Benton senior and volleyball standout Alyia Stillman signed her national letter of intent Tuesday to play volleyball at Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas.

Stillman finished her four-year Benton career with over 1,000 career kills, and was part of three winning seasons, including a 16-15-1 record this past fall.

Stillman was part of a Cardinal squad that won six of its last eight matches before coming up short in four sets against Smithville in district semifinals.

Stillman says the chance to continue her playing career beyond the varsity level means everything.

"I am over the top excited," Stillman said. "I just feel so blessed to have this opportunity to be pursuing this far in my career. I'm excited, and I hope it goes further than the collegiate level. I'm really looking forward to it."

For Stillman, the dream to play college volleyball started back in grade school.

"I've had this dream since sixth grade," she said, "that this could go to the next level. I didn't have a single doubt about that - as long as I work hard enough, I could get to where I want to be."

A variety of things drew Stillman to MNU, but particularly the energy of third-year head coach Molly Karagyaurov, who was present at Tuesday's signing.

"She just has so much passion for the game," Stillman said of&nbsp;Karagyaurov. "That makes it so much more fun to play and to be around and to be with, and I just love it."

Stillman also credits first-year Benton head coach Lauryn Doolan, who was promoted to that position in the spring after three years as an assistant with the Cardinals.

"Lauryn was amazing," Stillman said. "She transitioned very well and she knew what she was talking about and how to talk to us and push us even harder. That's what really made it an amazing season this year."

Mid America Nazarene competes in the Heart of America Athletic Conference at the NAIA level. Stillman played primarily outside hitter for the Cardinals, and will start out at the defensive specialist position for the Pioneers.

Also signing NLIs Tuesday were St. Joseph Central’s Chloe Bell for North Central Missouri softball, and Savannah’s Kaylence Cook, who also signed for North Central Missouri softball.

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638919277665.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBenton senior and volleyball standout Alyia Stillman signed her national letter of intent Tuesday to play volleyball at Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas.Stillman finished her four-year Benton career with over 1,000 career kills, and was part of three winning seasons, including a 16-15-1 record this past fall.Stillman was part of a Cardinal squad that won six of its last eight matches before coming up short in four sets against Smithville in district semifinals.Stillman says the chance to continue her playing career beyond the varsity level means everything."I am over the top excited," Stillman said. "I just feel so blessed to have this opportunity to be pursuing this far in my career. I'm excited, and I hope it goes further than the collegiate level. I'm really looking forward to it."For Stillman, the dream to play college volleyball started back in grade school."I've had this dream since sixth grade," she said, "that this could go to the next level. I didn't have a single doubt about that - as long as I work hard enough, I could get to where I want to be."A variety of things drew Stillman to MNU, but particularly the energy of third-year head coach Molly Karagyaurov, who was present at Tuesday's signing."She just has so much passion for the game," Stillman said of&nbsp;Karagyaurov. "That makes it so much more fun to play and to be around and to be with, and I just love it."Stillman also credits first-year Benton head coach Lauryn Doolan, who was promoted to that position in the spring after three years as an assistant with the Cardinals."Lauryn was amazing," Stillman said. "She transitioned very well and she knew what she was talking about and how to talk to us and push us even harder. That's what really made it an amazing season this year."Mid America Nazarene competes in the Heart of America Athletic Conference at the NAIA level. Stillman played primarily outside hitter for the Cardinals, and will start out at the defensive specialist position for the Pioneers.Also signing NLIs Tuesday were St. Joseph Central’s Chloe Bell for North Central Missouri softball, and Savannah’s Kaylence Cook, who also signed for North Central Missouri softball.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638919917267.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton's Alyia Stillman signs NLI to Mid America Nazarene volleyball

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Chiefs' Andy Reid is an offensive-minded coach to his core, so the Kansas City defense must have done something special against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night for him to call its performance “beautiful.”

Three turnovers. Three fourth-down stops. One pick-6 to seal a fifth straight win.

“It was just beautiful to watch,” Reid gushed after the 22-9 victory in chilly Arrowhead Stadium Sunday, which kept Kansas City in first place in the AFC West as it chases a sixth consecutive division crown.

Patrick Mahomes had just 184 yards passing with a touchdown run and an interception, and his receiving corps dropped so many passes he probably thought the ball was greased. But despite the Chiefs (8-4) gaining 257 yards of total offense, they managed to keep a one-game lead on the Chargers thanks to the other side of the ball.

“Mostly it's been about a commitment to each other, believing in each other, not letting outside noise dictate what we feel,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “It's been a total team effort to stay committed to each other.”

Things went haywire for the Broncos early in the game, when a 20-play drive ended with a failed fourth-down play rather than an easy field goal. And they didn't get much better when Teddy Bridgewater threw a pair of second-half interceptions, including the one that Daniel Sorensen returned 75 yards for a score with 9 1/2 minutes left to put the game away.

“We moved the ball well in certain areas, certain times of the game. Guys stepped up and made plays,” Bridgewater said. “But when you give them opportunities and you don't maximize your opportunities, it's a recipe to get beat.”

Bridgewater was held to 257 yards passing for the Broncos (6-6), who have lost 12 in a row to their longtime rival dating to the 2015 season. Javonte Williams started in place of injured running back Melvin Gordon III and had 102 yards rushing along with a touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.

“The loss makes you feel empty no matter what," Broncos coach Vic Fangio said.

The Chiefs must have spent their bye working on their opening offensive script, because they effortlessly flew downfield for a touchdown. They even overcame an offensive pass-interference call before Mahomes scampered for the score.

After the Chiefs forced a second consecutive three-and-out, Harrison Butker made a 56-yard field goal.

That was just about the last anyone saw of Mahomes and Co. for a while.

The Broncos answered with a field goal of their own. Then, after forcing a quick punt, they embarked on a 20-play odyssey that carried them 83 yards and chewed up nearly 12 minutes of the second quarter — and resulted in no points.

Denver twice converted on fourth down to keep the drive alive, then went for the hat trick on fourth-and-2 at the Kansas City 8. Williams took the handoff and was stuffed by linebacker Willie Gay Jr. for a turnover on downs, the first time since 2009 that a 20-play driving lasting at least 11 minutes didn't result in points.

“Frustrating. That's all I can really say,” Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said. “It would be nice to get points.”

That wasn't the end of the Broncos' woes. They went three-and-out on their first drive of the second half, Bridgewater was picked off by Juan Thornhill on their next, and Caden Sterns ran into returner Diontae Spencer after forcing Kansas City to punt; the Chiefs managed to hop on the muff for a fresh set of downs.

Butker hit his third field goal a few minutes later, extending the lead to 16-3 with 13 1/2 minutes to go, and Sorensen tacked on his pick-6 to put the game out of reach.

“It's tough to win in this league,” said Reid, who improved to 20-3 coming off a bye, including 7-2 since his arrival in Kansas City. “And to have that opportunity against a good football team, we'll feel good about ourselves for a minute here until we get ourselves ready for the Raiders come Tuesday.”

The Chiefs stay home to host another divisional rival, the Las Vegas Raiders, on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon central. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

The Chiefs beat the Raiders in Vegas earlier this season, 41-14, on November 14.

St. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY (AP) — The Chiefs' Andy Reid is an offensive-minded coach to his core, so the Kansas City defense must have done something special against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night for him to call its performance “beautiful.”Three turnovers. Three fourth-down stops. One pick-6 to seal a fifth straight win.Sounds like a fitting description.“It was just beautiful to watch,” Reid gushed after the 22-9 victory in chilly Arrowhead Stadium Sunday, which kept Kansas City in first place in the AFC West as it chases a sixth consecutive division crown.Patrick Mahomes had just 184 yards passing with a touchdown run and an interception, and his receiving corps dropped so many passes he probably thought the ball was greased. But despite the Chiefs (8-4) gaining 257 yards of total offense, they managed to keep a one-game lead on the Chargers thanks to the other side of the ball.“Mostly it's been about a commitment to each other, believing in each other, not letting outside noise dictate what we feel,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “It's been a total team effort to stay committed to each other.”Things went haywire for the Broncos early in the game, when a 20-play drive ended with a failed fourth-down play rather than an easy field goal. And they didn't get much better when Teddy Bridgewater threw a pair of second-half interceptions, including the one that Daniel Sorensen returned 75 yards for a score with 9 1/2 minutes left to put the game away.“We moved the ball well in certain areas, certain times of the game. Guys stepped up and made plays,” Bridgewater said. “But when you give them opportunities and you don't maximize your opportunities, it's a recipe to get beat.”Bridgewater was held to 257 yards passing for the Broncos (6-6), who have lost 12 in a row to their longtime rival dating to the 2015 season. Javonte Williams started in place of injured running back Melvin Gordon III and had 102 yards rushing along with a touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.“The loss makes you feel empty no matter what," Broncos coach Vic Fangio said.The Chiefs must have spent their bye working on their opening offensive script, because they effortlessly flew downfield for a touchdown. They even overcame an offensive pass-interference call before Mahomes scampered for the score.After the Chiefs forced a second consecutive three-and-out, Harrison Butker made a 56-yard field goal.That was just about the last anyone saw of Mahomes and Co. for a while.The Broncos answered with a field goal of their own. Then, after forcing a quick punt, they embarked on a 20-play odyssey that carried them 83 yards and chewed up nearly 12 minutes of the second quarter — and resulted in no points.Denver twice converted on fourth down to keep the drive alive, then went for the hat trick on fourth-and-2 at the Kansas City 8. Williams took the handoff and was stuffed by linebacker Willie Gay Jr. for a turnover on downs, the first time since 2009 that a 20-play driving lasting at least 11 minutes didn't result in points.“Frustrating. That's all I can really say,” Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said. “It would be nice to get points.”That wasn't the end of the Broncos' woes. They went three-and-out on their first drive of the second half, Bridgewater was picked off by Juan Thornhill on their next, and Caden Sterns ran into returner Diontae Spencer after forcing Kansas City to punt; the Chiefs managed to hop on the muff for a fresh set of downs.Butker hit his third field goal a few minutes later, extending the lead to 16-3 with 13 1/2 minutes to go, and Sorensen tacked on his pick-6 to put the game out of reach.“It's tough to win in this league,” said Reid, who improved to 20-3 coming off a bye, including 7-2 since his arrival in Kansas City. “And to have that opportunity against a good football team, we'll feel good about ourselves for a minute here until we get ourselves ready for the Raiders come Tuesday.”The Chiefs stay home to host another divisional rival, the Las Vegas Raiders, on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon central. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.The Chiefs beat the Raiders in Vegas earlier this season, 41-14, on November 14.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">SUNDAY NIGHT DUBS 😄 <a href="https://t.co/tfzxCfYS7Z">pic.twitter.com/tfzxCfYS7Z</a>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1467709458839216131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Kansas City leans on defense in Denver victory Sunday, Chiefs win their fifth straight

Columbia, Mo- For the first time in program history, the East Buchanan Bulldogs football team has won the state championship.

East Buchanan faced the Marceline Tigers in the Class One State Show Me Bowl Championship, coming out on top 21-7, earning head coach Dan Ritter, in just his second year, a state championship.

"It goes back to the beginning of the season, we brought all these guys in and we talked about what we could accomplish this year," Ritter said to reporters after the game. "And they believed it and they finished the job, and I think it's redemption for a lot of people."

East Buchanan compiled 330 total yards of offense, most of those yards coming from their ground game (233), led by Sophomore Trevor Klein (28 carries for 169 yards, 2 TDs) and Senior Cru Conaway (17 carries for 68 yards, 1 TD).

East Buchanan forced a quick three and out to start the game, and then worked their way methodically down the field on a 14 play drive that went 67 yards, consuming almost seven minutes of the clock, before Trevor Klein got his first score, rushing in from five yards out.

"We ate pretty much the entire first quarter up just pounding the rock, we got a couple penalties but it didn't matter, we still got it in there," Ritter says. "And yeah, that has to be a back breaker for the other team, just having those good defensive blitzes but they couldn't quite get it done."

The Bulldogs would add one more score in the first half.  Runs of five and 15 yards from Cru Conaway would put East Buchanan at the Marceline one yard line, where they once again put it in Conaways hands for him to take it in from one yard out.  The Bulldogs led 14-0 at halftime.

Marceline would come out agressive to start the second half, attempting an onside kick which was recovered by East Buchanan, and after seven plays Klein would find the endzone again, fighting his way through defenders, from eight yards out.

Marceline was unable to get their run game going after rushing for 146 yards against Hayti, the Bulldogs were able to hold the Tigers to 67 yards, most of those coming from senior Hunter Nelson.

With the score 21-0 in the third quarter, the Tigers weren't done yet, as Nelson scored their only touchdown of the game, rushing in from one yard out, after the Tigers were led downfield by Senior quarterback Jacob Stallo and senior wide receiver Wyatt Molloy.

The Bulldogs end the season now with a 14-1 record, marking the end of the road for six seniors, including quarterback Conner Musser.

"All of us (everyone on the team) are all overwhelmed with joy, and I know everyone in our community is too," Musser says. "I figured I'd be crying right now just out of pure excitement, but we're all really happy, I'm sure my football career will probably set in here in a couple days, and realize it's all over, but in second grade we ended up winning our league championship and to go out as champions just as we came in is really something special for us."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638678824151.jpeg" alt="East Buchanan celebrates a state championship with fans at Faurot Field/Photo credit: Clint Dye | The Clinton County Leader." />
 <figcaption>East Buchanan celebrates a state championship with fans at Faurot Field/Photo credit: Clint Dye | The Clinton County Leader.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostColumbia, Mo- For the first time in program history, the East Buchanan Bulldogs football team has won the state championship.East Buchanan faced the Marceline Tigers in the Class One State Show Me Bowl Championship, coming out on top 21-7, earning head coach Dan Ritter, in just his second year, a state championship."It goes back to the beginning of the season, we brought all these guys in and we talked about what we could accomplish this year," Ritter said to reporters after the game. "And they believed it and they finished the job, and I think it's redemption for a lot of people."East Buchanan compiled 330 total yards of offense, most of those yards coming from their ground game (233), led by Sophomore Trevor Klein (28 carries for 169 yards, 2 TDs) and Senior Cru Conaway (17 carries for 68 yards, 1 TD).East Buchanan forced a quick three and out to start the game, and then worked their way methodically down the field on a 14 play drive that went 67 yards, consuming almost seven minutes of the clock, before Trevor Klein got his first score, rushing in from five yards out."We ate pretty much the entire first quarter up just pounding the rock, we got a couple penalties but it didn't matter, we still got it in there," Ritter says. "And yeah, that has to be a back breaker for the other team, just having those good defensive blitzes but they couldn't quite get it done."The Bulldogs would add one more score in the first half. Runs of five and 15 yards from Cru Conaway would put East Buchanan at the Marceline one yard line, where they once again put it in Conaways hands for him to take it in from one yard out. The Bulldogs led 14-0 at halftime.Marceline would come out agressive to start the second half, attempting an onside kick which was recovered by East Buchanan, and after seven plays Klein would find the endzone again, fighting his way through defenders, from eight yards out.Marceline was unable to get their run game going after rushing for 146 yards against Hayti, the Bulldogs were able to hold the Tigers to 67 yards, most of those coming from senior Hunter Nelson.With the score 21-0 in the third quarter, the Tigers weren't done yet, as Nelson scored their only touchdown of the game, rushing in from one yard out, after the Tigers were led downfield by Senior quarterback Jacob Stallo and senior wide receiver Wyatt Molloy.The Bulldogs end the season now with a 14-1 record, marking the end of the road for six seniors, including quarterback Conner Musser."All of us (everyone on the team) are all overwhelmed with joy, and I know everyone in our community is too," Musser says. "I figured I'd be crying right now just out of pure excitement, but we're all really happy, I'm sure my football career will probably set in here in a couple days, and realize it's all over, but in second grade we ended up winning our league championship and to go out as champions just as we came in is really something special for us."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638741342068.jpeg" alt="Senior Quarterback Conner Musser delivers a pass against Marceline in the Class One State Championship/&nbsp;Photo credit: Clint Dye | The Clinton County Leader." />
 <figcaption>Senior Quarterback Conner Musser delivers a pass against Marceline in the Class One State Championship/&nbsp;Photo credit: Clint Dye | The Clinton County Leader.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638741134564.jpeg" alt="East Buchanan players (From left to right Conner Musser, Luke Webb, Trevor Rush, Jack Archdekin) and head coach Dan Ritter at post game press conference/ Photo courtesy of Chip Holman" />
 <figcaption>East Buchanan players (From left to right Conner Musser, Luke Webb, Trevor Rush, Jack Archdekin) and head coach Dan Ritter at post game press conference/ Photo courtesy of Chip Holman</figcaption>
 </figure>

East Buchanan wins state championship against Marceline

Columbia- For the first time in the history of the East Buchanan football program, the Bulldogs have brought home a state championship.

The Bulldogs took on the Marceline Tigers on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium and took a 14-0 lead into halftime, scoring one more and only allowing one second half touchdown to down the Tigers 21-7.

East Buchanan compiled 330 total offensive yards, most of those coming from their ground game (233) which was led by Sophomore Trevor Klein (28 carries for 169 yards, 2 TDs) and Senior Cru Conaway (16 carries for 68 yards, 1 TD)

Stay tuned here for updates and a more detailed breakdown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638678824151.jpeg" alt="Photo Credit: Clint Dye | The Clinton County Leader." />
 <figcaption>Photo Credit: Clint Dye | The Clinton County Leader.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostColumbia- For the first time in the history of the East Buchanan football program, the Bulldogs have brought home a state championship.The Bulldogs took on the Marceline Tigers on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium and took a 14-0 lead into halftime, scoring one more and only allowing one second half touchdown to down the Tigers 21-7.East Buchanan compiled 330 total offensive yards, most of those coming from their ground game (233) which was led by Sophomore Trevor Klein (28 carries for 169 yards, 2 TDs) and Senior Cru Conaway (16 carries for 68 yards, 1 TD)Stay tuned here for updates and a more detailed breakdown.

East Buchanan takes down Marceline to bring home first state title in program history

GOWER - It's starting to sink in a little bit.

On Wednesday, the first day of December, the East Buchanan football team was still practicing, getting ready for yet another game.

This time, it's the Class 1 state football championship at Faurot Field on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, where the Bulldogs (13-1) face Marceline (12-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m.

"Every day, it seems like more and more people come up to me and ask, am I ready for the big game?" senior quarterback Conner Musser said. "I tell them every time, 'Yeah, we are.' Just the way we've been on a role these last couple of weeks, just continuing to get better at practice and leading up to that big day...we're getting really hyped around here."

Wednesday would be the next-to-last practice of the season on the game field in Gower before the team departs on Friday.

For senior linemen Caleb McCartney and Trevor Rush, and the four other seniors on the roster, it's starting to sink in - these are the last practices. The last game of their high school football career.

"I mean, it's kind of like our Super Bowl," McCartney said. "Senior year, get to go to a state championship. Can't ask for much more than that."

"It's one of the best feelings ever," Rush admitted. "I mean, it's sad to see that it's our last game ever as brothers. We're doing our final practices, we're playing our final game. But then again, it's one of the best feelings there's ever been."

East Buchanan, winner of three district championships since 2014, finds itself back in a state football title game for just the second time in history and for the first time since 2004. It's been 17 years since the Bulldogs fell, 21-0, in their lone championship game appearance against St. Vincent.

Now, after winning a state-semifinal game for just the second time in program history this past Saturday, the 2021 Bulldogs are excited for their opportunity to give their school its first football title.

"I've never been anywhere near being as successful as this team has been," second year head coach Dan Ritter said. "So, we're just living it up and we're enjoying it, but we know we have to get to work if we want to go one step further. So, we're not taking it lightly and we're making sure we put in the time."

East Buchanan faces a Marceline team that's won three consecutive district titles and has been to four total state championship games - their lone win coming in 1986. Their last trip to the Show Me Bowl was 2013.

The Bulldogs and Tigers have met before - in the 2004 state quarterfinals. East Buchanan won that meeting handily on the road, 31-7.

Fast forward to 2021, and the Bulldogs expect a whale of a fight from a team seeking its first championship in 35 years, and a team that's won 10 straight.

"I mean, they're just stacked all the way around," Ritter said of Marceline, "with good quality Class 1 football players. And, if we're going to be able to compete with that, we better bring our A-game, because we know that they're good. They've got a quarterback that can fling the ball around. They've got defenders all over the field with a lot of good speed."

Marceline beat previously unbeaten Hayti, 31-30, in their state semifinal game on Saturday. The Tigers are led by senior quarterback Jacob Stallo, who's thrown for 1,964 yards and 16 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.

Stallo is also a threat to run the ball, racking up 488 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. Senior running back Hunter Nelson has been a work horse in the backfield, rushing for 1,347 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Nelson also leads the team with 100 tackles on defense, including 13.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. While coach Ritter believes his team will match up well with the Tigers, it's Marceline's ability to win close games as of late that stands out to him.

Marceline has won their last three games by a combined eight points, including back-to-back, one-point victories in their last two contests.

"I sure know they know how to win," Ritter said. "And they definitely know how to win close games. The fact that they won the last three games by a grand total of eight points tells you that they know how to win close games. So, if we want to take care of business, we're going to have to win one of those close games on Saturday."

The last time East Buchanan football was in a state championship game, most of this current team wasn't born yet. The last time the Bulldogs made a semifinal, the players were in middle school.

Now, in 2021, after being, perhaps, written off at times with an early October loss at Mid-Buchanan and a No. 3 seeding in the Class 1 District 8 bracket, the Bulldogs have reeled off seven straight wins and have made history by simply getting back to this big stage.

While the top priority is to win, there's something else East Buchanan's team wants to make sure they do. Particularly, those six seniors.

Andrew Mead, an all-district receiver from the 2004 state runner-up team, actually found Conner Musser after the Bulldogs' win over Thayer last week, and reminded him to do just that.

"After our win last week, (Mead) came up to me and he's like, 'Yeah. Soak this all in, because once it's gone it's going to be gone forever. Be the last one out here and cherish these memories, because you'll remember them for the rest of your life."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638471097728.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostGOWER - It's starting to sink in a little bit.On Wednesday, the first day of December, the East Buchanan football team was still practicing, getting ready for yet another game.This time, it's the Class 1 state football championship at Faurot Field on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, where the Bulldogs (13-1) face Marceline (12-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m."Every day, it seems like more and more people come up to me and ask, am I ready for the big game?" senior quarterback Conner Musser said. "I tell them every time, 'Yeah, we are.' Just the way we've been on a role these last couple of weeks, just continuing to get better at practice and leading up to that big day...we're getting really hyped around here."Wednesday would be the next-to-last practice of the season on the game field in Gower before the team departs on Friday.For senior linemen Caleb McCartney and Trevor Rush, and the four other seniors on the roster, it's starting to sink in - these are the last practices. The last game of their high school football career."I mean, it's kind of like our Super Bowl," McCartney said. "Senior year, get to go to a state championship. Can't ask for much more than that.""It's one of the best feelings ever," Rush admitted. "I mean, it's sad to see that it's our last game ever as brothers. We're doing our final practices, we're playing our final game. But then again, it's one of the best feelings there's ever been."East Buchanan, winner of three district championships since 2014, finds itself back in a state football title game for just the second time in history and for the first time since 2004. It's been 17 years since the Bulldogs fell, 21-0, in their lone championship game appearance against St. Vincent.Now, after winning a state-semifinal game for just the second time in program history this past Saturday, the 2021 Bulldogs are excited for their opportunity to give their school its first football title."I've never been anywhere near being as successful as this team has been," second year head coach Dan Ritter said. "So, we're just living it up and we're enjoying it, but we know we have to get to work if we want to go one step further. So, we're not taking it lightly and we're making sure we put in the time."East Buchanan faces a Marceline team that's won three consecutive district titles and has been to four total state championship games - their lone win coming in 1986. Their last trip to the Show Me Bowl was 2013.The Bulldogs and Tigers have met before - in the 2004 state quarterfinals. East Buchanan won that meeting handily on the road, 31-7.Fast forward to 2021, and the Bulldogs expect a whale of a fight from a team seeking its first championship in 35 years, and a team that's won 10 straight."I mean, they're just stacked all the way around," Ritter said of Marceline, "with good quality Class 1 football players. And, if we're going to be able to compete with that, we better bring our A-game, because we know that they're good. They've got a quarterback that can fling the ball around. They've got defenders all over the field with a lot of good speed."Marceline beat previously unbeaten Hayti, 31-30, in their state semifinal game on Saturday. The Tigers are led by senior quarterback Jacob Stallo, who's thrown for 1,964 yards and 16 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.Stallo is also a threat to run the ball, racking up 488 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. Senior running back Hunter Nelson has been a work horse in the backfield, rushing for 1,347 yards and 17 touchdowns.Nelson also leads the team with 100 tackles on defense, including 13.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. While coach Ritter believes his team will match up well with the Tigers, it's Marceline's ability to win close games as of late that stands out to him.Marceline has won their last three games by a combined eight points, including back-to-back, one-point victories in their last two contests."I sure know they know how to win," Ritter said. "And they definitely know how to win close games. The fact that they won the last three games by a grand total of eight points tells you that they know how to win close games. So, if we want to take care of business, we're going to have to win one of those close games on Saturday."The last time East Buchanan football was in a state championship game, most of this current team wasn't born yet. The last time the Bulldogs made a semifinal, the players were in middle school.Now, in 2021, after being, perhaps, written off at times with an early October loss at Mid-Buchanan and a No. 3 seeding in the Class 1 District 8 bracket, the Bulldogs have reeled off seven straight wins and have made history by simply getting back to this big stage.While the top priority is to win, there's something else East Buchanan's team wants to make sure they do. Particularly, those six seniors.Take it all in. Have fun. Remember.Andrew Mead, an all-district receiver from the 2004 state runner-up team, actually found Conner Musser after the Bulldogs' win over Thayer last week, and reminded him to do just that."After our win last week, (Mead) came up to me and he's like, 'Yeah. Soak this all in, because once it's gone it's going to be gone forever. Be the last one out here and cherish these memories, because you'll remember them for the rest of your life."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/East-Buchanan-football-looks-to-make-history-in-Columbia-e1b6udi" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638471842289.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

East Buchanan eyes history as Bulldogs head to Columbia for Class 1 title game

It was another busy night of tournament play for area high school basketball teams.

Girls’ basketball Mound City invitational - Mound City 27 Rock Port 16.

Platte Valley invite - Stewartsville-Osborn 59 Union Star 44, Nodaway Valley 52 Northeast Nodaway 26.

Savannah tournament - Chillicothe 52 Maryville 35, Smithville 56 Savannah 28.

Winnetonka Invitational - Raymore-Peculiar 52 Lafayette 39.

Albany tournament - Platte Valley 84 Albany 14

Savannah tournament - Maryville 54 Smithville 47 Mound City invite - East Atchison 56 South Holt 47

Non-tournament play for boys’ basketball Lafayette 63 Center Kansas City 54 Cameron 52 Excelsior Springs 39

Wrestling Lafayette defeated Center Kansas City 87-24 to win a triangular with Holden. The Irish beat Holden to start the night, 42-40.

Benton, meanwhile hosted a triangular Tuesday. The Benton boys beat Winnetonka 51-24, while the Benton girls lost to Winnetonka 29-11. Lathrop beat both the Benton boys and girls teams, 42-39 and 24-18 respectively.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638364581442.jpeg" alt="Stock photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt was another busy night of tournament play for area high school basketball teams.Girls’ basketball Mound City invitational - Mound City 27 Rock Port 16.Platte Valley invite - Stewartsville-Osborn 59 Union Star 44, Nodaway Valley 52 Northeast Nodaway 26.Savannah tournament - Chillicothe 52 Maryville 35, Smithville 56 Savannah 28.Winnetonka Invitational - Raymore-Peculiar 52 Lafayette 39.Albany tournament - Platte Valley 84 Albany 14Boys’ basketballSavannah tournament - Maryville 54 Smithville 47 Mound City invite - East Atchison 56 South Holt 47Non-tournament play for boys’ basketball Lafayette 63 Center Kansas City 54 Cameron 52 Excelsior Springs 39Wrestling Lafayette defeated Center Kansas City 87-24 to win a triangular with Holden. The Irish beat Holden to start the night, 42-40.Benton, meanwhile hosted a triangular Tuesday. The Benton boys beat Winnetonka 51-24, while the Benton girls lost to Winnetonka 29-11. Lathrop beat both the Benton boys and girls teams, 42-39 and 24-18 respectively.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - November 30, 2021

Missouri Western volleyball coach Marian Carbin&nbsp;announced Tuesday evening that she is stepping down following nine seasons as head coach of the Griffons and four seasons as the&nbsp;assistant coach.

Her&nbsp;resignation is effective&nbsp;December 31 of this year. She will remain with the program to assist in the transition. Carbin leaves with a career record of 147-105 (.583), including six winning seasons, one&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;championship and one&nbsp;NCAA Regional appearance.&nbsp;Carbin was also named the MIAA Coach of the Year in 2017.&nbsp; "For the past 20 years, Missouri Western State University and Griffon Volleyball have shaped my life, my family and my future in ways that I may never fully realize," said Carbin in a release. "I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I've had to lead the amazing women that have come through our program and for the impact that they've had in shaping me in return.

"Coming to work every day to a campus that I love and for a program and department that is so intertwined into the fabric of my personal story has truly been a gift.&nbsp; Even now, as my journey takes me in a new direction, I remain a proud alumni and I am excited to watch and cheer for Griffon Volleyball in the years to come." Under Carbin's tutelage, Missouri Western student-athletes earned 41 All-MIAA honors, an MIAA Freshman of the Year honoree (<a href="https://gogriffons.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5886">Ali Tauchen</a>, 2017), as well as an honorable mention AVCA All-American and first team AVCA All-District selection in Erica Rottinghaus.

"I appreciate all that Coach Carbin has done to raise the profile of Griffon volleyball," said interim director of athletics&nbsp;Theresa Grosbach in a statement. "As a proud alum of our program, she has committed more than a decade of her career to its success.&nbsp;Over the course of her tenure, Coach Carbin has prioritized our three C's - classroom, competition, and community - striving to ensure that our student-athletes are reaching their full potential in their academic pursuits, achieving excellence on the floor and acting as positive ambassadors of the university in our St. Joseph community.

"She has left an indelible mark on this program, stretching all the way back to her days as an Academic All-American student-athlete for MWSU. I am grateful that she is leaving our program poised for continued-long-term success. " Carbin herself was a four-time letter winner for the Griffons, playing in 116 matches and 393 sets from 2002-2006. She finished her career with 557 kills and 1,009 digs, and ranks third in the MWSU record book with 128 career service aces.

The search for Carbin's replacement will begin immediately.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638363895891.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western volleyball coach Marian Carbin&nbsp;announced Tuesday evening that she is stepping down following nine seasons as head coach of the Griffons and four seasons as the&nbsp;assistant coach.Her&nbsp;resignation is effective&nbsp;December 31 of this year. She will remain with the program to assist in the transition. Carbin leaves with a career record of 147-105 (.583), including six winning seasons, one&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;championship and one&nbsp;NCAA Regional appearance.&nbsp;Carbin was also named the MIAA Coach of the Year in 2017.&nbsp; "For the past 20 years, Missouri Western State University and Griffon Volleyball have shaped my life, my family and my future in ways that I may never fully realize," said Carbin in a release. "I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I've had to lead the amazing women that have come through our program and for the impact that they've had in shaping me in return."Coming to work every day to a campus that I love and for a program and department that is so intertwined into the fabric of my personal story has truly been a gift.&nbsp; Even now, as my journey takes me in a new direction, I remain a proud alumni and I am excited to watch and cheer for Griffon Volleyball in the years to come." Under Carbin's tutelage, Missouri Western student-athletes earned 41 All-MIAA honors, an MIAA Freshman of the Year honoree (<a href="https://gogriffons.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5886">Ali Tauchen</a>, 2017), as well as an honorable mention AVCA All-American and first team AVCA All-District selection in Erica Rottinghaus."I appreciate all that Coach Carbin has done to raise the profile of Griffon volleyball," said interim director of athletics&nbsp;Theresa Grosbach in a statement. "As a proud alum of our program, she has committed more than a decade of her career to its success.&nbsp;Over the course of her tenure, Coach Carbin has prioritized our three C's - classroom, competition, and community - striving to ensure that our student-athletes are reaching their full potential in their academic pursuits, achieving excellence on the floor and acting as positive ambassadors of the university in our St. Joseph community."She has left an indelible mark on this program, stretching all the way back to her days as an Academic All-American student-athlete for MWSU. I am grateful that she is leaving our program poised for continued-long-term success. " Carbin herself was a four-time letter winner for the Griffons, playing in 116 matches and 393 sets from 2002-2006. She finished her career with 557 kills and 1,009 digs, and ranks third in the MWSU record book with 128 career service aces.The search for Carbin's replacement will begin immediately.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Missouri Western volleyball coach Marian Carbin stepping down after nine seasons

The Missouri Basketball Coaches’ Association just released their first high school basketball rankings of the 2021-22 season this week.

Area teams that made the rankings are listed below.

Class 1 boys - Mound City is ranked #2, with Stanberry #7. The Panthers are coming off of a state runner-up finish from last season.

Class 2 boys - North Andrew checks in at #4. The Cardinals finished fourth at state last season.

Class 1 girls - defending state champion Platte Valley is #1. Stanberry checks in at #9.

Class 2 girls - Bishop LeBlond is #5.

Class 3 girls - Mid-Buchanan is #10.

Class 4 girls - Benton checks in at #4, and Maryville checks in at #7. The Cardinals topped Maryville for a district title in March and went on to finish fourth at state in Springfield.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638310532999.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Basketball Coaches’ Association just released their first high school basketball rankings of the 2021-22 season this week.Area teams that made the rankings are listed below.Class 1 boys - Mound City is ranked #2, with Stanberry #7. The Panthers are coming off of a state runner-up finish from last season.Class 2 boys - North Andrew checks in at #4. The Cardinals finished fourth at state last season.Class 1 girls - defending state champion Platte Valley is #1. Stanberry checks in at #9.Class 2 girls - Bishop LeBlond is #5.Class 3 girls - Mid-Buchanan is #10.Class 4 girls - Benton checks in at #4, and Maryville checks in at #7. The Cardinals topped Maryville for a district title in March and went on to finish fourth at state in Springfield.

LeBlond, Benton girls, Mound City boys included in early basketball rankings

The Missouri Western men's basketball team battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit, and a 55-43 deficit with 10:40 to go, to force overtime and ultimately beat William Jewell 80-76 at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday evening.

After going 0-2 in a pair of overtime games earlier this season, the Griffons (4-4) scored the first five points of the extra period, and were able to hold on from there.

"It's a game of inches every game," Griffons head coach Will Martin said. "I'm going to say it - I think our guys deserve this win. They've been through a lot from a basketball sense, but also off the court, too. But, there's a lot of adversity these guys have had to face and they've looked adversity in the eye and have responded every single time."

Playing without lead scorer Q Mays for a second straight game due to a family emergency, Missouri Western wasn't able to find its shooting touch over the first 10 minutes and struggled to contain William Jewell's 6-9 center and Tarleton State transfer, Heri Tshiyoyo, who had six points and an assist as the Cardinals opened up a 16-8 lead.

The Griffons responded and took a 24-22 lead with 6:33 left in the first half, but the Cardinals (2-4) went on another run to go up 34-27 at the break.

Missouri Western faced its largest deficit at 55-43 with 10:40 remaining. Trailing 66-63 in the final minute, Reese Glover attempted a long three with less than 20 seconds to go. The shot missed, but Glover was fouled behind the line and attempted three free throws.

Glover, who finished with 16 points and three made three-pointers, converted on all three of those free throws to tie the game at 66 and force OT.

"You learn more in the losses, but you have to apply what you've learned," Martin said. "So, I told the guys, 'We've been here. Now, let's see if we're willing to apply what we've learned.' We had been to two overtimes and weren't able to get the W. So, let's have confidence that we're going to learn through the losses and lessons."

The first 75 seconds of overtime was emphatic for Missouri Western. After a JaRon Thames dunk on the Griffons' first possession of OT, junior Caleb Bennett got a steal at midcourt, and fired the ball to a wide open Glover, who sunk a wide open three to put Missouri Western head 71-66 with 3:41 left in OT.

"I'm just glad our guys got to experience sticking with it, not having doubt and not falling to the level of your talent but rather rising to the level of your preparation and that's what I kept telling the guys."

Bennett finished with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 shooting from the foul line. Freshman center J.C. Anthony, who played 17 solid minutes off the bench was also key with a career-high eight points and four rebounds. Anthony's biggest moment came with eight seconds left in overtime, as he battled for an offensive rebound after a miss by Will Eames, and then had an easy put-back to give the Griffons a 79-76 lead.

The Cardinals tried a contested corner three in the closing seconds, but Thames got the defensive rebound with 0.5 left, and that was it.

In all, the Griffons had four players in double figures. Eames scored a team-high 18 and also led Missouri Western with seven rebounds. Thames ended up with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.

After earning back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Missouri Western enters MIAA play at home this Thursday as they host Rogers State (5-0). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game at 5:30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638203707712.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's JaRon Thames (24, yellow) goes up for a shot in the second half against William Jewell Saturday. Courtesy of gogriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's JaRon Thames (24, yellow) goes up for a shot in the second half against William Jewell Saturday. Courtesy of gogriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western men's basketball team battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit, and a 55-43 deficit with 10:40 to go, to force overtime and ultimately beat William Jewell 80-76 at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday evening.After going 0-2 in a pair of overtime games earlier this season, the Griffons (4-4) scored the first five points of the extra period, and were able to hold on from there."It's a game of inches every game," Griffons head coach Will Martin said. "I'm going to say it - I think our guys deserve this win. They've been through a lot from a basketball sense, but also off the court, too. But, there's a lot of adversity these guys have had to face and they've looked adversity in the eye and have responded every single time."Playing without lead scorer Q Mays for a second straight game due to a family emergency, Missouri Western wasn't able to find its shooting touch over the first 10 minutes and struggled to contain William Jewell's 6-9 center and Tarleton State transfer, Heri Tshiyoyo, who had six points and an assist as the Cardinals opened up a 16-8 lead.The Griffons responded and took a 24-22 lead with 6:33 left in the first half, but the Cardinals (2-4) went on another run to go up 34-27 at the break. Missouri Western faced its largest deficit at 55-43 with 10:40 remaining. Trailing 66-63 in the final minute, Reese Glover attempted a long three with less than 20 seconds to go. The shot missed, but Glover was fouled behind the line and attempted three free throws.Glover, who finished with 16 points and three made three-pointers, converted on all three of those free throws to tie the game at 66 and force OT."You learn more in the losses, but you have to apply what you've learned," Martin said. "So, I told the guys, 'We've been here. Now, let's see if we're willing to apply what we've learned.' We had been to two overtimes and weren't able to get the W. So, let's have confidence that we're going to learn through the losses and lessons."The first 75 seconds of overtime was emphatic for Missouri Western. After a JaRon Thames dunk on the Griffons' first possession of OT, junior Caleb Bennett got a steal at midcourt, and fired the ball to a wide open Glover, who sunk a wide open three to put Missouri Western head 71-66 with 3:41 left in OT.The Griffons never trailed again."I'm just glad our guys got to experience sticking with it, not having doubt and not falling to the level of your talent but rather rising to the level of your preparation and that's what I kept telling the guys."Bennett finished with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 shooting from the foul line. Freshman center J.C. Anthony, who played 17 solid minutes off the bench was also key with a career-high eight points and four rebounds. Anthony's biggest moment came with eight seconds left in overtime, as he battled for an offensive rebound after a miss by Will Eames, and then had an easy put-back to give the Griffons a 79-76 lead.The Cardinals tried a contested corner three in the closing seconds, but Thames got the defensive rebound with 0.5 left, and that was it.In all, the Griffons had four players in double figures. Eames scored a team-high 18 and also led Missouri Western with seven rebounds. Thames ended up with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.After earning back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Missouri Western enters MIAA play at home this Thursday as they host Rogers State (5-0). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game at 5:30.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western men enter MIAA play with momentum after OT win Saturday

GOWER - The East Buchanan football team is state championship bound for the first time in 17 years.

The Bulldogs (13-1) routed Thayer 34-6 Saturday in a Class 1 state semifinal game played in Gower. The win gives East Buchanan just its second appearance in a state championship and its first since 2004.

"We were expecting a grudge match to go down to the last minute," Bulldogs head coach Dan Ritter said. "To be able to win a game 34-6 and to see our defensive performance and to see our offense come together, I was proud all around of these young men."

East Buchanan's defense was stout right from the very beginning. Thayer (10-4) had six possessions in the first half, and failed to score on any. Three of those six possessions ended in punt, one ended with an interception in the end zone by Cru Conaway, another ended in turnover on downs and the last one ended as time expired in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs put up the game's first points midway through the first quarter. On a drive that started at their own seven, sophomore running back Trevor Klein caught a 43-yard pass to spark momentum, and senior Cru Conaway finished it off with a two-yard touchdown run.

The point-after missed, but East Buchanan led 6-0 at the end of the first.

After a short Thayer punt, the Bulldogs started a drive at the Bobcat 35-yard line with less than three minutes left until halftime. With time ticking down, Klein eventually scored on a seven-yard touchdown run, and then ran it again for a two-point conversion to put the Bulldogs ahead 14-0 at halftime.

East Buchanan got the ball to start the second half and took immediate advantage. On the second play from scrimmage, Klein took a hand-off around the right side and took off down the sideline on a 62-yard touchdown run. The Alec Hesson point-after made it 21-0 Bulldogs with 11:17 left in the third.

Thayer (10-4) would finally mount a charge on their first possession of the second half. The Bobcats drove 72 yards on 10 plays, ending with a three-yard touchdown run from senior Kyrin Magnuson. The point-after was blocked, but the Bobcats were within two possessions, 21-6, with 6:04 remaining in the third.

The fourth quarter belonged to East Buchanan. The Bulldogs started a drive at the Bobcat 40, and scored four plays later on a nine-yard touchdown run from Klein - the first play of the final quarter.

Now trailing 28-6, Thayer needed points. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, their first play of the fourth quarter was a pick-six. Klein picked off quarterback Landry Pitts, and took it the other way 38 yards, putting East Buchanan ahead 34-6 with 11:38 remaining.

The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns within the first 22 seconds of the fourth quarter, and the two scores were only 12 seconds apart.

Klein was once again the star, toting the ball 12 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 72 yards - not including his 38-yard pick-six.

"The other cool thing is Trevor's cousin, Nick Klein, he's running around and getting all kinds of tackles," Ritter said. "He's 15, too. We have a 14-year-old starting on the offensive line with two other sophomores. So, we have a great group of young guys who are mixing really well with this senior leadership."

Conaway had 14 carries for 58 yards and a score. Senior quarterback Conner Musser completed 14-of-23 passes for 147 yards with six different receivers catching at least one pass.

East Buchanan now heads to Columbia to face Marceline (12-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.

The game will be broadcast live on KY-102.5 FM in St. Joseph with coverage starting at 2:30. The game can also be heard online at KY102.net and the KY-102 mobile app.

The Tigers defeated Hayti in the other semifinal Saturday, 31-30, on a go-ahead field goal as time expired.

It's Marceline's first trip to the state final since 2013, as they seek their first title since 1986.

The Bulldogs meanwhile are back in the title for the first time since 2004, when St. Vincent handed East Buchanan a 21-0 loss.

Ron Musser was the head coach of that 2004 team, and is now an assistant on Ritter's staff.

With Musser being the one who gave Ritter his first coaching opportunity at Mid-Buchanan, Ritter is hopeful that this team can be the one to earn sweet redemption for the former head man.

"They didn't quite get it done," Ritter said, "and just getting the chance to redeem him through all of this, I think that could be a pretty special moment for him and for all of us. He's a special guy and he gets stuff done."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638200824740.jpeg" alt="East Buchanan players turn to greet their fans following their 34-6 win over Thayer in the Class 1 state semifinal in Gower Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>East Buchanan players turn to greet their fans following their 34-6 win over Thayer in the Class 1 state semifinal in Gower Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostGOWER - The East Buchanan football team is state championship bound for the first time in 17 years.The Bulldogs (13-1) routed Thayer 34-6 Saturday in a Class 1 state semifinal game played in Gower. The win gives East Buchanan just its second appearance in a state championship and its first since 2004."We were expecting a grudge match to go down to the last minute," Bulldogs head coach Dan Ritter said. "To be able to win a game 34-6 and to see our defensive performance and to see our offense come together, I was proud all around of these young men."East Buchanan's defense was stout right from the very beginning. Thayer (10-4) had six possessions in the first half, and failed to score on any. Three of those six possessions ended in punt, one ended with an interception in the end zone by Cru Conaway, another ended in turnover on downs and the last one ended as time expired in the second quarter.The Bulldogs put up the game's first points midway through the first quarter. On a drive that started at their own seven, sophomore running back Trevor Klein caught a 43-yard pass to spark momentum, and senior Cru Conaway finished it off with a two-yard touchdown run.The point-after missed, but East Buchanan led 6-0 at the end of the first.After a short Thayer punt, the Bulldogs started a drive at the Bobcat 35-yard line with less than three minutes left until halftime. With time ticking down, Klein eventually scored on a seven-yard touchdown run, and then ran it again for a two-point conversion to put the Bulldogs ahead 14-0 at halftime.East Buchanan got the ball to start the second half and took immediate advantage. On the second play from scrimmage, Klein took a hand-off around the right side and took off down the sideline on a 62-yard touchdown run. The Alec Hesson point-after made it 21-0 Bulldogs with 11:17 left in the third.Thayer (10-4) would finally mount a charge on their first possession of the second half. The Bobcats drove 72 yards on 10 plays, ending with a three-yard touchdown run from senior Kyrin Magnuson. The point-after was blocked, but the Bobcats were within two possessions, 21-6, with 6:04 remaining in the third.The fourth quarter belonged to East Buchanan. The Bulldogs started a drive at the Bobcat 40, and scored four plays later on a nine-yard touchdown run from Klein - the first play of the final quarter.Now trailing 28-6, Thayer needed points. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, their first play of the fourth quarter was a pick-six. Klein picked off quarterback Landry Pitts, and took it the other way 38 yards, putting East Buchanan ahead 34-6 with 11:38 remaining.The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns within the first 22 seconds of the fourth quarter, and the two scores were only 12 seconds apart.Klein was once again the star, toting the ball 12 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 72 yards - not including his 38-yard pick-six."The other cool thing is Trevor's cousin, Nick Klein, he's running around and getting all kinds of tackles," Ritter said. "He's 15, too. We have a 14-year-old starting on the offensive line with two other sophomores. So, we have a great group of young guys who are mixing really well with this senior leadership."Conaway had 14 carries for 58 yards and a score. Senior quarterback Conner Musser completed 14-of-23 passes for 147 yards with six different receivers catching at least one pass.East Buchanan now heads to Columbia to face Marceline (12-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.The game will be broadcast live on KY-102.5 FM in St. Joseph with coverage starting at 2:30. The game can also be heard online at KY102.net and the KY-102 mobile app.The Tigers defeated Hayti in the other semifinal Saturday, 31-30, on a go-ahead field goal as time expired.It's Marceline's first trip to the state final since 2013, as they seek their first title since 1986.The Bulldogs meanwhile are back in the title for the first time since 2004, when St. Vincent handed East Buchanan a 21-0 loss.Ron Musser was the head coach of that 2004 team, and is now an assistant on Ritter's staff.With Musser being the one who gave Ritter his first coaching opportunity at Mid-Buchanan, Ritter is hopeful that this team can be the one to earn sweet redemption for the former head man."They didn't quite get it done," Ritter said, "and just getting the chance to redeem him through all of this, I think that could be a pretty special moment for him and for all of us. He's a special guy and he gets stuff done."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638200771127.jpeg" alt="East Buchanan huddles before the game. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>East Buchanan huddles before the game. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

East Buchanan to face Marceline in state football championship game Saturday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Free agent pitcher Wade Davis is retiring at age 36 after 13 major league seasons. 

The three-time All-Star played for the Kansas City Royals in 2021 and helped them win the 2015 World Series title. Davis was 63-55 with a 3.94 ERA and 141 saves in 161 chances for Tampa Bay, Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs and Colorado. 

He made 88 starts and 469 relief appearances and was an All-Star from 2015-17. His retirement was announced by his agency, Jet Sports.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Free agent pitcher Wade Davis is retiring at age 36 after 13 major league seasons. The three-time All-Star played for the Kansas City Royals in 2021 and helped them win the 2015 World Series title. Davis was 63-55 with a 3.94 ERA and 141 saves in 161 chances for Tampa Bay, Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs and Colorado. He made 88 starts and 469 relief appearances and was an All-Star from 2015-17. His retirement was announced by his agency, Jet Sports.

⚾ Royals reliever Wade Davis retires after 13 MLB seasons

Cover image by Tommy Rezac / St. Joseph Post

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Even the mind of Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose ability to put on blinders and focus only on the future is downright legendary, can find its way back to a season that looked remarkably like this one.

You know, when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl?

That year began with then-new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo trying to implement a wholesale change in scheme, resulting in a bunch that was bad the previous year under Bob Sutton and just may have been worse. Throw in a whole bunch of injuries, including one to Patrick Mahomes, and the result was a decidedly un-championship-like 6-4 start to the year.

That was the same record the Chiefs had through the first 10 weeks this season.

It also was produced by a defense that was historically inept for the first eight weeks of the season, and injuries to such big names as Chris Jones, Frank Clark and Clyde Edwards-Helaire that hampered the Chiefs on both sides of the ball.

"I wouldn't say specifically that I've brought it up," Reid said. "I understand that, but you spend so much time focusing on getting yourself ready to play that those things don't necessarily have an impact. It does in the big picture, but when you're getting ready to play a good football team, you spend every minute trying to get the scheme down and get their scheme down and then understand their players. It's endless hours on that, trying to get that done."

Reid should have some time to ponder such comparisons during the Chiefs bye this week.

It probably would give him a whole lot of confidence in what lies ahead.

Back in 2019, the Chiefs ran the table after their mediocre start, relying on a defense that adapted to Spagnuolo's system and an offense that had a healthy Mahomes. They won their last game before their bye, which also came in Week 12, and began their torrid run to the playoffs by beating up the AFC West-rival Raiders after the break.

This year's version of the Chiefs also turned things around on defense. They have held four straight opponents to 301 yards or fewer, coinciding with a season-changing four-game win streak. And they played easily their best game of the season against the NFL's top-ranked offense in a 19-9 win over the Cowboys last week.

Dallas turned the ball over three times and managed just 276 yards in a game that was always in Kansas City's control.

"It got lost because the offense wasn't playing very well, that we were winning games because of the defense," Mahomes said. "People were so used to our offense kind of going out there and putting up these numbers, but I would say it every week when I was right here at the podium, don't lose how good our defense is playing."

Now the trick is to keep playing that way. 

The defense in 2019 managed to do it, holding three of its five opponents after the bye to fewer than 300 yards. It held the Titans to 295 yards in the AFC title game to usher the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl since 1971, then was strong enough to allow Kansas City to mount a comeback against the 49ers.

There's every reason to believe this year's bunch can do it, too. They have more talent top to bottom than the 2019 defense did, particularly since the arrival of pass rusher Melvin Ingram. His work opposite Frank Clark on the defensive line has allowed Chris Jones to move back to his more natural position at defensive tackle, and he's made life miserable for opposing quarters; he had 3 1/2 sacks, forced a fumble and recovered one against the Cowboys last weekend.

In the linebacker group, second-round pick Nick Bolton has given the Chiefs the kind of athleticism that they've lacked since Derrick Johnson retired. And in the secondary, L'Jarius Sneed is playing at a Pro Bowl level at cornerback, which has freed up three-time All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu to freelance a bit more and cause defensive havoc.

"I'm not trying to blame it on injuries," Spagnuolo said, "but it always feels better or seems to come together when you can have some consecutive weeks of the same guys. When you can get a volume of reps underneath your belt with the same guys, talking to the same guy — you know what I'm saying? To me, that would be the biggest thing."

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the Chiefs' midseason turnaround? Their high-powered offense still isn't in sync.

Imagine what the Chiefs could do the rest of the way if Mahomes and Co. start lighting up the scoreboard again.

"We lost some games close early that we probably should have won if we found ways to finish. We took some big lumps and had some big losses that we don't usually have here," Mahomes said. "We kind of went back to the drawing board, went back to the fundamentals and decided to take it week by week, go through the process, trust in the coaching staff. We're sitting here now with everything in front of us. We just have to keep that same mindset."

Cover image by Tommy Rezac / St. Joseph PostBy DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Even the mind of Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose ability to put on blinders and focus only on the future is downright legendary, can find its way back to a season that looked remarkably like this one.It was only two years ago.You know, when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl?That year began with then-new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo trying to implement a wholesale change in scheme, resulting in a bunch that was bad the previous year under Bob Sutton and just may have been worse. Throw in a whole bunch of injuries, including one to Patrick Mahomes, and the result was a decidedly un-championship-like 6-4 start to the year.That was the same record the Chiefs had through the first 10 weeks this season.It also was produced by a defense that was historically inept for the first eight weeks of the season, and injuries to such big names as Chris Jones, Frank Clark and Clyde Edwards-Helaire that hampered the Chiefs on both sides of the ball."I wouldn't say specifically that I've brought it up," Reid said. "I understand that, but you spend so much time focusing on getting yourself ready to play that those things don't necessarily have an impact. It does in the big picture, but when you're getting ready to play a good football team, you spend every minute trying to get the scheme down and get their scheme down and then understand their players. It's endless hours on that, trying to get that done."Reid should have some time to ponder such comparisons during the Chiefs bye this week.It probably would give him a whole lot of confidence in what lies ahead.Back in 2019, the Chiefs ran the table after their mediocre start, relying on a defense that adapted to Spagnuolo's system and an offense that had a healthy Mahomes. They won their last game before their bye, which also came in Week 12, and began their torrid run to the playoffs by beating up the AFC West-rival Raiders after the break.This year's version of the Chiefs also turned things around on defense. They have held four straight opponents to 301 yards or fewer, coinciding with a season-changing four-game win streak. And they played easily their best game of the season against the NFL's top-ranked offense in a 19-9 win over the Cowboys last week.Dallas turned the ball over three times and managed just 276 yards in a game that was always in Kansas City's control."It got lost because the offense wasn't playing very well, that we were winning games because of the defense," Mahomes said. "People were so used to our offense kind of going out there and putting up these numbers, but I would say it every week when I was right here at the podium, don't lose how good our defense is playing."Now the trick is to keep playing that way. The defense in 2019 managed to do it, holding three of its five opponents after the bye to fewer than 300 yards. It held the Titans to 295 yards in the AFC title game to usher the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl since 1971, then was strong enough to allow Kansas City to mount a comeback against the 49ers.There's every reason to believe this year's bunch can do it, too. They have more talent top to bottom than the 2019 defense did, particularly since the arrival of pass rusher Melvin Ingram. His work opposite Frank Clark on the defensive line has allowed Chris Jones to move back to his more natural position at defensive tackle, and he's made life miserable for opposing quarters; he had 3 1/2 sacks, forced a fumble and recovered one against the Cowboys last weekend.In the linebacker group, second-round pick Nick Bolton has given the Chiefs the kind of athleticism that they've lacked since Derrick Johnson retired. And in the secondary, L'Jarius Sneed is playing at a Pro Bowl level at cornerback, which has freed up three-time All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu to freelance a bit more and cause defensive havoc."I'm not trying to blame it on injuries," Spagnuolo said, "but it always feels better or seems to come together when you can have some consecutive weeks of the same guys. When you can get a volume of reps underneath your belt with the same guys, talking to the same guy — you know what I'm saying? To me, that would be the biggest thing."Perhaps the most encouraging part of the Chiefs' midseason turnaround? Their high-powered offense still isn't in sync.Imagine what the Chiefs could do the rest of the way if Mahomes and Co. start lighting up the scoreboard again."We lost some games close early that we probably should have won if we found ways to finish. We took some big lumps and had some big losses that we don't usually have here," Mahomes said. "We kind of went back to the drawing board, went back to the fundamentals and decided to take it week by week, go through the process, trust in the coaching staff. We're sitting here now with everything in front of us. We just have to keep that same mindset."

🏈 Chiefs see similarities to 2019 turnaround that led to title

KANSAS CITY -&nbsp;With leading scorer Q Mays out of the lineup due to a family emergency, the Missouri Western men’s basketball team (3-4) made adjustments and held on for a 69-59 win at Rockhurst on Tuesday night in Kansas City.

Sophomore Reese Glover dropped a game-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from three, while freshman Reed Kemp added 11 points and six assists in his first collegiate start.

Head coach Will Martin was proud of how his young players responded in Missouri Western’s first true road win of the season.

"We have a lot of young talent," Martin said, "and I feel bad, because a lot of those kids deserve to play, but when you have a tough non-conference schedule, you have to run with your horses and thoroughbreds. So, I'm always going to lean more towards our upperclassmen, but Reed Kemp showed he stayed prepared and stayed ready."

Trailing 25-24 at halftime, the Griffons started the second half on a 26-9 run and never lost the lead again.

"I thought we did a good job in the second half of taking care of the basketball," Martin said, after his team had just two turnovers in the final 20 minutes. "That goes hand-in-hand with our assist-to-turnover ratio, which has to get better. We're looking to share the ball more."

The Griffons finished with 13 assists and 13 turnovers. Junior Caleb Bennett scored 12 points to go with six rebounds, while Alex John and JaRon Thames each scored seven points.

Missouri Western returns home to host William Jewell on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. It'll be the last non-conference game before MIAA play starts on Dec. 2 against Rogers State.

Coach Martin is optimistic that the energy his team showed in Tuesday's win can carry over into Saturday and the games that follow that.

"I thought they responded with a great warm-up and I thought we had great energy on the bench," he said. "That's what we have to carry over to keep momentum the rest of the year. We want to play our best basketball in March, and I thought we took a step in the right direction in doing that today."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637759548047.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's JaRon Thames goes up for a dunk in the second half of the Griffons' 69-59 at Rockhurst Tuesday. Photo by John Roushkolb." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's JaRon Thames goes up for a dunk in the second half of the Griffons' 69-59 at Rockhurst Tuesday. Photo by John Roushkolb.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY -&nbsp;With leading scorer Q Mays out of the lineup due to a family emergency, the Missouri Western men’s basketball team (3-4) made adjustments and held on for a 69-59 win at Rockhurst on Tuesday night in Kansas City.Sophomore Reese Glover dropped a game-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from three, while freshman Reed Kemp added 11 points and six assists in his first collegiate start.Head coach Will Martin was proud of how his young players responded in Missouri Western’s first true road win of the season."We have a lot of young talent," Martin said, "and I feel bad, because a lot of those kids deserve to play, but when you have a tough non-conference schedule, you have to run with your horses and thoroughbreds. So, I'm always going to lean more towards our upperclassmen, but Reed Kemp showed he stayed prepared and stayed ready."Trailing 25-24 at halftime, the Griffons started the second half on a 26-9 run and never lost the lead again."I thought we did a good job in the second half of taking care of the basketball," Martin said, after his team had just two turnovers in the final 20 minutes. "That goes hand-in-hand with our assist-to-turnover ratio, which has to get better. We're looking to share the ball more."The Griffons finished with 13 assists and 13 turnovers. Junior Caleb Bennett scored 12 points to go with six rebounds, while Alex John and JaRon Thames each scored seven points.Missouri Western returns home to host William Jewell on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. It'll be the last non-conference game before MIAA play starts on Dec. 2 against Rogers State.Coach Martin is optimistic that the energy his team showed in Tuesday's win can carry over into Saturday and the games that follow that."I thought they responded with a great warm-up and I thought we had great energy on the bench," he said. "That's what we have to carry over to keep momentum the rest of the year. We want to play our best basketball in March, and I thought we took a step in the right direction in doing that today."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western men pull away in second half for road win at Rockhurst Tuesday

The Missouri Western women's basketball team (4-0) delivered a dominant performance Monday in an 82-72 win over Illinois-Springfield at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Corbyn Cunningham&nbsp;was one of five Griffons in double figures, adding 10 rebounds to her 21 points for her first double-double of the year. Connie Clarke&nbsp;notched her third straight double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds, as MWSU moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2015-16.

"It was a great, great win," Missouri Western women's basketball coach Candi Whitaker said. "I think (Illinois-Springfield) is a really good team and they have some good players, some good athleticism. Good inside out.

"Again, super happy with the win. I love how we're sharing the basketball. I love how we have multiple people that can score it. I thought that Connie (Clarke) didn't necessarily have her best night, but was statistically fantastic in terms of 15 rebounds and 12 points. Her effort is just non-stop on the glass."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637644303901.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Corbyn Cunningham (middle) goes up for two in the first half of the Griffons' 82-72 win over Illinois-Springfield on Monday at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Corbyn Cunningham (middle) goes up for two in the first half of the Griffons' 82-72 win over Illinois-Springfield on Monday at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph Post&nbsp;The Missouri Western women's basketball team (4-0) delivered a dominant performance Monday in an 82-72 win over Illinois-Springfield at the MWSU Fieldhouse.Corbyn Cunningham&nbsp;was one of five Griffons in double figures, adding 10 rebounds to her 21 points for her first double-double of the year. Connie Clarke&nbsp;notched her third straight double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds, as MWSU moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2015-16."It was a great, great win," Missouri Western women's basketball coach Candi Whitaker said. "I think (Illinois-Springfield) is a really good team and they have some good players, some good athleticism. Good inside out."Again, super happy with the win. I love how we're sharing the basketball. I love how we have multiple people that can score it. I thought that Connie (Clarke) didn't necessarily have her best night, but was statistically fantastic in terms of 15 rebounds and 12 points. Her effort is just non-stop on the glass."After a back-and-forth first half that featured four ties and eight lead changes, the Griffons built a 43-36 halftime lead and never trailed in the second half.Missouri Western closed the third quarter on a 7-2 run, and opened the fourth on a 10-4 run, eventually leading 78-59 with 4:22 remaining.Illinois-Springfield (4-1) closed the gap a bit, making it an 82-72 game with 1:40 remaining, but the Prairie Stars wouldn't score after that. Missouri Western shared the ball well with 18 assists, but 19 turnovers by the Griffons kept the game a bit closer than it should have been."I think if you take care of the basketball and don't allow that lead to diminish within a minute," Whitaker said, "it happened very quickly, we would probably have a better taste in our mouth. I mean, I'm going to take it. I'm super happy with the win. It was a great team win. We had a lot of people do a lot of great things." Missouri Western held the Prairie Stars to 43.1 percent shooting (25-58) on the night while shooting 48.5 percent (32-66) themselves. The Griffons out-rebounded UIS 43-27, with a 13-5 edge on the offensive glass, contributing to 13 second chance points for MWSU.Missouri Western was 8-of-20 from three, including Brionna Budgetts, who finished with 17 points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep. Jaelyn Haggard scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.Jordan Cunningham was the fifth Griffon in double figures Monday with 10 points.Missouri Western is next in action at home on Thursday, Dec. 2 to open MIAA play against Rogers State. Tip-off in that game is set for 5:30 p.m.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.