HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match against Missouri Western Thursday evening in four sets, 27-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-15. The Tigers (7-9, 1-6 MIAA) held leads in both the first and second sets, but the Griffons (12-4, 5-2 MIAA) managed to battle back and take each frame before winning in four.

The Tigers controlled things early on, leading by as many as eight in the opening set, 16-8. The Griffons closed within one thanks to a 10-3 run, 19-18, but the Tigers bounced back to lead by two, 23-21. MWSU scored the next three to reach set point, which the home team fought off twice before the Griffons clinched the win, 27-25.

Fort Hays State then led by as many as three on multiple occasions in the second set, including as late as 13-10 before a five-point spurt gave the Griffons the lead. FHSU scored the next two to tie things up at 15, but the visitors took care of business from that point, scoring 10 of the next 14 points to win 25-19.The Tigers found their form in the third set, compiling 17 kills to just five errors on 41 attempts to post an attack percentage of .293 to extend the match, 25-21. A pair of Brooky Hyland&nbsp;service aces complimented the offense that was led by five kills from Emily Ellis&nbsp;and four kills on seven swings from Gracie Rains.

The Griffons bounced back in the final set, posting their best swing rate in a set at .242 thanks to just four errors. The Tigers fought back from an early five-point deficit to trail by one midway through the set, 10-9, before MWSU padded the lead to six on a 6-1 run.

Rains led the Tigers with 16 kills, with Ellis and Riley Tinder&nbsp;adding 10 kills each. Ashlyn Reeves&nbsp;turned away five blocks while adding six kills. Hyland paced the team with 16 digs, with Andressa Ribeiro Soares&nbsp;close behind with 15. Caiya Stucky&nbsp;distributed 39 assists and added one block assist.

Fort Hays State matched the Griffons in kills, 53-53, but finished the night with an attack percentage of .108 compared to a swing rate of .212 for the visitors. Each team picked up eight team blocks on the night.

The Tigers will continue their homestand Friday when they host Northwest Missouri State beginning at 6 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696559485119.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Coryn Hahn" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Coryn Hahn</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match against Missouri Western Thursday evening in four sets, 27-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-15. The Tigers (7-9, 1-6 MIAA) held leads in both the first and second sets, but the Griffons (12-4, 5-2 MIAA) managed to battle back and take each frame before winning in four.The Tigers controlled things early on, leading by as many as eight in the opening set, 16-8. The Griffons closed within one thanks to a 10-3 run, 19-18, but the Tigers bounced back to lead by two, 23-21. MWSU scored the next three to reach set point, which the home team fought off twice before the Griffons clinched the win, 27-25.Fort Hays State then led by as many as three on multiple occasions in the second set, including as late as 13-10 before a five-point spurt gave the Griffons the lead. FHSU scored the next two to tie things up at 15, but the visitors took care of business from that point, scoring 10 of the next 14 points to win 25-19.The Tigers found their form in the third set, compiling 17 kills to just five errors on 41 attempts to post an attack percentage of .293 to extend the match, 25-21. A pair of Brooky Hyland&nbsp;service aces complimented the offense that was led by five kills from Emily Ellis&nbsp;and four kills on seven swings from Gracie Rains.The Griffons bounced back in the final set, posting their best swing rate in a set at .242 thanks to just four errors. The Tigers fought back from an early five-point deficit to trail by one midway through the set, 10-9, before MWSU padded the lead to six on a 6-1 run.Rains led the Tigers with 16 kills, with Ellis and Riley Tinder&nbsp;adding 10 kills each. Ashlyn Reeves&nbsp;turned away five blocks while adding six kills. Hyland paced the team with 16 digs, with Andressa Ribeiro Soares&nbsp;close behind with 15. Caiya Stucky&nbsp;distributed 39 assists and added one block assist.Fort Hays State matched the Griffons in kills, 53-53, but finished the night with an attack percentage of .108 compared to a swing rate of .212 for the visitors. Each team picked up eight team blocks on the night.The Tigers will continue their homestand Friday when they host Northwest Missouri State beginning at 6 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

🏐 Tigers fall to Griffons in four

VICTORIA -&nbsp;TMP-Marian volleyball went 1-1 in Victoria Thursday. Ellis finished 2-0 and Victoria 0-2 in the triangular.

TMP-Marian def. Victoria (25-19, 15-15) Ellis def. TMP-Marian (20-25, 25-22, 26-24) Ellis def. Victoria (25-9, 25-12)

TMP is now 14-16 on the season. Ellis has won seven straight and 12 of their last 14 and improve to 23-8. Victoria is 14-11.

Hays PostVICTORIA -&nbsp;TMP-Marian volleyball went 1-1 in Victoria Thursday. Ellis finished 2-0 and Victoria 0-2 in the triangular.TMP-Marian def. Victoria (25-19, 15-15) Ellis def. TMP-Marian (20-25, 25-22, 26-24) Ellis def. Victoria (25-9, 25-12)TMP is now 14-16 on the season. Ellis has won seven straight and 12 of their last 14 and improve to 23-8. Victoria is 14-11.

🏐 TMP-Marian splits in Victoria, Ellis goes 2-0

LIBERAL -&nbsp;The Hays High boys
soccer team picked up a 2-1 win in Liberal Thursday to move to 6-5-1 on the season and 3-3-1 in the
Western Athletics Conference. 

The Indians host Wichita Trinity Tuesday.

The Indians match with TMP-Marian, which was scheduled for Monday has been rescheduled for Oct. 17 at Hays High School.

Hays PostLIBERAL -&nbsp;The Hays High boys
soccer team picked up a 2-1 win in Liberal Thursday to move to 6-5-1 on the season and 3-3-1 in the
Western Athletics Conference. The Indians host Wichita Trinity Tuesday.The Indians match with TMP-Marian, which was scheduled for Monday has been rescheduled for Oct. 17 at Hays High School.

⚽ HHS defeats Liberal

CHICAGO (AP) — Dick Butkus, a fearsome middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears, has died, the team announced Thursday. He was 80.

According to a statement released by the team, Butkus' family confirmed that he died in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, California.

Butkus was a Hall of Famer whose bone-rattling tackles made him one of the most intimidating players in NFL history. He was the quintessential modern linebacker, a disruptive force who roamed sideline to sideline and left a trail of broken opponents behind.

He was a first-team All-Pro selection five times and made the Pro Bowl in eight of his nine seasons before knee injuries forced his retirement at age 31. Despite a short career, Butkus came to define his position. He routinely ranks among the NFL’s top 100 players.

CHICAGO (AP) — Dick Butkus, a fearsome middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears, has died, the team announced Thursday. He was 80.According to a statement released by the team, Butkus' family confirmed that he died in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, California.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/BxVt7EfV9Q">pic.twitter.com/BxVt7EfV9Q</a>&mdash; Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1710063953781440885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Butkus was a Hall of Famer whose bone-rattling tackles made him one of the most intimidating players in NFL history. He was the quintessential modern linebacker, a disruptive force who roamed sideline to sideline and left a trail of broken opponents behind.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dick Butkus was a legend who embodied what it means to be a Chicago Bear. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. <a href="https://t.co/8UEVuuZLwi">pic.twitter.com/8UEVuuZLwi</a>&mdash; Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1710063847359287777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He was a first-team All-Pro selection five times and made the Pro Bowl in eight of his nine seasons before knee injuries forced his retirement at age 31. Despite a short career, Butkus came to define his position. He routinely ranks among the NFL’s top 100 players.

Dick Butkus, Hall of Fame Chicago Bear, dies at 80

DODGE CITY -&nbsp;Hays High boys soccer lost&nbsp; 6-0 at Dodge City Wednesday. The match was originally scheduled to play be played Tuesday but was pushed back a day due to the threat of severe weather.

HHS is now 5-5-1 on the season. The Red Demons are 10-0 and have outscored their opponents 65-5. 

Hays PostDODGE CITY -&nbsp;Hays High boys soccer lost&nbsp; 6-0 at Dodge City Wednesday. The match was originally scheduled to play be played Tuesday but was pushed back a day due to the threat of severe weather.HHS is now 5-5-1 on the season. The Red Demons are 10-0 and have outscored their opponents 65-5. Hays travels to Liberal Thursday.

⚽ HHS falls to Red Demons

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Randy Gregory missed more games than he played during his 18-month stint in Denver, where he had almost as many surgeries (two) as sacks (three).

The Broncos (1-3) parted ways with the immensely talented but often-unavailable pass rusher Wednesday, deciding to release him — even though they're on the hook for the $10.9 million remaining on his 2023 salary — if they couldn't find a trade partner.

“We just felt with some of our younger players and where we're going, it was best for our team right now,” said coach Sean Payton, who disputed any notion that Gregory had asked for his release. “We just felt like these other guys were playing better.”

Gregory's departure came 72 hours after he appeared disinterested in a game at Chicago after losing his starting job to second-year linebacker Nik Bonitto, who ignited Denver's first victory of the season with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Broncos/status/1708564432043811257?s=20">strip-sack</a>&nbsp;of Justin Fields that turned into the game-tying touchdown from Jonathon Cooper.

Gregory's benching came a week after he was shut out at Miami, where he failed to register a single tackle and had no sacks or pressures of Tua Tagovailoa, who led the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-broncos-dolphins-tyreek-hill-tua-tagovailoa-7b63c4ac5c48e0f4156a8a4574de5c72">Dolphins' 70-20 onslaught</a>&nbsp;in one of the biggest blowouts in NFL history.

Several Broncos said there were no hard feelings toward Gregory, whom they affectionately called by his initials.

“R.G. for me has been a great teammate,” safety Justin Simmons said. “He's been a great friend and it was awesome just watching him play in Dallas all those years he was going crazy. So, a great man and teammate. It's just the business side of the NFL. And I'm always rooting for R.G.”

Another veteran pass rusher, Frank Clark, expressed similar sentiments, calling Gregory “a great player, obviously a great teammate. He’s done a great job ever since he’s been in the league of being a pro. He had some mistakes here and there just like all of us, but a hell of a player, hell of a teammate.”

Gregory was close to re-signing with Dallas last year before Broncos general manager George Paton offered him a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-dallas-cowboys-von-miller-nfl-sports-d05b6860f8096affbae9a7d123ccc46e">five-year, $70 million deal</a>&nbsp;that included $28 million in guarantees.

Much of the fanbase preferred a reunion with Von Miller, who had expressed a desire to return to Denver after helping the Rams win the Super Bowl following his midseason trade to Los Angeles in 2021.

Paton said at the time that Gregory was his top choice in free agency and he never called Miller, who wound up signing a megadeal with the Bills, where his productive 2022 season was cut short by a knee injury.

Paton's prized free agent, however, missed 11 games last season and he proved a bad fit for Payton and his staff this year.

Gregory played in just 10 of a possible 21 games during his time in Denver. He was limited to a half dozen games last season because of a knee injury after he missed all of training camp following shoulder surgery. He had two sacks last year and one this season.

Gregory has stayed out of trouble since being activated from the commissioner’s exempt list on Oct. 20, 2020, the last of his four substance-abuse suspensions including one that sidelined him for the entire 2019 season.

Although Gregory didn’t have any off-the-field issues in Denver like he did during his suspension-filled seven-year stint in Dallas, his production on the field never lived up to his lofty contract.

The Broncos' pass rush is expected to get a boost with Clark (hip) and Baron Browning (knee) close to returning to action, although it's unlikely they'll play Sunday against the New York Jets (1-3) in a game that features the return of Nathaniel Hackett, whom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/behind-call-payton-broncos-hackett-777e12db30ef1b6f776ad524403494ef">Payton trashed</a>&nbsp;in July for the work he did in Denver last season, particularly with quarterback Russell Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696450321156.jpeg" alt="Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields passes under pressure from Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)" />
 <figcaption>Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields passes under pressure from Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football WriterENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Randy Gregory missed more games than he played during his 18-month stint in Denver, where he had almost as many surgeries (two) as sacks (three).The Broncos (1-3) parted ways with the immensely talented but often-unavailable pass rusher Wednesday, deciding to release him — even though they're on the hook for the $10.9 million remaining on his 2023 salary — if they couldn't find a trade partner.“We just felt with some of our younger players and where we're going, it was best for our team right now,” said coach Sean Payton, who disputed any notion that Gregory had asked for his release. “We just felt like these other guys were playing better.”Gregory's departure came 72 hours after he appeared disinterested in a game at Chicago after losing his starting job to second-year linebacker Nik Bonitto, who ignited Denver's first victory of the season with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Broncos/status/1708564432043811257?s=20">strip-sack</a>&nbsp;of Justin Fields that turned into the game-tying touchdown from Jonathon Cooper.Gregory's benching came a week after he was shut out at Miami, where he failed to register a single tackle and had no sacks or pressures of Tua Tagovailoa, who led the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-broncos-dolphins-tyreek-hill-tua-tagovailoa-7b63c4ac5c48e0f4156a8a4574de5c72">Dolphins' 70-20 onslaught</a>&nbsp;in one of the biggest blowouts in NFL history.Several Broncos said there were no hard feelings toward Gregory, whom they affectionately called by his initials.“R.G. for me has been a great teammate,” safety Justin Simmons said. “He's been a great friend and it was awesome just watching him play in Dallas all those years he was going crazy. So, a great man and teammate. It's just the business side of the NFL. And I'm always rooting for R.G.”Another veteran pass rusher, Frank Clark, expressed similar sentiments, calling Gregory “a great player, obviously a great teammate. He’s done a great job ever since he’s been in the league of being a pro. He had some mistakes here and there just like all of us, but a hell of a player, hell of a teammate.”Gregory was close to re-signing with Dallas last year before Broncos general manager George Paton offered him a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-dallas-cowboys-von-miller-nfl-sports-d05b6860f8096affbae9a7d123ccc46e">five-year, $70 million deal</a>&nbsp;that included $28 million in guarantees.Much of the fanbase preferred a reunion with Von Miller, who had expressed a desire to return to Denver after helping the Rams win the Super Bowl following his midseason trade to Los Angeles in 2021.Paton said at the time that Gregory was his top choice in free agency and he never called Miller, who wound up signing a megadeal with the Bills, where his productive 2022 season was cut short by a knee injury.Paton's prized free agent, however, missed 11 games last season and he proved a bad fit for Payton and his staff this year.Gregory played in just 10 of a possible 21 games during his time in Denver. He was limited to a half dozen games last season because of a knee injury after he missed all of training camp following shoulder surgery. He had two sacks last year and one this season.Gregory has stayed out of trouble since being activated from the commissioner’s exempt list on Oct. 20, 2020, the last of his four substance-abuse suspensions including one that sidelined him for the entire 2019 season.Although Gregory didn’t have any off-the-field issues in Denver like he did during his suspension-filled seven-year stint in Dallas, his production on the field never lived up to his lofty contract.The Broncos' pass rush is expected to get a boost with Clark (hip) and Baron Browning (knee) close to returning to action, although it's unlikely they'll play Sunday against the New York Jets (1-3) in a game that features the return of Nathaniel Hackett, whom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/behind-call-payton-broncos-hackett-777e12db30ef1b6f776ad524403494ef">Payton trashed</a>&nbsp;in July for the work he did in Denver last season, particularly with quarterback Russell Wilson.

🏈 Denver Broncos part ways with pass rusher Randy Gregory

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes criticized his own performance four games into the season Wednesday, saying that the two-time and reigning league MVP must play better if Kansas City wants to defend its Super Bowl title.

The Chiefs are 3-1 and atop the AFC West heading into Sunday's game in Minnesota, but their most recent win over the Jets came largely in spite of the NFL's biggest star.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-jets-mahomes-kelce-swift-rodgers-6e217106cf593473d811cbe21e331857">Mahomes was just 21 of 29 for 203 yards</a>&nbsp;with a touchdown pass and two badly thrown interceptions, though he did make a couple of crucial plays with his feet late in the game to secure the win.

It was the third time in four games Mahomes has failed to throw for more than 300 yards, and the only time he did was a 305-yard effort against Jacksonville, when the Chiefs offense managed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-jaguars-e8e4223c2f69b6fb077f029e758780f8">just two touchdowns in slogging to a 17-9 win</a>.

“I just haven't played very good to start the season,” said Mahomes, who threw for a franchise-record 5,250 yards with a league-leading 41 touchdown passes last season. “I think if I start playing better everybody is going to start playing better.”

Mahomes ranks 10th in yards passing, hamstrung in part by a young group of wide receivers that have struggled to get open. His completion rate of 64.3 percent trails rookie Bryce Young and journeyman Baker Mayfield, among others, and his 21-for-39 effort in the opener against Detroit was the fourth-worst percentage of his career.

The two interceptions he threw against the Jets, both of which were underthrown back-foot tosses, marked only the 10th time in 84 games Mahomes has thrown more than one in a game. His four picks are more than all but five other quarterbacks.

To be clear: Mahomes still has been good. He only played about three quarters against Chicago because the game was a blowout, and that coupled with penalties along the offensive line and a litany of dropped passes have dragged down his numbers.

But the expectation for him is greatness.

“You have to go out there and keep shooting it. That's how I've always been wired,” Mahomes said. “Just have to keep going out there and working. I've had spots like this throughout my career where I haven't had the best few weeks in a row. Just go back to the fundamentals and try the best I can for the team and rely on other guys to make plays.”

Just last season, Mahomes went four straight games early on without throwing for 300 yards, and a two-interception game against Buffalo left the Chiefs just 4-2 on the season. But the reigning Super Bowl MVP bounced back with consecutive 400-yard passing performances, and the Chiefs only lost once the rest of the way to the title.

One thing Mahomes has working in his favor is a flourishing ground game.

The Chiefs were still trying to sort out their backfield when he struggled early last season, but seventh-round draft pick Isiah Pacheco eventually solidified the starting spot. He returned this season as the unquestioned leader of the running back room, and last week against the Jets, Pacheco ripped off 20 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown.

His past three weeks — 47 carries for 247 yards and two scores — are a big reason why Kansas City won each game.

Perhaps bigger than the guy taking the snaps.

“Even when I'm not playing my best, we have guys like Isiah that can dominate the run game,” Mahomes said. “It's not all on my shoulders to win a football game. We have other guys that we can rely on. That's what makes this team great.”

NOTES: LB Nick Bolton (ankle) and CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder) returned to practice Wednesday. DE Matt Dickerson (swollen knee) was the only player that did not participate. ... The Chiefs shortened practice Wednesday as they prepared for their trip to Minnesota in part because of their late arrival home after their Sunday night win over the Jets. They also want to manage loads with a Thursday night game following their game against the Vikings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696218723280.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is tripped up by New York Jets linebacker Bryce Huff (47) as he throws during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is tripped up by New York Jets linebacker Bryce Huff (47) as he throws during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes criticized his own performance four games into the season Wednesday, saying that the two-time and reigning league MVP must play better if Kansas City wants to defend its Super Bowl title.The Chiefs are 3-1 and atop the AFC West heading into Sunday's game in Minnesota, but their most recent win over the Jets came largely in spite of the NFL's biggest star.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-jets-mahomes-kelce-swift-rodgers-6e217106cf593473d811cbe21e331857">Mahomes was just 21 of 29 for 203 yards</a>&nbsp;with a touchdown pass and two badly thrown interceptions, though he did make a couple of crucial plays with his feet late in the game to secure the win.It was the third time in four games Mahomes has failed to throw for more than 300 yards, and the only time he did was a 305-yard effort against Jacksonville, when the Chiefs offense managed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-jaguars-e8e4223c2f69b6fb077f029e758780f8">just two touchdowns in slogging to a 17-9 win</a>.“I just haven't played very good to start the season,” said Mahomes, who threw for a franchise-record 5,250 yards with a league-leading 41 touchdown passes last season. “I think if I start playing better everybody is going to start playing better.”Mahomes ranks 10th in yards passing, hamstrung in part by a young group of wide receivers that have struggled to get open. His completion rate of 64.3 percent trails rookie Bryce Young and journeyman Baker Mayfield, among others, and his 21-for-39 effort in the opener against Detroit was the fourth-worst percentage of his career.The two interceptions he threw against the Jets, both of which were underthrown back-foot tosses, marked only the 10th time in 84 games Mahomes has thrown more than one in a game. His four picks are more than all but five other quarterbacks.To be clear: Mahomes still has been good. He only played about three quarters against Chicago because the game was a blowout, and that coupled with penalties along the offensive line and a litany of dropped passes have dragged down his numbers.But the expectation for him is greatness.“You have to go out there and keep shooting it. That's how I've always been wired,” Mahomes said. “Just have to keep going out there and working. I've had spots like this throughout my career where I haven't had the best few weeks in a row. Just go back to the fundamentals and try the best I can for the team and rely on other guys to make plays.”Just last season, Mahomes went four straight games early on without throwing for 300 yards, and a two-interception game against Buffalo left the Chiefs just 4-2 on the season. But the reigning Super Bowl MVP bounced back with consecutive 400-yard passing performances, and the Chiefs only lost once the rest of the way to the title.One thing Mahomes has working in his favor is a flourishing ground game.The Chiefs were still trying to sort out their backfield when he struggled early last season, but seventh-round draft pick Isiah Pacheco eventually solidified the starting spot. He returned this season as the unquestioned leader of the running back room, and last week against the Jets, Pacheco ripped off 20 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown.His past three weeks — 47 carries for 247 yards and two scores — are a big reason why Kansas City won each game.Perhaps bigger than the guy taking the snaps.“Even when I'm not playing my best, we have guys like Isiah that can dominate the run game,” Mahomes said. “It's not all on my shoulders to win a football game. We have other guys that we can rely on. That's what makes this team great.”NOTES: LB Nick Bolton (ankle) and CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder) returned to practice Wednesday. DE Matt Dickerson (swollen knee) was the only player that did not participate. ... The Chiefs shortened practice Wednesday as they prepared for their trip to Minnesota in part because of their late arrival home after their Sunday night win over the Jets. They also want to manage loads with a Thursday night game following their game against the Vikings.

🏈 Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: 'I just haven't played very good'

Fort Hays State men's golf coach Seth Kincaid, men's soccer coach Gerry Cleary, volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins and football coach Chris Brown join the show.

Tiger Talk airs Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. on KAYS (1400/94.3) live from the Robbins Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.

Fort Hays State men's golf coach Seth Kincaid, men's soccer coach Gerry Cleary, volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins and football coach Chris Brown join the show.Tiger Talk airs Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. on KAYS (1400/94.3) live from the Robbins Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.<div><iframe title="Tiger Talk (Oct. 4, 2023)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=m5cfa-14c1971-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: Tiger Talk (Oct. 4, 2023)

The following are the district football assignments for the 2024 and 2025 football seasons. For additional information concerning scheduling, brackets, district chairpersons, etc., see pages 17-18 of the <a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Football.pdf">2023 KSHSAA Football Manual</a>. Each district is to select a district chairperson and that person’s name should be forwarded to the KSHSAA as soon as the district chairperson has been selected.

District 1: Buffalo-Altoona Midway, Chetopa, LeRoy-Southern Coffey County,&nbsp;Melvern-Marais Des Cygnes Valley, Peabody-Burns

District 2: Burrton, Chase, Cunningham, Otis-Bison, Southern Cloud (Miltonvale/Glasco), Tescott

District 3: Ingalls, Kiowa-South Barber, Moscow, Rolla, Rozel-Pawnee Heights

District 4: Almena-Northern Valley, Bird City-Cheylin, Ransom-Western Plains/Healy, Rexford-Golden Plains, Weskan, Winona-Triplains/Brewster

District 1: Colony-Crest, Moran-Marmaton Valley, St. Paul, Waverly

District 2: Burlingame, Hartford, Lebo, Lost Springs-Centre, Rural Vista (Hope/White City)

District 3: Axtell, Frankford, Hanover, Randolph-Blue Valley, Wakefield

District 4: Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton Catholic, Kensington-Thunder Ridge, Linn, Osborne, Scandia-Pike Valley

District 5: Attica/Argonia, Hutchinson-Central Christian, Langdon-Fairfield, Norwich, Pretty Prairie

District 6: Jetmore-Hodgeman County, Macksville, Stafford, St. John-Hudson, Victoria

District 7: Ashland, Bucklin, Deerfield, Minneola, Satanta

District 8: Dighton, Grainfield-Wheatland/Grinnell, Logan/Palco, Sharon Springs-Wallace County, Tribune-Greeley County

District 1: Arma-Northeast, Burden-Central, Cedar Vale/Dexter, Howard-West Elk, Oswego, Sedan

District 2: Allen-Northern Heights, Cottonwood Falls-Chase County, Lyndon, Madison/Hamilton, Rosalia-Flint hills, Yates Center

District 3: Brookville-Ell Saline, Canton-Galva, Claflin-Central Plains, Goessel, Little River, Solomon

District 4: Clifton-Clyde, Downs-Lakeside, Lincoln, Mankato-Rock Hills, Sylvan-Lucas Unified, Washington County

District 5: Coldwater-South Central, Greensburg-Kiowa County, Oxford, Pratt-Skyline, Udall, Wichita-The Independent

District 6: Elkhart, Kinsley, Meade, Montezuma-South Gray, Spearville, Sublette

District 7: Ellis, La Crosse, Leoti-Wichita County, Ness City, Quinter, WaKeeney-Trego Community

District 8: Atwood-Rawlins County, Hill City, Hoxie, Oberlin-Decatur Community, St. Francis, Stockton

District 1: Cherokee-Southeast, Erie, Mound City-Jayhawk Linn, Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan, Pleasanton, Uniontown

District 2: Eskridge-Mission Valley, Olpe, Rossville, Shawnee-Marantha Christian Academy, Topeka-Cair Paravel Latin School, Wabaunsee

District 3: Easton-Pleasant Ridge, Jackson Heights, McLouth, Onaga, Valley Falls, Winchester-Jefferson County North

District 4: Atchison-Maur Hill Mount Academy, Centralia, Highland-Doniphan West, Horton, Troy, Wathena-Riverside

District 5: Belleville-Republic County, Bennington, Blue Rapids-Valley Heights, Herington, Salina-Sacred Heart

District 6: Inman, Marion, Moundridge, Sedgwick, Whitewater-Remington

District 7: Conway Springs, Ellinwood, Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic, Medicine Lodge, South Sumner (Caldwell/South Haven), Sterling

District 8: Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian, Johnson-Stanton County, Oakley, Plainville/Natoma, Smith Center, Syracuse

District 1: Caney Valley, Cherryvale, Fredonia/Elk Valley, Galena, Riverton

District 2: Eureka, Humboldt, Leon-Bluestem, Pomona-West Franklin, Richmond-Central Heights

District 3: Council Grove, Osage City, Riley County, Silver Lake, St. Marys

District 4: Effingham-Atchison County, Hoyt-Royal Valley, Oskaloosa, Sabetha, Seneca-Nemaha Central

District 5: Belle Plaine, Douglass, Garden Plain, Haven, Kingman

District 6: Ellsworth, Gypsum-SE of Saline, Halstead, Hillsboro, Lyons

District 7: Beloit, Minneapolis, Norton Community, Phillipsburg, Russell

District 8: Cimarron, Hoisington, Kismet-Southwestern Heights, Larned, Lakin

District 1: Baxter Springs, Columbus, Frontenac, Neodesha, Parsons

District 2: Burlington, Garnett-Anderson County, Girard, Iola, LaCygne-Prairie View

District 3: Baldwin, Kansas City-Bishop Ward, Osawatomie, Santa Fe Trail, Wellsville

District 4: Hiawatha, Holton, Meriden-Jefferson West, Perry Lecompton/Bishop Seabury, Topeka-Hayden

District 5: Chapman, Clay Center Community, Concordia, Marysville, St. George-Rock Creek

District 6: Andale, Hesston, Lindsborg-Smoky Valley, Nickerson, Wichita-Trinity Academy

District 7: Anthony-Harper/Chaparral, Cheney, Clearwater, Pratt, Wichita-Collegiate

District 8: Colby, Goodland, Holcomb, Hugoton, Scott Community

East:&nbsp;Altamont-Labette County, Atchison, Bonner Springs, Chanute, Coffeyville-Field Kindley, Eudora, Fort Scott, Kansas City-FL Schlagle, Kansas City-Piper, Kansas City-Sumner Academy, Lansing, Louisburg, Ottawa, Paola, Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege, Tonganoxie

West:&nbsp;Abilene, Andover-Central, Arkansas City, Augusta, Buhler, El Dorado, Independence, McPherson, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Towanda-Circle, Ulysses, Wamego, Wellington, Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Winfield

East:&nbsp;Basehor-Linwood, De Soto, Kansas City-JC Harmon, Kansas City-Turner, Kansas City-Washington, Leavenworth, Lenexa-St. James Academy, Overland Park-Blue Valley, Overland Park-Blue Valley North, Overland Park-Blue Valley Southwest, Overland Park-St. Thomas Aquinas, Pittsburg, Shawnee-Mill Valley, Spring Hill, Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights, Topeka-Highland Park

West:&nbsp;Andover, Emporia, Goddard, Goddard-Eisenhower, Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, Liberal, Maize South, Newton, Salina-Central, Salina-South, Topeka-Seaman, Topeka West, Valley Center, Wichita-Bishop Carroll

East:&nbsp;Gardner Edgerton, Kansas City-Wyandotte, Lawrence, Lawrence-Free State, Olathe East, Olathe North, Olathe Northwest, Olathe South, Olathe West, Overland Park-Blue Valley Northwest, Overland Park-Blue Valley West, Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission West

West:&nbsp;Derby, Dodge City, Garden City, Haysville-Campus, Junction City, Maize, Manhattan, Topeka, Topeka-Washburn Rural, Wichita-East, Wichita-Heights, Wichita-North, Wichita-Northwest, Wichita-South, Wichita-Southeast, Wichita-West

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696434542322.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KSHSAAThe following are the district football assignments for the 2024 and 2025 football seasons. For additional information concerning scheduling, brackets, district chairpersons, etc., see pages 17-18 of the <a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Football.pdf">2023 KSHSAA Football Manual</a>. Each district is to select a district chairperson and that person’s name should be forwarded to the KSHSAA as soon as the district chairperson has been selected.6-PLAYERDistrict 1: Buffalo-Altoona Midway, Chetopa, LeRoy-Southern Coffey County,&nbsp;Melvern-Marais Des Cygnes Valley, Peabody-BurnsDistrict 2: Burrton, Chase, Cunningham, Otis-Bison, Southern Cloud (Miltonvale/Glasco), TescottDistrict 3: Ingalls, Kiowa-South Barber, Moscow, Rolla, Rozel-Pawnee HeightsDistrict 4: Almena-Northern Valley, Bird City-Cheylin, Ransom-Western Plains/Healy, Rexford-Golden Plains, Weskan, Winona-Triplains/Brewster8-PLAYER – DIVISION IIDistrict 1: Colony-Crest, Moran-Marmaton Valley, St. Paul, WaverlyDistrict 2: Burlingame, Hartford, Lebo, Lost Springs-Centre, Rural Vista (Hope/White City)District 3: Axtell, Frankford, Hanover, Randolph-Blue Valley, WakefieldDistrict 4: Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton Catholic, Kensington-Thunder Ridge, Linn, Osborne, Scandia-Pike ValleyDistrict 5: Attica/Argonia, Hutchinson-Central Christian, Langdon-Fairfield, Norwich, Pretty PrairieDistrict 6: Jetmore-Hodgeman County, Macksville, Stafford, St. John-Hudson, VictoriaDistrict 7: Ashland, Bucklin, Deerfield, Minneola, SatantaDistrict 8: Dighton, Grainfield-Wheatland/Grinnell, Logan/Palco, Sharon Springs-Wallace County, Tribune-Greeley County8-PLAYER – DIVISION IDistrict 1: Arma-Northeast, Burden-Central, Cedar Vale/Dexter, Howard-West Elk, Oswego, SedanDistrict 2: Allen-Northern Heights, Cottonwood Falls-Chase County, Lyndon, Madison/Hamilton, Rosalia-Flint hills, Yates CenterDistrict 3: Brookville-Ell Saline, Canton-Galva, Claflin-Central Plains, Goessel, Little River, SolomonDistrict 4: Clifton-Clyde, Downs-Lakeside, Lincoln, Mankato-Rock Hills, Sylvan-Lucas Unified, Washington CountyDistrict 5: Coldwater-South Central, Greensburg-Kiowa County, Oxford, Pratt-Skyline, Udall, Wichita-The IndependentDistrict 6: Elkhart, Kinsley, Meade, Montezuma-South Gray, Spearville, SubletteDistrict 7: Ellis, La Crosse, Leoti-Wichita County, Ness City, Quinter, WaKeeney-Trego CommunityDistrict 8: Atwood-Rawlins County, Hill City, Hoxie, Oberlin-Decatur Community, St. Francis, StocktonCLASS 1ADistrict 1: Cherokee-Southeast, Erie, Mound City-Jayhawk Linn, Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan, Pleasanton, UniontownDistrict 2: Eskridge-Mission Valley, Olpe, Rossville, Shawnee-Marantha Christian Academy, Topeka-Cair Paravel Latin School, WabaunseeDistrict 3: Easton-Pleasant Ridge, Jackson Heights, McLouth, Onaga, Valley Falls, Winchester-Jefferson County NorthDistrict 4: Atchison-Maur Hill Mount Academy, Centralia, Highland-Doniphan West, Horton, Troy, Wathena-RiversideDistrict 5: Belleville-Republic County, Bennington, Blue Rapids-Valley Heights, Herington, Salina-Sacred HeartDistrict 6: Inman, Marion, Moundridge, Sedgwick, Whitewater-RemingtonDistrict 7: Conway Springs, Ellinwood, Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic, Medicine Lodge, South Sumner (Caldwell/South Haven), SterlingDistrict 8: Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian, Johnson-Stanton County, Oakley, Plainville/Natoma, Smith Center, SyracuseCLASS 2ADistrict 1: Caney Valley, Cherryvale, Fredonia/Elk Valley, Galena, RivertonDistrict 2: Eureka, Humboldt, Leon-Bluestem, Pomona-West Franklin, Richmond-Central HeightsDistrict 3: Council Grove, Osage City, Riley County, Silver Lake, St. MarysDistrict 4: Effingham-Atchison County, Hoyt-Royal Valley, Oskaloosa, Sabetha, Seneca-Nemaha CentralDistrict 5: Belle Plaine, Douglass, Garden Plain, Haven, KingmanDistrict 6: Ellsworth, Gypsum-SE of Saline, Halstead, Hillsboro, LyonsDistrict 7: Beloit, Minneapolis, Norton Community, Phillipsburg, RussellDistrict 8: Cimarron, Hoisington, Kismet-Southwestern Heights, Larned, LakinCLASS 3ADistrict 1: Baxter Springs, Columbus, Frontenac, Neodesha, ParsonsDistrict 2: Burlington, Garnett-Anderson County, Girard, Iola, LaCygne-Prairie ViewDistrict 3: Baldwin, Kansas City-Bishop Ward, Osawatomie, Santa Fe Trail, WellsvilleDistrict 4: Hiawatha, Holton, Meriden-Jefferson West, Perry Lecompton/Bishop Seabury, Topeka-HaydenDistrict 5: Chapman, Clay Center Community, Concordia, Marysville, St. George-Rock CreekDistrict 6: Andale, Hesston, Lindsborg-Smoky Valley, Nickerson, Wichita-Trinity AcademyDistrict 7: Anthony-Harper/Chaparral, Cheney, Clearwater, Pratt, Wichita-CollegiateDistrict 8: Colby, Goodland, Holcomb, Hugoton, Scott CommunityCLASS 4AEast:&nbsp;Altamont-Labette County, Atchison, Bonner Springs, Chanute, Coffeyville-Field Kindley, Eudora, Fort Scott, Kansas City-FL Schlagle, Kansas City-Piper, Kansas City-Sumner Academy, Lansing, Louisburg, Ottawa, Paola, Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege, TonganoxieWest:&nbsp;Abilene, Andover-Central, Arkansas City, Augusta, Buhler, El Dorado, Independence, McPherson, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Towanda-Circle, Ulysses, Wamego, Wellington, Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel, WinfieldCLASS 5AEast:&nbsp;Basehor-Linwood, De Soto, Kansas City-JC Harmon, Kansas City-Turner, Kansas City-Washington, Leavenworth, Lenexa-St. James Academy, Overland Park-Blue Valley, Overland Park-Blue Valley North, Overland Park-Blue Valley Southwest, Overland Park-St. Thomas Aquinas, Pittsburg, Shawnee-Mill Valley, Spring Hill, Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights, Topeka-Highland ParkWest:&nbsp;Andover, Emporia, Goddard, Goddard-Eisenhower, Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, Liberal, Maize South, Newton, Salina-Central, Salina-South, Topeka-Seaman, Topeka West, Valley Center, Wichita-Bishop CarrollCLASS 6AEast:&nbsp;Gardner Edgerton, Kansas City-Wyandotte, Lawrence, Lawrence-Free State, Olathe East, Olathe North, Olathe Northwest, Olathe South, Olathe West, Overland Park-Blue Valley Northwest, Overland Park-Blue Valley West, Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission WestWest:&nbsp;Derby, Dodge City, Garden City, Haysville-Campus, Junction City, Maize, Manhattan, Topeka, Topeka-Washburn Rural, Wichita-East, Wichita-Heights, Wichita-North, Wichita-Northwest, Wichita-South, Wichita-Southeast, Wichita-West

🏈 KSHSAA releases districts assignments for 2024-25

HAYS - The Hays High volleyball picked up a pair of home wins on Senior Night Tuesday at the Hays High gym.

The Indians defeated Garden City in two (25-23, 25-22) then knocked off Phillipsburg in two (25-17, 25-18). 

HHS improved to 16-12. on the season. They don’t play
again until next Tuesday when they host Junction City and Salina Central in a triangular.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696417071952.png" alt="Hays High seniors (L-R) Dezarae Schmidt, Lakyn Zimmerman, Brygette Ross, Aubree Thomas, Lilian McGrath and Keira Wagstaff. (HHS Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Hays High seniors (L-R) Dezarae Schmidt, Lakyn Zimmerman, Brygette Ross, Aubree Thomas, Lilian McGrath and Keira Wagstaff. (HHS Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostHAYS - The Hays High volleyball picked up a pair of home wins on Senior Night Tuesday at the Hays High gym.The Indians defeated Garden City in two (25-23, 25-22) then knocked off Phillipsburg in two (25-17, 25-18). HHS improved to 16-12. on the season. They don’t play
again until next Tuesday when they host Junction City and Salina Central in a triangular.

🏐 HHS picks up a pair of wins on Senior Night

GREAT BEND -&nbsp;The Hays High girls’
golf team wrapped up the Western Athletic Conference title Tuesday with their win at the Great Bend Invitational at Lake Barton Golf Course.&nbsp;

The Indians took the team title by 15 strokes over Garden City. Dodge City finished a distant third in the tournament that was shortened to nine holes due to weather.

The Indians
placed five in the top-10 led by Evyn Cox who won the individual title by on shot with a 44. Lily Garrison shot a 45 and finished. Abbie Norris was fifth with a 45 and
Ashlynn Banker sixth with a 47. Jaycee Oakley shot a 47 and finished seventh but her score did not count toward the Indians team total.

This was the final regular season tournament of the year and wrapped up another Western Athletic Conference title for Hays.

Abbie Norris, Jaycee
Oakley, Evyn Cox and Ashlynn Banker were named to the All-WAC First Team. Lily Garrison and Avery Augustine are honorable mention. Norris is the WAC Golfer of the Year and Mark Watts the WAC Coach of the
Year.

Hays High will travel to Wichita to golf in the regional tournament Monday at the Rolling Hills Country Club.

Hays PostGREAT BEND -&nbsp;The Hays High girls’
golf team wrapped up the Western Athletic Conference title Tuesday with their win at the Great Bend Invitational at Lake Barton Golf Course.&nbsp;The Indians took the team title by 15 strokes over Garden City. Dodge City finished a distant third in the tournament that was shortened to nine holes due to weather.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696416630138.jpeg" alt="Hays High had four girls' golfers earn First Team All-Western Athletic Conference honors. (L-R Jaycee Oakley, Ashlynn Banker, Evyn Cox, Abbie Norris)(HHS courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Hays High had four girls' golfers earn First Team All-Western Athletic Conference honors. (L-R Jaycee Oakley, Ashlynn Banker, Evyn Cox, Abbie Norris)(HHS courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Indians
placed five in the top-10 led by Evyn Cox who won the individual title by on shot with a 44. Lily Garrison shot a 45 and finished. Abbie Norris was fifth with a 45 and
Ashlynn Banker sixth with a 47. Jaycee Oakley shot a 47 and finished seventh but her score did not count toward the Indians team total.This was the final regular season tournament of the year and wrapped up another Western Athletic Conference title for Hays.Abbie Norris, Jaycee
Oakley, Evyn Cox and Ashlynn Banker were named to the All-WAC First Team. Lily Garrison and Avery Augustine are honorable mention. Norris is the WAC Golfer of the Year and Mark Watts the WAC Coach of the
Year.Hays High will travel to Wichita to golf in the regional tournament Monday at the Rolling Hills Country Club.

⛳ HHS girls' wrap up WAC title in Great Bend

GARDEN CITY -&nbsp;The Hays High No. 2 Doubles team of Alyse Zimmerman and Kaelin Maier went 3-1 and finished second at the Western Athletic Conference tournament Monday hosted by Garden City High School. The No. 2 Doubles team of Kinlee May and Jaiden Pfannenstiel went 1-3 and places fourth. Isabelle Jones went 1-3 in No. 2 Singles and finished fourth while Maycie Holdeman went 0-4 in No. 1 Singles and finished fifth.

The Indians finished fourth in the team standings with five points. Garden City won the team title with 14 points, Great Bend finished second with 11.

Great Bend's Kaylin Wahlmeier is the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year. The Panthers Zachary Bartel is the Coach of the Year.

The Indians are at regionals this weekend hosted by Salina Central.

Hays PostGARDEN CITY -&nbsp;The Hays High No. 2 Doubles team of Alyse Zimmerman and Kaelin Maier went 3-1 and finished second at the Western Athletic Conference tournament Monday hosted by Garden City High School. The No. 2 Doubles team of Kinlee May and Jaiden Pfannenstiel went 1-3 and places fourth. Isabelle Jones went 1-3 in No. 2 Singles and finished fourth while Maycie Holdeman went 0-4 in No. 1 Singles and finished fifth.The Indians finished fourth in the team standings with five points. Garden City won the team title with 14 points, Great Bend finished second with 11.Great Bend's Kaylin Wahlmeier is the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year. The Panthers Zachary Bartel is the Coach of the Year.The Indians are at regionals this weekend hosted by Salina Central.

🎾 No. 2 Doubles second, HHS girls' fourth at WAC

HAYS -&nbsp;Hoisington won the TMP-Marian
girls' invitational golf tournament Monday at Smoky Hill Country Club. The Cardinals shot a 411 which was 33 strokes better than Larned. 

The
Monarchs placed two in the top-10 led by Ashley Hipp who placed sixth with a 100. Jenna Brull tied for 10th
with a 108. 

Hays High’s Liz Dreiling was eighth with a 104 and Willow Melvin tied for 10th with a 108.

Atwood's Amelia Bowles shot an 80 and won the individual title by seven shots over Concordia's Mya Niehues.

Hays PostHAYS -&nbsp;Hoisington won the TMP-Marian
girls' invitational golf tournament Monday at Smoky Hill Country Club. The Cardinals shot a 411 which was 33 strokes better than Larned. The
Monarchs placed two in the top-10 led by Ashley Hipp who placed sixth with a 100. Jenna Brull tied for 10th
with a 108. Hays High’s Liz Dreiling was eighth with a 104 and Willow Melvin tied for 10th with a 108.Atwood's Amelia Bowles shot an 80 and won the individual title by seven shots over Concordia's Mya Niehues.

⛳ Hipp leads Monarchs girls' at own invite

Fort Hays State Tiger football coach Chris Brown, wide receiver Ryan Allen and defensive back Trevion Mitchell&nbsp;spoke to the media Monday ahead of Saturday's game at Missouri Southern.

Hays PostFort Hays State Tiger football coach Chris Brown, wide receiver Ryan Allen and defensive back Trevion Mitchell&nbsp;spoke to the media Monday ahead of Saturday's game at Missouri Southern.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TCNBAilaXXU?si=9ZmCcyAM1seyCqYQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uhHxQk--ptg?si=YLBVj84TVrHweyS9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uGmvDqOEwk0?si=dVCfvsl9F8YSpHNg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

🏈📹 FHSU weekly press conference

Kpreps.com released its week 6 high school football rankings on Monday morning. There were only three ranked teams that fell in week 5.

CLASS 6A 1) Gardner-Edgerton (5-0) 2) Olathe North (4-1) 3) Washburn Rural (5-0) 4) Wichita Northwest (4-1) 5) Manhattan (4-1)

CLASS 5A 1) Kapaun Mt. Carmel (4-1) 2) Mill Valley (4-1) 3) Blue Valley Southwest (4-1) 4) Goddard Eisenhower (5-0) 5) De Soto (4-1)

CLASS 4A 1) Bishop Miege (4-1) 2) St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1) 3) Louisburg (5-0) 4) Tonganoxie (4-1) 5) Wamego (4-1)

CLASS 3A 1) Andale (5-0) 2) Cheney (5-0) 3) Topeka Hayden (5-0) 4) Wichita Collegiate (5-0) 5) Clay Center (4-1)

CLASS 2A 1) Nemaha Central (5-0) 2) Sabetha (5-0) 3) Hoisington (5-0) 4) Southeast of Saline (5-0) 5) Ellsworth (5-0)

CLASS 1A 1) St. Mary's Colgan (5-0) 2) Centralia (5-0) 3) Jefferson County North (5-0) 4) Marion (5-0) 5) Smith Center (4-1)

8-MAN DIVISION I 1) Leoti-Wichita County (5-0) 2) Lyndon (5-0) 3) Meade (5-0) 4) Moundridge (5-0) 5) Central Burden (5-0)

8-MAN DIVISION II 1) Axtell (5-0) 2) Kinsley (5-0) 3) Victoria (3-1) 4) Canton-Galva (4-1) 5) Minneola (5-0)

6-MAN 1) Cheylin (5-0) 2) Ashland (4-1) 3) Cunningham (4-1) 4) Waverly (5-0) 5) Northern Valley (4-1)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693413418452.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kpreps.com released its week 6 high school football rankings on Monday morning. There were only three ranked teams that fell in week 5.CLASS 6A 1) Gardner-Edgerton (5-0) 2) Olathe North (4-1) 3) Washburn Rural (5-0) 4) Wichita Northwest (4-1) 5) Manhattan (4-1)CLASS 5A 1) Kapaun Mt. Carmel (4-1) 2) Mill Valley (4-1) 3) Blue Valley Southwest (4-1) 4) Goddard Eisenhower (5-0) 5) De Soto (4-1)CLASS 4A 1) Bishop Miege (4-1) 2) St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1) 3) Louisburg (5-0) 4) Tonganoxie (4-1) 5) Wamego (4-1)CLASS 3A 1) Andale (5-0) 2) Cheney (5-0) 3) Topeka Hayden (5-0) 4) Wichita Collegiate (5-0) 5) Clay Center (4-1)CLASS 2A 1) Nemaha Central (5-0) 2) Sabetha (5-0) 3) Hoisington (5-0) 4) Southeast of Saline (5-0) 5) Ellsworth (5-0)CLASS 1A 1) St. Mary's Colgan (5-0) 2) Centralia (5-0) 3) Jefferson County North (5-0) 4) Marion (5-0) 5) Smith Center (4-1)8-MAN DIVISION I 1) Leoti-Wichita County (5-0) 2) Lyndon (5-0) 3) Meade (5-0) 4) Moundridge (5-0) 5) Central Burden (5-0)8-MAN DIVISION II 1) Axtell (5-0) 2) Kinsley (5-0) 3) Victoria (3-1) 4) Canton-Galva (4-1) 5) Minneola (5-0)6-MAN 1) Cheylin (5-0) 2) Ashland (4-1) 3) Cunningham (4-1) 4) Waverly (5-0) 5) Northern Valley (4-1)

🏈 Week 6 Kpreps high school rankings

Fort Hays State hosts Lincoln in a non-conference game for Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at Lewis Field.

Fort Hays State hosts Lincoln in a non-conference game for Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at Lewis Field.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind: FB vs. Lincoln (Sept. 30, 2023)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=rnbq5-14bd576-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind - FB vs. Lincoln (Sept. 30, 2023)

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs appeared on their way to a blowout against the struggling New York Jets.

A few mistakes by the star quarterback made it uncomfortably close, but he and the Chiefs shook off a subpar performance during which they blew a 17-point lead and then held on for a 23-20 victory Sunday night.

“I knew I put us in two bad positions,” said Mahomes, who was intercepted twice. “No one points fingers in that locker room. We all play together. Not everything is going to be pretty, but the guys responded and we found a way to win.”

With pop superstar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-jets-1b1b3ba43139acefcbdf52072b018154">Taylor Swift watching Travis Kelce and the Chiefs</a>&nbsp;for the second straight game, this time from a suite at MetLife Stadium, Kansas City was able to bounce back.

After the Chiefs (3-1) regained the lead on Harrison Butker’s 26-yard field goal with 10:51 remaining, Zach Wilson made his first big mistake for the Jets when he lost a snap. Tershawn Wharton recovered and Mahomes and the Chiefs got the ball at the Jets 47.

Michael Carter II intercepted Mahomes on third-and-20 from the Jets 40 — but it was negated by a holding call on Sauce Gardner. Replays showed it was a questionable call and an irate Jets coach Robert Saleh stormed down the sideline to shout at an official.

“Fourth quarter, crunch time," Gardner said. "I don’t even know what to say.”

Mahomes, who had a 25-yard run on third-and-23 to extend the drive, ran for 9 yards on another third down to the Jets 2, sealing the victory.

“Listen, I thought it was a hold,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who tied Tom Landry for fourth on the career list with his 250th regular-season victory. “I've got to go back and look at the tape on it. He was on the other side of the field. They’re aggressive, so they’re going to get a couple of those during the game. Sauce is as good as there is in the league, but he might have had a little bit of fabric there.”

Moments later, a still-angry Saleh was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty — and the clock hit zero on a bitter loss for the Jets (1-3).

“Just that whole drive after the fumble was unfortunate,” Saleh said. “That’s extremely unfortunate, especially for a prime-time football game.”

Mahomes, who became the fastest to 200 NFL touchdown passes, was 18 of 30 for 203 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 51 yards to set the franchise's career rushing mark for a quarterback. Isiah Pacheco rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and Kelce had six catches for 60 yards.

"It was a lot of hard grinding tonight," Pacheco said.

Wilson had his best game since taking over for the injured Aaron Rodgers, going 28 of 39 for 245 yards and two touchdowns. But he blamed himself for the loss because of the lost fumble.

"To be driving right there, to drop a snap, I can not do that,” Wilson said.

Trailing 20-12, Wilson and the Jets opened the second half with the ball and marched down the field. Wilson found Allen Lazard in the middle of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The quarterback then avoided a tackle attempt, rolled out and zipped forward for a 2-point conversion that tied the game at 20.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-jets-aaron-rodgers-2a0de7afa073497aced5047853ce4a87">Rodgers, who rejoined his teammates Saturday</a>&nbsp;after tearing his left Achilles tendon in his debut on Sept. 11, was shown on the stadium video screens clapping and cheering after the score, sitting in a suite with Jets owner Woody Johnson — and that got the New York fans even more fired up.

It appeared it would be a blowout early when Pacheco slipped a tackle attempt by Micheal Clemons in the backfield on third-and-1, made a move downfield and then zipped into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown that made it 10-0.

Mahomes threw the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-200-touchdown-passes-19a81d6761a2b0919b5e5fd141186c77">200th touchdown pass</a>&nbsp;of his career, reaching the milestone in his 84th game to break Dan Marino’s NFL record when he connected with Noah Gray on a 34-yard score with 3:24 left in the first quarter. Marino threw his 200th TD pass in his 89th NFL game with Miami in 1989.

The Jets got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor was called for a facemask penalty on Bryce Huff in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

The play seemed to breathe some life into New York's offense and Greg Zuerlein's 31-yard field goal made it 17-5.

Ashtyn Davis intercepted Mahomes' throw to Gray to open the Chiefs' next possession, and New York took advantage.

After Randall Cobb extended the drive by reaching out for a first down on third-and-5 to the 19, wide receiver Xavier Gipson gained 14 yards on an end-around to put the ball at the 5. Two plays later, Wilson found C.J. Uzomah for a 1-yard TD to cut the Jets' deficit to 17-12 with 6:26 left in the half.

Butker's 37-yarder made it 20-12 with 2:15 remaining in the second quarter.

The Jets chose to try a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs 34 in the waning seconds of the first half, but Zuerlein hit the right upright from 52 yards.

Former Jets star defensive lineman Joe Klecko received his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence during a halftime ceremony.

Klecko, who also served as the Jets’ honorary captain for the pregame coin toss, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in August. He played for the Jets from 1977-87 and was the heart of the team's “New York Sack Exchange.”

Chiefs: LB Cole Christiansen left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and didn't return.

Jets: CB Brandin Echols injured a hamstring in the second quarter and was ruled out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696218723280.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is tripped up by New York Jets linebacker Bryce Huff (47) as he throws during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is tripped up by New York Jets linebacker Bryce Huff (47) as he throws during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football WriterEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs appeared on their way to a blowout against the struggling New York Jets.A few mistakes by the star quarterback made it uncomfortably close, but he and the Chiefs shook off a subpar performance during which they blew a 17-point lead and then held on for a 23-20 victory Sunday night.“I knew I put us in two bad positions,” said Mahomes, who was intercepted twice. “No one points fingers in that locker room. We all play together. Not everything is going to be pretty, but the guys responded and we found a way to win.”With pop superstar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-jets-1b1b3ba43139acefcbdf52072b018154">Taylor Swift watching Travis Kelce and the Chiefs</a>&nbsp;for the second straight game, this time from a suite at MetLife Stadium, Kansas City was able to bounce back.After the Chiefs (3-1) regained the lead on Harrison Butker’s 26-yard field goal with 10:51 remaining, Zach Wilson made his first big mistake for the Jets when he lost a snap. Tershawn Wharton recovered and Mahomes and the Chiefs got the ball at the Jets 47.Michael Carter II intercepted Mahomes on third-and-20 from the Jets 40 — but it was negated by a holding call on Sauce Gardner. Replays showed it was a questionable call and an irate Jets coach Robert Saleh stormed down the sideline to shout at an official.“Fourth quarter, crunch time," Gardner said. "I don’t even know what to say.”Mahomes, who had a 25-yard run on third-and-23 to extend the drive, ran for 9 yards on another third down to the Jets 2, sealing the victory.“Listen, I thought it was a hold,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who tied Tom Landry for fourth on the career list with his 250th regular-season victory. “I've got to go back and look at the tape on it. He was on the other side of the field. They’re aggressive, so they’re going to get a couple of those during the game. Sauce is as good as there is in the league, but he might have had a little bit of fabric there.”Moments later, a still-angry Saleh was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty — and the clock hit zero on a bitter loss for the Jets (1-3).“Just that whole drive after the fumble was unfortunate,” Saleh said. “That’s extremely unfortunate, especially for a prime-time football game.”Mahomes, who became the fastest to 200 NFL touchdown passes, was 18 of 30 for 203 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 51 yards to set the franchise's career rushing mark for a quarterback. Isiah Pacheco rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and Kelce had six catches for 60 yards."It was a lot of hard grinding tonight," Pacheco said.Wilson had his best game since taking over for the injured Aaron Rodgers, going 28 of 39 for 245 yards and two touchdowns. But he blamed himself for the loss because of the lost fumble."To be driving right there, to drop a snap, I can not do that,” Wilson said.Trailing 20-12, Wilson and the Jets opened the second half with the ball and marched down the field. Wilson found Allen Lazard in the middle of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The quarterback then avoided a tackle attempt, rolled out and zipped forward for a 2-point conversion that tied the game at 20.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-jets-aaron-rodgers-2a0de7afa073497aced5047853ce4a87">Rodgers, who rejoined his teammates Saturday</a>&nbsp;after tearing his left Achilles tendon in his debut on Sept. 11, was shown on the stadium video screens clapping and cheering after the score, sitting in a suite with Jets owner Woody Johnson — and that got the New York fans even more fired up.It appeared it would be a blowout early when Pacheco slipped a tackle attempt by Micheal Clemons in the backfield on third-and-1, made a move downfield and then zipped into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown that made it 10-0.Mahomes threw the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-200-touchdown-passes-19a81d6761a2b0919b5e5fd141186c77">200th touchdown pass</a>&nbsp;of his career, reaching the milestone in his 84th game to break Dan Marino’s NFL record when he connected with Noah Gray on a 34-yard score with 3:24 left in the first quarter. Marino threw his 200th TD pass in his 89th NFL game with Miami in 1989.The Jets got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor was called for a facemask penalty on Bryce Huff in the end zone, resulting in a safety.The play seemed to breathe some life into New York's offense and Greg Zuerlein's 31-yard field goal made it 17-5.Ashtyn Davis intercepted Mahomes' throw to Gray to open the Chiefs' next possession, and New York took advantage.After Randall Cobb extended the drive by reaching out for a first down on third-and-5 to the 19, wide receiver Xavier Gipson gained 14 yards on an end-around to put the ball at the 5. Two plays later, Wilson found C.J. Uzomah for a 1-yard TD to cut the Jets' deficit to 17-12 with 6:26 left in the half.Butker's 37-yarder made it 20-12 with 2:15 remaining in the second quarter.The Jets chose to try a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs 34 in the waning seconds of the first half, but Zuerlein hit the right upright from 52 yards.SPECIAL RINGFormer Jets star defensive lineman Joe Klecko received his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence during a halftime ceremony.Klecko, who also served as the Jets’ honorary captain for the pregame coin toss, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in August. He played for the Jets from 1977-87 and was the heart of the team's “New York Sack Exchange.”INJURIESChiefs: LB Cole Christiansen left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and didn't return.Jets: CB Brandin Echols injured a hamstring in the second quarter and was ruled out.UP NEXTChiefs: At Minnesota next Sunday.Jets: At Denver next Sunday.

🏈 Mahomes, Chiefs hold on to beat Jets

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Zack Greinke threw four-hit ball into the sixth inning for his 225th win and, backed by a trio of home runs, helped the Kansas City Royals beat the New York Yankees 5-2 on Sunday to end their season and quite possibly his own 20-year big league career.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696198645150.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke is congratulated by teammates after coming out of the Royals' final game of the season during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke is congratulated by teammates after coming out of the Royals' final game of the season during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Zack Greinke threw four-hit ball into the sixth inning for his 225th win and, backed by a trio of home runs, helped the Kansas City Royals beat the New York Yankees 5-2 on Sunday to end their season and quite possibly his own 20-year big league career.Greinke (2-15) had just allowed a leadoff walk when Matt Quatraro walked to the mound. The six-time All-Star tried to give his manager the ball but Quatraro gave it right back, and the 39-year-old Greinke stuck it in his pocket as he walked off the mound to a standing ovation — one that required the famously reserved Greinke to come out for a curtain call.Greinke can become free agent after this season, and while he has yet to announce whether he will retire, the 2009 Cy Young Award winner has had a challenging year. Greinke's only other win this season game May 3 against the Baltimore Orioles.Michael King (4-8) had a forgettable finale to an otherwise excellent end of the year for New York. He'd allowed one earned run or fewer in his previous seven starts before serving up a trio of homers among eight hits that led to four runs Sunday.Late-season revelation James McArthur got the final six outs for Kansas City for his fourth save.The Royals went 56-106, matching the franchise record for losses in a season. The Yankees finished 82-80, clinching a winning record for the 31st straight season with their win Saturday but still their worst since 76-86 in 1992. Star Aaron Judge, who did not play, stood at the dugout rail and stared at the field following the final out.The Yankees also had their 15-series winning streak against the Royals snapped on Sunday, which dated to May 15, 2015. That was their second-longest streak against any team after a 21-series run against the Boston Red Sox from 1930-33.MJ Melendez tagged the first of the Royals' homers, all of which rode an early October breeze to left field, leading off the second inning. Nick Pratto drove in Dairon Blanco later in the inning to stake Kansas City to a 2-0 lead.Edward Oliveras and Blanco added their home runs off King one batter apart in the fourth inning, and the Royals made it 5-0 in the fifth when Bobby Witt Jr. tripled leading off and Salvador Perez followed with a sacrifice fly.The Yankees got two runs back in the sixth on Isiah Kiner-Falefa's two-out single off Taylor Clarke, but the Kansas City bullpen shut them down the rest of the way.RENDERING JUDGMENTJudge said before the game he's talked with owner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman about what could change before next season. Judge also said he supports manager Aaron Boone leading the club.“We have a good group of guys in here. I’m excited to build off what we’ve got here," Judge said, "and if we can add a couple of more pieces down the road this winter, then we’ll be in a good spot.”BOBBY'S BUMMERWitt became the first Royals player in the 30-30 club when he hit his 30th homer in the series opener, but he finished one steal short of becoming the fourth player ever in the 30-50 club. Witt was thrown out trying to steal second Saturday, then picked off first base Sunday, leaving him with 49 steals for the season.HOME ATTENDANCEThe Royals had 1,307,052 attend home games this season, the third-worst total in the majors behind Miami and Oakland. Thanks in part to the pitch clock, and improved pace of play, that total still exceeded their attendance of 1,277,686 last season.UP NEXTThe Yankees play their spring training opener Feb. 24 against Detroit in Lakeland, Florida. The Royals play their spring opener the same day against Texas in Surprise, Arizona.