Dodgers' 17 hits, while Pollock, Trea Turner and Cody Bellinger had three apiece.The LA bullpen limited Atlanta to three runs while striking out nine over 8 1/3 innings. Dodgers relievers allowed their team to rebound after starter Joe Kelly left with an injury in the first inning, shortly after giving up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman.Losing pitcher Max Fried (freed) was lifted with two out in the fifth, charged with five runs and eight hits.Game 6 is Saturday in Atlanta.Braves slugger Jorge Soler (soh-LEHR') struck out as a pinch-hitter after being cleared for COVID-19.Dodgers infielder Justin Turner is done for the season following a hamstring injury sustained in Wednesday's loss. ALCS-ASTROS/RED SOXGame 6 starters announced HOUSTON (AP) — It will be Luis Garcia starting for the Astros against Boston's Nathan Eovaldi (eh-VAHL'-dee) in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series on Friday. Astros manager Dusty Baker announced his pitching selection Thursday afternoon as his team holds a three-games-to-two lead in the series. García started Game 2 and gave up a grand slam in the first inning before leaving with no outs in the second because of discomfort in his right knee. NBA-SCHEDULEHawks blast Mavs in season openerUNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have begun their season in much the same manner they ended the previous regular season.Cam Reddish scored 20 points and Trae Young added 19 in the Hawks' 113-87 rout of Luka Doncic (LOO'-kah DAHN-chihch) and the Mavericks. Atlanta added to a seven-point, halftime lead by outscoring Dallas, 35-20 in the third quarter. Young scored 12 points and dished out nine assists in the decisive period.Reddish led a stellar effort from the deep Hawks bench, which contributed 44 points.Doncic was held to 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting, to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists.Checking out the rest of the NBA action:— Tyler Herro (HEE'-roh) scored 27 points in 24 minutes off the bench as the Heat blew out the Bucks, 137-95. Miami took control for good by outscoring the defending NBA champs, 40-17 in the first quarter. Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY'-oh) provided 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Jimmy Butler chipped in 21 points.— Stephen Curry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 56.8 seconds remaining as part of his 45-point performance in the Warriors' 115-113 triumph over the Clippers. Damion Lee hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:55 remaining and scored 11 points off the bench for Golden State. Paul George had 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the Clippers' season opener.NBA-TOP 75 TEAMNBA completes announcement of Top-75 teamUNDATED (AP) — The NBA's 75th Anniversary Team team is actually a 76-man roster following a tie in the voting.The list of newcomers announced Thursday include Dominique Wilkins and Bob McAdoo, who were curiously left off the top-50 team 25 years ago.The other newcomers announced on Thursday are Dennis Rodman, Ray Allen, Dwyane (dwayn) Wade, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Paul Pierce, along with Stephen Curry, Reggie Miller, Kawhi (kah-WY') Leonard, Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.NBA-CHINAAfter Kanter's Tibet comments, Celtics blacked out in ChinaUNDATED (AP) — Chinese broadcaster and NBA partner Tencent is not showing current or archived Boston Celtics games on its platforms, in apparent response to comments that Celtics center Enes Kanter made to advocate Tibetan independence.Kanter, as part of a series of social media posts, also called Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) a "dictator." Kanter was wearing shoes emblazoned with the words "Free Tibet" during Wednesday night's game.It's not immediately clear how long Tencent's plans to not air the Celtics would last.NFL-BROWNS/BRONCOSBrowns backups lead win over slumping BroncosCLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns put together just enough offense with quarterback Baker Mayfield and running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt out with calf injuries.Third-string back D'Ernest Johnson rushed for 146 yards in guiding the Browns' offense in a 17-14 victory over Denver. Johnson scored on a 4-yard run in the first half and picked up 52 yards on seven carries as the Browns chewed up the final 5:17.Case Keenum threw for a TD and was 21 of 33 for 199 yards in his first start in two years.Denver quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw a pair of TD passes and gutted it out while playing with foot and quadriceps injuries. He finished 23 of 33 for 187 yards with one interception.The Broncos finished the game without linebacker Von Miller because of a sprained ankle.The Browns improved to 4-3, while the Broncos dropped their fourth in a row since a 3-0 start.NFL-PACKERS-MERCILUSPackers sign MercilusUNDATED (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have signed veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus in hopes of boosting not only their pass rush but their championship hopes.A first-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2012, Mercilus had 57 sacks in nine-plus seasons. He has three sacks this season, but only one season of eight-plus sacks. The Texans released the 31-year-old this week.Elsewhere around the NFL:— Wide receiver/return specialist Andre Roberts signed with the Chargers after being released earlier this week by the Texans. Roberts is in his 11th season and is one of the league's top kick and punt returns. — Former Cowboys offensive lineman Brandon Knight says he's taking a break from football to address his mental health. Knight went from the Cowboys to Baltimore via waivers this week, but he did not report to the Ravens.— A Congressional committee is seeking documents and information from the NFL regarding the investigation into the Washington Football Team and how the league handled it. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform said today it sent a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell requesting by Nov. 4 all documents and communication about the probe into the workplace culture within the team. Lawyers representing 40 former employees of the Washington Football Team have urged the league to immediately release the full findings of the investigation. NHL-SCHEDULECats still perfect after beating AvsUNDATED (AP) — The Florida Panthers are 4-0 for the first time in team history.Sam Bennett scored the go-ahead goal and Sergei Bobrovsky (boh-BRAHF'-skee) recorded his 300th NHL win as the Panthers dumped the Avalanche, 4-1. Bennett's power-play goal put the Panthers ahead 2-1 midway through the second period.Anton Lundell (luhn-DEHL') had a goal and an assist for Florida, which also received goals from Carter Verhaeghe (vur-HAY'-gee) and Sam Reinhart.Elsewhere on NHL ice:— Jesperi Kotkaniemi (kaht-kan-YEH'-mee) scored his first goal for Carolina in his return to Montreal, helping the Hurricanes beat the winless Canadiens, 4-1. Sebastian Aho (AH'-hoh) had two goals and an assist against the Habs, who are 0-5 just months after reaching the Stanley Cup Final.— Daniel Sprong set up the Capitals' first goal and scored on a second-period breakaway to lead a 4-1 victory over the Devils. Evgeny Kuznetsov (kooz-NEHT'-sahv) scored for the third time in two games for Washington, which also received goals from Anthony Mantha and Dmitry Orlov in improving to 3-0-1.— The Blue Jackets pulled out a 3-2 win over the Islanders on Patrik Laine's (LY'-nayz) goal 1:49 into overtime. Elvis Merzlikins (murz-LEE'-kihns) made 28 saves as Columbus improved to 3-1.— Alexis Lafrenière (ah-LEX'-ee lah-frehn-YEHR') furnished the tiebreaking goal with 9:07 remaining in the third period of the Rangers' 3-1 verdict over the Predators. Filip Chytil (HEE'-tul) and Barclay Goodrow (GOO'-droh) also scored and Igor Shesterkin (shehs-TUR'-kihn) made 28 saves in New York's third win in a row.— The Flames blanked the Red Wings, 3-0 as Jacob Markstrom made 33 saves in his ninth career shutout. Erik Gudbranson set up second-period goals by Elias (eh-LEE'-uhs) Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane (mahn-jah-PAH'-nee) before Matthew Tkachuk pushed a shot into an empty net.— Jason Dickinson, Tanner Pearson and Brock Boeser (BEH'-sur) each scored their first goals of the season to help the Canucks defeat the winless Blackhawks, 4-1. Thatcher Demko made 29 saves and Conor Garland added an empty-netter with 1:02 left to secure Vancouver's first victory in four games.— Logan Couture (koo-TOOR') and Kevin Labanc scored in the second period of the Sharks' 2-1 win over the Senators. James Reimer finished with 30 saves for the 3-0 Sharks.— The Jets got their first win of the season as Kyle Connor scored twice and added an assist in a 5-1 downing of the Ducks. Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and assist as Winnipeg won while top forwards Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele (SHY'-flee) were in COVID-19 protocol. — Connor McDavid went over the 200-goal threshold for his career by scoring twice in Edmonton's 5-1 thumping of the Coyotes. Zach Hyman also tallied twice for the 4-0 Oilers.NHL-NEWSDevils' Hughes has shoulder dislocationNEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Devils forward Jack Hughes is sidelined indefinitely with a dislocated left shoulder suffered in Tuesday's game against Seattle. The Devils say the top pick in the 2019 NHL draft has begun physical therapy and will not need surgery at this time. The team says Hughes will be re-evaluated next week. TOP 25 FOOTBALL-SMU/TULANEMustangs hammer Green WaveDALLAS (AP) — SMU has continued its perfect start to the season.Tanner Mordecai leads the nation with 29 touchdown passes after tossing three more to lead the 21st-ranked Mustangs to a 55-26 romp over Tulane. Mordecai had 300 of his career-high 427 yards by halftime.The Mustangs are a victory away from their second 8-0 start in the past three seasons as they get ready to play three of the next four games on the road, a stretch that ends with a trip to No. 2 Cincinnati.COLLEGE FOOTBALL-CONFERENCE REALIGNMENTAmerican Athletic Conference rebuilding with 6 C-USA schoolsUNDATED (AP) — The American Athletic Conference will add UAB, Texas-San Antonio, Rice, North Texas, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic to the league. The AAC is replacing three schools that are scheduled to depart for the Big 12 Conference and is growing to 14 teams. The additions all come from Conference USA, leaving that league both searching for new members and trying to fend off other poachers. The Sun Belt has said it is interested in expanding beyond its current 10 football members and some of C-USA's remaining eight schools would be geographic fits.PGA-ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPIwata carries lead into Round 2CHIBA, Japan (AP) — Japanese golfer Hiroshi Iwata topped the leaderboard heading into the second round of the PGA's Zozo Championship.Iwata fired a 7-unduer 63 that gives him a one-stroke lead over Joaquin Niemann and 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama on the Narashino Country Club course.Matt Wallace is two strokes back and one ahead of Brendan Steele.LPGA-SOUTH KOREAKo's LPGA streak ends as SKoreans pack Busan leaderboardBUSAN, South Korea (AP) — Jin Young Ko missed extending an LPGA Tour scoring record in the rain while her South Korean compatriots packed the first-round leaderboard of the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea. Ko had 14 straight rounds in the 60s. That tied her with Annika Sorenstam and So Yeon Ryu for the most in tour history. But Ko finished with a 1-under 71 after a birdie on the 18th hole at LPGA International Busan. Ko was seven strokes behind leader Na Rin An's 64.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sports Headlines for Friday

With a new coaching staff and entirely new roster, the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team was picked to finish fifth this season by a vote of the league’s coaches as the Jayhawk Conference released its annual preseason coaches’ poll on Thursday.

With several teams from the former Jayhawk East dropping to Division II this season, the 13 remaining KJCCC Division I teams will once again play in one conference with a double round-robin schedule. The KJCCC was last a one-division league from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

New Blue Dragon head coach Tommy DeSalme will introduce his new team to the public in a scrimmage at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Sports Arena and then officially open the season on November 3 against Fort Scott before playing host to the Blue Dragon/BSN Tipoff Classic on November 5 and 6.

The 2021-22 Blue Dragons will have an entirely new roster with 15 new players. Five players – Jacquez Yow, Cameron Robins, Kobe Campbell, Tarese Morse and Josiah Harris – followed DeSalme to Hutchinson from Cowley College.

The last time Hutchinson men’s basketball was picked this low in a preseason conference coaches poll was 2000 when the Blue Dragons were picked fourth in a nine-team Jayhawk West.

Defending national champion Coffeyville is the preseason pick to capture the 2021-22 league championship. Dodge City is picked second, followed by Butler, Colby and Hutchinson.

The Blue Dragons received votes in the preseason NJCAA rankings.

2021-22 KJCCC MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

STEVE CARPENTERHutchCC Sports InformationWith a new coaching staff and entirely new roster, the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team was picked to finish fifth this season by a vote of the league’s coaches as the Jayhawk Conference released its annual preseason coaches’ poll on Thursday.With several teams from the former Jayhawk East dropping to Division II this season, the 13 remaining KJCCC Division I teams will once again play in one conference with a double round-robin schedule. The KJCCC was last a one-division league from 2015-16 to 2017-18.New Blue Dragon head coach Tommy DeSalme will introduce his new team to the public in a scrimmage at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Sports Arena and then officially open the season on November 3 against Fort Scott before playing host to the Blue Dragon/BSN Tipoff Classic on November 5 and 6.The 2021-22 Blue Dragons will have an entirely new roster with 15 new players. Five players – Jacquez Yow, Cameron Robins, Kobe Campbell, Tarese Morse and Josiah Harris – followed DeSalme to Hutchinson from Cowley College.The last time Hutchinson men’s basketball was picked this low in a preseason conference coaches poll was 2000 when the Blue Dragons were picked fourth in a nine-team Jayhawk West.Defending national champion Coffeyville is the preseason pick to capture the 2021-22 league championship. Dodge City is picked second, followed by Butler, Colby and Hutchinson.The Blue Dragons received votes in the preseason NJCAA rankings.2021-22 KJCCC MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL1. Coffeyville2. Dodge City3. Butler4. Colby5. Hutchinson6. Seward County7. Independence8. Cowley9. Garden City10. Barton11. Pratt12. Cloud County13. Northwest Tech

HutchCC men fifth in KJCCC preseason poll

The two-time defending Jayhawk West champion Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team was picked to finish second in the 2021-22 Jayhawk Conference title chase after the league released its annual preseason coaches’ poll on Thursday.

Head coach John Ontjes begins his 15th season with the Blue Dragons this season. Only once since 2010 have the Blue Dragons not been picked either first or second in the KJCCC preseason rankings. That was a third-place pick in 2013. The Blue Dragons have never been picked lower than fourth in a preseason poll under Ontjes.

Butler is the preseason pick to win the Jayhawk Conference this season. The rest of the Top 5 is Hutchinson, defending Region VI champion Independence, Seward County and Coffeyville.

The Blue Dragons went 19-5 last season and claimed a Jayhawk West title with a 17-5 league record. The Blue Dragons were ousted in the Region VI Tournament semifinals and didn’t receive an at-large bid to the 2021 NJCAA Tournament.

Five players return for the upcoming season, which begins on February 2 against the Bethany College JV in the Sports Arena.

Super sophomore Tor’e Alford was Hutchinson’s leading scorer at 12.4 points per game and she shot 43 percent from 3-point range.

Also back are guards Kalyn Ervin, Ishante Suttington and Yana Grassity. The fifth player returning is center Lani Morris.

Ervin averaged 8.3 points per game last season, but over her last 10 games, she was one of the Blue Dragons’ top offensive threats averaging 12.5 points per game over that span. Suttington averaged 9.3 points per game. Grassity averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 assists, but missed the last 10 games because of injury. Grassity will not be available at the start of this season because of injury. Morris averaged 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in limited duty last season.

2021-22 KJCCC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

STEVE CARPENTERHutchCC Sports InformationThe two-time defending Jayhawk West champion Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team was picked to finish second in the 2021-22 Jayhawk Conference title chase after the league released its annual preseason coaches’ poll on Thursday.With several teams from the former Jayhawk East dropping to Division II this season, the 13 remaining KJCCC Division I teams will once again play in one conference with a double round-robin schedule. The KJCCC was last a one-division league from 2015-16 to 2017-18.Head coach John Ontjes begins his 15th season with the Blue Dragons this season. Only once since 2010 have the Blue Dragons not been picked either first or second in the KJCCC preseason rankings. That was a third-place pick in 2013. The Blue Dragons have never been picked lower than fourth in a preseason poll under Ontjes.Butler is the preseason pick to win the Jayhawk Conference this season. The rest of the Top 5 is Hutchinson, defending Region VI champion Independence, Seward County and Coffeyville.The Blue Dragons went 19-5 last season and claimed a Jayhawk West title with a 17-5 league record. The Blue Dragons were ousted in the Region VI Tournament semifinals and didn’t receive an at-large bid to the 2021 NJCAA Tournament.Five players return for the upcoming season, which begins on February 2 against the Bethany College JV in the Sports Arena.Super sophomore Tor’e Alford was Hutchinson’s leading scorer at 12.4 points per game and she shot 43 percent from 3-point range.Also back are guards Kalyn Ervin, Ishante Suttington and Yana Grassity. The fifth player returning is center Lani Morris.Ervin averaged 8.3 points per game last season, but over her last 10 games, she was one of the Blue Dragons’ top offensive threats averaging 12.5 points per game over that span. Suttington averaged 9.3 points per game. Grassity averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 assists, but missed the last 10 games because of injury. Grassity will not be available at the start of this season because of injury. Morris averaged 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in limited duty last season.2021-22 KJCCC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL1. Butler2. Hutchinson3. Independence4. Seward County5. Coffeyville6. Cowley7. Barton8. Dodge City9. Cloud County10. Garden City11. Colby12. Pratt13. Northwest Tech

HutchCC women second in preseason KJCCC poll

Cooper Taylor had a pair of goals and the Buhler soccer squad won Thursday over Berean Academy 2-0. 

The seeding date for the playoffs is Saturday, with games starting as soon as Monday.

Cooper Taylor had a pair of goals and the Buhler soccer squad won Thursday over Berean Academy 2-0. The seeding date for the playoffs is Saturday, with games starting as soon as Monday.

Buhler soccer wins Thursday, awaits seeding

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech is looking for consecutive wins in Big 12 games for the first time under third-year coach Matt Wells when Kansas State visits Saturday. 

The Red Raiders have done it just once the past five years. The Wildcats have won nine of the past 10 in the series but are on an eight-game losing streak in league games going back to last season. 

That's the longest skid since Kansas State joined the Big 12 in 1996.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech is looking for consecutive wins in Big 12 games for the first time under third-year coach Matt Wells when Kansas State visits Saturday. The Red Raiders have done it just once the past five years. The Wildcats have won nine of the past 10 in the series but are on an eight-game losing streak in league games going back to last season. That's the longest skid since Kansas State joined the Big 12 in 1996.

K-State travels to Texas Tech Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are in catch-up mode sitting at the bottom of the AFC West they’ve won the past five seasons. 

The Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to prove they’re a team to be reckoned with in the AFC. Now the Chiefs visit Tennessee on Sunday in the first game since Kansas City beat the Titans in January 2020 for the first of back-to-back AFC championships. 

Titans quarterback says that was two years ago and they're not to get hung up on that loss. Tennessee has won four of five. The Chiefs are 1-3 against AFC teams this season.&nbsp;

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are in catch-up mode sitting at the bottom of the AFC West they’ve won the past five seasons. The Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to prove they’re a team to be reckoned with in the AFC. Now the Chiefs visit Tennessee on Sunday in the first game since Kansas City beat the Titans in January 2020 for the first of back-to-back AFC championships. Titans quarterback says that was two years ago and they're not to get hung up on that loss. Tennessee has won four of five. The Chiefs are 1-3 against AFC teams this season.&nbsp;

Chiefs and Tennessee meet Sunday

The American Athletic Conference will add UAB, Texas-San Antonio, Rice, North Texas, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic to the league. 

The AAC is replacing three schools that are scheduled to depart for the Big 12 Conference and is growing to 14 teams for football. The conference hopes the move will stabilize the league in the short term and prepare it to withstand future poaching of its members. 

The additions all come from Conference USA, leaving that league both searching for new members and trying to fend off other poachers. 

The Sun Belt has said it is interested in expanding beyond its current 10 football members and some of C-USA’s remaining eight schools would be geographic fits.

Wichita State is a basketball-only member of the AAC.

The American Athletic Conference will add UAB, Texas-San Antonio, Rice, North Texas, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic to the league. The AAC is replacing three schools that are scheduled to depart for the Big 12 Conference and is growing to 14 teams for football. The conference hopes the move will stabilize the league in the short term and prepare it to withstand future poaching of its members. The additions all come from Conference USA, leaving that league both searching for new members and trying to fend off other poachers. The Sun Belt has said it is interested in expanding beyond its current 10 football members and some of C-USA’s remaining eight schools would be geographic fits.Wichita State is a basketball-only member of the AAC.

AAC to add six teams

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko broke a tie midway through the third period in the St. Louis Blues' 3-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Jordan Binnington made 42 saves, and Brandon Saad and Ivan Barbashev added goals for the Blues. St. Louis won all three games on its season-opening trip, also beating Colorado 5-3 and Arizona 7-4. William Karlsson opened the scoring for the Golden Knights, and Robin Lehner made 35 saves.

LAWRENCE, Kan (AP) — The question of is Caleb Williams the starting quarterback at No. 3 Oklahoma is over and now the freshman can go out and be himself. &nbsp;Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley put Williams in during the 55-48 win over Texas two weeks ago which propelled the Sooners to a late game comeback victory. After replacing Spencer Rattler, Williams has thrown for 661 yards, and has eight touchdowns. &nbsp;Williams shined in his first start for the Sooners throwing for 295 yards and four touchdown passes in a 21-point win over TCU last week. He's also had some big runs rushing for 66 yards and a touchdown on Saturday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery goes into this season without two players who combined to average nearly 40 points and 15 rebounds per game last season. Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp were NBA draft picks and Garza was national player of the year. The Hawkeyes also lost CJ Fredrick and Jack Nunge. Both transferred. McCaffery says he has a deep and versatile roster. Forward Keegan Murray might be the next standout. He was on the Big Ten's all-freshman team. The Hawkeyes open the season Nov. 9 at home against Longwood.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Fred Hoiberg's first two teams at Nebraska combined for just 14 wins. He says this is the season the Cornhuskers should begin showing progress. He brings back key pieces from last season's team and brings in the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history. The top incoming player is guard Bryce McGowens. He'll join players with starting experience in his older brother Trey McGowens, Kobe Webster, Lat Mayen and Derrick Walker. The season opens Nov. 9 against Western Illinois in Lincoln.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Oklahoma and Texas will leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference in a few seasons. It led to various discussions at Big 12 basketball Media Day. New Texas coach Chris Beard says his Longhorns will have a target on their backs for fans eager to jeer them when they go on the road this season. New Oklahoma coach Porter Moser says the same thing. He says road trips to hostile venues will just be that much more exciting. The league will be tough again: Three teams are ranked in the top 10: Kansas, Texas and defending national champion Baylor.

UNDATED (AP) — Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Halfway through the season the Bulldogs are ranked first in the Top 25 and the Crimson Tide fourth. Eight of the past nine SEC title games have featured either Alabama or Georgia or both. The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs have met twice in Atlanta for the league crown since 2012. The best of the rest in the SEC during the first half of the season have been No. 12 Mississippi and No. 15 Kentucky. Rebels quarterback Matt Corral is a Heisman candidate and coach Mark Stoops has the Wildcats on track for one their best seasons ever.

Astros, Braves on verge of series appearances.

UNDATED (AP) — The Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves are both one victory away from meeting in the World Series.

Yordan (yohr-DAHN') Alvarez had three hits and three RBIs as the Astros hammered the Red Sox, 9-1 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. Alvarez opened the scoring with a second-inning blast and added a two-run double that ignited Houston's five-run sixth. 

Framber Valdez was superb over eight innings, limiting the Bosox to a run and three hits while striking out five. Valdez blanked the Red Sox until Rafael Devers (DEH'-vurz) homered in the seventh. He also became the first pitcher of the postseason to work eight innings.

Yuli Gurriel (YOO'-lee gur-ee-EHL') also had three ribbies for the Astros.

Chris Sale absorbed the loss, allowing four runs and three hits with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. Two of the runs were unearned, thanks to an error by first baseman Kyle Schwarber in the sixth.

The Astros can advance to the World Series on Friday in Houston.

The Braves are up three games to one in their NL Championship Series after throttling the Dodgers, 9-2 in Los Angeles. 

Eddie Rosario homered twice in his second four-hit game of the series. Adam Duvall and Freddie Freeman also went deep for Atlanta, which bounced right back from blowing a late lead in an agonizing loss Tuesday.

The Braves tagged Julio Urias (oo-REE'-uhs) for three home runs over the first three innings. Urias was reached for five runs and eight hits in five innings. He was baseball's only 20-game winner this season.

The Dodgers finally broke through on AJ Pollock's two-run single in the fifth, but that was one of just four hits allowed by six Atlanta hurlers on what became a bullpen game.

The Braves can finish up the series on Thursday in LA.

Mets' Carrasco has surgery to remove bone fragment in elbow

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco has had surgery to remove a bone fragment from his pitching elbow and is projected to resume baseball activities this winter. 

The 34-year-old Carrasco was obtained by the Mets from Cleveland in January along with shortstop Francisco Lindor. He tore his right hamstring during spring training and didn't make his season debut until July 30. 

Carrasco went 1-5 with a 6.04 ERA in 12 starts.

UNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers had little trouble winning their season opener while guard Ben Simmons stayed home.

Joel Embiid (joh-EHL' ehm-BEED') and Furkan Korkmaz (fur-KAHN' KOHRK'-mahz) each scored 22 points as the Sixers coasted to a 117-97 win at New Orleans. Embiid also finished with 12 rebounds and Korkmaz drained four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Philadelphia pull away.

Korkmaz nailed three 3s in less than a minute to put the Sixers up, 92-79. That was part of a 20-2 run that iced the victory.

The Sixers traveled without Simmons, who was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. 

— Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (nee-KOH'-lah YOH'-kihch) had 27 points on 13 of 22 from the field and grabbed 13 rebounds in leading the Nuggets past the Suns, 110-98. Will Barton scored 20 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 15 to help the Nuggets avenge their playoff series loss to the Suns last season. Mikal Bridges led Phoenix with 16 points, while Chris Paul had 15 with 10 assists. 

— The Jazz opened with a 107-86 rout of the Thunder as Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR') contributed 16 points and 21 rebounds. Bojan (BOY'-ahn) Bogdanovic led Utah with 22 points and Jordan Clarkson added 18.

— The Knicks and Celtics opened their seasons by playing double overtime before New York eked out a 138-134 victory. Former Celtic Evan Fournier hit four 3-pointers in the overtime and finished with 32 points. Julius Randle had a team-high 35 points to help the Knicks overcome Jaylen Brown's career-high 46 points for Boston.

— Harrison Barnes furnished 36 points and De'Aaron Fox added 27 for the Kings in a 124-121 victory over the Trail Blazers. Richaun Holmes had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter. 

— Bradley Beal scored 23 points and Montrezl (MAHN'-trehz) Harrell had 22 in his Wizards debut to lead a 98-83 victory over Toronto, spoiling the Raptors' return to Canada. Kyle Kuzma (KOOOZ'-mah) had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards, who led by as many as 29 in winning Wes Unseld Jr.'s first game as an NBA head coach.

— Ja (jah) Morant had 37 points and the Grizzlies pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers, 132-121. De'Anthony Melton added 20 points and Memphis opened the final period on a 10-0 run to go ahead by 14.

— The Spurs crushed the Magic, 123-97 as Devin Vassell scored 19 points and Lonnie Walker added 17. Derrick White had 16 points for San Antonio, which is 23-2 in season openers under coach Gregg Popovich.

— The Timberwolves were 124-106 winners over the Rockets behind Anthony Edwards' 29 points in 31 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns furnished 30 points and 10 rebounds to the victory, while D'Angelo Russell added 22 points and seven assists.

— LaMelo Ball drained seven 3-pointers while scoring 31 points as the Hornets rallied past the Pacers, 123-122. Indiana led, 84-63 until Ball scored 10 points during a 24-0 spurt.

— Zach LaVine (lah-VEEN') scored 15 of his 34 points in the third quarter to lead the Bulls to a 94-88 victory over the Pistons. DeMar DeRozan had 17 points, and Lonzo Ball had 12 points in their Bulls debut. 

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (YOH'-nuhs val-ehn-CHOO'-nuhs) has agreed to a two-year extension worth a reported $30.1 million.

Valanciunas' extension was first reported by ESPN, which received financial terms from the center's representative.

New Orleans acquired the 29-year-old in a trade with Memphis this past offseason. The Pelicans sent Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe to the Grizzlies for the nine-year veteran.

Valanciunas averaged 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds with Memphis last season.

UNDATED (AP) — Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will sit out Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos with a painful left shoulder injury.

Cleveland announced that backup Case Keenum will start, ending speculation about whether Mayfield would try to push through an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that he suffered last month and has worsened in recent weeks. 

Keenum has made 62 career NFL starts, most recently for Washington in 2019.

— The 49ers are optimistic starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo can return this week from a right calf injury but don't expect backup Trey Lance back for another week. Coach Kyle Shanahan says Garoppolo will be limited at practice after missing one game with the injury and is on target to play Sunday night against Indianapolis. Lance sprained his left knee when he started in place of Garoppolo.

— Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has a quadriceps injury in addition to his sore left foot and is questionable for the game at Cleveland on Thursday night. Bridgewater got hit 17 times in Denver's third consecutive loss Sunday, two weeks after he was knocked out of a game against the Ravens with a concussion. What left him limping was right guard Graham Glasgow stepping on his left foot just as he delivered a touchdown throw to Noah Fant in the closing minutes.

— The Texans have released veteran defensive end Whitney Mercilus. Mercilus was one of the longest-tenured players on the team after most of the team's stars have been traded or released in recent years. 

— Washington has released longtime kicker Dustin Hopkins and signed Chris Blewitt as his replacement. Hopkins missed two extra point attempts in a win over the Falcons, but he's 12-for-14 on field goals. He was in his seventh season with the team. 

— The league has agreed to end race-based adjustments in dementia testing that critics said made it difficult for Black retirees to qualify for awards in the $1 billion settlement of concussion claims. That's according to a proposed deal filed Wednesday in federal court. The revised testing plan follows public outrage over the use of "race-norming," a practice that came to light only after two former NFL players filed a civil rights lawsuit over it in 2019. Critics of race-norming say the adjustments may have prevented hundreds of Black players suffering from dementia to win awards that average $500,000 or more.

T25 FOOTBALL-APPALACHIAN STATE/COASTAL CAROLINA

Appalachian State ends Coastal Carolina's win streak

BOONE, N.C. (AP) — Appalachian State sent a reminder that there's more to Sun Belt football that Coastal Carolina.

Chandler Staton hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired, giving Appalachian State a stunning 30-27 win over the 14th-ranked Chanticleers. Chase Brice threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns, with Malik Williams catching 10 passes for 206 yards. 

Camerun Peoples ran for two touchdowns for the Mountaineers, who have never lost to the Chanticleers at home. 

Grayson McCall threw for 291 yards and one touchdown for Coastal Carolina, which had earned 11 straight Sun Belt Conference wins. 

AP sources: 6 C-USA schools apply for AAC membership

UNDATED (AP) — Six schools from Conference USA, including UAB, Texas-San Antonio and Florida Atlantic, have applied for membership to the American Athletic Conference and are expected to be accepted by the end of the week, according to two people with knowledge of the process.

The two people tell The Associated Press that Rice, North Texas and Charlotte also have applied for membership. 

The American was in the market for new members after three of its most successful schools, Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida, announced in September they would be joining the Big 12. The comings and goings will leave the American with 14 members, likely for the 2023 football season.

Attorney says Rolovich ready to fight dismissal

UNDATED (AP) — The attorney for fired Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich says his client is prepared to take legal action.

Attorney Brian Fahling says Rolovich's termination for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination was unlawful and an attack on his Catholic faith. 

<h2>Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press</h2>LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko broke a tie midway through the third period in the St. Louis Blues' 3-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Jordan Binnington made 42 saves, and Brandon Saad and Ivan Barbashev added goals for the Blues. St. Louis won all three games on its season-opening trip, also beating Colorado 5-3 and Arizona 7-4. William Karlsson opened the scoring for the Golden Knights, and Robin Lehner made 35 saves.LAWRENCE, Kan (AP) — The question of is Caleb Williams the starting quarterback at No. 3 Oklahoma is over and now the freshman can go out and be himself. &nbsp;Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley put Williams in during the 55-48 win over Texas two weeks ago which propelled the Sooners to a late game comeback victory. After replacing Spencer Rattler, Williams has thrown for 661 yards, and has eight touchdowns. &nbsp;Williams shined in his first start for the Sooners throwing for 295 yards and four touchdown passes in a 21-point win over TCU last week. He's also had some big runs rushing for 66 yards and a touchdown on Saturday.IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery goes into this season without two players who combined to average nearly 40 points and 15 rebounds per game last season. Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp were NBA draft picks and Garza was national player of the year. The Hawkeyes also lost CJ Fredrick and Jack Nunge. Both transferred. McCaffery says he has a deep and versatile roster. Forward Keegan Murray might be the next standout. He was on the Big Ten's all-freshman team. The Hawkeyes open the season Nov. 9 at home against Longwood.LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Fred Hoiberg's first two teams at Nebraska combined for just 14 wins. He says this is the season the Cornhuskers should begin showing progress. He brings back key pieces from last season's team and brings in the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history. The top incoming player is guard Bryce McGowens. He'll join players with starting experience in his older brother Trey McGowens, Kobe Webster, Lat Mayen and Derrick Walker. The season opens Nov. 9 against Western Illinois in Lincoln.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Oklahoma and Texas will leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference in a few seasons. It led to various discussions at Big 12 basketball Media Day. New Texas coach Chris Beard says his Longhorns will have a target on their backs for fans eager to jeer them when they go on the road this season. New Oklahoma coach Porter Moser says the same thing. He says road trips to hostile venues will just be that much more exciting. The league will be tough again: Three teams are ranked in the top 10: Kansas, Texas and defending national champion Baylor.UNDATED (AP) — Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Halfway through the season the Bulldogs are ranked first in the Top 25 and the Crimson Tide fourth. Eight of the past nine SEC title games have featured either Alabama or Georgia or both. The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs have met twice in Atlanta for the league crown since 2012. The best of the rest in the SEC during the first half of the season have been No. 12 Mississippi and No. 15 Kentucky. Rebels quarterback Matt Corral is a Heisman candidate and coach Mark Stoops has the Wildcats on track for one their best seasons ever.LCS-SCHEDULEAstros, Braves on verge of series appearances.UNDATED (AP) — The Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves are both one victory away from meeting in the World Series.Yordan (yohr-DAHN') Alvarez had three hits and three RBIs as the Astros hammered the Red Sox, 9-1 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. Alvarez opened the scoring with a second-inning blast and added a two-run double that ignited Houston's five-run sixth. Framber Valdez was superb over eight innings, limiting the Bosox to a run and three hits while striking out five. Valdez blanked the Red Sox until Rafael Devers (DEH'-vurz) homered in the seventh. He also became the first pitcher of the postseason to work eight innings.Yuli Gurriel (YOO'-lee gur-ee-EHL') also had three ribbies for the Astros.Chris Sale absorbed the loss, allowing four runs and three hits with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. Two of the runs were unearned, thanks to an error by first baseman Kyle Schwarber in the sixth.The Astros can advance to the World Series on Friday in Houston.The Braves are up three games to one in their NL Championship Series after throttling the Dodgers, 9-2 in Los Angeles. Eddie Rosario homered twice in his second four-hit game of the series. Adam Duvall and Freddie Freeman also went deep for Atlanta, which bounced right back from blowing a late lead in an agonizing loss Tuesday.The Braves tagged Julio Urias (oo-REE'-uhs) for three home runs over the first three innings. Urias was reached for five runs and eight hits in five innings. He was baseball's only 20-game winner this season.The Dodgers finally broke through on AJ Pollock's two-run single in the fifth, but that was one of just four hits allowed by six Atlanta hurlers on what became a bullpen game.The Braves can finish up the series on Thursday in LA.MLB-NEWSMets' Carrasco has surgery to remove bone fragment in elbowNEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco has had surgery to remove a bone fragment from his pitching elbow and is projected to resume baseball activities this winter. The 34-year-old Carrasco was obtained by the Mets from Cleveland in January along with shortstop Francisco Lindor. He tore his right hamstring during spring training and didn't make his season debut until July 30. Carrasco went 1-5 with a 6.04 ERA in 12 starts.NBA-SCHEDULE76ers win without SimmonsUNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers had little trouble winning their season opener while guard Ben Simmons stayed home.Joel Embiid (joh-EHL' ehm-BEED') and Furkan Korkmaz (fur-KAHN' KOHRK'-mahz) each scored 22 points as the Sixers coasted to a 117-97 win at New Orleans. Embiid also finished with 12 rebounds and Korkmaz drained four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Philadelphia pull away.Korkmaz nailed three 3s in less than a minute to put the Sixers up, 92-79. That was part of a 20-2 run that iced the victory.The Sixers traveled without Simmons, who was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. In Wednesday's other NBA action:— Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (nee-KOH'-lah YOH'-kihch) had 27 points on 13 of 22 from the field and grabbed 13 rebounds in leading the Nuggets past the Suns, 110-98. Will Barton scored 20 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 15 to help the Nuggets avenge their playoff series loss to the Suns last season. Mikal Bridges led Phoenix with 16 points, while Chris Paul had 15 with 10 assists. — The Jazz opened with a 107-86 rout of the Thunder as Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR') contributed 16 points and 21 rebounds. Bojan (BOY'-ahn) Bogdanovic led Utah with 22 points and Jordan Clarkson added 18.— The Knicks and Celtics opened their seasons by playing double overtime before New York eked out a 138-134 victory. Former Celtic Evan Fournier hit four 3-pointers in the overtime and finished with 32 points. Julius Randle had a team-high 35 points to help the Knicks overcome Jaylen Brown's career-high 46 points for Boston.— Harrison Barnes furnished 36 points and De'Aaron Fox added 27 for the Kings in a 124-121 victory over the Trail Blazers. Richaun Holmes had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter. — Bradley Beal scored 23 points and Montrezl (MAHN'-trehz) Harrell had 22 in his Wizards debut to lead a 98-83 victory over Toronto, spoiling the Raptors' return to Canada. Kyle Kuzma (KOOOZ'-mah) had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards, who led by as many as 29 in winning Wes Unseld Jr.'s first game as an NBA head coach.— Ja (jah) Morant had 37 points and the Grizzlies pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers, 132-121. De'Anthony Melton added 20 points and Memphis opened the final period on a 10-0 run to go ahead by 14.— The Spurs crushed the Magic, 123-97 as Devin Vassell scored 19 points and Lonnie Walker added 17. Derrick White had 16 points for San Antonio, which is 23-2 in season openers under coach Gregg Popovich.— The Timberwolves were 124-106 winners over the Rockets behind Anthony Edwards' 29 points in 31 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns furnished 30 points and 10 rebounds to the victory, while D'Angelo Russell added 22 points and seven assists.— LaMelo Ball drained seven 3-pointers while scoring 31 points as the Hornets rallied past the Pacers, 123-122. Indiana led, 84-63 until Ball scored 10 points during a 24-0 spurt.— Zach LaVine (lah-VEEN') scored 15 of his 34 points in the third quarter to lead the Bulls to a 94-88 victory over the Pistons. DeMar DeRozan had 17 points, and Lonzo Ball had 12 points in their Bulls debut. NBA-NEWSValanciunas extendedNEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (YOH'-nuhs val-ehn-CHOO'-nuhs) has agreed to a two-year extension worth a reported $30.1 million.Valanciunas' extension was first reported by ESPN, which received financial terms from the center's representative.New Orleans acquired the 29-year-old in a trade with Memphis this past offseason. The Pelicans sent Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe to the Grizzlies for the nine-year veteran.Valanciunas averaged 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds with Memphis last season.NFL-NEWSBrowns' Mayfield out, Keenum startingUNDATED (AP) — Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will sit out Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos with a painful left shoulder injury.Cleveland announced that backup Case Keenum will start, ending speculation about whether Mayfield would try to push through an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that he suffered last month and has worsened in recent weeks. Keenum has made 62 career NFL starts, most recently for Washington in 2019.In other NFL news:— The 49ers are optimistic starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo can return this week from a right calf injury but don't expect backup Trey Lance back for another week. Coach Kyle Shanahan says Garoppolo will be limited at practice after missing one game with the injury and is on target to play Sunday night against Indianapolis. Lance sprained his left knee when he started in place of Garoppolo.— Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has a quadriceps injury in addition to his sore left foot and is questionable for the game at Cleveland on Thursday night. Bridgewater got hit 17 times in Denver's third consecutive loss Sunday, two weeks after he was knocked out of a game against the Ravens with a concussion. What left him limping was right guard Graham Glasgow stepping on his left foot just as he delivered a touchdown throw to Noah Fant in the closing minutes.— The Texans have released veteran defensive end Whitney Mercilus. Mercilus was one of the longest-tenured players on the team after most of the team's stars have been traded or released in recent years. — Washington has released longtime kicker Dustin Hopkins and signed Chris Blewitt as his replacement. Hopkins missed two extra point attempts in a win over the Falcons, but he's 12-for-14 on field goals. He was in his seventh season with the team. — The league has agreed to end race-based adjustments in dementia testing that critics said made it difficult for Black retirees to qualify for awards in the $1 billion settlement of concussion claims. That's according to a proposed deal filed Wednesday in federal court. The revised testing plan follows public outrage over the use of "race-norming," a practice that came to light only after two former NFL players filed a civil rights lawsuit over it in 2019. Critics of race-norming say the adjustments may have prevented hundreds of Black players suffering from dementia to win awards that average $500,000 or more.T25 FOOTBALL-APPALACHIAN STATE/COASTAL CAROLINAAppalachian State ends Coastal Carolina's win streakBOONE, N.C. (AP) — Appalachian State sent a reminder that there's more to Sun Belt football that Coastal Carolina.Chandler Staton hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired, giving Appalachian State a stunning 30-27 win over the 14th-ranked Chanticleers. Chase Brice threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns, with Malik Williams catching 10 passes for 206 yards. Camerun Peoples ran for two touchdowns for the Mountaineers, who have never lost to the Chanticleers at home. Grayson McCall threw for 291 yards and one touchdown for Coastal Carolina, which had earned 11 straight Sun Belt Conference wins. COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWSAP sources: 6 C-USA schools apply for AAC membershipUNDATED (AP) — Six schools from Conference USA, including UAB, Texas-San Antonio and Florida Atlantic, have applied for membership to the American Athletic Conference and are expected to be accepted by the end of the week, according to two people with knowledge of the process.The two people tell The Associated Press that Rice, North Texas and Charlotte also have applied for membership. The American was in the market for new members after three of its most successful schools, Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida, announced in September they would be joining the Big 12. The comings and goings will leave the American with 14 members, likely for the 2023 football season.COLLEGE FOOTBALL-ROLOVICHAttorney says Rolovich ready to fight dismissalUNDATED (AP) — The attorney for fired Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich says his client is prepared to take legal action.Attorney Brian Fahling says Rolovich's termination for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination was unlawful and an attack on his Catholic faith. Rolovich and four of his assistants were fired Monday for not complying with the governor's mandate that all state employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Rolovich had requested a religious exemption but it was denied Monday, the state's vaccination deadline.NHL-SCHEDULEAtkinson scores twice as Flyers double up B'sUNDATED (AP) — One of the newest members of the Philadelphia Flyers played a major role in their 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.Cam Atkinson provided two goals, including the go-ahead score that sent him tumbling into the boards. The former Blue Jacket had the crowd going wild on his hustle-and-tumble goal only 58 seconds into the third for a 4-3 lead. Sean Couturier (koo-TUR'-ee-ay) and Joel Farabee added a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who also received goals from Travis Konecny (kah-NEHK'-nee) and Scott Laughton.Martin Jones handled 37 shots for Philadelphia.In Wednesday's other NHL game, Vladimir Tarasenko broke a tie midway through the third period of the Blues' 3-1 victory over Golden Knights. Jordan Binnington made 42 saves, and Brandon Saad (sahd) and Ivan Barbashev (BAHR'-bah-shehv) added goals to help St. Louis open the season with a 3-0 road trip.NHL-NEWSOilers' Smith on IREDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers have placed goalie Mike Smith on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury. The 39-year-old Smith was hurt in the second period of Tuesday's 6-5 victory over the Ducks. He was replaced in the net by Mikko Koskinen.The Oilers recalled goalie Stuart Skinner from the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;