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Chiefs drop to 0-3 as rally falls short at San Diego

Matt Cassel didn’t even see Eric Weddle, the San Diego Chargers’ $40 million free safety.

That was the difference between the Kansas City Chiefs having a chance at a huge upset — or at the very least, to get the game into overtime — and a third straight loss.

Weddle intercepted Cassel on a screen pass at midfield with 55 seconds left, and the lethargic Chargers held on for a 20-17 victory over the winless Chiefs on Sunday.

“In the end, we made the play and they didn’t,” Weddle said. “It’s huge. We definitely didn’t want to lose this game.”

Neither did the Chiefs, who were outscored a combined 89-10 in their first two games and were without stars Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki, out with season-ending knee injuries.

“Those were the highs and lows of football,” Cassel said. “One minute you feel good with a 20-yard gain close to field goal range and great position, and then on the next play the game’s over.”

Ryan Mathews scored twice, and the Chargers overcame two more interceptions by Philip Rivers to improve to 2-1 for just the second time in Norv Turner’s five seasons as coach.

The Chiefs, who last year ended the Chargers’ four-year run as AFC West champions, got the ball back at their 33 with 1:26 left after Rivers was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs 34. Out of timeouts, Cassel threw for 23 yards to Leonard Pope to get into Chargers territory. On the next play, Cassel, under pressure and backpedaling, threw the ball right to the blitzing Weddle, who signed a $40 million contract in the offseason.

Although he was blitzing, Weddle said he read that it was a screen play, with running back Dexter McCluster as the intended receiver, so he backed up.

“I knew something was up,” Weddle said. “That’s why I stopped. I knew the ball was coming my way. I read the play, read the quarterback and he threw it right there.”

Said Cassel: “It was a screen pass. You try to keep your head downfield. When I swung back around I thought I could get it in there to Dexter. Obviously it’s one I’d like to have back.”

McCluster thought the Chiefs could make a big play on the screen.

“I thought he was blitzing, but at the last second he saw it and backed up, which led him to the interception,” he said.

The Chiefs looked awful in the first half but the Chargers let them hang around.

Kansas City didn’t get a first down until its opening drive of the second half, when Cassel threw a 4-yard TD pass to Dwayne Bowe to pull to 10-7.

The Chargers responded with an 80-yard drive capped by Mathews’ run to the right side for a 10-point lead.

After the teams traded field goals, the Chiefs pulled to 20-17 when Cassel found Pope on a 1-yard scoring pass with 4:58 to play.

The Chiefs were out of timeouts, and all the Chargers had to do was run out the clock. They went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Kansas City 34, and Rivers was stopped to give the Chiefs a final chance.

Mathews ran 21 times for 98 yards. Rivers was 24 of 38 for 266, his lowest total of the season. Cassel was 17 of 24 for 176 yards, two touchdowns and the one INT.

Rivers has thrown two interceptions in each of the first three games. Kendrick Lewis picked off Rivers and returned it 50 yards. The Chiefs got 15 more yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after a referee ran into a Chargers player on the sideline who was too close to the field. The Chiefs got to the San Diego 11 before a holding penalty pushed them back, and Ryan Succop was wide right on a 38-yard field goal attempt.

Brandon Flowers had the other interception for Kansas City, along with a 43-yard return. He hurt his right knee on the play.

“Certainly I need to play better, and I’m going to work like crazy to do that,” Rivers said. “But 2-1 is what’s important.”

Rivers also fumbled on San Diego’s second drive, but center Nick Hardwick recovered. Two plays later, Mathews scored on a 2-yard run.

“We’re not in sync in terms of playing the entire game with the rhythm that we’d like. That’s going to come,” Turner said.

Nick Novak kicked field goals of 35 and 41 yards for the Chargers. Succop kicked a 33-yarder for the Chiefs.

— Associated Press —

No. 1 Bearcats dominate Fort Hays State Saturday, 70-17

Another emotional Saturday afternoon provided a huge spark for the No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats as they cruised to a, 70-17 win over Fort Hays State in front of 8,313 fans at Bearcat Stadium.

It was the first ever Blackout at Bearcat Stadium as Northwest (4-0, 3-0 MIAA) proved worthy of their new No. 1 ranking as they posted their fourth consecutive game over the 50 point plateau. Fort Hays (1-3, 1-3 MIAA) dropped their second consecutive game and eighth straight to the Bearcats.

Sophomore quarterback Trevor Adams earned his second start of the year and was impressive leading the Bearcats to five scoring drives totaling 3:79. Adams and the Bearcats caped their first score of the day on a nine play 59 yard scoring drive that took nearly as long as the next four Bearcat drives at 3:30.

Adams went to work quickly driving the Bearcats down the field on the first drive as James Franklin took three straight tries before finding the end-zone from the one yard line. He would finish 17-of-23 for 346 yards and four touchdowns only throwing two incompletions in the first half.

Picking up where they left off last weekend, Adams and the Bearcat offense would post 70 plus points for the second consecutive week. Adams found Tyler Shaw early for a 34-yard touchdown pass and catch, taking only six seconds putting Northwest up, 14-0 early.

Shaw and Adams would hook up on more time on a 58-yard catch and run midway through the second quarter. It would come just minutes after Adams would find Kyle Kilgore for back-to-back touchdowns to start the second quarter.

The first Kilgore touchdown would come on a 14-yard pass down the middle of the field as he walked into the end zone to extend the Northwest lead to, 21-3. Adams and Kilgore would connect again, but it was a nifty move off the sideline to pull Kilgore free of his defender as he went untouched for a 41-yard touchdown.

“I saw the defensive tackle and couldn’t let him tackle me,” said Kilgore, who finished with four catches and a career high 120 yards. “But once I got past him I had blockers in front of me and it was wide open to the goal line.”

FHSU would score just before the half after a mix-up in the Bearcat secondary allowed the Tigers to drive to the 14-yard line. Tanner Hageman would slip behind the Bearcat secondary one more time as caught the first Blake McAhren touchdown pass of the afternoon. McAhren finished 16-of-18 for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

Northwest would finish with a season high 589 yards of total offense while holding the No. 2 rushing offense to only 152 yards on the ground. After five turnovers last week, the Bearcats erased the mistakes and came out plus two in turnover margin.

“I’m very proud of our kids,” said Adam Dorrel who is only the second Northwest head coach to begin his career 4-0. (Jim Redd started 5-0 in 1976) “We might have come out a little too jacked up, but we made some adjustments and our kids fixed it. We’re playing really good football right now and have gotten better each week.”

The only blemish on an almost perfect afternoon for the Bearcats was 10 penalties for 128 yards. One penalty, an illegal block, erased the only defensive touchdown 42-yard pick six by Derrick Thomas. However, Northwest would score on the first play following the interception as Denver Lohnes rumbled 32-yards for his second score of the season.

Jordan Simmons, who entered the day second in NCAA Division II in scoring, would pick up his ninth touchdown of the season. Simmons would carry the ball seven times for 45 yards in fairly limited action.

For the second week in a row Franklin would lead Northwest in rushing with 11 carries for 82 yards. He would also find the end zone three times bringing his season total to seven touchdowns on the year.

The win also extends the Bearcats MIAA record conference winning streak to 49 games. It is also the 15th game during the streak in which Northwest has scored 40 or more points.

Up next for the Bearcats is rival Pittsburg State in the 10th Annual Fall Classic at Arrowhead. Northwest will enter the Fall Classic ranked No. 1 for the first time in history of the neutral site series; however the Bearcats have met with the Gorillas twice as the top ranked team with the last coming Sept. 16, 2000 when the Bearcats knocked off sixth-ranked PSU, 35-28. Kickoff from Arrowhead is set for 2 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Western volleyball gets swept by No. 6 Washburn

The Missouri Western volleyball team struggled against 6th ranked Washburn falling 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 26-24) in Topeka, Kan. Western hit .034 with 28 kills as Tahler Johnston led the way with eight kills. Western falls to 5-6 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play.

The high powered Lady Blues jumped out to a 15-10 lead in set one. They kept up the pressure outscoring Western 10-2 on their way to the 25-12 set one victory.

The Griffons hung with the Lady Blues in set two playing the first 20 points even. From there is would be all Lady Blues outscoring the Griffons 15-6 claiming the 25-16 set two victory and 2-0 lead in the match.

After two sets the Griffons had just 15 kills hitting .000. Meredith McCormick had five kills hitting .154 while Shelby Corkill had four. Corkill had eight of the Griffons 23 digs after two sets.

Washburn hit .353 with 31 kills as Korie Thompson, Hillary Hughes and Jessica Fry all collecting six kills. Abby Wittman and Gracie Peterson each had 13 assists.

Western came out of the locker room on fire taking the early 10-3 lead in set three using a 5-0 run off Stephanie Hattey serves. The Lady Blues bounced back going on an 8-0 run taking the 11-10 lead after an Amanda Guess kill. Western regained their composure using a 7-0 run to claim a 17-11 lead. The run was capped off by a block by McCormick and Lindsey Williams.

The Lady Blues responded once again tying the score at 22 before closing the set on a 4-2 run winning the set 26-24 claiming the 3-0 victory. The Lady Blues improve to 11-1 on the season and 4-0 in MIAA play. Washburn hit .270 in the match with 44 kills. Hughes led the charge with nine. WU had 56 digs with Kelsey Lewis collecting 12. Wittman and Peterson finished with 18 and 13 set assists. The Lady Blues had 13 blocks in the match.

Hattey had 20 of the Griffons 26 set assists while Corkill had 12 of the Griffons 42 digs. Corkill finished with seven kills while McCormick had six.

The Griffons will hit the road next weekend to take part in the 2011 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Classic hosted by Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1. Western opens up play on Friday at 10:00 am against Texas A&M International University.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Mizzou lets early lead slip away as they fall at No. 1 Oklahoma

James Franklin and Missouri fared better than most opponents on Oklahoma’s Owen Field and still didn’t come away with a victory.

The Tigers (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) became the first team since 2007 to hold a lead on the Sooners’ home field but couldn’t sustain a strong start and lost 38-28 on Saturday night.

Franklin scored on a 1-yard sneak and found L’Damian Washington open with a seam up the middle for a 45-yard touchdown pass to stake Missouri to an 14-3 first-quarter lead. But Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0), led by Landry Jones’ 448 yards passing and Ryan Broyles’ 154 yards receiving and three touchdown catches, stormed back with 28 straight points to claim its 38th straight victory at home.

“We thought we could beat them. Everybody talked about how this place was crazy and people don’t win in Norman,” Missouri receiver T.J. Moe said. “We didn’t come out with a victory, but it wasn’t any different than any other place I’ve played.”

Only Texas Tech in 2006 had held a larger lead at Oklahoma during its best-in-the-nation home winning streak, and Baylor had been the only opponent to hold a lead in Norman since Mizzou led by one in the fourth quarter in its last visit in 2007.

“I would say we beat ourselves tonight. We know we’re way better than that and can bring more to the table,” said Henry Josey, who finished with 133 yards on 14 carries.

“It’s just those little things that we have to fix.”

The Sooners had gone 20 straight home games without trailing before coming out flat and falling behind.

“To be a top-caliber team and to win a national championship and play like this, it’s not going to happen,” defensive captain Travis Lewis said. “Hopefully it’s a reality check to these players and to this team that it’s going to take our best every week.”

Despite an unsatisfying effort, the Sooners avenged a loss in Columbia last year when they were first in the BCS standings.

“Definitely the OU on the side of your helmet doesn’t realy speak for your play and you’ve got to bring it every week, especially in the Big 12 and against good teams,” said Jones, who had his fifth career 400-yard passing game.

“It was definitely a wake-up call for us.”

With two starting receivers out of the lineup, Broyles had to play up to his usual All-American standard without proven sidekicks. Kenny Stills, who caught the go-ahead touchdown in a win at then-No. 5 Florida State last week, was out with a head injury and Trey Franks is suspended indefinitely.

He got Oklahoma’s rally started by scoring from 25 yards out on a throw that initially went through his arms. Broyles was able to cradle it along his leg and then secure it long enough before falling out of bounds that the touchdown call was upheld on review.

“I just felt it, I just grabbed it. I can’t even tell you how it happened but it worked,” Broyles said.

He followed that three drives later with a 4-yard TD catch in the right side of the end zone, on a pass that wasn’t even intended for him.

“Don’t tell anyone that,” he joked with a cluster of reporters.

The Sooners went up 17-14 and never looked back.

Missouri also had a hot start in last season’s upset, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but then was able to close strong with 16 straight fourth-quarter points for a 36-27 victory.

This time, the Sooners were able to prevent any late heroics by the Tigers.

Josey took an option pitch and raced 47 yards down the left sideline for a score to make it 31-21 with 6:44 left in the game, and it could have been even closer if not for a pair of missed 46-yard field goals by Grant Ressel.

The Sooners eliminated any drama by answering immediately with a 62-yard scoring drive, capped by Broyles’ twisting 4-yard grab in the back of the end zone.

“Against a great football team like this, certainly every opportunity you get, you’ve got to take advantage of,” Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel said.

Ressel also missed a potential game-winner in the Tigers’ overtime loss at Arizona State two weeks ago. He had missed only three of 46 field-goal attempts entering this season, but has missed four already in four weeks.

“We have to work on Grant. He’s struggling a little bit,” Pinkel said. “He’s got a lot of ability. We’ve got to help him get his confidence back.”

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops had proclaimed during the week that “revenge doesn’t win” and encouraged his team to focus on correcting mistakes from last year’s disappointing loss instead. Still, he showed the team a video of Tigers fans storming Faurot Field to celebrate their win last October and a picture of a fan riding the goal posts was hanging in the team’s meeting room.

“For whatever reason, there just wasn’t quite as much energy and emotion, and that’s disappointing in my eyes because I thought we were more mature than that and beyond that,” Stoops said.

After completing his first five passes, Franklin — the son of former Sooners tight end Willie Franklin — misfired on 15 of his next 19 attempts and finished with 291 yards on 16 for 33 passing. He also had another 1-yard TD sneak with 32 seconds left to provide the final margin.

Michael Egnew, the Tigers’ All-American tight end, didn’t make his first catch until his team was down 17 in the fourth quarter. He ended up with two catches for 40 yards.

“We’ve just got to be more consistent,” Pinkel said. “You’re not going to beat a good football team unless you play consistently.”

Missouri lost its 18th straight game on Owen Field, with its last win coming in 1966.

The schools played just two days after their leaders had an apparent misunderstanding over the state of the Big 12. Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton announced that the league’s remaining nine members planned to pursue committing their television revenues to the Big 12 for the next six years. As Deaton was talking, a speakerphone blasted out Oklahoma president David Boren’s voice with a different message.

Boren claimed that the members had all agreed to the powerful step that would make it far more difficult for another conference to draw them away.

— Associated Press —

Goal line stand helps Kansas State win at Miami

Kansas State stopped Miami quarterback Jacory Harris’ fourth-down run at the goal line with 49 seconds left, capping a brilliant late stand that sealed the Wildcats’ 28-24 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday.

John Hubert ran for 166 yards and the go-ahead touchdown for the Wildcats (3-0). Collin Klein passed for two scores and ran for another for Kansas State, which blew an 11-point halftime lead before rallying.

Harris threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns for Miami (1-2), which got 106 yards and a touchdown from Lamar Miller. Miami had first-and-goal at the Kansas State 2 with 1:52 left, but a first-down pass fell incomplete, two Mike James runs were stopped and then Harris’ knee was deemed down by replay officials after the on-field call was that he scored.

“We have no one to blame but ourselves,” Miami coach Al Golden said.

It was the 145th time in the last 150 games where Kansas State won when leading at halftime, and the Wildcats earned this one.

Miller’s 59-yard touchdown run with 2:52 left in the third quarter got Miami within 21-17, and Harris found Travis Benjamin with a 34-yard scoring pass 43 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Miami a three-point lead.

A short-lived lead, at that.

Bolstered by a 47-yard run by Hubert on third-and-1 — Miami was in something akin to goal-line defense, with just about everyone on the line of scrimmage 70 yards from its own end zone — Kansas State went 80 yards on eight plays. Hubert’s burst from 2 yards out capped the drive, putting Miami in need of late heroics.

Harris almost delivered.

Buoyed along by 33-yard pass to Chase Ford, and a pass interference call against Kansas State’s Nigel Malone in the end zone, the Hurricanes were 2 yards away from the win with four plays to get there. They wound up a few inches short.

“We have to execute,” Golden said. “That’s on us. We didn’t get it done.”

Klein finished with 93 yards rushing for Kansas State, which won despite being outgained 411-398. His arms bloodied from a few scrapes with the Florida Marlins’ infield dirt, Klein completed 12 of 18 passes for 133 yards.

Harris completed 21 of 31 passes, and Benjamin caught six balls for 91 yards to lead Miami.

Klein set the tone on the first possession, leading K-State 63 yards on 11 plays and going in from 2 yards out to give the Wildcats a 7-3 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter. He was a perfect 6-for-6 passing for 80 yards in the first quarter – against a Miami defense that in four quarters against Ohio State last week allowed four completed passes for 35 yards.

Klein connected with Tyler Lockett from 20 yards out with 13:28 left in the half, and the Wildcats were up 14-3.

Here’s how good Klein was: When Kansas State seemed on the brink of trouble, his feet were more than enough to keep the Wildcats afloat.

“Their quarterback played exceptional,” Golden said. “Got to give Kansas State credit.”

The Wildcats committed penalties on four consecutive plays midway through the second quarter – holding on a completed pass, then two false starts sandwiched around a delay of game while Miami linebacker Sean Spence waved his arms to incite more noise from the decidedly less-than-full stadium. After John Hubert was stuffed on an option pitch, Kansas State faced 2nd-and-29 from its own 3.

Just when it seemed like Miami was ready to grab some momentum, Klein took over.

A 26-yard scamper while taking off from his own end zone on second down, followed by a 13-yard run on the next play, got Kansas State near midfield and averted disaster. Miami eventually forced a punt, but did nothing with the ensuing possession and went into the locker room down by 11 points.

A pair of false starts doomed Miami in the first quarter. The Hurricanes settled for a field goal on the game’s opening drive when Jon Feliciano jumped early on third-and-1 from the Kansas State 17. And later in the period, Joel Figueroa — who had just entered the game after Brandon Washington limped off shaken up — moved early on a fourth-and-4 play where Harris had two open receivers and wound up forcing the Hurricanes to punt.

Those mistakes wound up costing Miami dearly in the end.

— Associated Press —

Griffon soccer drops home opener to Fort Hays State

A poor second half by the Missouri Western women’s soccer cost them in their home opener against the Fort Hays State Tigers. The Tigers used two second half goals dropping Western by a score of 2-1 in its home opener at Spratt Stadium. The Griffons falls to 2-3 on the season.

For the second straight contest the Missouri Western women’s soccer team took a one goal lead into the half. K.C. Ramsell scored her fifth goal of the season off an Ashlyn Castillo assist giving Western the 1-0 in the 14th minute.

Kelly Voigts had four saves in the frame while the Tigers had six shots. Joanne Glynn had two shots for Hays with both finding the net. Western had eight shots with four on goal. Ramsell had two shots with both finding the net. Kelsey Grey had three saves for the Tigers.

Western had five fouls to the Tigers three while the Tigers had one corner kick to the Griffons zero.

The Tigers outshot the Griffons 15-5 in the second half and 8-5 in shots on goal. The Tigers tied the score at one in the 50th minute when Glynn took a pass from Cindy Benitez pass and blasted it past Voigts. Fort Hays State kept up the pressure and for the second time in the game Benitez found Glynn giving the Tigers the 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute of action.

Western tried to mount a comeback but time would run out as the Tigers improve to 3-4-1 overall in their first season as a program. Glynn has scored four goals on the season while Benitez has four assists. Grey made eight saves improving to 3-4-1 on the season. Glynn had eight shot with all eight being on goal for the Tigers.

Voigts made 10 saves as she falls to 2-3 on the season. Ashley Juravich had three of the Griffons 13 shots while Ramsell, Emily Hoffman and Teresa Offerman each had two. Western was outshot by eight in the game (21-13) and had two more fouls than the Tigers (10-8).

Western continues non-conference play on Thursday, September 29 when they travel to Topeka, Kan. to take on MIAA opponent, Washburn Lady Blues in a regional contest. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Burkhead leads Nebraska past Wyoming at Laramie

No. 9 Nebraska finally can set its sights on its first Big Ten Conference game with a trip to Wisconsin next weekend.

“We knew going into the year it was going to be a challenge, and it’s staring us right in the face right now,” Huskers coach Bo Pelini said after Nebraska beat Wyoming 38-14 on Saturday night. “We’ll see how our guys react. I think everyone is looking forward to it. We’ll find out a lot about our football team.”

First things first, though. Nebraska took care of the Cowboys with Rex Burkhead rushing for two touchdowns and a career-high 170 yards and quarterback Taylor Martinez adding 157 passing yards and another score.

The Huskers (4-0) rolled up 490 yards total offense, including 333 on the ground, in their first road game of the season and last game before their highly anticipated Big Ten debut after officially leaving the Big 12 over the summer.

“We’re all excited and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Burkhead, who had TD runs of 45 and 16 yards and piled up the yards on just 15 carries. His previous career high was 129 yards against Iowa State in 2010.

“Rex has been playing like that all year,” Pelini said. “It doesn’t surprise me. Rex is a heck of a player and ran his butt off again tonight.”

Wyoming (3-1) was led by quarterback Brett Smith, who passed for 166 yards and two scores.

“I thought we had a great game plan,” Smith said. “We were able to execute a few times, but not enough.”

The Cowboys entered the game with their first 3-0 start since 1996, although two of their games this year were against lower-division FCS teams, and they struggled with Nebraska.

The Huskers scored on their first two possessions of the second half and opened a 31-7 lead on Burkhead’s 16-yard scamper, a 20-yard field goal by Brett Mahar and an 8-yard TD pass from Martinez to Kenny Bell.

Smith connected with Robert Herron on a 10-yard TD pass, only to see Nebraska drive for a score on its next possession on a 1-yard run by Braylon Heard. Wyoming, which entered the game averaging 36 points and 492.3 yards of offense, was held to 305.

Nebraska led 14-7 at halftime. Burkhead scored on his second carry of the game, romping 45 yards off the left side on first down. Martinez followed with an 8-yard TD run up the middle before Wyoming answered with a 48-yard TD pass from Smith to Mazi Ogbonna, who took a short slant pass and avoided three Nebraska tacklers as he cut across the field.

Nebraska star defensive tackle Jared Crick did not suit up for the game after suffering an unspecified injury the week before against Washington. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound senior had started 31 straight games for Nebraska. He has 14 tackles and one sack in three games this season.

Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard played in his first game of the season after pulling a muscle in his right leg in mid-August. He sat out most of the second half, finishing with four solo tackles.

“I feel pretty good. No soreness at all,” Dennard said.

It was Nebraska’s first road game at a non-BCS conference school since a 38-14 win in 2003 at Southern Miss., and the first time the Huskers had visited Laramie even though the two states border each other. The game drew 32,617 people to War Memorial Stadium, making it the third-largest population center in Wyoming on Saturday. Many were wearing Nebraska red.

The stadium has a listed capacity of just about 29,200, which the smallest stadium Nebraska has played in since 1971. Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium seats 80,000.

“I’m sure it will be different up in Madison for our offense,” Pelini said.

— Associated Press —

Pierce & Chalmers’ last-second three-pointers highlight KU’s Legends of the Phog game

In a game featuring 23 of the all-time legends of Kansas men’s basketball history, two stole the show at the end to send all 16,300 fans home happy from the Legends of the Phog exhibition game, which ended in an 111-111 tie, in historic Allen Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.

With the game tied at 108 and the entire soldout crowd on its feet in anticipation of something great about to happen, Paul Pierce (1996-98) delivered with a three-pointer to put his Blue team up with 5.1 seconds on the clock, setting off a deafening roar in the Fieldhouse.

However, not to be outdone, Mario Chalmers (2006-08) recreated his “Miracle” shot, knocking down a three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired to tie the game, just as he did with two seconds remaining in the 2008 NCAA National Championship Game against Memphis, which the Jayhawks went on to win in overtime, 75-68. With the Legends of the Phog contest tied at 111 and no possible way of creating a more memorable ending, the officials declared the game a tie and all of the players received a standing ovation in the Fieldhouse.

Divided into Blue and White teams coached by Larry Brown (1984-88) and Ted Owens (1965-83), the Legends of the Phog game gave the Jayhawk faithful a chance to see some of its favorite Kansas men’s basketball players of years past run up and down historic James Naismith Court one more time. Participants ranged from players who recently left Kansas to turn professional, such as Josh Selby (2011), the Morris twins (2009-11), Xavier Henry (2010) and Julian Wright (2006-07), while also including legends from previous decades like Ron Kellogg (1983-86) and Darnell Valentine (1978-81).

The exhibition included many special ceremonies and recognitions, beginning with a video featuring highlights of every individual participating in the game to introduce the two teams prior to tipoff. Each player went to center court after his individual highlight reel played on the video board and received a loud cheer from the crowd. Members of the 1952, 1988 and 2008 National Championship teams were also recognized during one of the breaks of the game to a standing ovation in the Fieldhouse.

In addition to giving the Jayhawk faithful a chance to reminisce about the all-time greats who have run through the tunnel at Allen Fieldhouse, the game also helped honor the memory of former KU assistant coach Neil Dougherty, who died tragically this past summer. Kansas Athletics will donate a portion of the proceeds from the game in honor of Dougherty to one of his favorite local charities – the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence.

During the second media timeout of the first half, Darnell Valentine gave a brief message to everybody in the Fieldhouse about Coach Dougherty “feeling the love” from the energy of crowd, and in the second half Pierce gave a teary-eyed speech to say how special it was to be back in the Fieldhouse and how much Coach Dougherty meant to him as a mentor and a father-figure when he became a Jayhawk.

Pierce finished the game with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Chalmers posted a double-double for the White team with 17 points and 10 assists. Cole Aldrich (2008-10) also registered a double-double for the White team with 14 points and 19 rebounds. Brandon Rush (2006-08) led the White team with 18 points, while Wright added 14. Darnell Jackson (2005-08) added 11 points, and Jeff Graves (2003-04) and Darrell Arthur (2007-08) were close behind with nine points each.

Henry led all scorers with his 23 points for the Blue team. Other double-digit scorers for the White team were Ryan Robertson (1996-99) with 15, Nick Collison (2000-03) with 14, Marcus Morris with 11 and Markieff Morris and Selby with 10 points apiece.

Other Legends of the Phog included Jeff Hawkins (2003-06), Billy Thomas (1995-98), Wayne Simien (2002-05), Christian Moody (2003-06), Greg Ostertag (1992-95), Nick Bradford (1997-2000) and Scot Pollard (1994-97).

— KU Sports Information —

Missouri State drops last minute decision to Southern Illinois

A back-and-forth second half ultimately fell the way of the home team, and Southern Illinois (2-1, 1-0) defeated Missouri State (0-4, 0-1), by a 20-18 count here Saturday in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both teams.

Missouri State took its first lead of the night, 18-17, on a one-yard touchdown run by Chris Douglas with six seconds left in the third quarter and started to take charge throughout the fourth quarter. After the two-point conversion failed, the Bears soon forced a Salukis fumble at their own 43 with 13:05 to go. MSU would then drive to the SIU 27 before Trevor Wooden was picked off in the end zone to end the threat.

The Bears’ defense came up with another big series after that and forced the No. 13 Salukis into a punt from their own 31 with 6:47 to play.  However, the Bears would punt it back just three plays later, and Southern took over at its own 28 to set up the game-winning drive.

SIU drove 62 yards on 11 plays to the MSU 10-yard line before settling for a 27-yard field goal by Jackson MacLachlan — a Springfield, Mo., native — to give the Salukis a 20-18 lead with 50 seconds remaining.

The Bears returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 39, but a sack set the Bears back to their own 31 before Wooden was picked off for the third and final time of the game on the next play. James McFadden hauled in the desperation pass at the SIU 21 with 12 seconds to go, securing a home win for SIU and giving Missouri State its 11th straight road loss.

Wooden finished 9-for-19 for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked just twice and finished with 183 yards of total offense. Chris Douglas added 85 yards on 14 carries, while Jermaine Saffold caught five passes for 122 yards, giving him his seventh career 100-yard receiving game.

Jewel Hampton carried 21 times for 119 yards for SIU, while Paul McIntosh finished 13-for-24 through the air for 206 yards, while adding 60 ground yards on 16 carries.

The Salukis scored on the game’s opening drive when McIntosh punched it into the end zone from 12 yards out to make it 7-0. The seven-play, 46-yard drive was set up by a long opening kickoff return that put SIU in Missouri State territory to start the game.

Missouri State didn’t take long to retaliate as Wooden connected with Jermaine Saffold for a 76-yard touchdown pass on the Bears’ first play from scrimmage moments later.  The extra point attempt failed when the snap eluded holder Ian Starnes to make it a 7-6 game.

In the second quarter, McIntosh capped an 86-yard, 11-play drive for SIU to give the home club a 14-6 advantage with 12:20 to go in the half. Once again, the Bears bounced back with an 81-yard touchdown drive. This time, Wooden connected with tight end Matt Thayer from 16 yards out to cap a nine-play series that took nearly four-and-a-half minutes. The Bears’ two-point conversion attempt failed as Wooden’s pass to Thayer in the left corner of the end zone was underthrown.

The Salukis would miss a 22-yard field goal attempt with 2:23 left in the half, and the Bears appeared to be driving into field goal range in the closing moments of the half. But a Wooden pass with 20 seconds remaining was tipped and the line of scrimmage and picked off by Jayson DiManche of SIU to midfield. SIU took two shots at the end zone, but McIntosh could not make connections on either try.

SIU tacked on a 31-yard field goal by Jackson McLachlan at the 11:41 mark of the third quarter to build a 17-12 lead. The kick capped a 61-yard drive for the Salukis after the home club held the Bears on the opening drive of the second half.

— MSU Sports Information —

High School Football Scores – Friday, September 23

WEEK 5

CITY

Central 70 (2-3, 2-1 SUB)
@ Truman 48 (2-3, 1-2 SUB)

Benton 27 (4-1, 2-1 MEC)
@ Chillicothe 10 (3-2, 1-2 MEC)

@ Lafayette 28 (3-2, 1-2 MEC)
Smithville 31 (4-1, 4-1 MEC)

Bishop LeBlond 7 (0-5, 0-5 MEC)
@ Maryville 59 (5-0, 3-0 MEC)

St. Joseph Christian 62 (5-0)
Stewartsville 14 (2-3, 0-1 PVC)

AREA

@ Savannah 49 (4-1, 2-1 MEC)
Cameron 14 (1-4, 1-2 MEC)

Mid-Buchanan 6 (2-3, 0-1 KCI)
@ Lawson 57 (3-2, 2-1 KCI)

East Buchanan 34 (5-0, 2-0 KCI)
@ Plattsburg 22 (1-4, 1-3 KCI)

@ West Platte 28 OT (3-2, 1-0 KCI)
Trenton 34 (2-2)

North Platte 0 (4-1, 1-1 KCI)
@ Lathrop 21 (2-3, 1-2 KCI)

Hamilton 28 (5-0, 5-0 GRC)
@ Gallatin 8 (3-2, 2-1 GRC)

Maysville 7 (0-5, 0-4 GRC)
@ South Harrison 36 (4-1, 3-0 GRC)

Princeton 22 (3-2, 3-2 GRC)
@ King City 12 (0-5, 0-4 GRC)

Polo 53 (4-1, 2-1 GRC)
@ Albany 0 (1-4, 0-3 GRC)

8-MAN

Worth County 56 (5-0, 4-0 275)
@ Mound City 34 (3-2, 2-1 275)

Nodaway-Holt 6 (0-4, 0-3 275)
@ Stanberry 56 (3-2, 3-1 275)

North Andrew 0 (2-3, 1-0 PVC)
@ Hardin-Central 40 (5-0, 0-0 CRC)

West Nodaway 24 (3-2, 3-1 275)
@ Tarkio 6 (1-4, 0-4 275)

DeKalb 52 (4-1, 1-0 PVC)
@ South Nodaway 14 (1-4, 1-3 PVC)

South Holt 38 (3-2, 1-2 275)
@ North Nodaway 32 (3-2, 3-1 275)

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