GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Markquis Nowell scored 29 points and had 11 assists, Keyontae Johnson scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Kansas State beat Nevada 96-87 in overtime. The Wildcats outscored Nevada 16-7 in the extra session. Nowell’s layup with 11 seconds left in regulation tied it at 80 and the Wolfpack couldn’t get off a shot. Jarod Lucas scored 20 points, Will Baker 19, Kenan Blackshear 17 with 10 assists and Tre Coleman and Darrion Williams each scored 10 for Nevada.

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Markquis Nowell scored 29 points and had 11 assists, Keyontae Johnson scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Kansas State beat Nevada 96-87 in overtime. The Wildcats outscored Nevada 16-7 in the extra session. Nowell’s layup with 11 seconds left in regulation tied it at 80 and the Wolfpack couldn’t get off a shot. Jarod Lucas scored 20 points, Will Baker 19, Kenan Blackshear 17 with 10 assists and Tre Coleman and Darrion Williams each scored 10 for Nevada.

K-State men's basketball remains undefeated

Congratulations to Chauncey Baxter of Salina, the Week 11 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!

Chauncey, who scored 13 of 14 points, wins $100.

Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!

Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662062091203.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Chauncey Baxter of Salina, the Week 11 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!Chauncey, who scored 13 of 14 points, wins $100.Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

Gridiron Glory: Congratulations Chauncey Baxter!

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22013&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-november-22-2022/4781" target="_blank">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-media-availability-november-22-2022/4782" target="_blank">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a> MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex as No. 15 Kansas State hosts Kansas in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Saturday. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.

“Good afternoon, everyone. Looking back on Saturday, obviously a strange first half how everything went down. Both teams scored on defense. There were some explosive plays. We were able to get the extra turnover on the fourth-and-one stop, which I thought was big to take that one and score. It’s 14-nothing, then 14-13, and then, 28-13 and kind of went back and forth a little bit. A couple things that really stuck out to us is getting two field goals in two-minute drives, in essence, with the first field goal with around two minutes left. They elected to use some timeouts to try to save time, which I thought was smart because they were going to get the ball the second half. Then we got a sack and so we started using our timeouts, and then we were able to get another field goal to score twice before half. Even though they were field goals, I thought it was really important there. Then the missed extra points, I thought, were really important because West Virginia was kind of chasing a lot of points the rest of the day and had to go for two and weren't successful there. In essence, you're losing almost a touchdown with two-point conversions misses and missed PATS, and then the missed field goal. So, special teams, I thought, was really good. I thought Malik Knowles was dynamite on special teams as well as a receiver, and our offense was very aggressive and did some really good things in the first half. A little bit tougher probably to do things in the second half because they took about nine minutes off the clock on the first drive and don't get points, which was, I'm sure, demoralizing to the fact of they needed some quick scores, and we were able to get a stop there. Pleased anytime you can go on the road and get a win, especially in Morgantown. It's a really tough place to play. It's a tough environment and our guys were able to handle business and now we're back this week. We’ve got a really good KU team coming in here. I've got a lot of respect for Coach Leipold, does a great job, and they're playing really well. I know they've been beaten the last couple of weeks, but they're a good football team and it should be a heck of a battle here on Saturday.”

Associate Athletics Director for Communications

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22013&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-november-22-2022/4781" target="_blank">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-media-availability-november-22-2022/4782" target="_blank">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a> MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex as No. 15 Kansas State hosts Kansas in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Saturday. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACHOpening Statement…“Good afternoon, everyone. Looking back on Saturday, obviously a strange first half how everything went down. Both teams scored on defense. There were some explosive plays. We were able to get the extra turnover on the fourth-and-one stop, which I thought was big to take that one and score. It’s 14-nothing, then 14-13, and then, 28-13 and kind of went back and forth a little bit. A couple things that really stuck out to us is getting two field goals in two-minute drives, in essence, with the first field goal with around two minutes left. They elected to use some timeouts to try to save time, which I thought was smart because they were going to get the ball the second half. Then we got a sack and so we started using our timeouts, and then we were able to get another field goal to score twice before half. Even though they were field goals, I thought it was really important there. Then the missed extra points, I thought, were really important because West Virginia was kind of chasing a lot of points the rest of the day and had to go for two and weren't successful there. In essence, you're losing almost a touchdown with two-point conversions misses and missed PATS, and then the missed field goal. So, special teams, I thought, was really good. I thought Malik Knowles was dynamite on special teams as well as a receiver, and our offense was very aggressive and did some really good things in the first half. A little bit tougher probably to do things in the second half because they took about nine minutes off the clock on the first drive and don't get points, which was, I'm sure, demoralizing to the fact of they needed some quick scores, and we were able to get a stop there. Pleased anytime you can go on the road and get a win, especially in Morgantown. It's a really tough place to play. It's a tough environment and our guys were able to handle business and now we're back this week. We’ve got a really good KU team coming in here. I've got a lot of respect for Coach Leipold, does a great job, and they're playing really well. I know they've been beaten the last couple of weeks, but they're a good football team and it should be a heck of a battle here on Saturday.”RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications

K-State Discusses Dillons Sunflower Showdown at Weekly Press Conference

Associate athletics director for Communications

1)&nbsp;Following a 48-31 road win at West Virginia, Kansas State returns home to close out the 2022 regular season with the annual Dillons Sunflower Showdown against in-state rival KU. The Wildcats can clinch a berth in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship with a win against the Jayhawks. The game will be televised nationally on FOX with a 7 p.m. kickoff from Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

2)&nbsp;K-State is 8-3 this season with all three losses coming against teams that are currently ranked in No. 4 TCU, No. 19 Tulane and No 24 Texas. The Cats are bowl eligible for the third time under Chris Klieman and will advance to their 24th bowl appearance in school history, including the 11th in the last 13 seasons. Klieman is the first coach in school history to send three of his first four squads to the postseason.

3)&nbsp;Last time out, K-State scored 41 points in a dominant first half against West Virginia – the most first-half points by the Wildcats under Klieman. Will Howard had a big day, throwing for 294 yards (19-of-27) and accounting for three touchdowns, while Malik Knowles eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for the third time this season, finishing with six catches and 111 yards and a touchdown.

4)&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn has 1,148 rushing yards this season to record his second-straight season with 1,000 rushing yards – just the third player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. He ranks second in school history in career rushing yards (3,194) and moved into the top 10 in school history for a season.

5)&nbsp;The Cats have been solid on defense, allowing just 18.7 points per game and 361.8 total yards per game. This week, the Cats rank fourth nationally in turnover margin, 11th in fourth down defense, sixth in interceptions, 15th in scoring defense and 19th in pass efficiency defense. The Cats have kept each of their Big 12 opponents this year under their season scoring average entering its game against K-State while also holding three conference opponents without a touchdown.

By Ryan LackeyAssociate athletics director for CommunicationsTHE TOP 5 1)&nbsp;Following a 48-31 road win at West Virginia, Kansas State returns home to close out the 2022 regular season with the annual Dillons Sunflower Showdown against in-state rival KU. The Wildcats can clinch a berth in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship with a win against the Jayhawks. The game will be televised nationally on FOX with a 7 p.m. kickoff from Bill Snyder Family Stadium.2)&nbsp;K-State is 8-3 this season with all three losses coming against teams that are currently ranked in No. 4 TCU, No. 19 Tulane and No 24 Texas. The Cats are bowl eligible for the third time under Chris Klieman and will advance to their 24th bowl appearance in school history, including the 11th in the last 13 seasons. Klieman is the first coach in school history to send three of his first four squads to the postseason.3)&nbsp;Last time out, K-State scored 41 points in a dominant first half against West Virginia – the most first-half points by the Wildcats under Klieman. Will Howard had a big day, throwing for 294 yards (19-of-27) and accounting for three touchdowns, while Malik Knowles eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for the third time this season, finishing with six catches and 111 yards and a touchdown.4)&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn has 1,148 rushing yards this season to record his second-straight season with 1,000 rushing yards – just the third player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. He ranks second in school history in career rushing yards (3,194) and moved into the top 10 in school history for a season.5)&nbsp;The Cats have been solid on defense, allowing just 18.7 points per game and 361.8 total yards per game. This week, the Cats rank fourth nationally in turnover margin, 11th in fourth down defense, sixth in interceptions, 15th in scoring defense and 19th in pass efficiency defense. The Cats have kept each of their Big 12 opponents this year under their season scoring average entering its game against K-State while also holding three conference opponents without a touchdown.

K-State hosts Kansas Saturday

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — No. 19 Kansas State beat West Virginia 48-31 to move one win away from clinching a berth in the Big 12 championship game. The Wildcats finish the regular season at home next Saturday against Kansas. They are looking to join TCU in the title game Dec. 3 in Arlington, Texas. Kansas State jumped ahead 14-0 a little more than three minutes into the game, thanks in part to Cincere Mason's 37-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Wildcats led 41-25 at halftime. Those were the most first-half points for Kansas State in 14 years. K-State's Will Howard threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — No. 19 Kansas State beat West Virginia 48-31 to move one win away from clinching a berth in the Big 12 championship game. The Wildcats finish the regular season at home next Saturday against Kansas. They are looking to join TCU in the title game Dec. 3 in Arlington, Texas. Kansas State jumped ahead 14-0 a little more than three minutes into the game, thanks in part to Cincere Mason's 37-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Wildcats led 41-25 at halftime. Those were the most first-half points for Kansas State in 14 years. K-State's Will Howard threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score.

K-State stays in Big 12 title game

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Bijan Robinson ran for career-highs of 243 yards and four touchdowns, helping Texas beat Kansas 55-14 to keep its hopes alive of playing in the Big 12 title game. The Longhorns need to beat Baylor next week while hoping the Jayhawks can beat Kansas State. The win Saturday was a bit of revenge for the Longhorns after their 57-56 overtime loss to Kansas last year in Austin. Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels started for the first time since hurting his shoulder six weeks ago against TCU. He had 230 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Bijan Robinson ran for career-highs of 243 yards and four touchdowns, helping Texas beat Kansas 55-14 to keep its hopes alive of playing in the Big 12 title game. The Longhorns need to beat Baylor next week while hoping the Jayhawks can beat Kansas State. The win Saturday was a bit of revenge for the Longhorns after their 57-56 overtime loss to Kansas last year in Austin. Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels started for the first time since hurting his shoulder six weeks ago against TCU. He had 230 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception.

Texas rolls past Kansas

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor

As the final whistle sounded in Wamego on Friday night, a profound realization set in around the stadium.

For the first time in school history, the Red Raiders would be playing for a state championship.

This 33-16 win over McPherson was just the latest in a run of 12 straight victories that have put Wamego on the doorstep of ultimate gridiron glory.

“Everybody is excited about this and it means a lot to our guys and to the whole community,” Raider head coach Weston Moody said. “You go anywhere and people are amped up and rightfully so. Our kids were emotional on Friday, it was their last game on that field but Hayden said it best, the job isn’t done, we still want to make it to the top.”

This semifinal success story wasn’t without its fair share of adversity.

Things started smoothly enough in Wamego, as the Raiders took a 13-0 lead right out of the gates.

After that the Bullpups battled back, rattling off 16 unanswered points to snatch a 16-13 lead, Wamego trailed, but never lost their composure.

“We didn’t really freak out after we went down,” Moody said. “In years past, I think we’ve had a freak-out factor in moments like that when the momentum swings but our guys stayed calm and decided to pick it up and attack these guys.”

With his back to the wall, staring down elimination, Hayden Oviatt picked up the torch and with the wind of Wamego at his back, willed the Raiders back in front with three unanswered touchdowns to deliver the 33-16 victory.

“Having Hayden back is huge,” he said. “He gives us another weapon, and when he wills things they happen. There’s a reason he’s going to Army West Point and in the fourth quarter, we knew he was going to make it right. Everyone knew he was going to get the football but it didn’t matter.”

On the other side of the ball, those 16 unanswered McPherson points would be the last they would muster as the Raider defense did what it has done all season, tightening the screws and locking out the Bullpup offense.

“Our defense hunkered down,” Moody said. “They could have easily been shell-shocked but these guys decided that they were going to fight to the end no matter the circumstances. There’s no letdown in these guys whether they're up or down and they stymied them while our offense took over.”

In the end, this 17-point victory is the closest challenge anyone has laid to Wamego’s undefeated season, and with one final test ahead, there’s no doubt that the Raiders are peaking at the perfect time.

“We’re absolutely playing our best football right now,” he said. “When our guys were on the sideline in-between series’ making in-game adjustments and it’s cool to see them understand what we want to do and make it happen on the field. That comes with experience but I’m extremely proud of them.”

From the opening kickoff of the season, this Wamego team believed that they could win a state championship, 13 weeks later the Raiders will have an opportunity to do just that against a Miege juggernaut.

“Our guys believed that they could get here from day one and we still believe it now,” Moody said. “We’ve talked about it, we’ve worked for it since June and here we are in late November in a position to go after this. There won’t be a single person outside of our locker room that picks us to win over Miege and rightfully so but people didn’t think we could get here so why not shock them again.”

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorAs the final whistle sounded in Wamego on Friday night, a profound realization set in around the stadium.For the first time in school history, the Red Raiders would be playing for a state championship.This 33-16 win over McPherson was just the latest in a run of 12 straight victories that have put Wamego on the doorstep of ultimate gridiron glory.“Everybody is excited about this and it means a lot to our guys and to the whole community,” Raider head coach Weston Moody said. “You go anywhere and people are amped up and rightfully so. Our kids were emotional on Friday, it was their last game on that field but Hayden said it best, the job isn’t done, we still want to make it to the top.”This semifinal success story wasn’t without its fair share of adversity.Things started smoothly enough in Wamego, as the Raiders took a 13-0 lead right out of the gates.After that the Bullpups battled back, rattling off 16 unanswered points to snatch a 16-13 lead, Wamego trailed, but never lost their composure.“We didn’t really freak out after we went down,” Moody said. “In years past, I think we’ve had a freak-out factor in moments like that when the momentum swings but our guys stayed calm and decided to pick it up and attack these guys.”With his back to the wall, staring down elimination, Hayden Oviatt picked up the torch and with the wind of Wamego at his back, willed the Raiders back in front with three unanswered touchdowns to deliver the 33-16 victory.“Having Hayden back is huge,” he said. “He gives us another weapon, and when he wills things they happen. There’s a reason he’s going to Army West Point and in the fourth quarter, we knew he was going to make it right. Everyone knew he was going to get the football but it didn’t matter.”On the other side of the ball, those 16 unanswered McPherson points would be the last they would muster as the Raider defense did what it has done all season, tightening the screws and locking out the Bullpup offense.“Our defense hunkered down,” Moody said. “They could have easily been shell-shocked but these guys decided that they were going to fight to the end no matter the circumstances. There’s no letdown in these guys whether they're up or down and they stymied them while our offense took over.”In the end, this 17-point victory is the closest challenge anyone has laid to Wamego’s undefeated season, and with one final test ahead, there’s no doubt that the Raiders are peaking at the perfect time.“We’re absolutely playing our best football right now,” he said. “When our guys were on the sideline in-between series’ making in-game adjustments and it’s cool to see them understand what we want to do and make it happen on the field. That comes with experience but I’m extremely proud of them.”From the opening kickoff of the season, this Wamego team believed that they could win a state championship, 13 weeks later the Raiders will have an opportunity to do just that against a Miege juggernaut.“Our guys believed that they could get here from day one and we still believe it now,” Moody said. “We’ve talked about it, we’ve worked for it since June and here we are in late November in a position to go after this. There won’t be a single person outside of our locker room that picks us to win over Miege and rightfully so but people didn’t think we could get here so why not shock them again.”

Raiders beat Bullpups to advance to first-ever state championship

PREP FOOTBALL=KSHSAA Football Championship=Sub-State=Class 6A=Gardner-Edgerton 56, Olathe Northwest 7Manhattan 28, Derby 23Class 5A=Maize 42, Hays 9Mill Valley 63, BV Southwest 0Class 4A=Bishop Miege 38, St. Thomas Aquinas 28Wamego 33, McPherson 16Class 3A=Andale 36, Clay Center 0Holton 48, Topeka Hayden 17Class 2A=Kingman 28, Southeast Saline 22, 2OTNemaha Central 30, Sabetha 14Class 1A=Inman 23, Conway Springs 6St. Mary's 46, Centralia 16Class 8-Man DII=Axtell 36, Canton-Galva 32Thunder Ridge 58, Dighton 12Class 8-Man DI=Little River 48, Burlingame 0Wichita County 76, Hill City 30Class 6-Man=Ashland 78, Cheylin 34Cunningham 60, Waverly 12

Friday night football scores

On Friday night, Wamego will take the field looking to do something that no team in Red Raider history has ever accomplished.

Punch a ticket to a state championship game, and earn the right to play for the title of best team in Class 4A.

Standing in their way is a McPherson squad that will be more than hungry to do the same, after being stopped in their tracks in the 4A semifinals three times in the last four years.

While Wamego wades into uncharted waters, the confidence and energy in the Red Raider locker room remain high as this group looks to ink their names in the history books on Friday night.

“Our mentality has been pretty good,” Wamego head coach Weston Moody said. “Everyone has been higher on us this week than they have been in the past. A lot of people thought we were good but not elite and I don’t think anyone believed we could get here besides the guys in our locker room.”

That confidence from within was tested last week when the Raiders found themselves down to Andover Central for a second-straight quarterfinal, but Wamego dusted themselves off and turned the tide to avenge last year’s elimination loss 42-7.

“That game started just like it did last year,” Moody said. “It was a disaster. All of those things go through your head, and that’s the most adversity that we’ve faced all year but our guys bounced back and it was nice to see us respond. We didn’t back down, we stepped up.”

Now, Wamego will turn its attention to a perennial power in McPherson, in the midst of another strong season, eliminating Mulvane 34-13, Ark City 35-0, and Towanda-Circle 49-28 last week.

Years ago, Bullpup head coach Jace Pavlovich hosted Coach Moody as a recruit at Fort Hays State, this week, the two will line up on opposite sidelines in mutual respect, but intent on sending the other home nonetheless.

“McPherson is very well coached,” Moody said. “I know that staff well and they’re going to have those guys ready to go. They don’t make many mistakes and they play hard. They’ve been down this year but they always battle back and I know we’re going to get a four-quarter battle. Their kids have been here before and the lights won’t be too bright for them.”

Offensively, the Bullpups have managed to remain even-keeled, gashing opposing secondaries for big gains through the air as effectively as they wear teams down on the ground.

“They’re balanced on offense and they have good quarterback and running back play,” he said. “Their offense is very similar to ours, they want to take what you give them and exploit that while avoiding silly mistakes. We’re going to have to be fundamentally sound, tackle in open space, and create some takeaways.”

On defense McPherson has looked stout as well, holding opponents to just 17.3 points per game and 253 yards of total offense through the regular season.

In order to find success on either side of the ball, Wamego must assert their will in the trenches, and play the more physical side of this blue-collar matchup.

“We’ve been pretty solid with our offensive line and our backs,” he said. “We have to continue to take what the defense gives us and we have to be the more physical team for four quarters. I think our guys are up for that challenge.”

While many teams appear worn down by week twelve, the competitive fire and hunger for greatness have propelled the Raiders to continue pressing each and every day in pursuit of a final act that has long evaded the Wamego faithful.

“I’ve been impressed with our guys’ attitude and willingness to continue looking to get better every day in practice,” Moody said. “We’ve been going since June and a long season can wear on kids sometimes but they haven’t been fatigued and I think our postseason experience has helped with that. I’m really impressed with how they’ve attacked each day.”

Kickoff between the Raiders and Bullpups is set for 7 pm at Wamego High School with the winner advancing to the 4A state championship to take on either 9-2 Bishop Miege or 9-2 St. Thomas Aquinas.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorOn Friday night, Wamego will take the field looking to do something that no team in Red Raider history has ever accomplished.Punch a ticket to a state championship game, and earn the right to play for the title of best team in Class 4A.Standing in their way is a McPherson squad that will be more than hungry to do the same, after being stopped in their tracks in the 4A semifinals three times in the last four years.While Wamego wades into uncharted waters, the confidence and energy in the Red Raider locker room remain high as this group looks to ink their names in the history books on Friday night.“Our mentality has been pretty good,” Wamego head coach Weston Moody said. “Everyone has been higher on us this week than they have been in the past. A lot of people thought we were good but not elite and I don’t think anyone believed we could get here besides the guys in our locker room.”That confidence from within was tested last week when the Raiders found themselves down to Andover Central for a second-straight quarterfinal, but Wamego dusted themselves off and turned the tide to avenge last year’s elimination loss 42-7.“That game started just like it did last year,” Moody said. “It was a disaster. All of those things go through your head, and that’s the most adversity that we’ve faced all year but our guys bounced back and it was nice to see us respond. We didn’t back down, we stepped up.”Now, Wamego will turn its attention to a perennial power in McPherson, in the midst of another strong season, eliminating Mulvane 34-13, Ark City 35-0, and Towanda-Circle 49-28 last week.Years ago, Bullpup head coach Jace Pavlovich hosted Coach Moody as a recruit at Fort Hays State, this week, the two will line up on opposite sidelines in mutual respect, but intent on sending the other home nonetheless.“McPherson is very well coached,” Moody said. “I know that staff well and they’re going to have those guys ready to go. They don’t make many mistakes and they play hard. They’ve been down this year but they always battle back and I know we’re going to get a four-quarter battle. Their kids have been here before and the lights won’t be too bright for them.”Offensively, the Bullpups have managed to remain even-keeled, gashing opposing secondaries for big gains through the air as effectively as they wear teams down on the ground.“They’re balanced on offense and they have good quarterback and running back play,” he said. “Their offense is very similar to ours, they want to take what you give them and exploit that while avoiding silly mistakes. We’re going to have to be fundamentally sound, tackle in open space, and create some takeaways.”On defense McPherson has looked stout as well, holding opponents to just 17.3 points per game and 253 yards of total offense through the regular season.In order to find success on either side of the ball, Wamego must assert their will in the trenches, and play the more physical side of this blue-collar matchup.“We’ve been pretty solid with our offensive line and our backs,” he said. “We have to continue to take what the defense gives us and we have to be the more physical team for four quarters. I think our guys are up for that challenge.”While many teams appear worn down by week twelve, the competitive fire and hunger for greatness have propelled the Raiders to continue pressing each and every day in pursuit of a final act that has long evaded the Wamego faithful.“I’ve been impressed with our guys’ attitude and willingness to continue looking to get better every day in practice,” Moody said. “We’ve been going since June and a long season can wear on kids sometimes but they haven’t been fatigued and I think our postseason experience has helped with that. I’m really impressed with how they’ve attacked each day.”Kickoff between the Raiders and Bullpups is set for 7 pm at Wamego High School with the winner advancing to the 4A state championship to take on either 9-2 Bishop Miege or 9-2 St. Thomas Aquinas.

Wamego to battle the Bullpups on the precipice of history

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson scored 19 points, Cam Carter added 16 and Kansas State defeated Kansas City 69-53. Desi Sills scored 10 of his 11 points in the final 6 1/2 minutes to help the Wildcats blunt a Roos rally. Shemarri Allen scored 21 points, including 16 in the second half when the Roos cut a 20-point deficit to 10, the final time with four minutes to go. Anderson Kopp added 13 points. A soaring dunk by Johnson put K-State up by 20 early in the second half. But a 3-of-17 shooting stretch by the Wildcats aided Kansas City’s comeback. The Roos were not able to get the margin to single digits with Sills putting in four layups.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson scored 19 points, Cam Carter added 16 and Kansas State defeated Kansas City 69-53. Desi Sills scored 10 of his 11 points in the final 6 1/2 minutes to help the Wildcats blunt a Roos rally. Shemarri Allen scored 21 points, including 16 in the second half when the Roos cut a 20-point deficit to 10, the final time with four minutes to go. Anderson Kopp added 13 points. A soaring dunk by Johnson put K-State up by 20 early in the second half. But a 3-of-17 shooting stretch by the Wildcats aided Kansas City’s comeback. The Roos were not able to get the margin to single digits with Sills putting in four layups.

Wildcats hold off Kansas City rally

MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;Five Wildcat programs recorded Big 12-best graduation rate figures, and K-State’s all-sport graduation rate of 93 percent was the highest in department history, as the NCAA released its latest graduation rate data. K-State’s football (94), men’s golf (100), women’s golf (100), tennis (100) and volleyball (100) programs all had Big 12-leading GSR figures, while as a department, K-State was third among current Big 12 membership with an overall average GSR of 93 percent. Only Baylor and Iowa State recorded higher all-sport marks.

All colleges and universities are required by NCAA legislation and federal law (the Student Right-to-Know act from 1990) to report student graduation rates, and those institutions offering athletics aid are required to report for their student-athletes as well. The NCAA acquires student-athlete graduation rate data from the Department of Education’s Integrated Post-Secondary Data System Graduation Rate Survey (IPEDS-GRS). The student-athlete graduation rate calculated directly based on IPEDS-GRS (which is the methodology the U.S. Department of Education requires) is the proportion of first-year, full-time student-athletes who entered a school on athletics aid and graduated from that institution within six years. This federal rate does not account for students who transfer from their original institution and graduate elsewhere; they are considered non-graduates at both the college they left and the one from which they eventually graduate. K-State ranks among the league’s best in terms of overall academic success as it continues to set a national standard for APR, as all programs are currently well above the required NCAA standard.&nbsp;

Executive Associate Athletics Director for Communications/PR

MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;Five Wildcat programs recorded Big 12-best graduation rate figures, and K-State’s all-sport graduation rate of 93 percent was the highest in department history, as the NCAA released its latest graduation rate data. K-State’s football (94), men’s golf (100), women’s golf (100), tennis (100) and volleyball (100) programs all had Big 12-leading GSR figures, while as a department, K-State was third among current Big 12 membership with an overall average GSR of 93 percent. Only Baylor and Iowa State recorded higher all-sport marks.All colleges and universities are required by NCAA legislation and federal law (the Student Right-to-Know act from 1990) to report student graduation rates, and those institutions offering athletics aid are required to report for their student-athletes as well. The NCAA acquires student-athlete graduation rate data from the Department of Education’s Integrated Post-Secondary Data System Graduation Rate Survey (IPEDS-GRS). The student-athlete graduation rate calculated directly based on IPEDS-GRS (which is the methodology the U.S. Department of Education requires) is the proportion of first-year, full-time student-athletes who entered a school on athletics aid and graduated from that institution within six years. This federal rate does not account for students who transfer from their original institution and graduate elsewhere; they are considered non-graduates at both the college they left and the one from which they eventually graduate. K-State ranks among the league’s best in terms of overall academic success as it continues to set a national standard for APR, as all programs are currently well above the required NCAA standard.&nbsp;– k-statesports.com –KENNY LANNOUExecutive Associate Athletics Director for Communications/PR

Five K-State Teams Top Big 12 in Latest Graduation Rate Data

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Kansas State backup quarterback Will Howard will get his second start of the season when the 19th-ranked Wildcats play at West Virginia on Saturday. Howard will start in place of the injured Adrian Martinez. Kansas State can earn a Big 12 title game berth with a win Saturday and a loss by Texas at Kansas. West Virginia backup quarterback Garrett Greene was solid in a win over Oklahoma in place of JT Daniels. Coach Neal Brown says Greene could play more.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Kansas State backup quarterback Will Howard will get his second start of the season when the 19th-ranked Wildcats play at West Virginia on Saturday. Howard will start in place of the injured Adrian Martinez. Kansas State can earn a Big 12 title game berth with a win Saturday and a loss by Texas at Kansas. West Virginia backup quarterback Garrett Greene was solid in a win over Oklahoma in place of JT Daniels. Coach Neal Brown says Greene could play more.

Will Howard will start for K-State against West Virginia

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jalen Wilson scored a career-high 25 points and Gradey Dick made three crucial baskets in the final 2 1/2 minutes to lead No. 6 Kansas past No. 7 Duke 69-64. The defending national champions extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 games. Wilson also grabbed 11 rebounds as coach Bill Self missed his third straight game because of a school-imposed suspension stemming from a 2017 infractions scandal. Duke was led by Kyle Filipowski, who scored a season-high 17 points and had 14 rebounds to become the first player in school history to register double-doubles in each of his first three games.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jalen Wilson scored a career-high 25 points and Gradey Dick made three crucial baskets in the final 2 1/2 minutes to lead No. 6 Kansas past No. 7 Duke 69-64. The defending national champions extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 games. Wilson also grabbed 11 rebounds as coach Bill Self missed his third straight game because of a school-imposed suspension stemming from a 2017 infractions scandal. Duke was led by Kyle Filipowski, who scored a season-high 17 points and had 14 rebounds to become the first player in school history to register double-doubles in each of his first three games.

Jayhawks defeat Duke

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Kauffman Stadium has been home to the&nbsp;Kansas City Royals&nbsp;since 1973 and it'll remain their home through the 2020s, but after that, Royals ownership has other plans.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, in a letter to fans, Royals owner John Sherman revealed plans to build a new ballpark in downtown Kansas City -- or "close to it" -- and surround it with a "ballpark district."&nbsp;

They haven't yet nailed down a specific spot, but said they have "several leading locations under close consideration."&nbsp;

The club released an artist rendering of the new ballpark the Royals plan to unveil for the 2030s.&nbsp;

Once the A's either get a new ballpark in Oakland or leave for a new city, the only four ballparks older than Kauffman Stadium will be Fenway Park (<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/BOS/boston-red-sox/">Red Sox</a>, 1912), Wrigley Field (<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/CHC/chicago-cubs/">Cubs</a>, 1914), Dodger Stadium (1962) and Angel Stadium (1966).&nbsp;

As for the ballpark district, here's a section of the letter that outlines the vision:&nbsp;

It'll be a while. It's nearly a decade down the road, but the biggest takeaway is that the Royals are planning on moving to a new home in the city sometime around 2030.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Kauffman Stadium has been home to the&nbsp;Kansas City Royals&nbsp;since 1973 and it'll remain their home through the 2020s, but after that, Royals ownership has other plans.&nbsp;On Tuesday, in a letter to fans, Royals owner John Sherman revealed plans to build a new ballpark in downtown Kansas City -- or "close to it" -- and surround it with a "ballpark district."&nbsp;They haven't yet nailed down a specific spot, but said they have "several leading locations under close consideration."&nbsp;The club released an artist rendering of the new ballpark the Royals plan to unveil for the 2030s.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2022/11/16/c39fb44d-eef5-40d6-93a3-0423439d1f94/resize/670x377/55388509cd791e68b1054ff498175f4b/royals-ballpark1.jpg" alt="Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2022/11/16/a70ad8b4-b58c-434d-a65e-b48543be67e0/resize/670x377/38f42f9bb0377358358bf88865c6beef/royals-ballpark2.jpg" alt="Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>Once the A's either get a new ballpark in Oakland or leave for a new city, the only four ballparks older than Kauffman Stadium will be Fenway Park (<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/BOS/boston-red-sox/">Red Sox</a>, 1912), Wrigley Field (<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/CHC/chicago-cubs/">Cubs</a>, 1914), Dodger Stadium (1962) and Angel Stadium (1966).&nbsp;As for the ballpark district, here's a section of the letter that outlines the vision:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Our vision is to not just build a facility that does justice to the spirit of The K. We want to construct a world-class experience – a new ballpark district and all that comes with it – one that is woven into the fabric of our city, can host events and concerts, and boosts our local economy. &nbsp; We also envision incorporating our Kansas City fountains, the Royals' crown and our team's rich traditions and history in a new ballpark district.</li><li>The proposed ballpark district would become a new home for Royals fans far and wide – both inside a state-of-the-art ballpark and in the revitalized surrounding area. We will marry the traditions of The K with a better experience for our fans.</li><li>With a mixture of public and private investment, including our own intention to invest hundreds of millions of dollars directly into the ballpark and the ballpark district, the long-term vision remains a work-in-progress. We envision local restaurants and shops, office spaces, hotels, and a variety of housing opportunities accessible for Kansas Citians from all walks of life. Affordable housing options will be important to our efforts. We would also work closely with our local transportation leaders to ensure public transportation options accommodate a new ballpark district.</li>
 </ul>It'll be a while. It's nearly a decade down the road, but the biggest takeaway is that the Royals are planning on moving to a new home in the city sometime around 2030.&nbsp;

⚾️ Royals announce plans to move to new ballpark in downtown Kansas City

Congratulations to Jodi Cross of Salina, the Week 10 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!

Lindsey, who scored 11 of 14 points, wins $100.

Although the season has begun, you still have time to win!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662062091203.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Jodi Cross of Salina, the Week 10 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!Lindsey, who scored 11 of 14 points, wins $100.Although the season has begun, you still have time to win!<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

Gridiron Glory: Congratulations Jodi Cross!

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex as No. 19 Kansas State travels to Morgantown, W.Va., to face West Virginia. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.

“Well, good afternoon, everyone. An exciting week ahead. Heading to a tough place to play in Morgantown to play West Virginia, and I know the guys are excited. We'll get into our real first heavy practice day. We had a short practice yesterday. Looking back at the film from Saturday, a lot of the things happened that we needed to have happen to be successful. Baylor is kind of what we hoped for and planned for. That was the game plan was to hold on to the football. We had it for 37-plus minutes, be productive in the redzone. I think we had four or five touchdowns in the redzone. Then find ways to get off the field on defense. There'll be some third down stops, there's going to be some fourth down stops. If we could do those things, we could keep that offense – which I think is a terrific offense – on the sideline, and we were able to do that. Just proud of the guys’ resolve and effort. Great focus throughout the week. That was a big win on the road against a really, really talented team in Baylor. We’ve got to move forward this week. Many of you guys know that we lost Kobe Savage for the year. He'll be out for the year. It's really tough because Kobe was playing such great football for us, and he was devastated but we'll lose him for the year and that's disappointing. With regards to Adrian (Martinez), he is not out for the season. I had heard that was out there, but that's not the case. He is not available this week. He will not be playing this week, but he's not out for the season. So, Will (Howard) is going to be the guy. This is his football team, and I’m excited for Will. Everybody knows Will is playing at a really high level. He gets to play back closer to home. Jaren (Lewis) and Jake Rubley will be the backup to Will this week. But, excited about the challenge.”

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex as No. 19 Kansas State travels to Morgantown, W.Va., to face West Virginia. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACHOpening Statement…“Well, good afternoon, everyone. An exciting week ahead. Heading to a tough place to play in Morgantown to play West Virginia, and I know the guys are excited. We'll get into our real first heavy practice day. We had a short practice yesterday. Looking back at the film from Saturday, a lot of the things happened that we needed to have happen to be successful. Baylor is kind of what we hoped for and planned for. That was the game plan was to hold on to the football. We had it for 37-plus minutes, be productive in the redzone. I think we had four or five touchdowns in the redzone. Then find ways to get off the field on defense. There'll be some third down stops, there's going to be some fourth down stops. If we could do those things, we could keep that offense – which I think is a terrific offense – on the sideline, and we were able to do that. Just proud of the guys’ resolve and effort. Great focus throughout the week. That was a big win on the road against a really, really talented team in Baylor. We’ve got to move forward this week. Many of you guys know that we lost Kobe Savage for the year. He'll be out for the year. It's really tough because Kobe was playing such great football for us, and he was devastated but we'll lose him for the year and that's disappointing. With regards to Adrian (Martinez), he is not out for the season. I had heard that was out there, but that's not the case. He is not available this week. He will not be playing this week, but he's not out for the season. So, Will (Howard) is going to be the guy. This is his football team, and I’m excited for Will. Everybody knows Will is playing at a really high level. He gets to play back closer to home. Jaren (Lewis) and Jake Rubley will be the backup to Will this week. But, excited about the challenge.”RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications

K-State prepares to face West Virginia

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;After tallying five tackles and his first interception of the season to help Kansas State earn a 31-3 victory at Baylor, senior safety&nbsp;Drake Cheatum&nbsp;has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

It is the first honor for Cheatum and gives K-State nine Big 12 weekly honors this season, the second most in the conference (Oklahoma State – 10) and its most since the Wildcats also had nine in 2012.

A native of Mesquite, Texas, Cheatum was part of a stifling defense that held Baylor out of the end zone on the night. It was the third time this season the Wildcats did not give up a touchdown to a Big 12 opponent, the first time a K-State defense has done so since 2001. Cheatum put the game on ice with a fourth-quarter interception, K-State’s Big 12-leading 13th&nbsp;of the season.

On the night, K-State’s defense surrendered 39 yards or less on five of Baylor’s nine drives, while the Bears’ longest drive of the game was 56 yards that resulted in a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

A graduate transfer from Prairie View A&amp;M prior to the 2022 campaign, Cheatum ranks fourth on the team with 40 tackles and has also tallied two pass breakups and a forced fumble. He has at least four tackles in each of the last eight games, including a highwater mark of six at TCU.

Kansas State, ranked 19th&nbsp;in this week’s Associated Press Top 25, travels to face West Virginia on Saturday inside Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. (CT), and the game will be shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

By Ryan LackeyAssociate Athletics Director for CommunicationsMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;After tallying five tackles and his first interception of the season to help Kansas State earn a 31-3 victory at Baylor, senior safety&nbsp;Drake Cheatum&nbsp;has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.It is the first honor for Cheatum and gives K-State nine Big 12 weekly honors this season, the second most in the conference (Oklahoma State – 10) and its most since the Wildcats also had nine in 2012.A native of Mesquite, Texas, Cheatum was part of a stifling defense that held Baylor out of the end zone on the night. It was the third time this season the Wildcats did not give up a touchdown to a Big 12 opponent, the first time a K-State defense has done so since 2001. Cheatum put the game on ice with a fourth-quarter interception, K-State’s Big 12-leading 13th&nbsp;of the season.On the night, K-State’s defense surrendered 39 yards or less on five of Baylor’s nine drives, while the Bears’ longest drive of the game was 56 yards that resulted in a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.A graduate transfer from Prairie View A&amp;M prior to the 2022 campaign, Cheatum ranks fourth on the team with 40 tackles and has also tallied two pass breakups and a forced fumble. He has at least four tackles in each of the last eight games, including a highwater mark of six at TCU.Kansas State, ranked 19th&nbsp;in this week’s Associated Press Top 25, travels to face West Virginia on Saturday inside Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. (CT), and the game will be shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

K-State’s Cheatum Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Big 12 Conference and FOX announced Monday that the 2022 edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown between Kansas State and Kansas on November 26 will kick off at 7 p.m. inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium and be shown on FOX.

It marks the first time the Wildcats and Jayhawks will play under the lights since a Thursday-night game in Lawrence in 2010, while it will be the first time in Manhattan since at least 1989. The Wildcats have won 13-straight games over Kansas dating back to 2009.

<a>K-State embarks on its final road game of the year this Saturday as it takes on West Virginia in a 1 p.m. (CT) contest that will be shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.</a>

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Big 12 Conference and FOX announced Monday that the 2022 edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown between Kansas State and Kansas on November 26 will kick off at 7 p.m. inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium and be shown on FOX.It marks the first time the Wildcats and Jayhawks will play under the lights since a Thursday-night game in Lawrence in 2010, while it will be the first time in Manhattan since at least 1989. The Wildcats have won 13-straight games over Kansas dating back to 2009.<a>K-State embarks on its final road game of the year this Saturday as it takes on West Virginia in a 1 p.m. (CT) contest that will be shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.</a>

Dillons Sunflower Showdown Set for Primetime Kick

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns, Kadarius Toney showed glimpses of stardom in his second game for the Chiefs and Kansas City rolled to a 27-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The win came at a cost for Kansas City, which lost wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to the concussion protocol after a helmet-to-helmet hit by Jacksonville safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, both to Christian Kirk, who finished with nine catches for 105 yards for the Jaguars. Kansas City has won six straight against Jacksonville.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns, Kadarius Toney showed glimpses of stardom in his second game for the Chiefs and Kansas City rolled to a 27-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The win came at a cost for Kansas City, which lost wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to the concussion protocol after a helmet-to-helmet hit by Jacksonville safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, both to Christian Kirk, who finished with nine catches for 105 yards for the Jaguars. Kansas City has won six straight against Jacksonville.

Chiefs defeat the Jaguars

WACO, Texas (AP) — No. 23 Kansas State lost control of its path to the Big 12 championship game last week when quarterback Will Howard was watching from the sideline.

The super sub helped the Wildcats get it back, with a little help from undefeated conference leader TCU.

Howard threw for three touchdowns after Adrian Martinez exited with another injury, and the Wildcats buoyed their Big 12 title hopes with a 31-3 rout of Baylor on Saturday night.

The defending conference champion Bears (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) will need help to get back to the championship game after a three-game winning streak had put them back in contention.

The Wildcats (7-3, 5-2) are now alone in second place behind the fourth-ranked Horned Frogs, who sent No. 18 Texas into a tie with Baylor behind Kansas State with a 17-10 victory in Austin.

Kansas State dropped into the second-place tie last week with a 34-27 loss to Texas, when Martinez returned from a knee injury and threw for 326 yards, but had two key turnovers.

Howard came on after Martinez appeared to injure his lower body getting a first down on a quarterback sneak in the first quarter. The school offered no specifics on the injury.

Howard, the junior who threw four TD passes in a 48-0 victory over then-No. 9 Oklahoma State two weeks ago, put the Wildcats ahead 7-0 on the same drive with a 15-yard scoring pass to Ben Sinnott.

Howard has thrown seven TD passes without an interception in seven-plus quarters filling in for Martinez, who was on the sideline with his helmet on after getting checked by the medical staff.

Coach Chris Klieman said Martinez was available to return, but the staff figured he would be limited by the injury.

“I looked at Will, and I said, ‘Will, you got it,’” Klieman said. “He played really well, and we blocked exceptionally well for him. And man, we made some plays.”

The Wildcats are still interested in redshirting Howard, a junior who has spent most of the season behind the senior transfer from Nebraska.

The intrigue only grows with Kansas State now in position to play for the championship Dec. 3 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

“It's a conversation that we had this week, and we told him we're going to have one every week,” Klieman said. “Will's in a good place right now. Adrian's in a good place right now.”

Blake Shapen threw two interceptions in the Bears' worst offensive showing in a Big 12 game this season as a four-game winning streak in the series ended.

“Obviously everybody knows what was on the line tonight, probably too much,” Baylor linebacker Dillon Doyle said. “You just box it and move on. It's really hard to do, but it's the same thing with life.”

Deuce Vaughn had a 20-yard touchdown catch and 106 yards rushing, making him the third Kansas State running back with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (1,081 yards this season).

Howard was 19 of 27 for 196 yards, and Sinnott had another TD from 19 yards while finishing with seven catches for 89 yards.

The Wildcats were 8 of 13 on third down, which helped them keep possession for a season-best 37 minutes, 37 seconds. Kansas State also was opportunistic, getting four touchdowns and a field goal out of five trips inside the Baylor 20-yard line.

The Bears had a season-low 103 yards rushing a week after getting 281 with five touchdowns in a 38-35 victory over Oklahoma. Richard Reese needed 83 yards to break Shock Linwood's nine-year-old school freshman record of 881 but finished with just 54. A week after getting a career-high 192 yards, Craig “Sqwirl” Williams had just 17.

Kansas State: The Wildcats wasted little time showing faith in Howard. On his first drive, they ran a reverse flea-flicker, and he completed a 23-yard pass to Sinnott. The first TD toss to Sinnott came two plays later.

Baylor: Coach Dave Aranda tried to spark a struggling offense late in the third quarter by going for it on fourth-and-3 from the Baylor. Monaray Baldwin's catch gained just 1 yard, and DJ Giddens sent many fans to the exits on a 1-yard TD for the final margin early in the fourth.

Kansas State: At West Virginia next Saturday with the Mountaineers coming off a 23-20 home victory over Oklahoma on a game-ending field goal. The Wildcats ended a five-game losing streak in the series with a 34-17 victory at home last year.

Baylor: No. 4 TCU visits McLane Stadium next Saturday. The Horned Frogs have won six of seven in the series since the Bears' 61-58 home victory in McLane's debut season in 2014. That was the year both teams had one loss and were left out of the first four-team playoff.

WACO, Texas (AP) — No. 23 Kansas State lost control of its path to the Big 12 championship game last week when quarterback Will Howard was watching from the sideline.The super sub helped the Wildcats get it back, with a little help from undefeated conference leader TCU.Howard threw for three touchdowns after Adrian Martinez exited with another injury, and the Wildcats buoyed their Big 12 title hopes with a 31-3 rout of Baylor on Saturday night.The defending conference champion Bears (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) will need help to get back to the championship game after a three-game winning streak had put them back in contention.The Wildcats (7-3, 5-2) are now alone in second place behind the fourth-ranked Horned Frogs, who sent No. 18 Texas into a tie with Baylor behind Kansas State with a 17-10 victory in Austin.Kansas State dropped into the second-place tie last week with a 34-27 loss to Texas, when Martinez returned from a knee injury and threw for 326 yards, but had two key turnovers.Howard came on after Martinez appeared to injure his lower body getting a first down on a quarterback sneak in the first quarter. The school offered no specifics on the injury.Howard, the junior who threw four TD passes in a 48-0 victory over then-No. 9 Oklahoma State two weeks ago, put the Wildcats ahead 7-0 on the same drive with a 15-yard scoring pass to Ben Sinnott.Howard has thrown seven TD passes without an interception in seven-plus quarters filling in for Martinez, who was on the sideline with his helmet on after getting checked by the medical staff.Coach Chris Klieman said Martinez was available to return, but the staff figured he would be limited by the injury.“I looked at Will, and I said, ‘Will, you got it,’” Klieman said. “He played really well, and we blocked exceptionally well for him. And man, we made some plays.”The Wildcats are still interested in redshirting Howard, a junior who has spent most of the season behind the senior transfer from Nebraska.The intrigue only grows with Kansas State now in position to play for the championship Dec. 3 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.“It's a conversation that we had this week, and we told him we're going to have one every week,” Klieman said. “Will's in a good place right now. Adrian's in a good place right now.”Blake Shapen threw two interceptions in the Bears' worst offensive showing in a Big 12 game this season as a four-game winning streak in the series ended.“Obviously everybody knows what was on the line tonight, probably too much,” Baylor linebacker Dillon Doyle said. “You just box it and move on. It's really hard to do, but it's the same thing with life.”Deuce Vaughn had a 20-yard touchdown catch and 106 yards rushing, making him the third Kansas State running back with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (1,081 yards this season).Howard was 19 of 27 for 196 yards, and Sinnott had another TD from 19 yards while finishing with seven catches for 89 yards.K-STATE KEEPAWAYThe Wildcats were 8 of 13 on third down, which helped them keep possession for a season-best 37 minutes, 37 seconds. Kansas State also was opportunistic, getting four touchdowns and a field goal out of five trips inside the Baylor 20-yard line.RUSHING DROPOFFThe Bears had a season-low 103 yards rushing a week after getting 281 with five touchdowns in a 38-35 victory over Oklahoma. Richard Reese needed 83 yards to break Shock Linwood's nine-year-old school freshman record of 881 but finished with just 54. A week after getting a career-high 192 yards, Craig “Sqwirl” Williams had just 17.THE TAKEAWAYKansas State: The Wildcats wasted little time showing faith in Howard. On his first drive, they ran a reverse flea-flicker, and he completed a 23-yard pass to Sinnott. The first TD toss to Sinnott came two plays later.Baylor: Coach Dave Aranda tried to spark a struggling offense late in the third quarter by going for it on fourth-and-3 from the Baylor. Monaray Baldwin's catch gained just 1 yard, and DJ Giddens sent many fans to the exits on a 1-yard TD for the final margin early in the fourth.UP NEXTKansas State: At West Virginia next Saturday with the Mountaineers coming off a 23-20 home victory over Oklahoma on a game-ending field goal. The Wildcats ended a five-game losing streak in the series with a 34-17 victory at home last year.Baylor: No. 4 TCU visits McLane Stadium next Saturday. The Horned Frogs have won six of seven in the series since the Bears' 61-58 home victory in McLane's debut season in 2014. That was the year both teams had one loss and were left out of the first four-team playoff.

K-State rolls by Baylor 31-3

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

UPDATE: Manhattan Eagles win, final score 38-8.

UPDATE: As of 2:55 pm, the Manhattan Eagles lead 30-0 against the Cornerstone Saints.

Here are a couple video highlights from the game submitted to Little Apple Post by a fan.

Video highlight of pass from Corbin Goff to Grant Amerin.

In the highlight below, Ethan Goff connects with Cody Schurle for the touchdown.

Video highlight: Ethan Goff keeps the ball for a first down.

Video highlight: Ethan Goff tosses the ball to Jeremy Moldrup for the carry.

Video highlight: William Nobles with the carry

The Manhattan Eagles football team is headed to the <a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/public/general/whatisanapprovedschool.cfm">Kansas Approved Schools Championship</a> game.

The Eagles are comprised of homeschool students in the Manhattan, Saint George and Wamego area.

They play 8-man football and are hoping to bring home the championship.

Kick-off is at 2:00 pm at the Kansas Wesleyan University against the Topeka Cornerstone Family Schools Saints.

Manhattan Eagles went 8-2 for this season.

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostUPDATE: Manhattan Eagles win, final score 38-8.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668292206047.jpeg" alt="Manhattan Eagles Football team wins State Championship " />
 <figcaption>Manhattan Eagles Football team wins State Championship </figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE: As of 2:55 pm, the Manhattan Eagles lead 30-0 against the Cornerstone Saints.Here are a couple video highlights from the game submitted to Little Apple Post by a fan.Video highlight of pass from Corbin Goff to Grant Amerin.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/r1bCVgGb-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Img 1859" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>In the highlight below, Ethan Goff connects with Cody Schurle for the touchdown.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/6XQUWVWQ-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Img 1860" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Video highlight: Ethan Goff keeps the ball for a first down.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/7Pye6wMU-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Ethan Goff keeps the ball" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Video highlight: Ethan Goff tosses the ball to Jeremy Moldrup for the carry.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/eH7Rqv29-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Ethan Goff to Jeremy Moldrup" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Video highlight: William Nobles with the carry<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/4eDVrzP2-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="William Nobles with the carry" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668273985826.jpeg" alt="Manhattan Eagles team picture" />
 <figcaption>Manhattan Eagles team picture</figcaption>
 </figure>The Manhattan Eagles football team is headed to the <a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/public/general/whatisanapprovedschool.cfm">Kansas Approved Schools Championship</a> game.The Eagles are comprised of homeschool students in the Manhattan, Saint George and Wamego area.They play 8-man football and are hoping to bring home the championship.Kick-off is at 2:00 pm at the Kansas Wesleyan University against the Topeka Cornerstone Family Schools Saints.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668274204386.jpeg" alt="Manhattan Eagles vs Cornerstone Saints&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Manhattan Eagles vs Cornerstone Saints&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Manhattan Eagles went 8-2 for this season.

UPDATE: 🎥 Manhattan Eagles win State Championship game

A historic season in Wabaunsee came to an unfortunate end this week as the Chargers fell to Conway Springs in the program’s first-ever quarterfinal appearance by a final score of 39-14

After posting their first winning record in 25 years a season ago, the Chargers ripped off a nine-game winning streak to push past the second round for the first time ever this year, and close out their campaign at 9-2.

“We weren’t as physical as we needed to be to compete,” Wabaunsee head coach Jess Rutledge said. “We had difficulty executing in all three phases of the game but I’m still proud of the way our boys fought hard.”

While the conclusion of this campaign is a bittersweet one in Alma, what Wabaunsee has built in such a brief time is nothing short of astounding, and the Chargers made a statement this season that they’re here to stay in Class 1A.

“To do what had never been done before is an incredible accomplishment and I’m so proud of all of these kids,” Rutledge said. “I’m especially happy for these seniors. They were 1-8 as freshmen so for them to be 9-2 with a district championship, a regional championship and a quarterfinal appearance is a phenomenal accomplishment to have in a four-year span.”

That turnaround isn’t just reflected in the records over the year, it’s reflected in a renewed culture of Charger football that will remain long after this senior class has moved on.

“Our seniors have elevated our standard and that was a big thing for us after earning a winning season last year,” he said. “We immediately talked about what we wanted to do to raise that standard and continue to advance Wabaunsee football and those guys bought in and worked their butts off to get this done. I’m super proud of them.”

While Wabaunsee will return a great deal of talent for the 2023 campaign, including junior quarterback Wyatt Wurtz, the Chargers will say goodbye to seven seniors who have helped rebuild this program from the ground up in Logan Clark, Eli Oliver, Bryton Reves, Lanson Parry, Ryan Schutter, Maverick Havenstein and Jacob Meseke.

“I’m excited for 2023 but I’m not ready to move onto that just yet from a great group of seniors that I’ll never get to coach or teach again after this year,” Rutledge said. “It’s sad but these kids are going to move on and do greater things after school and I’ll miss the hell out of them but we have a lot of good pieces coming back and we should be in for another exciting season.”

The Little Apple Post would like to thank everyone who followed along with us throughout our coverage of Wabaunsee football this season.

For more great Charger content including coverage of Wabaunsee boys and girls basketball, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorA historic season in Wabaunsee came to an unfortunate end this week as the Chargers fell to Conway Springs in the program’s first-ever quarterfinal appearance by a final score of 39-14After posting their first winning record in 25 years a season ago, the Chargers ripped off a nine-game winning streak to push past the second round for the first time ever this year, and close out their campaign at 9-2.“We weren’t as physical as we needed to be to compete,” Wabaunsee head coach Jess Rutledge said. “We had difficulty executing in all three phases of the game but I’m still proud of the way our boys fought hard.”While the conclusion of this campaign is a bittersweet one in Alma, what Wabaunsee has built in such a brief time is nothing short of astounding, and the Chargers made a statement this season that they’re here to stay in Class 1A.“To do what had never been done before is an incredible accomplishment and I’m so proud of all of these kids,” Rutledge said. “I’m especially happy for these seniors. They were 1-8 as freshmen so for them to be 9-2 with a district championship, a regional championship and a quarterfinal appearance is a phenomenal accomplishment to have in a four-year span.”That turnaround isn’t just reflected in the records over the year, it’s reflected in a renewed culture of Charger football that will remain long after this senior class has moved on.“Our seniors have elevated our standard and that was a big thing for us after earning a winning season last year,” he said. “We immediately talked about what we wanted to do to raise that standard and continue to advance Wabaunsee football and those guys bought in and worked their butts off to get this done. I’m super proud of them.”While Wabaunsee will return a great deal of talent for the 2023 campaign, including junior quarterback Wyatt Wurtz, the Chargers will say goodbye to seven seniors who have helped rebuild this program from the ground up in Logan Clark, Eli Oliver, Bryton Reves, Lanson Parry, Ryan Schutter, Maverick Havenstein and Jacob Meseke.“I’m excited for 2023 but I’m not ready to move onto that just yet from a great group of seniors that I’ll never get to coach or teach again after this year,” Rutledge said. “It’s sad but these kids are going to move on and do greater things after school and I’ll miss the hell out of them but we have a lot of good pieces coming back and we should be in for another exciting season.”The Little Apple Post would like to thank everyone who followed along with us throughout our coverage of Wabaunsee football this season.For more great Charger content including coverage of Wabaunsee boys and girls basketball, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

Wabaunsee's historic season comes to a close at Conway Springs

After being blown out by Andover Central in last year’s quarterfinal, the Wamego Red Raiders got their revenge on Friday night in a 42-7 dismantling of the Jaguars, to advance to their first state semifinal since 1975.

“I’m not going to lie, this was a matchup we circled and this was a rematch that we wanted from the get-go,” Raider head coach Weston Moody said. “It was nice to get back at them but after the game, it didn’t feel like we had peaked. Our guys are still hungry and they’re not satisfied with being sectional champs, they want to be state champs.”

Things got off to a rocky start in Wamego, where the Raiders allowed a long touchdown drive to start the game, immediately gave the ball back to the Jaguars, and found themselves backed up to their own end zone down seven in the first quarter.

Under the most pressure they’ve faced all season, the Raider defense stood tall, holding Andover Central out of the end zone not just for that drive, but for the rest of regulation.

“Our defense has been huge all year and those guys have really bought into being 11 as 1,” Moody said. “There’s not a single guy that makes plays individually, they really do play as one.”

That stop lit a fire under the Wamego offense who wasted no time getting to work tying the game on a Hayden Oviatt rush, and taking the lead in the second quarter on another of the same.

Defensively the Raiders turned Andover Central over four times before the final whistle, completely neutralizing a Jaguar offense that hadn’t been held to under 14 points all year.

“Our defense is on another level right now,” he said. “Going against them in practice they’re definitely the best team that we’ve faced all year. It’s demoralizing to try to run plays against them.”

While the offense spread the wealth once again, it was wideout Hagan Johnson who had the most awe-inspiring stat line, carrying the ball on three jet sweeps for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

Wamego will compete in just their second semifinal in school history next week when the Raiders welcome in 10-1 McPherson, looking to become the first Red Raider team in program history to play for a state title.

“This team is playing at a very high level but that’s all been up until now,” Moody said. “We earned the right to play this week but we haven’t earned the right to play for a state title yet. Are we playing at a state championship level? I guess we’ll find out this Friday.”

For continuing coverage of Wamego’s historic playoff run stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorAfter being blown out by Andover Central in last year’s quarterfinal, the Wamego Red Raiders got their revenge on Friday night in a 42-7 dismantling of the Jaguars, to advance to their first state semifinal since 1975.“I’m not going to lie, this was a matchup we circled and this was a rematch that we wanted from the get-go,” Raider head coach Weston Moody said. “It was nice to get back at them but after the game, it didn’t feel like we had peaked. Our guys are still hungry and they’re not satisfied with being sectional champs, they want to be state champs.”Things got off to a rocky start in Wamego, where the Raiders allowed a long touchdown drive to start the game, immediately gave the ball back to the Jaguars, and found themselves backed up to their own end zone down seven in the first quarter.Under the most pressure they’ve faced all season, the Raider defense stood tall, holding Andover Central out of the end zone not just for that drive, but for the rest of regulation.“Our defense has been huge all year and those guys have really bought into being 11 as 1,” Moody said. “There’s not a single guy that makes plays individually, they really do play as one.”That stop lit a fire under the Wamego offense who wasted no time getting to work tying the game on a Hayden Oviatt rush, and taking the lead in the second quarter on another of the same.Defensively the Raiders turned Andover Central over four times before the final whistle, completely neutralizing a Jaguar offense that hadn’t been held to under 14 points all year.“Our defense is on another level right now,” he said. “Going against them in practice they’re definitely the best team that we’ve faced all year. It’s demoralizing to try to run plays against them.”While the offense spread the wealth once again, it was wideout Hagan Johnson who had the most awe-inspiring stat line, carrying the ball on three jet sweeps for 126 yards and two touchdowns.Wamego will compete in just their second semifinal in school history next week when the Raiders welcome in 10-1 McPherson, looking to become the first Red Raider team in program history to play for a state title.“This team is playing at a very high level but that’s all been up until now,” Moody said. “We earned the right to play this week but we haven’t earned the right to play for a state title yet. Are we playing at a state championship level? I guess we’ll find out this Friday.”For continuing coverage of Wamego’s historic playoff run stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

Wamego dismantles Jaguars to advance to second-ever semifinal

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson scored 16 points and Marquis Nowell added 13 with a momentum-changing four-point play late in the game to help Kansas State turn back California 63-54. Johnson had nine points by halftime to help Kansas State (2-0) take a commanding 36-21 lead. Cal (0-2) whittled away at its deficit behind Devin Askew and Kuany Kuany. Askew had 11 points after intermission, Kuany scored 10 and the Golden Bears closed to within 47-46 on a layup by Sam Alajiki with 5:37 remaining in the game. Nowell answered with a four-point play and a layup in a 6-0 run and the Wildcats stayed in front from there.

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson scored 16 points and Marquis Nowell added 13 with a momentum-changing four-point play late in the game to help Kansas State turn back California 63-54. Johnson had nine points by halftime to help Kansas State (2-0) take a commanding 36-21 lead. Cal (0-2) whittled away at its deficit behind Devin Askew and Kuany Kuany. Askew had 11 points after intermission, Kuany scored 10 and the Golden Bears closed to within 47-46 on a layup by Sam Alajiki with 5:37 remaining in the game. Nowell answered with a four-point play and a layup in a 6-0 run and the Wildcats stayed in front from there.

Wildcats prevail at Cal

St. Thomas Aquinas 28, St. James Academy 13

PREP FOOTBALL=KSHSAA Football Championship=Sectional=Class 6A=Derby 36, Washburn Rural 21Gardner-Edgerton 21, BV West 14Manhattan 27, Wichita Northwest 18Olathe Northwest 35, Olathe West 33Class 5A=BV Southwest 69, DeSoto 35Hays 49, Salina Central 12Maize 21, Hutchinson 14Mill Valley 49, Pittsburg 0Class 4A=Bishop Miege 68, KC Piper 20McPherson 49, Circle 28St. Thomas Aquinas 28, St. James Academy 13Wamego 42, Andover Central 7Class 3A=Andale 48, Rock Creek 0Clay Center 24, Cheney 6Holton 47, Girard 27Topeka Hayden 39, Columbus 19Class 2A=Kingman 35, Beloit 6Nemaha Central 44, Humboldt 20Sabetha 47, Caney Valley 0Southeast Saline 44, Hoisington 21Class 1A=Centralia 8, Olpe 7Conway Springs 39, Wabaunsee 14Inman 28, Smith Center 6St. Mary’s 36, Pittsburg Colgan 12Class 8-Man DI=Burlingame 39, Lyndon 16Hill City 68, Meade 50Little River 48, Chase County 40Wichita County 58, Rawlins County 12Class 8-Man DII=Axtell 52, Osborne 6Canton-Galva 52, Lebo 6Dighton 38, Wallace County 0Thunder Ridge 62, Victoria 46Class 6-Man=Ashland 68, Northern Valley 20Cheylin 51, Ingalls 6Cunningham 57, Wetmore 12Waverly 46, Tescott 12

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