Dave Riggert – Page 552 – St. Joseph Post Archive

MRI confirms Chiefs’ Charles will miss season with torn ACL

Posted on October 12, 2015October 12, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.

The star running back hurt his knee in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to Chicago. An MRI on Monday confirmed the tear.

Earlier Monday, coach Andy Reid said “the worst case is the ACL is torn. That’s probably the direction it’s heading.”

Charles was making a cut deep in Bears territory on Sunday when his right knee buckled at a gruesome angle. The four-time Pro Bowl selection needed help from a trainer and linebacker Justin Houston to get off the field, never once putting any weight on the leg.

Charles tore the ACL in his other knee four years ago, missing most of the season.

“I talked to Jamaal yesterday and he was obviously down,” Reid said before learning the diagnosis, “but he is positive about coming back, getting himself back. That’s where his energy will be directed, getting through the surgery and getting back to where he can play.”

Charles could have enough time to get back next season. While the injury typically sidelines a player for about a year, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson beat that timeline by several months. Peterson tore his ACL and MCL on Christmas Eve in 2011, but was back for Week 1 the following season.

Reid sounded optimistic that Charles would make it back eventually.

“He’s an amazing guy that way,” Reid said. “He’s one of those rare athletes that you have an opportunity to coach. They’re genetically and mentally strong, and they can do things most people can’t do when it comes to their profession.”

That is part of the problem facing the Chiefs: How do they replace one of the best running backs in the NFL, not to mention the most dynamic playmaker on their struggling offense?

Reid said the Chiefs would split carries between backups Knile Davis and Charcandrick West, and wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas has experience at running back. The Chiefs (1-4) also have Spencer Ware, a fullback-running back combo, available on the practice squad.

Among those available outside the organization are former Texans running back Ben Tate and Ray Rice, though it appears the Chiefs have no interest in the controversial ex-Ravens star.

“We’ll look in-house before we go there,” Reid said.

Davis hasn’t played much this season while ceding time to West, but he has played well in the past when Charles has been out. He had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games early last season, and played well when Charles was hurt in a playoff game in Indianapolis two years ago.

Davis is a downhill runner, while West offers an elusive change of pace. The former undrafted free agent out of Abilene Christian ran for 31 yards in Sunday’s 18-17 loss to the Bears.

“They told us, me and Knile, that we’re both going to play. We both have to be ready to step up,” West said. “We knew our big brother went down, so it’s time to step up.”

It’s not just the fill-in running backs that need to step up, though. The Chiefs struggled when Charles went down, unable to move the ball through the air as much as the ground.

Alex Smith was just 16 of 30 for 181 yards in another dismal performance. He was also sacked three times, raising his league-leading total to 22 sacks in just five games.

“It’s not fun to be out there playing like that. We know we’re so much better than that,” Smith said. “For me, there are two choices: I mean, yeah, you can let this get to you. We have a lot of football left. You can get sidetracked, you can get distracted, you can make excuses. Or we can all look internally, we can all stay together and we can fight.”

— Associated Press —

Cardinals give up six home runs in Game 3 loss to Cubs

Posted on October 12, 2015October 12, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — The young sluggers of the Chicago Cubs are making themselves at home in the playoffs. On a rare off-night for Jake Arrieta, the Windy City rookies bashed their way to the brink of the NL Championship Series.

Rookies Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber, along with Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo and Dexter Fowler, connected during a six-homer show for the Cubs, who beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the NL Division Series. Arrieta struck out nine before departing in the sixth inning, and the bullpen finished the job in the first postseason game at Wrigley Field in seven years.

With a third straight Cubs win Tuesday afternoon, the once woebegone franchise will advance to the NLCS for the first time in 12 years. The Cardinals, who led the majors with 100 wins this season, have won at least one playoff series each of the past four years.

Jason Heyward and Stephen Piscotty homered for St. Louis, which got to Arrieta for four runs in his worst start in four months. But the Cardinals were unable to keep the Cubs in the ballpark.

The six homers by Chicago set a franchise record for a playoff game and were one more than the five long balls hit by Cubs in Game 1 of the 1984 NLCS against San Diego.

The Cardinals trailed 8-4 before Piscotty hit a two-run shot with two out in the ninth. It was a scary moment for a towel-waving crowd of 42,411 used to playoff heartache. But Hector Rondon retired Matt Holliday on a harmless bouncer to second, and the party was on.

Arrieta improved to 18-1 with a 1.00 ERA in his past 22 starts dating to June 21, but he was far from his usual dominant self. He hadn’t allowed more than three runs in a game since a June 16 loss to Cleveland.

It didn’t matter — not one bit.

Schwarber, Castro and Bryant homered against Michael Wacha in his first playoff appearance since he threw the final pitch of the 2014 postseason for the Cardinals, which was a game-ending, three-run shot by Travis Ishikawa in the NLCS.

Bryant’s two-run drive made it 4-2 with one out in the fifth and chased Wacha in favor of Kevin Siegrist. Rizzo followed with another long ball, a drive to deep right for his first hit of the playoffs.

Even Adam Wainwright got into the act by serving up Soler’s two-run shot in the sixth. Soler, who struggled with injuries for much of the year, is 4-for-4 with two homers, four RBIs and five walks in the series.

— Associated Press —

MWSU’s Thorup, Chohon earn weekly MIAA volleyball honors

Posted on October 12, 2015October 12, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two members of the Missouri Western volleyball team have earned MIAA Athlete of the Week honors. Jessie Thorup was named Hitter of the Week and Jordan Chohon was named Co-Specialist of the Week.

Thorup led the attack for Missouri Western as the team went 3-0 with wins at Northwest Missouri State, No. 11 Central Missouri and at home versus Lindenwood. Thorup averaged 4.54 kills per set over the three wins with a .261 hitting percentage. Thorup had 20 kills at Northwest Missouri; 21 at Central Missouri and 18 against Lindenwood. She also averaged 2.77 digs per set and had seven block assists. The 5-11 senior rightside hitter is a native of Olathe, Kan. where she competed at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Chohon ran the Griffon offense effectively, helping the team to a 3-0 week that included wins at No. 11 Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State. She finished with 140 assists, averaging 10.77 per set. The senior setter also had nine kills, four service aces, 47 digs and six blocks. The 5-11 senior setter is a native of Columbus, Neb. where she competed at Scotus Central Catholic High School.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals lose 4-2 at Houston in game three of ALDS

Posted on October 11, 2015October 11, 2015

HOUSTON (AP) — Dallas Keuchel remained perfect at home with seven gutsy innings, and Chris Carter homered Sunday, leading the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals to take a 2-1 lead in the American League Division Series.

The Astros could wrap up the best-of-five series with a win in Game 4 on Monday.

Keuchel, who shut down the Yankees in the AL wild-card game, worked out of jam after jam, allowing five hits and one run with seven strikeouts. He continued his success at Minute Maid Park, after going 15-0 at home this season, a modern major league record.

“The ball in Dallas Keuchel’s hand brings an awful lot of confidence to a lot of people. Including me,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “And he came up with some excellent pitches.”

Luke Gregerson gave up a leadoff homer in the ninth to Alex Gordon before finishing off the Astros first playoff game in Houston in 10 years with a four-out save. It was his first save of more than three outs in three years.

Jason Castro drove in two runs with a single in the fifth that made it 2-1. Carlos Gomez, who has a rib muscle strain, started for the first time in the series and had an RBI single in the sixth.

Carter’s soaring solo homer, which landed on the train tracks atop the wall in left-center, and came on Danny Duffy’s first pitch of the seventh pushed the lead to 4-1.

Carter, batting .199 in the regular season but .455 in the postseason, was a triple shy of the cycle for the Astros, who were hosting a playoff game for the first time since the 2005 World Series.

Lorenzo Cain hit a solo homer in the fourth for the Royals, who are on the brink of elimination after reaching the World Series last season.

Kansas City starter Edinson Volquez fell to 0-3 in his postseason career by allowing five hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

The Astros are one win away from reaching the AL championship series just two years after losing a franchise-worst 111 games. They took the series lead in front of a rowdy, playoff-starved sellout crowd of 42,674. The group was mostly clad in orange and dotted with fans sporting fake beards in support of the star lefty who has become all but untouchable at home.

They were given inflatable orange sticks at the door and spent the afternoon beating them as they cheered, making the roar in the closed-roof stadium deafening at times.

“Electric crowd, and it was 10 years coming,” Keuchel said.

Keuchel wasn’t as sharp as he was in New York, but he was able to tiptoe out of trouble again and again and got deep in the game despite a pitch count that got high early. He finished with a season-high 124 pitches.

The Astros scored three runs in the first two innings of both of the first two games, but couldn’t get anything going early on Sunday.

Colby Rasmus, who homered in Houston’s first three playoff games, got a kooky single in the eighth when his pop fly caromed off the ceiling and back into play.

The Astros’ first hit didn’t come until a single by Carter to start the third inning, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Luis Valbuena drew a walk with one out in the fifth and Carter followed with the team’s second hit, a liner to the left-field corner for a double. Castro got hit first hit of the postseason on two-strike groundball to center field to score them both to make it 2-1.

George Springer doubled to start Houston’s sixth when Cain sprinted and dived to grab his flyball, but it bounced in and out of his glove and onto the ground. Cain slid across the warning track on his stomach and punched the wall in frustration when he got back to his feet.

Gomez’s two-out single to center field scored Springer to extend the lead to 3-1.

Cain’s first career homer in the postseason came when he launched the 10th pitch of the at-bat, a hanging 80 mph slider, into the seats in left field to start the fourth inning and make it 1-0.

PRESIDENTIAL FIRST PITCH

Former President George H.W. Bush, in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. The 91-year-old Bush, recovering after breaking a vertebra in his neck in a summer spill, smiled broadly when the crowd cheered after he was brought onto the field. With wife Barbara by his side, he bounced a short throw from about five feet in front of the plate to Houston’s Jed Lowrie, who was set up to catch.

UP NEXT

Houston rookie Lance McCullers (6-7, 3.22) opposes Yordano Ventura (13-8, 4.08) in Game 4. It will be the postseason debut for McCullers, who turned 22 on Oct. 2. But he seems undaunted by the challenge. “I don’t view myself as a young kid when I go out there,” he said. Ventura will make his second start of the series after his first one was limited to two innings because of a 49-minute rain delay in Game 1. He was strong late in the regular season, going 7-1 with a 2.38 ERA in his last 11 starts.

— Associated Press —

Cluck’s late-goal gives Western soccer 1-0 win at Emporia State

Posted on October 11, 2015October 11, 2015

EMPORIA, Kan. – The Missouri Western soccer team salvaged a weekend split with a dramatic 1-0 win at Emporia State in double overtime Sunday. The Griffons scored their only goal in the 104th minute from Sydney Cluck as she found the net from 20 yards out.

After a disappointing loss at Washburn on Friday, Missouri Western dropped Emporia State to 7-5 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA. Both teams had 17 shots with four on goal for each. The difference was Sarah Lyle’s four saves. Sydney Andrews led the Griffons with six shots; Cluck and Bridget Blessie each had four, with Cassidy Chappell adding one shot.

Missouri Western is now 6-4-1 overall and 2-3-1 in MIAA play. The Griffons return home this weekend, hosting Nebraska-Kearney on Friday at 4 p.m. and Fort Hays State on Sunday at noon. It’s Pink Week for the team with Pink Week t-shirts and ribbons for sale both days at Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the MOSAIC Life Care Breast Cancer Center.

— MWSU Athletics —

Chiefs blow 14-point second half lead; Charles injures knee

Posted on October 11, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jay Cutler spent the afternoon dodging Chiefs defenders behind a patchwork offensive line, trying to find somewhere to throw the ball without his top two wide receivers.

It just made his fourth-quarter comeback even more impressive.

Cutler led the Bears to two touchdowns in the closing minutes Sunday, the second an alert toss to Matt Forte with 18 seconds remaining, giving Chicago an 18-17 comeback win after Kansas City lost star running back Jamaal Charles to a potentially season-ending knee injury.

“I knew we needed to make some plays in the fourth quarter. I trust the guys around me,” said Cutler, who was making his second start after a hamstring injury. “I know all I’ve got to do is get the ball out to them and they’ll do most of the hard work.”

Playing without wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal because of injuries, along with three starting offensive linemen, the Bears (2-3) trailed 17-3 early in the third quarter.

That’s when Charles went down while trying to make a cut, his right knee twisting at an ugly angle. The preliminary diagnosis was a torn ACL and Charles will have an MRI on Monday.

With him out, the Bears quickly seized the momentum.

After Robbie Gould’s second field goal got them going, Cutler led an 88-yard drive that he capped with a 22-yard pass to Marquess Wilson with 3:05 left. The 2-point conversion came up short, but the Bears defense responded by forcing a quick three-and-out.

With help from a pass interference call on Chiefs rookie Marcus Peters, the Bears quickly moved down the field. That’s when Cutler took a snap from the shotgun, dropped the ball, picked it up and spotted Forte running past safety Husain Abdullah in the end zone for the go-ahead score.

The Chiefs (1-4) tried a 66-yard field goal that came up short as time expired.

It was the second heartbreaking defeat at home for Kansas City this season. AFC West rival Denver scored two touchdowns in the final 2:27 for a 31-24 victory last month.

Making this one even worse was the injury to Charles, who was starting to get into a rhythm went he went down deep in Chicago territory. He immediately grabbed his right knee — Charles tore the ACL in his left knee four years ago — and was helped straight to the locker room.

“It looks more like a torn ACL than anything else,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “We’ll have an MRI on it tomorrow and we’ll just see how that goes.”

That drive stalled, and Cairo Santos had his field-goal attempt blocked. The missed points wound up looming large in a game that Kansas City will remember for its missed opportunities.

“We had so many opportunities to win this game,” wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said, “and we blew it. We don’t have anybody to blame but ourselves.”

Until Charles went down, everything was going splendidly for the Chiefs, who had jumped out to a comfortable lead thanks to a pair of surprising touchdowns.

The first occurred on the third series of the game, when Cutler was sacked in the end zone by Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey. Cutler lost the ball before hitting the turf, and rookie linebacker Ramik Wilson jumped on it for a touchdown in his first NFL start.

The Chiefs’ second TD came when Alex Smith connected with DeAnthony Thomas with a 14-yard pitch-and-catch midway through the second quarter. Why so surprising? It was the second scoring reception by a Kansas City wide receiver since December 2013.

But things went haywire for the Chiefs once Charles left, and the Bears began to chip into the lead. Cutler ultimately led them all the way back with poise down the stretch.

“The passing game opened up for us a little bit,” Forte said, “and our two-minute offense took over at the end for the second week in a row. It’s just a testament to the coaches and practice. We practice that all during the week.”

Game notes
Smith was 16-of-30 for 181 yards without an interception but was sacked three times. He has been sacked 22 times this season. … Bears coach John Fox improved to 8-1 against Kansas City. Most of those wins came with Denver. … Cutler needs three touchdown passes to surpass Sid Luckman (137) for most in franchise history.

— Associated Press —

Bearcat soccer rallies to tie Washburn Sunday in Topeka

Posted on October 11, 2015October 11, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State soccer team rallied from a first half deficit to tie Washburn, 1-1 at Yager Stadium in Topeka

The Bearcats are now 2-6-3 this season and 1-4-1 in the MIAA, while the Ichabods move to 3-6-3 overall and 2-3-1 against conference opponents.

Senior Anna Holden scored her third goal of the year and 11th all-time, moving her into a tie for sixth in career goals at Northwest.

Holden led the way for the Bearcat offense, taking six shots and putting three on frame.

Elizabeth Lee made eight saves in the match, including several diving stops. The senior lunged to her left to make a critical stop in overtime to keep the score level.

The Ichabods opened the scoring in the 20th minute after they converted on a penalty kick. Then in the 56th minute, Katelynn Lindsey stepped up to strike a free kick into the box from near midfield. The keeper tried to punch it away, but the ball stayed inside the six yard box where Holden was there to send it across the line to level the score.

Northwest Missouri State will return home to play Fort Hays State on Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. from Bearcat Pitch.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons hang on to defeat Fort Hays State 26-21

Posted on October 10, 2015

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western defense held Fort Hays State on four plays from the MWSU 7-yard line to preserve a 26-21 win Saturday, the Griffon football teams 11th straight win over the Tigers

Sam Brown broke up Fort Hays State’s last chance on fourth down when he swatted away a fade route intended for Evan Jennings in the back corner of the end zone. Brown’s breakup came one play after Michael Jordan broke up a pass for Isaiah Maxi in the other back corner on third down and goal. With 11 seconds left on the MWSU seven, Fort Hays spiked the ball and first down then threw three more incompletions to end the game.

The chance was set up by a 41-yard pass on fourth and four from the MWSU 48 from Treveon Albert to Jennings. The Griffon defense limited the MIAA’s top-two rushers to a combined 189 yards on the ground. Shaquille Cooper finished with 114 yards rushing that included a 67-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Albert rushed for 76 yards on 15 carries. Albert passed for 290 yards and a touchdown and also threw one interception to Darrian Bass.

Missouri Western led 19-7 at halftime on two Tanner Pettet field goals, including a 51-yarder, and a 40-yard touchdown pass from TJ LaFaver to DiJuan Ussery. LaFaver, who entered in the first quarter after Skyler Windmiller was injured after two series, finished 13-20 passing with no interceptions and two touchdowns. He threw for 163 yards and rushed for 81, despite taking three sacks for a total loss of 16 yards. Ussery led the Griffons in receiving yards with 61. Alek Ferbet had the most catches with five for MWSU and scored one touchdown. Raphael Spencer rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.

Yomi Alli led the Griffon defense with 12 total tackles, including three for loss and a quarterback hurry. Bass finished with three tackles, all solo and an interception to go with two pass break-ups. Jordan broke up three passes. Fort Hays outgained MWSU, 479-441 but was just 2-14 on third down in the game. The win improved MWSU to 4-2 on the year and dropped Fort Hays to 4-2. Next week is homecoming at Missouri Western as the Griffons host Washburn at 2 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Lock struggles as Mizzou falls to No. 11 Florida 21-3

Posted on October 10, 2015October 10, 2015

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Kelvin Taylor rushed for 99 yards and two first-quarter touchdowns and No. 11 Florida defeated Missouri 21-3 on Saturday night.

The Gators (6-0, 4-0 SEC) amassed 337 yards and possessed the ball for 37:53, converting 23 first downs.

Quarterback Will Grier targeted eight receivers, completing 20 of 33 passes for 208 yards in his fifth start. Demarcus Robinson led Florida in receiving with six catches for 79 yards.

Florida’s defense never allowed Missouri’s offense to settle into a rhythm. Missouri was 1 of 13 on third down and opened the second half with three consecutive three-and-outs.

Drew Lock made his second start for Missouri (4-2, 1-2) in place of Maty Mauk, who is suspended indefinitely for violating team policy. He completed 16 of 39 passes for 151 yards, but threw two interceptions, one of which was returned by Jalen Tabor for a 40-yard touchdown.

The Gators led the Southeastern Conference in sacks entering the game, and had three against the Tigers, including one each from Charles Brantley and Cece Jefferson. Marcus Maye and Antonio Morrison each made six tackles. Maye also had an interception in the second quarter.

Andrew Baggett’s 21-yard field goal with 7:33 remaining in the first quarter gave the Tigers their only points. Baggett also missed a 53-yard attempt in the second quarter.

Russell Hansbrough carried the ball nine times for a season-high 74 yards, and Ish Witter added 11 carries for 39 yards. Witter also had a team-high four catches for 29 yards receiving.

Wesley Leftwich was the only Missouri receiver with more than one catch, collecting three for 39 yards.

Jim McElwain joins Charles Bachman and Galen Hall as the only Florida coaches to start their career 6-0.

— Associated Press —

MWSU volleyball takes down Lindenwood for fourth straight win

Posted on October 10, 2015October 10, 2015

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team rallied after dropping one set to Lindenwood for a 3-1 win Saturday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse. It was the Griffons’ third MIAA win of the week and improved their record to 14-4 overall and 6-1 in the MIAA.

Lindenwood took advantage of Missouri Western’s .125 hitting percentage in the first set to win 25-23. The Lions had a lead again in set two, 15-10 before Marian Carbin called a timeout. MWSU went on an 8-2 run from that point and ended up winning the set 25-22. They dominated the third set, 25-13 and the fourth, 25-18. For the match, Missouri Western hit .292 as a team and held Lindenwood to a .191 hitting percentage.

Jessie Thorup capped an impressive week with 18 kills and a .318 hitting percentage. Rachel Friedrichs added 10 kills; Shellby Taylor had nine and Lindsey Partridge had seven. Jordan Chohon racked up 42 assists on the night and 12 digs. Audrey Keim also had 12 digs. Partridge chipped in five block assists on the night.

The Griffons will play their next five on the road beginning with a trip to Emporia State on Oct. 16.

— MWSU Athletics —