Sports – Page 783 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Three Griffons earn preseason All-America honors from USA Football Network

Posted on July 15, 2014

USA Football Network, Inc. is proud to publish its 26th USA College Football Division II Pre-Season All-American Teams. Three Missouri Western football players have been announced to the squads. Junior defensive back Mike Jordan is a first team selection while junior running back Raphael Spencer was named second team. Senior punter Scott Groner was named to the third team. BSN (Beyond Sports Network) also released their 2014 Preseason All-American team. Groner was named to the first team while Jordan was selected to the third team. Spencer, Groner, Jordan and Yomi Alli were all named to the Preseason All-MIAA team which was selected by BSN.

The teams are selected by a national panel including Head Coaches, Sports information Directors, members of the Football Writers Association of America, Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association, New England Football Writers Association and Philadelphia Football Writers, pro football scouts plus staff journalists of Lindey’s Sports Annuals, The Sports Network and USA Football News.

Michael Jordan (DB, 6-0, 200, Jr., Hazelwood, Mo.) was named to the first team All-MIAA for the first time in his career last season after being named MIAA Freshman of the Year and honorable mention in 2012. In 2013, Jordan finished with 48 total tackles with 36 being solo. He had two tackles for a loss to go along with three interceptions and eight pass break-ups. Jordan had seven tackles twice this season against Fort Hays State and Emporia State. He was also named to the Daktronics Super Region Three Second Team and Don Hansen Super Region Three third team.

Raphael Spencer (RB, 5-9, 190, Jr., Kansas City, Mo.) was named second team All-MIAA for the first time in his career in 2013. He finished the season rushing for 1,312 yards on 198 carries and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 119.3 yards per game which is first in the MIAA and 19th in the nation. He ran for over 100 yards six times last season and over 200 yards once which was at Central Oklahoma when he went for 221 yards on 24 carries. He also caught 21 passes for 150 yards. Spencer was named MIAA Player of the Week on November 11, 2013 for his 193 yards two touchdown performance at Washburn in a 34-31 victory. He is currently 9th all-time in rushing with 1,920 yards in his career. Spencer also earned Don Hansen All-Region second team and Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-America honors.

Scott Groner (P, 6-4, 200, Sr., Tecoma, Victoria (Australia)) had an outstanding 2013 averaging an MIAA best 42.6 yards per kick. He ranked 11th in the nation with that average. Groner punted 50 times for 2,132 with a long of 61 yards on September 21, 2013 at Nebraska-Kearney. He had nine kicks of 50 or more yards to go along with 13 kicks inside the 20. It was first time in his career that he has been named to the first team All-MIAA. He was an honorable mention selection in 2011. Groner was also named to the Daktronics Super Region Three Second Team, first team Don Hansen All-Region and honorable mention Don Hansen All-American.

The Griffons finished the season with an 8-3 overall record and 7-3 MIAA record. It was the eighth time in the past nine seasons and 11th time in Head Coach Jerry Partridge’s tenure that the Griffons have won eight or more games. This Griffon open up the 2014 season on Thursday, September 4 against the University of Central Missouri. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm in Spratt Stadium.

— MWSU Sports Information —

KSU’s Lockett, NU’s Bell & KU’s Harwell named to Biletnikoff watch list

Posted on July 15, 2014

Kansas State senior wide receiver Tyler Lockett was one of 55 players nationally to be named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, presented to the nation’s outstanding college receiver, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club announced Tuesday.

Lockett is a candidate for the award for a second-straight season as he was a midseason addition to the watch list a year ago. He joins a list of five former K-State greats who have been a candidate for the award, which include his father, Kevin (1994-95 candidate and 1996 semifinalist), his uncle, Aaron (1999-2000 candidate), and current Green Bay Packer wide receiver Jordy Nelson (2006 candidate and 2007 finalist).

The watch list honor is the third for Lockett this preseason as he is also a candidate for the Maxwell Award, presented to the college player of the year, and the Paul Hornung Award, awarded to the most versatile player in major college football.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lockett put together one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in school history a year ago when he hauled in 81 receptions for 1,262 yards and 11 touchdowns to rank in the top five in school history in each category. He set the school record for single-game receiving yardage with 237 at Texas before resetting that mark with 278 against Oklahoma, which ranked as the fourth-most in Big 12 history.

A Second Team All-American and the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in 2013, Lockett enters the 2014 season ranked fourth in school history in career receptions and yardage, and fifth in touchdowns. He needs 75 receptions, 838 yards and nine touchdowns to break all three school records, which are held by his father, Kevin.

Semifinalists for the 2014 Biletnikoff Award will be announced on November 17, while three finalists will be chosen on November 24. The winner of the award will be announced live on December 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

K-State opens its 119th season of football on August 30, against Stephen F. Austin at Bill Snyder Family Stadium for the sixth-annual K-State Family Reunion. The contest, which kicks off at 6:10 p.m.

— KSU Sports Information —

Nebraska senior receiver Kenny Bell was named to the watch list for the 2014 Biletnikoff Award on Tuesday. The award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football.

The 6-1, 185-pound Bell was named to the Biletnikoff watch list for the second straight season. Bell enters his final season at Nebraska on the verge of becoming the most prolific receiver in school history.

Bell ranks fifth on Nebraska’s career receptions list with 134 catches, leaving him 32 catches behind the NU record of 166 receptions by Nate Swift. Bell is third in school history with 1,901 career receiving yards, leaving him 578 yards from Johnny Rodgers’ school record in that category.

Bell has 15 career touchdown receptions heading into 2014, including four touchdown catches in 2013. He has shown a knack for the big play throughout his career with each of his last 13 touchdown catches covering at least 20 yards.

Bell has led Nebraska in receptions each of his first three seasons, the first player to accomplish that at Nebraska since Matt Davison from 1998 to 2000. This fall, Bell could be the first player to lead the Huskers in catches for four straight years. Bell finished his junior season with a team-high 52 receptions for 577 yards and earned honorable-mention all-conference honors.

Bell is one of 55 receivers on the watch list, including five players from the Big Ten Conference. The Biletnikoff Award is sponsored by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, and is named for College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff who starred at Florida State and with the Oakland Raiders.

Ten semifinalists for the award will be chosen on Nov. 17, with three finalists announced on Nov. 24. The winner will be announced on Dec. 11 as part of the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

— NU Sports Information —

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., announced Tuesday that senior wide receiver Nick Harwell has been named one of 55 players on the preseason watch list for the 2014 Biletnikoff Award.

Created in 1994 in honor of Fred Biletnikoff, the Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the most outstanding receiver in college football. A member of the pro and collegiate football halls of fame, Biletnikoff was an All-Pro receiver for the Oakland Raiders and an All-America receiver at Florida State University.

The 2014 winner will be selected by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 221 prominent college football journalists, commentators, and former receivers. The winner will be honored with the trophy live on Dec. 11 on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast from 7-9 pm on ESPN.

Harwell, a native of Missouri City, Texas transferred to Kansas and was forced to sit out a season ago after spending the previous three years at Miami (Ohio) where he was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection and an honorable mention All-America selection by Sports Illustrated in 2011.

Harwell closed out his career at Miami holding the three highest single-game reception and receiving yard totals, as well as rewriting the Redhawk record book for most 100-yard games in school history. In just three seasons, Harwell ranks second on both the all-time Miami receptions and receiving yards lists with 229 catches for 3,166 yards.

Harwell and the rest of the Jayhawks begin the 2014 slate Sept. 6, as they play host to Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium

— KU Sports Information —

Mustangs get big road win at Joplin Monday

Posted on July 14, 2014July 14, 2014

The St. Joseph Mustangs bounced back from a shutout loss at Omaha Sunday as they went to Joplin Monday night and defeated the Outlaws 4-3.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team is now 32-12 this season and 22-11 in the MINK League. The Mustangs got help from Omaha Monday as well as they defeated Chillicothe twice to give St. Joseph a two-game lead over Chillicothe in the North Division race.

The Mustangs fell behind 3-1 after two innings, but they battled back to tie the game in the third with two runs. Mike Sherburne had an RBI double and then he scored on a double steal.

St. Joe took the lead back in the fifth inning as they scored an unearned run and that was enough for the Mustangs’ pitching staff.

Kevin Sweeney, who just signed with the Mustangs, made his first career start and he earned the victory. Sweeney went seven innings and he allowed three runs on eight hits, while striking out six and walking just one.

Austin Aspegren and Grant Gavin threw two hitless innings to secure the win as Gavin picked up his fifth save of the season.

Joe Koerper led the Mustangs’ offense as he finished 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Brandon Huske and Nick Sebastian added two hits each.

St. Joseph returns to Phil Welch Stadium Tuesday night as they host Clarinda at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

Former Tiger A.J. Ricker named to Mizzou football coaching staff

Posted on July 14, 2014

Former University of Missouri standout center A.J. Ricker has been named assistant football coach for his alma mater, as announced today by Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel. Ricker will join the staff as offensive line coach, after spending the past season in the same role at Illinois.

Ricker comes to Mizzou with eight years of coaching experience under his belt. He began his coaching resume as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan under former Mizzou assistant Bill Cubit, serving in that role for the 2006 and 2007 seasons, before advancing to a full-time assistant role as offensive line coach in 2008. He moved to St. Joseph’s College (in Rensselaer, Ind.) as offensive line coach in 2009, and served the 2010 season as the program’s head coach before later returning to WMU for the 2011 and 2012 seasons as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.

Ricker was born in Windsor, Mo., and graduated from high school in Klein, Texas before coming to Mizzou. He was a 1st-Team All-Big 12 center for Pinkel as a senior in 2003, as part of the first bowl-eligible team at MU since 1998. He started 47 consecutive games at center for the Tigers from 2000-03, which established a record at any position at MU at the time (it now stands 5th-alltime on the MU consecutive starts chart, 2nd among centers). He served as a two-time team captain at Mizzou.

“We’re really excited to have A.J. join our staff,” said Pinkel. “When we had this opportunity, we wanted to bring a young coach in who had experience, and A.J. fits that perfectly. We feel like he’s one of the best young offensive line coaches in the country, and we talk all the time about being Mizzou Made. He understands our system, he loves Mizzou and he can’t wait to get started,” he said.

“Obviously, coming home is a big deal to me,” said Ricker. “But I want people to know that’s the not the important thing, I’m coming here to do a job to teach the game and do it at a really high level. My biggest focus is to get there and take what I’ve learned at all my different stops, roll my sleeves up and get to work to help us win a lot of ballgames. Certainly, it’s an honor to coach at your alma mater, and I’m grateful to Coach Pinkel and his staff for having the faith in me to bring me on. They’ve done a heck of a job of building this program and I’m really pleased and excited to be part of it,” he said.

According to Pinkel, Ricker becomes only the second former player of his to serve as a full-time assistant coach, with Matt Eberflus (at Toledo as a full-time assistant from 1994-99, and at Mizzou from 2001-08) being the other. “That’s a neat thing for me personally, it’s kind of an honor for one of your former guys to want to teach the same game you helped him to learn. I think I’m the only Don James player to ever be a full-time assistant for him, so that kind of thing means a lot,” he said.

Ricker earned his undergraduate degree from Mizzou in agriculture in 2004. Following his graduation, Ricker signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Chicago Bears and was allocated to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 2005. In 2006, and for part of 2007, he was a member of the Arena Football League’s Tampa Bay Storm before retiring from his playing days. In 2011, he was married to the former Lauren Mattaliano, and the couple has an infant son, Andrew, who was born in February of this year.

— MU Sports Information —

Lombardi Award places three Wildcats on watch list

Posted on July 14, 2014

Kansas State offensive linemen B.J. Finney and Cody Whitehair along with defensive end Ryan Mueller were named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, the Rotary Club of Houston announced Monday.

The award, which is presented to the college lineman of the year, includes 123 players from 76 different institutions, including 12 from the Big 12 schools. Finney is a candidate for the award for the second-straight season while the other two are first-time members of the watch list.

A native of Andale, Kansas, Finney is K-State’s third two-time candidate for the award, joining Nick Leckey (2002-03) and Ian Campbell (2007-08), while he is now a candidate for a third award (Outland, Rimington). He earned All-Big 12 First Team honors each of the last two years and has started all 39 career games, including the last 38 at center.

Whitehair, who is also a candidate for this year’s Outland Trophy, was an All-Big 12 Second Team performer in 2013 after starting all 13 games at left guard. The Abilene, Kansas, native has started 25 of his 26 career games.

A former walk-on who turned into the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2013, Mueller picked up his fourth award candidacy as he was also named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski and Lott IMPACT trophies. The Leawood, Kansas, native recorded a school-record tying 11.5 sacks in last season to go along with 18.5 tackles for loss. He earned Second Team All-America honors as a junior as well as All-Big 12 First Team accolades.

The 2014 Rotary Lombardi Award will announce its semifinalists on November 6 and a list of finalists on November 20. Those finalists will travel to Houston, Texas, where the winner will be announced at the Wortham Center on December 10.

Kansas State opens the 2014 campaign on August 30, with a contest against Stephen F. Austin at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game, which kicks off at 6:10 p.m.

— KSU Sports Information —

Nebraska’s Gregory named to Lombardi watch list

Posted on July 14, 2014

Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory picked up his fourth watch list recognition Monday morning, as he was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.

Five Huskers have won the Rotary Lombardi Award, most recently Ndamukong Suh in 2009, and Gregory will look to become the sixth Husker football player to win the prestigious award.

As a sophomore, Gregory became one of the Big Ten’s top defenders last season and has earned preseason All-America accolades in 2014. In his first year with the Huskers, Gregory led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Nine of Gregory’s sacks came in Big Ten Conference play, including a season-high three sacks at Michigan.

Gregory earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for his efforts in 2013 and is considered a strong candidate for first-team All-America honors this fall. In addition to being named to the Lombardi Award Watch List on Monday, Gregory was earlier named to the watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott Trophy.

The Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.

A total of 12 semifinalists will be announced later in the fall with the 45th Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in Houston, Texas.

— NU Sports Information —

KU’s Heeney named to two more preseason watch lists

Posted on July 14, 2014July 14, 2014

Kansas linebacker Ben Heeney added two more preseason recognitions to his resume as the senior landed on both the Rotary Lombardi Award and Butkus Award Preseason Watch Lists, announced by each award committee Monday morning.

The Rotary Lombardi Award and the Butkus Award are members of the National Collegiate Football Awards Association (NCFAA) and are presented to outstanding players on the field at their respective positions. Specifically, the Butkus Award recognizes the most outstanding collegiate linebacker, while the Rotary Lombardi Award pays tribute to the college lineman of the year, including linebackers who set up no further than five yards off the line of scrimmage.

A senior from Hutchinson, Kansas, Heeney missed a pair of games in the middle of the 2013 conference slate, but still finished with a team-best 88 total stops, including 11.5 tackles for loss and the first three interceptions of his career. Heeney, honored as an All-Big 12 Second Team selection by the Associated Press and the conference coaches last season, was fourth in the conference with 8.7 tackles per game and ranked fifth in tackles-for-loss per game with 1.15. He reached double figures in tackles in six of his 10 games played, including four Big 12 contests.

In 2012, Heeney burst on to the scene with 112 tackles in his first season as a starter for the Jayhawks. His 112 tackles included 66 solo stops. He led KU with 12.0 tackles-for-loss and added one sack. He also was credited with two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble.

Heeney has racked up six preseason honors leading up to the 2014 season opener against Southeast Missouri State (Sept. 6) at Memorial Stadium, as he was named preseason First-Team All-Big 12 by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Magazine, and was selected to the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch lists last week.

— KU Sports Information —

Free Mustangs Tickets For Fan Appreciation Night

Posted on July 14, 2014

As the season winds down for the St Joseph Mustangs, the college summer-league team wants to say “thank you” for another great season.

They’re saying it with free tickets.

Tuesday, July 15 will be fan appreciation night, and you can watch the Mustangs for free.

To get your free, general admission tickets, you must call the Mustangs Office at (816)279-7856

St. Joseph gets shut out at Omaha Sunday

Posted on July 13, 2014

The St. Joseph Mustangs had their four-game winning streak snapped Sunday night at Omaha as they lost 2-0.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team drops to 31-12 this season and 21-11 in the MINK League.

Omaha scored single runs in the third and fifth innings against Mustangs’ starter Brandon Baker, but both were unearned because of three St. Joseph errors.

The Mustangs had grea chances to score runs Sunday. In both the third and eighth innings as they had runners at second and third base with just one out, but were unable to get a hit and were shut out for the fourth time this season.

Baker went five innings and allowed six hits. He struck out five and walked two. Jon Pomatto and Trent Hill combined to throw three scoreless innings of relief to keep St. Joe close.

The Mustangs had just six hits in the game and no one had mulitple hits. Hill, Brandon Huske, Joe Koerper, Kyle Richards, Francisco Alvarez and Josh Cassidy each had a single Sunday night.

The Mustangs stay on the road Monday for a game at Joplin. The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.

KC avoids 4-game sweep as they rally past Detroit

Posted on July 13, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Despite being only two games above .500 and facing a 6.5-game deficit against first-place Detroit, the Kansas City Royals believe they have their rivals right where they want them.

Judging by recent history, maybe they do.

A five-run seventh inning keyed by Omar Infante’s two-run single and an RBI double from Eric Hosmer enabled the Royals to avoid a demoralizing four-game sweep against the Tigers on Sunday.

It also brought to mind the league-best 33-20 mark they logged last season after stumbling into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak.

“We’re eight games better than we were at this time last year,” manager Ned Yost said. “And we’re a second-half team. We’ve always been a second-half team.”

Exactly why they seem to play better after the break, no one seems to know.

“I’m not sure,” designated hitter Billy Butler said. “The season’s long, It wears on guys as they get older. We’re young. And sometimes I think as guys get older … I don’t know.”

But he does know last year’s second-half surge makes this year’s challenge seem less daunting.

“We’re just better the second half. It’s our track record and we’re starting to count on it.”

Four of the seventh-inning runs were charged to Justin Verlander (8-8), who started the inning with a two-hit shutout but loaded the bases on three straight singles.

“Things were going well for us and we ran into the seventh,” said Verlander, who lost for just the fifth time in 15 decisions in Kauffman Stadium. “A couple of balls fell in the right spots and I’m out of the ballgame. They were able to find some spots.”

Since June 18 when K.C. beat the Tigers for their 10th straight win and went a season-best seven games over .500, the Royals have gone 9-14 while the Tigers went 17-6.

Verlander gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out three and walked one.

Yordano Ventura (7-7) pitched 1 2/3 innings in his first career relief appearance and got the win.

He allowed one hit and struck out three for the Royals, who beat the Tigers for only the first time in seven tries this year at home.

Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 26 opportunities.

After Raul Ibanez loaded the bases in the seventh with a single that snapped a 0-for-25 skid, Alcides Escobar brought in a run with a slow-rolling infield single that second baseman Ian Kinsler failed to pick up cleanly. A second run then scored on Jarrod Dyson’s fielder’s choice.

Ian Krol replaced Verlander and after intentionally walking pinch hitter Salvador Perez, gave up a two-run single to Omar Infante that made it 4-2.

“I waited for that pitch and made good contact,” Infante said.

Hosmer’s double stretched his career-best hitting streak to 13 games.

Rajai Davis and Austin Jackson opened the third with back-to-back singles and the Tigers took a 2-0 lead on Miguel Cabrera’s sacrifice fly and a two-out bloop single by J.D. Martinez, which fell in between shortstop Escobar and left fielder Ibanez as Jackson came around from first.

— Associated Press —