(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A frustrating Friday turned into a sensational Saturday for the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team.

The Blue Dragons dropped their first two Blue Dragon Classic matches on Friday to No. 2 Navarro and unranked Jefferson College. Earlier on Saturday, the Dragons snapped a four-match losing streak with a sweep of No. 14 Mineral Area.

Hutchinson then finished off Saturday in spectacular fashion, rallying from a set down to defeat No. 10 Indian Hills 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10. The Blue Dragons improve to 6-8 heading into Monday’s conference road trip to Butler Community College in El Dorado.

Freshman Katelyn Elstun pounded down 20 kills to lead a gutsy Blue Dragon effort. Freshman Camila Espejo had 11 kills, including five in the fifth set.

Down 2-1, the Blue Dragons trailed 18-13 in the fourth set. An 8-1 run turned things around and Elstun’s kill finished off the comeback with a 25-21 win to force a decisive fifth set.

Then tied at 1-all in the fifth, an Elstun kill started a 10-2 run that had three Espejo kills and two Lainey Robertson service aces. An Espejo kill gave Hutch an 11-3 lead and prompted a Warrior timeout. Indian Hills then chipped away with a 7-2 run and pulled with 13-10 after a Mariana Rodrigues kill. After a Hutch timeout, Elstun got a key kill for a sideout and bring the Dragons to match point. The Warriors had an attack error on the final point of the match.

It’s the second time this season the Blue Dragons rallied from a set down to win a five-set match. Hutch is 2-1 in five-setters this season.

Elstun had her fourth double-double of the season with 20 kills and 11 digs. She also had two blocks and two aces while hitting .167 on 54 swings.

Espejo had a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs. She hit .250 on 32 attacks.

Robertson posted her first career double-double with 26 assists and 13 digs. She also had two aces.

Freshman Thorne also had a big match with 13 kills on .300 hitting.

Sophomore setter Eboni Sapien finished with 27 assists. Freshman setter Alissa Bautista had a season-best 27 digs.

Three different players had 14 kills each for Indian Hills.

1st set: Even though the Blue Dragons lost the first set, the fact that the Dragons rallied in the first set from a 15-6 margin provided some fuel for later the match. Elstun had a solo block to pull the Dragons with 15-9. Thorne had three kills in a 5-1 Dragon run to pull within 18-14. The Dragons weren’t able to get any closer and fell 25-18.

2nd set: There were six tied and three lead changes in the first 17 rallies of the set. Tied at 8-all, the Dragons went on a 5-1 run capped by an Elstun ace for a 13-9 lead. An Espejo kill make it 16-11. Indian Hills hurt its own cause with six attack errors and five service errors. Hutch led 23-15, but Indian Hills scored for in a row. Myracle Lettries had a kill and then the set ended on a Warrior service error to give Hutch a 25-20 set victory and knot the match at one set each.

3rd set: Elstun started to hurt the Warriors with seven kills in the third set. The Dragons fell behind 8-5 early and battled back to tie the set at 18 after a Jaydin Schake/Elstun double block. Tied at 19, the Warriors scored three in a row and then sided out three times to take a 2-1 match lead after a 25-22 win. Indian Hills had 16 kills and three service aces in the third set.

4th set: There were three lead change and four ties in the four set. Hutchinson trailed 13-9, but started to find its way back into the set. Still trailing 18-13, the Dragons got kills from Elstun and Schake on an overpass and two IHCC attack errors to pull within 18-17. Hutch took the lead with a Hiebert kill, Deijia Rodriquez service ace, Elstun tip for a kill and Warrior attack error and the Blue Dragons led 21-19. Elstun had three kills on Hutch’s final four points to close out the set and force a decisive fifth set.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The 34-year curse of winless play for Fort Hays State at Yager Stadium loomed large in the waning moments of regulation on Saturday, but FHSU had finally had enough heartbreak inside Washburn’s home confines.

FHSU rallied to tie the game in the final three and a half minutes of regulation, made a huge stop on defense in overtime, and Dante Brown knocked home a 30-yard field goal for the win. FHSU picked up its first win of the season, moving to 1-2 overall, while Washburn dropped to the same record.

Fort Hays State led three times in the game prior to overtime, but struggled to fight off rallies from the Ichabods each time. The Tigers took an early 7-0 lead on a 14-yard Charles Tignertouchdown run, only to see the Ichabods tie the game by the end of the first quarter.

FHSU pushed back in front on a three-yard pass from Chance Fuller to Jacoby Williams with just over 10 minutes to go in the second quarter. However, that was quickly negated by a 100-yard kickoff return by James Letcher, Jr., making the score 14-14.

The Ichabods surged in front with 5:05 remaining in the half on a Collin Wilson 9-yard touchdown reception from Mitch Schurig. But the Tigers returned the favor, knotting the score once again on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to Harley Hazlett. The teams went into the half tied 21-21.

Fort Hays State seized control as the only team to score in the third quarter. Hazlett had a 33-yard touchdown reception from Fuller, then Hunter Budke joined in the scoring fun with an 8-yard touchdown reception from Fuller. The Tigers took a 35-21 lead to the fourth quarter.

Momentum shifted back to the Ichabods early in the fourth quarter when they forced a 3-and-out of the Tiger offense. They took only 58 seconds to go 65 yards, capped on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Schurig to Wilson. FHSU only picked up one first down on its next possession and then Washburn pulled closer with a 26-yard field goal from Kameron Lake. The momentum train reached full bore for the Ichabods when they recovered a Tiger fumble with 5:21 to go in the game. They capitalized with a 2-yard touchdown run that capped a 7-play drive. Washburn vaulted into the lead 38-35 with 3:33 to go.

With Washburn’s Yager Stadium win streak over the Tigers on the verge of pushing to 10, quarterback Voshon Waiters orchestrated a gritty final drive for the Tigers in regulation that covered 68 yards to get Brown in easy field goal range. An 8-yard pass from Waiters to Tigner kept the Tigers alive on a 4th-and-5 situation near midfield. The Tigers nearly reached the endzone, but had to settle for a 24-yard chip shot from Brown, tying the game at 38-38 as time expired.

Fort Hays State won the toss for overtime and chose defense first. It paid off moments later. Washburn picked up a first down on 4th-and-7 instead of electing to kick a field goal. It worked as the Ichabods picked up a first down on a 12-yard pass to the FHSU 10. However, just a play later, the Ichabods went to the air once again and this time cornerback Isaiah Creal-Musgraywas ready, picking off a Schurig pass at the goal line.

With an All-America kicker in their back pocket, the Tigers remained conservative on their play calls to avoid turning the ball over and received a gift first down from the Ichabods on a penalty. It was enough to get Brown ready to knock home a 30-yard field goal, and he was up to the challenge from the right hash mark. As the ball sailed through the uprights, the Tigers found themselves on the positive end of the scoreboard at Yager Stadium for the first time since 1985, victorious 41-38. It gave Chris Brown his first win as a head coach at the place he served as an assistant for nine years.

Fuller had an efficient day distributing the ball, completing 74.2 percent of his passes (23-of-31) for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Tigner had a great day rushing the ball with 125 yards on 27 carries, the fifth 100-yard rushing game of his career. Hazlett led Tiger receiving targets with 105 yards on nine catches, the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career. Even though he missed a 56-yard field goal earlier in the game, Brown knocked home the two biggest attempts of the day, extending the game and winning the game.

Tanner Hoekman led the defensive effort for FHSU with 10 tackles and one interception, while having a hand in a sack with Sterling Swopes. Kiel Simas also had a sack, while adding six tackles. Jordan Starks and Creal-Musgray joined Hoekman in the interception column, each with one.

For Washburn, Schurig finished with 239 passing yards. Zach Willis had a team-high 67 rushing yards. Collin Wilson had a team-high 77 receiving yards. Kevin Neal, Jr. led in tackles with 13.

FHSU outgained WU 494 to 377 yards. The Tigers produced 32 first downs compared to 19 for the Ichabods.

Fort Hays State looks to even its record next week when it plays host to Missouri Southern in Hays. Kickoff is set for 7 pm on Sept. 28 at Lewis Field Stadium.

—fhsuathletics.com—

By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kendall Austin threw 202 yards, Martell Pettaway ran for a pair of scores, and West Virginia held on for a 29-24 victory over Kansas to open Big 12 play Saturday.

Kennedy McCoy added 73 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Evan Staley bounced back from an early miss to hit three field goals, as the Mountaineers (3-1) improved to 8-1 against the Jayhawks.

The Mountaineers held Kansas (2-2) to 377 yards total offense, one week after new coach Les Miles’ bunch had 567 yards and five TDs in a rare road rout of Boston College. And much of the yardage Saturday came as the Jayhawks drove frantically for a touchdown with 2:10 left in the game.

Their onside kick went out of bounds and West Virginia nearly ran out of the clock. By the time the Jayhawks got the ball back, they had time for a hook-and-ladder from midfield that came up short.

Carter Stanley led the Jayhawks with 235 yards passing and three touchdowns, but he also threw a costly interception when they were trailing 23-17 midway through the fourth quarter.

Pettaway finished the ensuing drive with his second TD run to make it a two-possession game.
West Virginia and Kansas had played to a first-half draw, though the real winner was the wind. It was whipping out of the south at 25 mph, making it tough for both offenses to move the ball.

The Mountaineers scored first — with the wind — on McCoy’s short plunge, then Kansas answered — also with the wind — when Stanley hit Kwamie Lassiter with a 28-yard TD strike.

The momentum shifted late in the first half, though. The Jayhawks had the ball, the wind and three timeouts in the closing minutes but went three-and-out and punted. West Virginia then raced 51 yards in just 49 seconds to set up Staley’s go-ahead field goal.

The Mountaineers kept the momentum to start the second half.

Pettway, getting his first carry of the game, picked through a couple tackles at the line of scrimmage and cruised 23 yards for the score. And when Kansas got a chip-shot field goal and appeared to recover the onside kick, Jamahl Horne was flagged for kick-catch interference.

West Virginia was given the ball back and drove for another field goal for a 20-10 lead.

Stanley gave the Jayhawks a chance when he hit Andrew Parchment on a 75-yard catch-and-run. But after West Virginia got another field goal, the Jayhawks’ quarterback ruined any chance of a comeback when his throw to the sideline was picked off by the Mountaineers’ Keith Washington II.

Pettaway’s second touchdown run made it a two-score game for West Virginia.

THE TAKEAWAY
West Virginia was abysmal on its last road trip, losing 38-7 to Missouri. But the Mountaineers bounced back to spank North Carolina State last weekend and are flying high entering a week off.

Kansas was trying to build on its win in Chestnut Hill, but two turnovers and the penalty on the onside kick cost valuable possessions. Might have cost its best chance to win a Big 12 game, too.

UP NEXT
West Virginia has a week off before Texas visits Morgantown.

Kansas has a morning kickoff against TCU next Saturday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs will be missing three starters from their prolific offense, including running back Damien Williams, when the Baltimore Ravens visit Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Williams was ruled out Friday after bruising his knee in last week’s win in Oakland, joining left tackle Eric Fisher and wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the bench for a matchup of 2-0 teams.

Fisher had surgery this week on a groin injury he sustained in practice late last week. Hill is still recovering from injuries to his sternum and collarbone that he sustained in Week 1.

Running back LeSean McCoy is questionable after missing practice Wednesday with an ankle injury. He practiced on a limited basis Thursday and was a full participant for Friday’s light workout.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — On Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks return to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium to host the West Virginia Mountaineers in their first Big 12 Conference game of the season, with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m., in Lawrence. The game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

The Jayhawks are coming off a convincing 48-24 victory over the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium, where Kansas exploded for 567 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, after falling behind 10-0 to begin the game. The Jayhawks responded with a 27-0 run to close out the game, giving KU its first road victory over a Power-5 opponent since 2008.

Saturday’s game against West Virginia is the eighth in the series history, with West Virginia holding the series advantage, 7-1. The game also marks the second Big 12 opener between the two programs, with the last opener coming in 2017.

—kuathletics.com—

CHICAGO (AP) — Yadier Molina had three of St. Louis’ four hits, including a two-run single, and the Cardinals held off the fading Chicago Cubs 2-1. Carlos Martínez got the final two outs a day after a brutal blown save. , and the Cardinals maintained a three-game NL Central lead over Milwaukee while opening a five-game margin over Chicago. The Cubs dropped two games behind the Brewers for the second NL wild card with eight games left.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa forward Cordell Pemsl has been arrested for suspected drunken driving and suspended from the team. The Hawkeyes say in news release that the team suspended Pemsl indefinitely following his arrest early Friday. Iowa City authorities say Pemsl had bloodshot eyes and registered a blood alcohol content of .151 on a breath test when he was pulled over at around 3 a.m. The legal limit to drive is .08. Pemsl has played in 67 games for Iowa, averaging 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs will be missing three starters from their prolific offense, including running back Damien Williams, when the Baltimore Ravens visit Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. Williams was ruled out after bruising his knee in last week’s win in Oakland, joining left tackle Eric Fisher and wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the bench for a matchup of 2-0 teams.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Randy Dobnak pitched 5 1/3 innings for his first major league win, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3. Minnesota won for the sixth time in eight games to maintain its four-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central. It reduced its magic number to clinch the division title to five with eight games to play.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two of the NFL’s exciting young quarterbacks, and their high-flying offenses, will meet on Sunday when Lamar Jackson and the Ravens visit Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Much of the attention this offseason was focused on Kansas City, where the team’s young QB was coming off a record-setting MVP season. But Jackson has been just as good through two games this season, and both teams are 2-0 heading into Arrowhead Stadium.

National Headlines

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) _ Antonio Brown has been released by the New England Patriots after a second woman accused the wide receiver of sexual misconduct. Brown already was being investigated by the NFL for sexual misconduct when a female artist came forward in a Sports Illustrated article, alleging Brown exposed himself to the woman after he hired her to paint a mural at his home. The four-time Pro Bowl selection has denied both allegations.

NEW YORK (AP) _ New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán is being investigated for an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend at home this week. That’s according to a person who spoke to the AP under condition of anonymity because no details have been authorized during the probe by Major League Baseball, which placed German on administrative leave Thursday. The person said the incident occurred Monday night into Tuesday at Germán’s residence in Yonkers.

MIAMI (AP) _ Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez rejoined the team in Miami last night following a heart procedure that caused him to a miss a three-game series at St. Louis this week. The 54-year-old underwent a cardiac catheterization in Monday after he experienced chest pains during Sunday’s win against Atlanta. The Nats dropped two of three to the Cardinals while bench coach Chip Hale ran the ballclub.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Brad Keselowski has earned the pole position for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup race at Richmond Raceway. Keselowski had a top lap of 127.185 miles per hour to claim his 17th career pole and second at Richmond. It will be his 16th top-10 start in 28 races this year. Kevin Harvick finished second in qualifying followed by Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer.

INTERLEAGUE
Final Cleveland 5 Philadelphia 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Baltimore 5 Seattle 3
Final Toronto 4 N-Y Yankees 3
Final Chi White Sox 10 Detroit 1
Final Houston 6 L-A Angels 4
Final Tampa Bay 5 Boston 4 (11 Innings)
Final Minnesota 4 Kansas City 3
Final Oakland 8 Texas 0

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 2 Chi Cubs 1
Final Atlanta 6 San Francisco 0
Final N-Y Mets 8 Cincinnati 1
Final Washington 6 Miami 4
Final Milwaukee 10 Pittsburgh 1
Final Arizona 9 San Diego 0
Final L-A Dodgers 12 Colorado 5

TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Final (20)Boise St. 30 Air Force 19
Final Southern Cal 30 (10)Utah 23

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Andale 63, Rose Hill 0
Ashland 54, Cunningham 6
Axtell 60, Onaga 14
BV North 27, Pittsburg 3
BV Randolph 70, Wetmore 24
BV West 10, St. James Academy 7
Belle Plaine 59, Wichita Independent 0
Beloit 26, Minneapolis 6
Bonner Springs 35, Spring Hill 21
Buhler 35, Augusta 21
Burlingame 46, Marais des Cygnes Valley 0
Burlington 8, Wellsville 6
Caldwell 56, Cedar Vale/Dexter Co-op 28
Canton-Galva 48, Centre 0
Central Plains 56, Kinsley 6
Centralia 40, St. Mary’s 0
Chanute 42, Iola 0
Chapman 36, Abilene 21
Cheney 70, Chaparral 3
Cherryvale 33, Erie 8
Cheylin 46, Pawnee Heights 0
Cimarron 32, Stanton County 16
Clearwater 31, Wellington 7
Clifton-Clyde 72, Wilson 0
Colby 39, Holcomb 21
Columbus 41, Girard 19
Conway Springs 31, Kingman 10
DeSoto 71, KC Turner 0
Derby 63, Newton 7
Dodge City 26, Wichita Heights 23
Ell-Saline 34, Hutchinson Trinity 0
Ellsworth 38, Salina Sacred Heart 13
Frankfort 74, Doniphan West 52
Fredonia 43, Bluestem 14
Frontenac 35, Commerce, Okla. 0
Galena 28, Prairie View 0
Garden Plain 49, Wichita Trinity 0
Goessel 50, Wakefield 0
Halstead 58, Lyons 8
Hanover 66, Rock Hills 16
Hartford 63, Madison/Hamilton Co-op 0
Haven 34, Hillsboro 20
Hays 13, Liberal 12
Hesston 26, Pratt 0
Hoisington 41, Larned 19
Holton 28, Nemaha Central 14
Hoxie 46, Quinter 6
Hutchinson 21, Garden City 12
Independence 20, Fort Scott 18
Inman 15, Remington 7
Jefferson West 55, Hiawatha 0
Junction City 41, Topeka West 0
KC Harmon 48, KC Northeast, Mo. 25
KC Harmon 48, Northeast-Arma 25
KC Piper 40, Atchison 6
Kiowa County 50, Pretty Prairie 0
La Crosse 21, Republic County 14
Labette County 25, Coffeyville 19
Lakin 50, Syracuse 0
Lawrence Free State 59, SM North 14
Lebo 76, Chetopa 6
Little River 51, Bennington 6
Louisburg 38, Baldwin 12
Maize 49, Wichita Campus 12
Maize South 27, Valley Center 19
Manhattan 42, Topeka Seaman 24
Marion 22, Douglass 0
Marysville 28, Concordia 12
Maur Hill – Mount Academy 18, Jackson Heights 14
McPherson 55, El Dorado 16
Minneola 58, Satanta 8
Moscow 30, Weskan 27
Moundridge 52, Solomon 32
Natoma 41, Deerfield 27
Ness City 62, St. John 0
Nickerson 16, Smoky Valley 12
Northern Heights 34, Mission Valley 13
Olathe North 30, SM West 10
Osage City 18, Council Grove 13
Osawatomie 42, Parsons 20
Oswego 48, Altoona-Midway 0
Otis-Bison 56, Stafford 8
Oxford 46, Flinthills 34
Paola 56, Ottawa 3
Pittsburg Colgan 34, Baxter Springs 7
Plainville 16, Hays-TMP-Marian 0
Pratt Skyline 42, Attica/Argonia 20
Riverside 42, Royal Valley 14
Rural Vista 43, Herington 26
SM South 24, Lansing 18
Sabetha 41, Perry-Lecompton 21
Salina Central 17, Salina South 7
Santa Fe Trail 27, Anderson County 26
Scott City 55, Goodland 0
Sedan 48, Marmaton Valley 0
Sedgwick 52, Sterling 13
Silver Lake 25, Riley County 0
Smith Center 27, Phillipsburg 7
South Gray 41, Medicine Lodge 14
South Barber 70, Central Christian-Hutch 68 in 3 OT’s
Southeast 48, Yates Center 0
Southeast Saline 52, Russell 10
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 60, Tescott 6
St. Paul 52, West Elk 8
Thunder Ridge 48, Hill City 22
Tonganoxie 43, Eudora 8
Topeka 60, Highland Park 8
Topeka Hayden 41, Washburn Rural 7
Trego 58, Triplains-Brewster 8
Troy 58, Horton 24
Udall 20, Burden Central 0
Ulysses 29, Hugoton 14
Valley Heights 66, Atchison County 19
Victoria 50, Macksville 0
Waverly 46, Southern Coffey 0
Wichita Collegiate 34, Mulvane 7
Wichita County 68, Logan/Palco 14
Wichita East 22, Kapaun Mount Carmel 14
Wichita Northwest 31, Great Bend 0
Wichita South 6, Arkansas City 0

By BRIAN HALL
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Randy Dobnak pitched 5 1/3 innings for his first major league win, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Friday night.

Minnesota won for the sixth time in eight games to maintain its four-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central. It reduced its magic number to clinch the division title to five with eight games to play.

Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run double for the Twins, and Miguel Sanó had a run-scoring triple.

Kansas City has dropped seven of eight to fall to 56-99. It is one defeat away from its second consecutive 100-loss season and No. 6 in franchise history.

The Royals could give the majors four 100-loss teams in a single season for only the second time.

Dobnak (1-1) surrendered one run and three hits in his fourth start and eighth major league appearance overall. He has surrendered two earned runs in 10 1/3 innings over his past two outings.

Trevor May struck out the side in his second save of the season.

Eric Skoglund (0-2) gave up two runs and three hits in four innings for Kansas City.

Minnesota jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Nelson Cruz hit a sacrifice fly, and Sanó tripled home Jorge Polanco.

Kansas City got one back on Alex Gordon’s RBI double in the sixth, but Gonzalez responded with his two-run double in the bottom half.

BUXTON UPDATE
Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton was back in the team’s clubhouse after he had left shoulder surgery on Sept. 10.

Buxton said the surgery was to repair the labrum and he’ll be in recovery and rehab for four to six months. Buxton’s left arm will be immobilized in a sling for six weeks. He hopes to be ready for the start of spring training next season.

“It was a little bit better than what they anticipated, which is a very good part,” Buxton said. “It’s just one of those things. Frustrating, but it’s part of the process.”

Buxton got hurt when he collided with the center-field wall in Miami on Aug. 1.

“I think I just hit it at an awkward angle,” Buxton said. “I know I felt it when I dislocated it. But at the time, with the adrenaline pumping, you don’t really think about it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: DH Jorge Soler fouled a ball off the top of his left foot during an at-bat in the third inning and was checked out by trainers before staying in the game.

Twins: 1B C.J. Cron started for the first time since Sept. 15. He is dealing with a bruised thumb.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said the team has “been experimenting a little bit” with some of the rehab work to allow Cron to return. Baldelli said Cron won’t play every day but is feeling better.

UP NEXT
Royals: Right-hander Glenn Sparkman (4-11, 6.02 ERA) will start against Minnesota for the fourth time this season.

Twins: Right-hander José Berríos (13-8, 3.58 ERA) has given up just two runs in 14 1/3 innings over his last two starts.