The St. Joseph School District feels it is in a better position than it has been in some time in the ongoing battle of students attending school.  

Superintendent Gabe Edgar believes that the early learning program has helped with attendance in the early grades 

"If you go back and you look at historical data, four to five years ago Kindergarten was our worst attendance by far in some buildings," Edgar tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Kindergarten is a lot better today than it was a year ago, so is first grade." 

Edgar says having those structures in place from an early age helps in terms of attendance. 

Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education Services Ashley McGinnis says several elementary schools are above 90 percent attendance, with some very close to that mark, with the middle schools shy of that mark as well 

McGinnis says it's the high schools that have seen the most challenge with getting students to come everyday 

"In the past I know we've focused a lot on giving incentives and doing gift card drawings and things of that nature, but what we're finding out is the research shows we really need parents involved and engaged with education to get kids to come to school," McGinnis explains. "So that's been a huge focus this year." 

McGinnis says one factor is trying to get back to normalcy following COVID, something that's taken longer than the district hoped 

"There were patterns and habits created during that time where if a child had a headache or a runny nose that we would just keep them home as a precautionary measure, and getting out of those bad habits and sending kids to school and allowing a nurse to examine the child before they are sent back home," McGinnis says.  "I think getting back into those routines." 

McGinnis says a relationship with the Buchanan County Prosecuting attorney and the juvenile office has been helpful but feels there is a better success rate when building relationships with families. 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

School attendance improving in St. Joseph, but still work to do

A recent report says banks could be more hesitant to lend to the farm sector just as the agricultural industry is expected to enter a major credit crunch. Rabobank says that could disproportionately hurt smaller producers in the process. After two years of near-record profits, a significant drop in crop prices is pushing more producers to take out loans. Although farmers have built up somewhat of a liquidity buffer to manage the downturn, Rabobank says those savings are expected to run out by the next crop year. 

The report says “Although the U.S. agricultural sector’s financial affairs are projected to finish 2023-2024 in stable condition, the trajectory is downward.”&nbsp; Demand for farm loans is set to climb to levels not seen since 2013 with producers expected to increase their borrowing by billions of dollars over the next several years. Producers may face stricter borrowing requirements when taking out new loans.

Farm loan concerns in struggling ag economy

Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow spoke on the Senate floor and introduced the “Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act.” She says for more than two years, she’s been working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass her sixth farm bill. “The farmers I met with made clear that the farm safety net must be the backbone of support for all farmers, and not just a handful of mostly southern commodities,” she said. 

Stabenow releases version of the Senate farm bill

A federal judge refused to halt enforcement of California’s climate disclosure bills last week, despite a legal challenge put forward by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups that alleges the bills violate First Amendment rights against compelled speech. In his Nov. 5 ruling, U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II denied the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, noting the court required more information and “further development of the facts” to determine whether the climate disclosure rules amount to compelled speech and are, hence, unconstitutional. 

Though Wright’s decision allows the state’s carbon emissions disclosure requirements to proceed as planned for now, his ruling granted the plaintiffs leave to file another request for summary judgment. Wright also said the First Amendment did apply to the challenged laws. The climate laws will mandate more climate-related disclosures from large companies operating in the state and push for more corporate transparency in terms of carbon emissions.

California climate disclosure laws survive initial court challenge 

President-Elect Donald Trump’s threat of mass deportations risks hurting the domestic agriculture sector already struggling with labor shortages. That’s according to Matt Carstens, chief executive officer of Iowa’s biggest farm cooperative, who said Trump’s plan should be approached carefully. Bloomberg reports farming would be one of the biggest US sectors hit should the incoming administration move forward with kicking potentially millions of undocumented immigrants out of the country. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said nearly half of hired crop farmworkers lack legal immigration status. The share of laborers not lawfully authorized to work in the US rose from about 14% in the 1989-91 period to roughly 40% in recent years. Meanwhile, although there’s been a slight decline in the number of people moving out of rural US counties since the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the prior decade saw an overall loss of population. 

Trump’s threat of deportations risks hurting agriculture 

With little sign of a breakthrough on the farm bill in Congress, farm groups are shifting their attention to a proposed $21 billion bailout bill. Help is needed because high costs and lower commodity prices are sharply eroding farm income, they say. Successful Farming reports analysts are questioning whether the price tag for the proposed agricultural aid is too high to be accepted and say that in the relatively short lame-duck session under way, there may be room for only one piece of farm-related legislation. 

Farm bailout bill getting renewed attention in lame duck session 

Sales of tractors for agricultural use plunged year-over-year in October, according to data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Tractor sales dropped 14% from the same month a year earlier to 21,354 units. Combine sales fell almost 35%. These declines point to the overall softness in the ag economy following a robust five years of positive industry results.&nbsp;

Tractor sales plummet in October

House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson is among those being considered for agriculture secretary in the next Trump administration, according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking. Reports say the Pennsylvania Republican, who developed closer ties to Trump during the president-elect’s many campaign visits to the Keystone State, offers deep knowledge of agriculture policy. 

The Trump transition team neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of tapping Thompson. “President-Elect Trump will begin making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration soon. Those decisions will be announced when they are made,” said spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. Other names being mentioned are Former Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs Ted McKinney; Kip Tom, formerly U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture; and former White House ag advisor Ray Starling.

Thompson leads list of potential Ag Secretary candidates

As farmers struggle with low crop prices, relatively high interest rates and increased input costs, fewer are making big-ticket purchases like tractors, combines and farm implements, resulting in a backlog of inventory across the globe. Eric Hansotia, AGCO's president and CEO, said in an investor call last week, the Machinery manufacturer has about four months of orders with its dealers in North America and is looking to bring that number down to three.  

Tractor manufacturers slow production as demand declines

A new study recently showed that some dairy workers had signs of H5N1 infection even when they didn’t report feeling sick. As a result, federal health officials called for more testing of employees on farms affected by bird flu. The University of Texas Medical Branch says farmworkers in close contact with infected animals should be tested and offered treatment, even if they show no H5N1 symptoms. 

CDC wants expanding H5N1 testing for farmworkers

The University of Missouri Extension Crop Conference, scheduled for December 4-5 in Columbia, will provide farmers and agricultural professionals with insights into the evolving agricultural landscape in 2025. Ben Brown, an MU Extension specialist in risk management, will speak on the current state of crop markets, input costs, and agricultural policy, and discuss the recent decline in commodity prices due to strong global production and increased demand at lower prices.

University of Missouri Extension crop conference

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Tuesday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Infiniti passenger vehicle driven by a 42-year-old Bethany man was westbound on U.S. 136 two miles west of Bethany.

The driver swerved to miss a deer. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle traveled off the south side of the road, struck a ditch and overturned.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Mosaic in Albany. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Mo. driver injured after he swerves to miss deer, vehicle overturns

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Tuesday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Chevy 2500 driven by a 52-year-old man from Gallatin was southbound on MO 13 at Route M four and one half miles south of Gallatin.

The driver attempted to turn east onto Rote M and struck a northbound 2005 Ford 500 driven by a 40-year-old woman from Gallatin.&nbsp; The impact pushed the Ford into the front of a 2022 Ford Explorer driven by a 42-year-old woman from Chillicothe, that was stationary on Route M at MO 13.

Daviess County EMS transported a 60-year-old male passenger in the Ford to Liberty Hospital. The drivers were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man hospitalized after 3-vehicle crash

That violent, deadly crash that shut down I-29 in extreme
northwest Missouri for hours Sunday morning began as a pursuit by Nebraska law
enforcement.

Three people died, three suffered serious injuries, and a
one-year-old escaped serious injury after the driver fleeing police hit a
bridge abutment and the car caught fire.

The Fremont County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department says a woman hospitalized
in Hamburg reported she and her one-year-old were kidnapped by a 29-year-old
acquaintance, who dropped her off at the hospital, but fled with the child.

Iowa state highway patrol troopers pursued the vehicle as it
drove south on I-29 in the northbound lanes. When the car entered Missouri, it
collided with a northbound car attempting to pass a truck. The pursued car hit
the bridge and caught fire. The other vehicle veered off the road, overturned,
ejected a passenger, and came to rest on its top.

A veteran deputy rescued the one-year-old from the burning
car. The baby was taken to the hospital to be treated for moderate injuries.
Two 18-year-olds from Kearney died in the crash. Another person was flown to
Omaha to be treated for serious injuries.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Deadly I-29 crash in extreme NW Missouri began as Nebraska pursuit

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations

Just after 11:00p.m. on Monday an officer on patrol in Atchison observed 34-year-old Cinnamon Cash walking in the area of 10th and Main Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

&nbsp; She was taken into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. She was subsequently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was taken to the County Jail.

Kan. woman who skipped court caught with methamphetamine

Buchanan County Western District Commissioner Ron Hook had a
longer election watch party than expected.

Hook has won re-election, edging out challenger Everett
Goodard, Jr. by 25 votes after a recount. Hook acknowledges it has been a
stressful week.

“I think it’s more stressful on my family, but you know I like
the outcome,” Hook tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I’m very humbled by the
outcome. I’m very humbled by the constituents that put their faith in me and
voted for me and got us over the threshold of winning this.”

Initial totals on election night had Hook winning by 23. That
margin, well within one percent, triggered an automatic recount.

After the day-long recount Monday by the Buchanan County Clerk’s
office, Hook, a Democrat, came out on top with 7,869 votes to 7,844 cast for Goddard,
the Republican challenger.

Hook remains one of the few Democrats in the Buchanan County
Courthouse. Hook contends his party affiliation had an effect in the race,
saying he’s disappointed that many Buchanan County voters apparently looked at
the political party after the name rather than the individual on the ballot.

“That’s what’s disappointing,” Hook says. “And I’d feel the
same way whether I lost. It’s just disappointing to know that people go out
there and just vote for a party and not vote for a person.”

Unofficial results released by the Buchanan County Clerk’s
office show Republicans received big majorities from county voters on the 5th.
President-elect Donald Trump won nearly 63% of the vote. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley,
a Republican, won more than 60% of the Buchanan County vote. Republican Congressman
Sam Graves received more than 65% of the vote. Buchanan County voters favored
Republican gubernatorial candidate, Mike Kehoe, with nearly 64% of the vote.

Hook, who has served as Western District Commissioner since 2009,
barely won re-election to another four-year term over a political newcomer.
Still, win re-election he did, if only by 25 votes.

“This job is a great job for somebody that doesn’t like to sit
around,” according to Hook. “There’s always something going. There’s always
something happening. There’s something different every day. And I’ll tell you
what it’s something that I’ve just cherished, I really have.”

Hook says he enjoys who he works with in the courthouse and
enjoys who works for him in the Western District.

Commissioner Hook has to wait through recount to celebrate re-election

The Salvation Army in St. Joseph is currently accepting Christmas assistance applications for low-income families.

Major Laura Key, with Salvation Army, says there are some age restrictions. "This is for low-income families who have children, birth to 13 years old."

Key adds that income guidelines must be met in order to qualify for assistance. "If they're on food stamps, they are automatically accepted. But, if they are low income and don't meet that guideline, they can come into our office at 602 Messanie, to pick up an application. At that time, you can take it home and fill it out."

Once the applications are brought back, there is an interview process to make sure everything is filled out correctly and the income guidelines are met.

Key says once the applications are approved, appointment cards will be issued which will have information on when applicants can come in and receive their toys.

Key adds, "We have a big gymnasium and we put the toys and clothes out so parents can shop for their children." 

Key stresses that during the distribution of toys and clothes, only parents are allowed inside. "We do not allow children to come into the building at all on those days."

The Salvation Army has several donation sites around St. Joseph for residents to donate toys and clothes. The distribution dates are December 18th and 19th.

It was noted that senior citizens who qualify will receive a gift voucher for holiday meals.&nbsp;

Low income families can apply for holiday assistance until December 13th.

St. Joseph Salvation Army accepting Christmas assistance applications

A long-time observer of the Missouri River believes the Army
Corps of Engineers has begun to change how it manages the river now that the
right pressure has been applied.

Tom Waters of Orrick chairs the Missouri Levees and Drainage
District Association. Waters says change began after governors from Missouri,
Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa joined forces in demanding change.

“Since the 2019 flood, when the governors from four states got
together and told the Corps we’ve got to do something different here, what they’ve
been doing isn’t working,” Waters tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.&nbsp; “And so those four governors coming together
and then eight senators from those states talking to the Corps and saying we’ve
got to move in a different direction. I think the Corps has listened.”

Since the four states banned together to ask for change, the
Corps has been concentrating on points along the Missouri River that
recurrently flood, often called choke points along the river. Floodwaters in
2019 spilled out in the same areas they had in 2011 and 1993, causing widespread
damage to property and crops, disrupting transportation along I-29 and other
major roadways; disrupting lives.

Waters credits officials from the four lower Missouri River
states, who set aside regional interests and together asked the Corps of Engineers
to reexamine its management as well as the flood prevention structures on the
river.

“Isn’t that funny how four governors and eight senators can encourage
the Corps to do a little better job of listening?” Waters jokes. “That’s what’s
happening. They’ve really made a real effort to reach out to stakeholders and to
talk to people and try to find ways to do some positive things. So, I’m
encouraged.”

Waters says the Corps has already made changes to the Kansas
City levees and has launched a feasibility study to address problems in Holt
County, where the Corps is considering setbacks and levee changes at a
particularly troublesome area. Feasibility studies also are underway in
Jefferson City and Brunswick, which have both experienced recurrent flooding.

“It’s a slow, slow process as anything is with the government,”
Waters says. “But we’re going to get there, I think, and things look more
positive now than in the 30 years I’ve been dealing with the river.”

Waters says the efforts have spawned real change, not just
superficial action.

“In my mind, we’re moving forward in a direction that we’re
going to see some positive changes. It’s been 30 years since we’ve seen them talk
about building a new levee or improving levees.”

Real change seems to be coming to management of Missouri River

Western District Buchanan County Commissioner Ron Hook
actually picked up a couple of votes in a recount from Election Day, winning
re-election in a tight race over challenger Everett Goddard, Jr.

The recount conducted by the Buchanan County Clerk’s office,
overseen by the two candidates and nonpartisan observers, found Hook, a
Democrat, received 7,869 votes to 7,844 for Goddard, a
Republican. That is a 25-vote difference.

At the end of election night, Hook had won re-election by 23
votes.

The clerk’s office ran the ballots through the vote-counting
machines a second time during the recount.

Hook wins recount, re-election as Buchanan CO Western District Commissioner

ATCHISON COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Monday in Atchison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Toyota Camry driven by a 79-year-old Lawrence, Kansas, man was northbound on Interstate 29 approximately three miles south of Rock Port.

The car rear-ended a 2020 Freightliner semi driven by a 32-year-old from Council Bluffs, Iowa. After impact the Toyota traveled into the driving lane and a 2022 Freightliner semi driven by a 52-year-old woman from Omaha, Nebraska, rear-ended the car and overturned

EMS transported the Toyota driver and driver of the 2022 Freightliner to Nemaha County Hospital.&nbsp; The semi driver was later transferred to Bergan Mercy Hospital. The driver of the 2020 semi was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Two hospitalized after 3-vehicle rear-end crash

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a car theft have made an arrest.&nbsp;

On Saturday evening a 72-year-old victim reported the theft of her 2011 Ford Focus from the 400 block Mound Street in Atchison by a person known to the victim, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Just after 9:30p.m. Saturday, police recovered the vehicle and a 34-year-old suspect was taken into custody.&nbsp; Mary C. McDonald, 34, Atchison, is being held in the county jail on requested charges of theft.

Kansas woman accused of vehicle theft

The Kansas City Royals added three players to their 40 man roster on Tuesday, ahead of the deadline to protect eligible players from the Rule 5 draft.&nbsp;

If Rule 5-eligible players -- those who signed at age 18 or younger five seasons ago or who signed at age 19 or older four seasons ago -- are not added to teams’ 40-man rosters, they are exposed to be taken in the Rule 5 Draft next month.

Left-hander Noah Cameron, ranked the Royals’ No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and righties Luinder Avila (No. 26) and Eric Cerantola (No. 29) were placed the roster on Tuesday. Kansas City's roster now sits at 37 players, with a few spots open for the offseason upgrades the Royals are trying to make.

Cameron knocked on the door of making his major league debut last season, had the Royals not been in the postseason race late.&nbsp; The left handed pitcher posted a 3.08 ERA across 128.2 innings between Triple A Omaha and Double A Northwest Arkansas.&nbsp;

It was his nine starts in Omaha that were the most impressive, going 3-2 with a 2.32 ERA and striking out 62 batters, a 29% strikeout rate to go with a 5.1% walk rate.&nbsp;

The Royals drafted Cameron in the seventh round in 2021 out of Central Arkansas. He was coming off of Tommy John surgery that year and has missed time with injuries early in his pro career, but he’s been remarkably consistent with his production otherwise. He thrives off his command and fills up the strike zone. He’ll compete for a spot on the Royals’ pitching staff in Spring Training, but he’s part of the depth that the Royals are excited about in 2025.

Avila, whose 23 years old, just finished a stint in the Arizona Fall League, making up for some innings he missed because of injury this past season. In 14 2/3 innings across five games (three starts) this fall, Avila posted a 3.07 ERA, with 17 strikeouts and eight walks. 

He spent the majority of ‘24 in Double-A, making just one start in Triple-A at the end of the year. With the Naturals, Avila threw 82 2/3 innings across 19 starts and posted a 3.81 ERA.

Cerantola, 24 years old, has a big arm that can reach 100 mph. He pitched to a 2.97 ERA and had a strikeout percentage north of 31% this year across Double-A and Triple-A, spending the majority of the year in Northwest Arkansas, where he allowed 18 earned runs in 58 1/3 innings.

 In Triple-A at the end of the year, he posted a 3.77 ERA. He appeared in 37 games total (seven starts) and is seen as a multi-inning reliever.

At the Rule 5 Draft, teams that do pick a player must pay $100,000 to the club from which the player was selected. The selected player is assigned to the club’s 26-man roster and is essentially treated like a player without options –-- to be removed from the 40-man roster, they must be placed on outright waivers and exposed to other teams to claim.

 Should the player clear waivers, he can be offered back to his previous team for $50,000. A Rule 5 Draft pick can be placed on the injured list, but he must be active for a minimum of 90 days to avoid being subject to the aforementioned roster restrictions in the next campaign.

The Royals selected Yankees righty Matt Sauer last December, and he made his debut with Kansas City in 2024. But by May the Royals needed the roster spot, and Sauer went back to New York.

-MLB.com's Anne Rogers contributed to this report

Royals protect Noah Cameron, two other top prospects from Rule 5 draft

Northwest Missouri State University has announced that there will be a leadership change for the football program next season.&nbsp;

Head Coach Rich Wright's contract will not be renewed, effective December 31st, after serving as head coach for eight seasons.&nbsp; Northwest closed out the season with a 23-7 loss to Pittsburg State, leaving the final record at 6-5 overall, 6-4 in the MIAA.

Athletic Director Andy Peterson says a national search for the next head coach will begin immediately.&nbsp; In the interim, Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach Chad Bostwick will serve as the interim head coach.

Northwest football announces leadership change, Rich Wright out

St. Joseph Christian's Lexi McDaniel, the top softball recruit in the nation, is continuing her career at a college softball powerhouse.   

The Oklahoma Sooners softball team have won national championships four years in a row, and six out of the last eight, and have yet another number one recruiting class in the country, which includes McDaniel 

McDaniel says it's almost unexplainable of how it feels to know she'll be a part of the run Sooner's softball is on.  

"The feeling, the emotions, just everything about it is so cool and it's just an amazing opportunity that I'm so excited to be a part of," McDaniel tells reporters following her signing. 

McDaniel officially signed her letter of intent on Monday, after announcing her commitment last year. 

McDaniel says what drew her to Oklahoma was the culture 

"All of the people there were fantastic, the coaching staff was absolutely amazing, the girls who are already there just really love the program and buy into the program and I knew that that's the type of people I wanted to put myself around," McDaniel says. "And obviously, they are definitely very good, and it's just super cool that I get to experience this and work to be the best that I can." 

McDaniel is only the second Division One commit in the history of St. Joseph Christian.   

McDaniel has played solely organization softball over her career, with St. Joseph Christian not having a softball team, starting with the Aces organization out of Kansas City. 

Aces head coach Ryan Taylor says he began to see something special in McDaniel in her second year of 14U, beginning to separate herself offensively. 

"Not just within the organization, but throughout the country, to where you're like ok there's something here, right, the swings special and it's not just against a few pitchers it's against some of the kids that people are touting as the best pitchers in the country, not only at her age group but also at older age groups," Taylor explains.  "And you start to see her just really gain traction in that and start her climb." 

McDaniel began working with Aces at 12 years old.  In her career thus far, she has 578 hits, 93 home runs and has scored 461 runs to be the club's all-time leader. 

McDaniel says she'll play wherever legendary Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso needs her to, though she has primary played in the infield, and does not know if she'll play right away.  

She has one tournament left this fall for the Ace's and will play in the spring and summer as well before heading to Norman, Oklahoma to join the Sooners. 

St. Joseph Christian's Lexi McDaniel officially signs to play softball at Oklahoma

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- — After watching quarterback Josh Allen bounce off two Kansas City Chiefs defenders before crossing the goal line on a 26-yard run, Bills receiver Khalil Shakir joined the rest of the packed Buffalo stadium by screaming at the top of his lungs.

Allen's touchdown on fourth-and-2 with 2:17 left sealed Buffalo’s 30-21 victory, kept the Bills (9-2) in contention for the AFC’s top seed and spoiled the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs' bid for a perfect season.

“When Josh takes off, I find myself just watching, like, ‘Wow, he’s different,’” Shakir said. “When he took off today, I just started yelling. I couldn’t stop yelling. I was blanking in the head.”

Bills fans chimed in by chanting “MVP! MVP!” while watching the replay of their quarterback bursting up the middle to secure a victory in the latest matchup against the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs (9-1), who ended Buffalo’s playoff runs in three of the past four seasons.

Allen evened his record to 4-4 (including playoffs) against the Chiefs. He said he knew what was on the line when coach Sean McDermott elected to go for it on fourth down rather than settle for a field goal.

“I appreciated coach for trusting us,” said Allen, who took off up the right hash mark, shrugged off being shouldered by linebacker Nick Bolton and had enough momentum to reach the end zone while wrapped up by safety Bryan Cook.

“Any time you give the ball back to Pat (Mahomes), that offense, down six with the game on the line, I like their odds in that situation,” Allen added. “So wanting six or seven (points) to try to make it a two-score game.”

Buffalo’s defense ended Kansas City’s desperate final drive when linebacker Terrel Bernard intercepted Mahomes.

James Cook rushed for two first-half touchdowns and Allen threw a 12-yard TD pass to Curtis Samuel early in the fourth quarter. The Bills never relinquished the lead after going ahead 16-14 on Tyler Bass’ 33-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

The Chiefs were the NFL’s last undefeated team and finally ran out ways to eke out one-score victories and overcome second-half deficits. The Chiefs had won 15 straight, including playoffs, since they fell 20-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 25, 2023.

“The undefeated thing was cool. But that’s not our ultimate goal. So we’ll keep building toward that,” Mahomes said.

“That’s a good football team. Nothing to hang your head on losing to them,” he added. “We feel like we can play better. So we’ll get back to work and try to use this as a spark so we can be a better football team in the end.”

There's a chance these teams will meet again in the playoffs, where the Chiefs have dominated the rivalry. Though Buffalo has won four straight regular-season meetings dating to 2021, the Chiefs have won three straight playoff matchups, including a 27-24 win at Buffalo in the divisional round in January.

“It’s a great game to learn from for some of our young guys. Two good teams play each other, the margin between winning and losing is small,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “We can all learn from it and take something out of it to make us better down the road there. And we’ll do that.”

Mahomes finished 23 of 33 for 196 yards with three touchdown passes — two to tight end Noah Gray and another to Xavier Worthy — and two interceptions.

The Chiefs had shown resolve in winning their first nine games by a combined 58 points, with four decided on the final play. That included a 16-14 win over Denver last week in which Leo Chenal blocked Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

This time, there were no late dramatics from a Chiefs offense that finished with a season-low 259 yards.

The Bills have won six straight and moved closer to their fifth straight AFC East title. Buffalo is 9-2 or better through 11 games for the sixth time in team history and first since 1992.

“No statement,” McDermott said of the win’s significance. “This is not the finish line.”

The Bills have a chance to rest and heal up entering their bye week. Amari Cooper made two catches for 58 yards while playing with a sore left wrist, and wide receiver Keon Coleman (right wrist) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) were sidelined by injuries.

Allen played through a sore throwing hand, which was examined on the sideline during the game. He finished 27 of 40 for 262 yards with the TDs passing and rushing and an interception.

The rushing touchdown was the 58th of Allen’s career, moving him into second on the Bills list, one ahead of O.J. Simpson and seven behind Thurman Thomas. Allen’s two-touchdown outing also increased his total to 244, tying Jim Kelly for first in team history.

Chiefs regular season struggles against Bills continue, suffer first loss 30-21

#9 Benedictine breaks records in win over William Woods

The #9 Benedictine Ravens closed out the regular season with a record breaking win over William Woods at NCAC Stadium in Fulton, winning 86-0 and securing a share of the Heart South conference title.&nbsp;

The Ravens set records for single game points as well as rushing yards allowed in the win.&nbsp;&nbsp;The previous record for points was 84 and was set during the 2018 season in a home win over Graceland. The Ravens held the Owls to minus-61 yards rushing, breaking a 24-year-old record previously set at minus-58 yards against Graceland during the 2000 season.

The Ravens jumped out to a 17-0 lead after the first quarter. Harry Balke connected on a pair of field goals – 35 yards and 28 yards – while the Ravens scored 4 points off 2 safeties before Joseph Lagafuiana returned the second free kick for a 98-yard return to make it 17-0.

Benedictine exploded for 41 points in the second quarter and Jackson Dooley went to the air, connecting on 5 touchdown passes to break the Ravens single-season passing record. He connected on a 10-yard pass to Matthew Sanford, a 35-yard pass to Jacob Gathright, and an 8-yard pass to Lagafuiana to tie the record at 33 passing touchdowns. He broke the record on a 46-yard pass to Lagafuiana and then added to his record with a 5-yard pass to Kameron Dover.

Special Teams capped off the first-half scoring after Dylan Witherspoon blocked a punt at the William Woods 30-yard line that found its way to the end zone where it was recovered by Trey Williams for a touchdown to send the Ravens into halftime leading 58-0.

Three more touchdowns put the Ravens on the cusp of the scoring record in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Kaden Austin to Sanford for 8-yards. That was followed up by a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Jonah Roberts and a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Robbie Sharp to make it 79-0 headed into the fourth quarter.

Austin hit Callahan Huston on a pass that Huston broke loose for 60 yards to give the Ravens the new scoring record and end the scoring for the game.

Dooley finished with 136 yards on 10 of 18 passing with 5 touchdowns while Austin went 3 of 5 with 2 touchdowns. JJ Jackson led the Ravens with 68 yards on 12 carries, followed by Sharp with 56 yards, Xavier Ugorji with 45, Roberts with 32, and Dalton Witherspoon with 34. Lagafuiana finished with 54 yards receiving on 2 catches while Jacob Gathright added 36 yards on 2 catches.

Defensively, Benedictine finished with 5 sacks for a loss of 56 yards, 8 tackles for a loss of 72 yards, four forced fumbles with two fumble recoveries, and 3 interceptions.

The Ravens finished the season 9-2 (5-1 Heart South).&nbsp;The 2024 NAIA Football Championship Selection Show is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday where the Ravens will learn their postseason seeding for the FCS.

Big second half helps Missouri Western close out season with victory

The Missouri Western Griffons overcame six turnovers and 10 penalties and scored a 30-16 win over Quincy in the regular season finale at Spratt Memorial Stadium on Saturday.&nbsp;

The scoring got started for Missouri Western on the defensive side of the ball when senior Jaden Brown forced a fumble, allowing junior Kienen Gaskin to scoop and score giving the Griffons an early lead.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Griffons offense struggled to find rhythm early, their first two drives resulting in interceptions, allowing Quincy to take a lead behind a 22 yard field goal from Michael Owens and a four yard rushing score from Teon Dollard, but Missouri Western managed to take the lead back just before the end of the quarter,&nbsp; Branden Berwald connecting with senior Tyler Carey for a 64-yard touchdown - Carey's third touchdown catch of over 60 yards this season.

In the second quarter, a missed field goal, a lost fumble and an interception plagued the offensive attack from Missouri Western, allowing the Hawks to regain the lead with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Drake Davis to Dollard, the lone score of the frame, giving Quincy a 16-14 lead at the halftime break.

Senior Cody Watson added to his historic career by successfully making his program-leading 42nd field goal from 27 yards away to put the Griffons ahead&nbsp; in&nbsp; the opening drive of the second half. Additionally, Watson tied Dustin Strickler for the most extra points (PATs) made in a Griffon uniform, reaching a total of 122, which was also his final try in college.

The Griffons clinched the season finale with a strong performance in the fourth quarter. Junior running back Jayden Williams scoring touchdowns from one yard out on both scoring drives for his first multi-touchdown game of his career.

Missouri Western finished the game with over 504 yards of total offense. Marrell Fountain (92) and Rickie Dunn (91) combined for 183 yards on the ground. Carey added his third 100-yard receiving performance of the season, while senior's Jonas Bennett and Jake Berrey hauled in two catches.

Missouri Western football says goodbye to 18 seniors, who were honored prior to the opening kickoff, as the 2024 season officially came to a close on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp; Griffons finish the season 4-7 (2-7 MIAA).

#23 Tigers suffers defensive collapse late, fall to #21 Gamecocks&nbsp;

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- — South Carolina coach Shane Beamer got a text recently from an SEC rival coach impressed with freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

“You've got ‘Superman’ back there,” the message read, Beamer said.

Sellers may not be the “Man of Steel,” but he's certainly making a major impact for No. 23 South Carolina. And he showed that again on Saturday night with his career-best showing in a 34-30 victory over No. 24 Missouri.

Sellers, a redshirt freshman who took over the starting job from NFL rookie Spencer Rattler, threw for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, the last an inside throw that Raheim Sanders took 15 yards to the end zone with 15 seconds to go as they twice rallied from behind in the fourth quarter.

One play in particular floored Gamecocks defensive tackle Alex Huntley where Sellers twisted out of a sack on the next-to-last scoring drive before hitting tight end Brady Hunt for 11 yards on thrid-and-10. “Did he get sacked?” Huntley recalled saying.

“The second he got out of it, I knew something good was going to happen,” he said.

Sellers has done that more and more the past month after the Gamecocks stood 3-3 after a loss at Alabama on Oct. 12. He's led the way as South Carolina collected wins against Oklahoma (35-9) and ranked teams in Texas A&amp;M (44-20) and Vanderbilt (28-7).

“It's about staying calm, not budging, not flinching,” said Sellers. “Taking one play at a not and not worrying about the outcome.”

That steady approach pulled out a game South Carolina would typically lose.

Twice Missouri took a lead in the final period and twice the Sellers and the Gamecocks answered back with success.

The Gamecocks (7-3, 5-3) have won four straight Southeastern Conference games for the first time since Steve Spurrier was coach in 2012. But it’s now one of Spurrier’s hires with the Gamecocks in Beamer who has South Carolina as the hottest team in the powerhouse conference.

The Tigers (7-3, 3-3) final lead came after Brady Cook’s 37-yard TD pass to Luther Burden III with 1:10 to go for a 30-27 lead.

Sellers, though, was far from done. He hit on passes of 10 and 39 yards to bring the Gamecocks to the Missouri 21. After Sellers’ 7 yard run, he flipped the ball to Sanders who bulled his way across the goal line to send the crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium into a frenzy.

“We were scoring,” said Sanders, nicknamed “Rocket," an Arkansas transfer who's had six of his 11 rushing TDs in the four-game win streak.

Missouri’s last chance ended with Cook was picked off by Jalon Kilgore with 5 seconds left as the Gamecocks beat three consecutive ranked teams for the first time in program history.

Missouri’s Nate Noel ran for 150 yards and a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it didn’t hold up.

The Tigers had defeated Oklahoma 30-23 last week on an scoop-and-score fumble with 22 seconds left. They nearly pulled out their second straight dramatic victory.

“I just think there's a relentlessness that our team plays with, believes in,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “Just didn't have enough tonight.”

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