KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns while running for another score, Micah Hyde returned a rare interception by Patrick Mahomes 26 yards for a touchdown and Buffalo (4-1) rolled to a 38-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in a conference title game rematch that was delayed more than an hour by lightning Sunday night.

“I think this is going to be made a bigger deal than it is. We're in Week 5,” Allen said. “Four wins doesn't get you to the playoffs. We ended up with a win. That's our goal each and every week, to come out and be resilient through lightning delays. I'm proud of how our team handled the situation.”

Emmanuel Sanders had two TD catches for the Bills. Dawson Knox had 117 yards receiving and the other one.

“We're going to enjoy it on the plane back. You can tell I'm enjoying it out there; I lost my voice screaming,” Sanders said, “but at the same time, it's not like we won the Super Bowl. It's Week 5. We have to get back to work."

Mahomes finished with 272 yards passing and two touchdowns to go with two interceptions and a lost fumble — three of his team's four turnovers in all. Mahomes also wound up being the leading rusher for the Chiefs (2-3) with 61 yards, as they struggled to get going offensively against a talented Buffalo defense.

It didn't help that running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire left with a knee injury early in the second half. Tight end Travis Kelce also left in the closing minutes after taking a blow to the head on an incomplete pass.

Still, the Chiefs were within 31-20 early in the fourth quarter when Rashad Fenton picked off Allen's pass on a third-down jump ball near midfield. However, Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was called for roughing the passer, giving the Bills the ball and a fresh set of downs, and they marched downfield&nbsp;for the clinching touchdown.

“We know we have what it takes to be great. We have a lot of great players that have been really good other places,” Mahomes said. “We know we have what it takes. It's a matter of coming together now and finding a way to do that.”

Defensively, the Bills beat the Chiefs over the top for several big plays throughout.

L'Jarius Sneed blew coverage on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders that gave Buffalo a 14-10 lead. Daniel Sorensen also blew coverage on a 61-yard pass to Stefon Diggs that led to a field goal. Sorensen alsp blew coverage on tight end Dawson Knox, which resulted in a 53-yard touchdown reception.

Allen only completed seven passes in the first half. They went for 219 yards and two scores. In total, the Bills finished with 436 yards of offense and averaged over eight yards per play.

“They're embarrassed by it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of the defensive performance. “We have to do better.”

The Chiefs head to Washington this Sunday for a noon central kickoff. The game can be heard on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns while running for another score, Micah Hyde returned a rare interception by Patrick Mahomes 26 yards for a touchdown and Buffalo (4-1) rolled to a 38-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in a conference title game rematch that was delayed more than an hour by lightning Sunday night.“I think this is going to be made a bigger deal than it is. We're in Week 5,” Allen said. “Four wins doesn't get you to the playoffs. We ended up with a win. That's our goal each and every week, to come out and be resilient through lightning delays. I'm proud of how our team handled the situation.”Emmanuel Sanders had two TD catches for the Bills. Dawson Knox had 117 yards receiving and the other one.“We're going to enjoy it on the plane back. You can tell I'm enjoying it out there; I lost my voice screaming,” Sanders said, “but at the same time, it's not like we won the Super Bowl. It's Week 5. We have to get back to work."Mahomes finished with 272 yards passing and two touchdowns to go with two interceptions and a lost fumble — three of his team's four turnovers in all. Mahomes also wound up being the leading rusher for the Chiefs (2-3) with 61 yards, as they struggled to get going offensively against a talented Buffalo defense.It didn't help that running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire left with a knee injury early in the second half. Tight end Travis Kelce also left in the closing minutes after taking a blow to the head on an incomplete pass.Still, the Chiefs were within 31-20 early in the fourth quarter when Rashad Fenton picked off Allen's pass on a third-down jump ball near midfield. However, Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was called for roughing the passer, giving the Bills the ball and a fresh set of downs, and they marched downfield&nbsp;for the clinching touchdown.“We know we have what it takes to be great. We have a lot of great players that have been really good other places,” Mahomes said. “We know we have what it takes. It's a matter of coming together now and finding a way to do that.”Defensively, the Bills beat the Chiefs over the top for several big plays throughout.L'Jarius Sneed blew coverage on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders that gave Buffalo a 14-10 lead. Daniel Sorensen also blew coverage on a 61-yard pass to Stefon Diggs that led to a field goal. Sorensen alsp blew coverage on tight end Dawson Knox, which resulted in a 53-yard touchdown reception.Allen only completed seven passes in the first half. They went for 219 yards and two scores. In total, the Bills finished with 436 yards of offense and averaged over eight yards per play.“They're embarrassed by it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of the defensive performance. “We have to do better.”The Chiefs head to Washington this Sunday for a noon central kickoff. The game can be heard on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

Defensive struggles, four turnovers cost Chiefs in primetime game against Bills

The game of the night of course was Mid-Buchanan vs. East Buchanan. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/ecc61d65-3c0e-4d99-9c76-c1a65e9adc03">Read all about that game here</a>.

MEC #5 St. Pius X 63 (7-0) Benton 7 (1-6) - FINAL

#6 Lincoln College Prep 27 (7-0) Maryville 26 (3-4) - FINAL

Chillicothe 13 (4-3) Savannah 0 (3-4) - FINAL

Lafayette 32 (6-1)&nbsp;Cameron 10 (1-6) - FINAL

Bishop LeBlond 40 (6-1) Nodaway Valley 20 (2-5) - FINAL KCI Hamilton 57 (5-2)&nbsp;Plattsburg 14 (1-6) - FINAL

Lathrop 8 (1-6)&nbsp;Lawson 0 (2-5) - FINAL

West Platte 54 (6-1) North Platte 14 (0-7) - FINAL

Grand River Conference North Andrew 66 (4-3)&nbsp;Albany 40 (3-4) - FINAL

#5 North Shelby 14 (7-0) #1 Stanberry 13 (5-1) - FINAL

#6 King City 64 (5-2)&nbsp;Schuyler County 0 (0-7) - FINAL

&nbsp;Rock Port 68 (5-2)&nbsp;Southwest Livingston 14 (2-5) - FINAL

St. Mary's Academy (KS) 49 (5-1)&nbsp;St. Joseph Christian 16 (0-7) - FINAL

Trenton 34 (4-3)&nbsp;Maysville 8 (2-5) - FINAL

#2 Worth County 92 (7-0) Pattonsburg (1-6) - FINAL

Gallatin 38 (5-2) Putnam County 6 (2-5) - FINAL

Milan 28 (3-4)&nbsp;South Harrison 7 (3-4) - FINAL

275 Conference Platte Valley 66 (5-2)&nbsp;DeKalb 18 (0-7) - FINAL

South Holt 24(5-2) Mound City 20 (3-4) - FINAL

Stewartsville-Osborn (1-4) @ #4 East Atchison (6-0) - cancelled

Greater KC Suburban Conference Lee's Summit 49 (3-4) St. Joseph Central 14 (1-6) - FINAL

#7 Platte County 35 (5-2)&nbsp;Winnetonka 0 (4-3) - FINAL

Kansas games Atchison 35 (5-1) Sumner Academy 14 (3-3) - FINAL

Holton 48 (6-0)&nbsp;Hiawatha 14 (3-3) - FINAL

Valley Heights 12 (2-3)&nbsp; Troy 0 (3-3) - FINAL

Atchison County 32 (5-1) Riverside 13 (0-6) - FINAL

&nbsp;Nemaha Central 67 (4-2)&nbsp;Maur Hill-Prep Mount Academy 7 (2-4) - FINAL

Clifton-Clyde 60 (4-1)&nbsp;Doniphan West 12 (2-4) - FINAL

More scores<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/scoreboard/">&nbsp;can be found here</a>.

Friday Night Lights returns to KFEQ on October 15 and 22 from 8-10 p.m. each night.

KFEQ will then be live on location at select local&nbsp; district/playoff games.

By TOMMY REZAC and MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe game of the night of course was Mid-Buchanan vs. East Buchanan. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/ecc61d65-3c0e-4d99-9c76-c1a65e9adc03">Read all about that game here</a>.The rest of the results are below.MEC #5 St. Pius X 63 (7-0) Benton 7 (1-6) - FINAL#6 Lincoln College Prep 27 (7-0) Maryville 26 (3-4) - FINALChillicothe 13 (4-3) Savannah 0 (3-4) - FINALLafayette 32 (6-1)&nbsp;Cameron 10 (1-6) - FINAL Bishop LeBlond 40 (6-1) Nodaway Valley 20 (2-5) - FINAL KCI Hamilton 57 (5-2)&nbsp;Plattsburg 14 (1-6) - FINALLathrop 8 (1-6)&nbsp;Lawson 0 (2-5) - FINALWest Platte 54 (6-1) North Platte 14 (0-7) - FINALGrand River Conference North Andrew 66 (4-3)&nbsp;Albany 40 (3-4) - FINAL#5 North Shelby 14 (7-0) #1 Stanberry 13 (5-1) - FINAL#6 King City 64 (5-2)&nbsp;Schuyler County 0 (0-7) - FINAL&nbsp;Rock Port 68 (5-2)&nbsp;Southwest Livingston 14 (2-5) - FINALSt. Mary's Academy (KS) 49 (5-1)&nbsp;St. Joseph Christian 16 (0-7) - FINALTrenton 34 (4-3)&nbsp;Maysville 8 (2-5) - FINAL#2 Worth County 92 (7-0) Pattonsburg (1-6) - FINALGallatin 38 (5-2) Putnam County 6 (2-5) - FINALPolo 41 (6-1) Princeton 14 (0-7) - FINALMilan 28 (3-4)&nbsp;South Harrison 7 (3-4) - FINAL275 Conference Platte Valley 66 (5-2)&nbsp;DeKalb 18 (0-7) - FINALSouth Holt 24(5-2) Mound City 20 (3-4) - FINAL Stewartsville-Osborn (1-4) @ #4 East Atchison (6-0) - cancelledGreater KC Suburban Conference Lee's Summit 49 (3-4) St. Joseph Central 14 (1-6) - FINAL#7 Platte County 35 (5-2)&nbsp;Winnetonka 0 (4-3) - FINALKansas games Atchison 35 (5-1) Sumner Academy 14 (3-3) - FINALHolton 48 (6-0)&nbsp;Hiawatha 14 (3-3) - FINALValley Heights 12 (2-3)&nbsp; Troy 0 (3-3) - FINALAtchison County 32 (5-1) Riverside 13 (0-6) - FINAL&nbsp;Nemaha Central 67 (4-2)&nbsp;Maur Hill-Prep Mount Academy 7 (2-4) - FINALClifton-Clyde 60 (4-1)&nbsp;Doniphan West 12 (2-4) - FINALMore scores<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/scoreboard/">&nbsp;can be found here</a>.Friday Night Lights returns to KFEQ on October 15 and 22 from 8-10 p.m. each night.KFEQ will then be live on location at select local&nbsp; district/playoff games.

KFEQ/St. Joseph area football matchups and scoreboard - October 8, 2021

FAUCETT - The battle of the Buchanans lived up to the hype on Friday. 

Both teams made big plays and the momentum swung back and forth. In the end, it was No. 2 Mid-Buchanan (7-0) that scored 15 unanswered in the fourth quarter to come back from an eight-point deficit and beat No. 5 East Buchanan, 28-21, on Friday night in a raucous atmosphere.

"It's a great win for us," Mid-Buchanan head coach Aaron Fritz said. "I'm proud of our kids. I'm damn proud of our coaches. We pulled everything out tonight to get a win."

After both teams punted on their opening possessions, Mid-Buchanan got the scoring started after a long punt return set them up at the East Buchanan 19-yard line.

Three plays later, senior quarterback Rawlins Brant found fellow senior Caiden Bailey in the back of the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown strike to put the Dragons on the board first. East Buchanan blocked the point after, and Mid-Buchanan lead 6-0 with 5:08 to go in the first.

The Bulldogs' offense was slow to start, and East Buchanan (6-1) punted on their first three possessions. Mid-Buchanan took advantage, driving 71 yards on five plays and taking a 13-0 lead after a six-yard touchdown run by Brant.

Things started to turn around for East Buchanan in the second quarter. Starting a drive at their own 20, the Bulldogs marched 80 yards on 10 plays, and sophomore running back Trevor Klein found the end zone on a nine-yard run to put the Bulldogs on the board at 13-7 with 6:o7 left in the second.

After forcing a couple of Mid-Buchanan punts, East Buchanan flipped the field and started their next drive at their own 45. A 40-yard rush by senior running back Cru Conaway got the Bulldogs in the red zone, and junior quarterback Conner Musser eventually found senior receiver Luke Webb on a 16-yard touchdown pass.

A point-after by junior Alec Hesson gave East Buchanan a 14-13 lead at halftime.

The Bulldogs got the ball to start the second half and kept their offensive momentum going, scoring on their third straight drive. Faced with a 4th-and-goal at the five, Klein lined up at QB and pitched a ball out to Conaway, who then threw to Musser in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown, putting the Bulldogs ahead, 21-13, with 8:16 left in the third.

It took Mid-Buchanan a few series to get their offense going in the second half. Brant left the game late in the second quarter with an ankle injury, and was replaced at quarterback by Blake Hunter.

Both teams went back-and-forth, stopping each other late in the third quarter.

With the football on their own 25 and over 10 minutes to play, Mid-Buchanan finally strung together a scoring drive, as Hunter and junior running back Xavier Arambula kept it on the ground and started to wear down East Buchanan's defense.

Eventually, Hunter found the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown run. Hunter then ran it in for two to tie the game at 21 with 6:15 to play.

Just four plays later, faced with a third-and-long, Musser threw a ball down the middle of the field, but was hit as he threw, and the pass was picked off by senior Cage Burns, who took it 50 yards the other way for a pick-six, putting the Dragons back in front, 28-21, with 4:45 still to play.

The Bulldogs threw another interception, this one to Caiden Bailey, on the first play of their next possession. The Dragons kept the ball on the ground and milked some clock, eventually getting first-and-goal in the final two minutes.

East Buchanan came up with a stop on fourth-and-goal at the four, and the Bulldogs moved the ball all the way to the Mid-Buchanan 25-yard-line inside of 10 seconds to play.

The Bulldogs had one last chance with two seconds left, but Musser was sacked by junior Bill Pugh on the final play of the game.

Mid-Buchanan won this round, but one can't help but wonder if these two won't see each other for a Class 1 District 8 title in early November.

"They're a great team," Fritz said of East Buchanan. "They're a state title favorite for a reason. It's a great win for us and a great win for our program. I know at the same time they're going to try to come and find us again, so we have to keep taking care of business. So, if we're fortunate enough to keep winning, we might see them again."

Hunter, who stepped in for the injured Brant, completed 5-of-7 passes for 30 yards, while toting the ball 18 times for 60 yards and a score. He threw an interception on his third series, but Fritz says he bounced back strong from that.

"I mean, you could see he was learning on the fly," Fritz said of Hunter. "He was getting better each better. We just had to keep getting stops to get us the ball back so we could figure it out. That's a credit to Blake, man. We put him in a terrible position, and he stepped up to the plate as a big-time senior and made some big plays for us."

Arambula was also solid, gaining 86 yards on 13 carries. Before getting hurt, Brant finished his night going 4-of-6 through the air for 37 yards and a touchdown. He also had six carries for 14 yards and a score.

Musser threw the ball all over the yard for East Buchanan, completing 22-of-37 attempts for 228 yards, a touchdown and a season-high three interceptions. Musser also had the five-yard TD catch.

Klein finished with 14 carries for 43 yards and a score. Conaway had 117 yards of offense - 56 rushing, 56 receiving and five passing.&nbsp; Webb caught four passes for 46 yards.

Mid-Buchanan is on the road to face Plattsburg next week, while East Buchanan is home to Lawson.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633756160420.jpeg" alt="Conner Musser (11) tries to get away from pressure. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Conner Musser (11) tries to get away from pressure. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostFAUCETT - The battle of the Buchanans lived up to the hype on Friday. Both teams made big plays and the momentum swung back and forth. In the end, it was No. 2 Mid-Buchanan (7-0) that scored 15 unanswered in the fourth quarter to come back from an eight-point deficit and beat No. 5 East Buchanan, 28-21, on Friday night in a raucous atmosphere."It's a great win for us," Mid-Buchanan head coach Aaron Fritz said. "I'm proud of our kids. I'm damn proud of our coaches. We pulled everything out tonight to get a win."After both teams punted on their opening possessions, Mid-Buchanan got the scoring started after a long punt return set them up at the East Buchanan 19-yard line.Three plays later, senior quarterback Rawlins Brant found fellow senior Caiden Bailey in the back of the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown strike to put the Dragons on the board first. East Buchanan blocked the point after, and Mid-Buchanan lead 6-0 with 5:08 to go in the first.The Bulldogs' offense was slow to start, and East Buchanan (6-1) punted on their first three possessions. Mid-Buchanan took advantage, driving 71 yards on five plays and taking a 13-0 lead after a six-yard touchdown run by Brant.Things started to turn around for East Buchanan in the second quarter. Starting a drive at their own 20, the Bulldogs marched 80 yards on 10 plays, and sophomore running back Trevor Klein found the end zone on a nine-yard run to put the Bulldogs on the board at 13-7 with 6:o7 left in the second.After forcing a couple of Mid-Buchanan punts, East Buchanan flipped the field and started their next drive at their own 45. A 40-yard rush by senior running back Cru Conaway got the Bulldogs in the red zone, and junior quarterback Conner Musser eventually found senior receiver Luke Webb on a 16-yard touchdown pass.A point-after by junior Alec Hesson gave East Buchanan a 14-13 lead at halftime.The Bulldogs got the ball to start the second half and kept their offensive momentum going, scoring on their third straight drive. Faced with a 4th-and-goal at the five, Klein lined up at QB and pitched a ball out to Conaway, who then threw to Musser in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown, putting the Bulldogs ahead, 21-13, with 8:16 left in the third.It took Mid-Buchanan a few series to get their offense going in the second half. Brant left the game late in the second quarter with an ankle injury, and was replaced at quarterback by Blake Hunter.Both teams went back-and-forth, stopping each other late in the third quarter.With the football on their own 25 and over 10 minutes to play, Mid-Buchanan finally strung together a scoring drive, as Hunter and junior running back Xavier Arambula kept it on the ground and started to wear down East Buchanan's defense.Eventually, Hunter found the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown run. Hunter then ran it in for two to tie the game at 21 with 6:15 to play.Just four plays later, faced with a third-and-long, Musser threw a ball down the middle of the field, but was hit as he threw, and the pass was picked off by senior Cage Burns, who took it 50 yards the other way for a pick-six, putting the Dragons back in front, 28-21, with 4:45 still to play.The Bulldogs threw another interception, this one to Caiden Bailey, on the first play of their next possession. The Dragons kept the ball on the ground and milked some clock, eventually getting first-and-goal in the final two minutes.East Buchanan came up with a stop on fourth-and-goal at the four, and the Bulldogs moved the ball all the way to the Mid-Buchanan 25-yard-line inside of 10 seconds to play.The Bulldogs had one last chance with two seconds left, but Musser was sacked by junior Bill Pugh on the final play of the game.Mid-Buchanan won this round, but one can't help but wonder if these two won't see each other for a Class 1 District 8 title in early November."They're a great team," Fritz said of East Buchanan. "They're a state title favorite for a reason. It's a great win for us and a great win for our program. I know at the same time they're going to try to come and find us again, so we have to keep taking care of business. So, if we're fortunate enough to keep winning, we might see them again."Hunter, who stepped in for the injured Brant, completed 5-of-7 passes for 30 yards, while toting the ball 18 times for 60 yards and a score. He threw an interception on his third series, but Fritz says he bounced back strong from that."I mean, you could see he was learning on the fly," Fritz said of Hunter. "He was getting better each better. We just had to keep getting stops to get us the ball back so we could figure it out. That's a credit to Blake, man. We put him in a terrible position, and he stepped up to the plate as a big-time senior and made some big plays for us."Arambula was also solid, gaining 86 yards on 13 carries. Before getting hurt, Brant finished his night going 4-of-6 through the air for 37 yards and a touchdown. He also had six carries for 14 yards and a score.Musser threw the ball all over the yard for East Buchanan, completing 22-of-37 attempts for 228 yards, a touchdown and a season-high three interceptions. Musser also had the five-yard TD catch.Klein finished with 14 carries for 43 yards and a score. Conaway had 117 yards of offense - 56 rushing, 56 receiving and five passing.&nbsp; Webb caught four passes for 46 yards.Mid-Buchanan is on the road to face Plattsburg next week, while East Buchanan is home to Lawson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633756207789.jpeg" alt="Blake Hunter (2) throws a pass in the second half." />
 <figcaption>Blake Hunter (2) throws a pass in the second half.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633756345697.jpeg" alt="The Dragons take the field." />
 <figcaption>The Dragons take the field.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mid-Buchanan scores 15 in the fourth, gets three interceptions in win over East Buchanan

The Missouri Western football team is back on the road this weekend for another big challenge on the MIAA schedule.

The Griffons, who look to break a two-game losing skid and get their first road win of the season, are at 23-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday afternoon.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. with coverage starting at 1 on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM).

Missouri Western took a 30-7 loss at home to second-ranked Northwest Missouri State last Saturday - a game in which the Griffon offense gained only 101 total yards.

"Our engine just never really got started offensively," Williamson said at this week's Griffon Luncheon on JoeTown 107.5 FM. "(Northwest) did a great job of kind of just shutting everything down."

Williamson says the team is frustrated, but motivated to right the wrongs from last week and get back on track, especially on offense.

"We're looking forward to this next game," he said. "Our kids are really hacked off and kind of upset. I think our offense got punched in the mouth and didn't react very well. So, they're going to be ready to go this week."

Defensively, the Griffons played well at times against the Bearcats, forcing two turnovers, including a 56-yard scoop-and-score from freshman defensive lineman Brandon Johnson in the first quarter.

Missouri Western also kept Northwest scoreless in the third quarter, coming up with four consecutive stops.

It's the second quarter, however, that Williamson says his defense blew coverages on two big pass plays - one for 36 yards which was a touchdown, and another for 72 yards, which set up a Bearcat touchdown.

The game could have been different if, Williamson says, those two plays were better executed.

"I know our staff has talked to them about it," he mentioned. "I talked to them about it and we're making those corrections, because if we (stop those big plays), the game would have been different in the first half. Our offense still didn't get things going and we have to make corrections there, but defensively, it could have been a lot closer game if we hadn't missed those two assignments."

Kick return was also major problem for Western last week, as the Griffons averaged just 11 yards per return, starting four of their 11 possessions inside their own 15-yard line.

The Griffons face a Nebraska-Kearney team Saturday that’s 4-1 overall and fresh off of a 42-35 loss at Fort Hays State last week - a game in which the Lopers saw a 21-point second half lead slip away.

The Lopers rank fourth in the nation with 273 rushing yards per game. Their quarterback, T.J. Davis, has 1,594 all-purpose yards and 18 all-purpose touchdowns - 11 rushing and seven passing.

Nebraska-Kearney also runs an option-style offense, which Williamson says has caused their opponents headaches this season.

"He's very talented, Williamson said of UNK's dual threat quarterback. "We'll have to slow him down quite a bit. They're going to get yards rushing. Most options team do. So, we have to keep things in front. We can't give the big plays up."

Nebraska-Kearney beat Missouri Western in St. Joseph on Nov. 9, 2019, 49-21, spoiling the Griffons' senior day and any remaining MIAA title hopes.

The Lopers have won two of the last three meetings. The Griffons won the last meeting in Kearney, 25-17, on Nov. 3, 2018.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633642481241.jpeg" alt="Courtesy GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western football team is back on the road this weekend for another big challenge on the MIAA schedule.The Griffons, who look to break a two-game losing skid and get their first road win of the season, are at 23-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday afternoon.Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. with coverage starting at 1 on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM).Missouri Western took a 30-7 loss at home to second-ranked Northwest Missouri State last Saturday - a game in which the Griffon offense gained only 101 total yards."Our engine just never really got started offensively," Williamson said at this week's Griffon Luncheon on JoeTown 107.5 FM. "(Northwest) did a great job of kind of just shutting everything down."Williamson says the team is frustrated, but motivated to right the wrongs from last week and get back on track, especially on offense."We're looking forward to this next game," he said. "Our kids are really hacked off and kind of upset. I think our offense got punched in the mouth and didn't react very well. So, they're going to be ready to go this week."Defensively, the Griffons played well at times against the Bearcats, forcing two turnovers, including a 56-yard scoop-and-score from freshman defensive lineman Brandon Johnson in the first quarter.Missouri Western also kept Northwest scoreless in the third quarter, coming up with four consecutive stops.It's the second quarter, however, that Williamson says his defense blew coverages on two big pass plays - one for 36 yards which was a touchdown, and another for 72 yards, which set up a Bearcat touchdown.The game could have been different if, Williamson says, those two plays were better executed."I know our staff has talked to them about it," he mentioned. "I talked to them about it and we're making those corrections, because if we (stop those big plays), the game would have been different in the first half. Our offense still didn't get things going and we have to make corrections there, but defensively, it could have been a lot closer game if we hadn't missed those two assignments."Kick return was also major problem for Western last week, as the Griffons averaged just 11 yards per return, starting four of their 11 possessions inside their own 15-yard line.The Griffons face a Nebraska-Kearney team Saturday that’s 4-1 overall and fresh off of a 42-35 loss at Fort Hays State last week - a game in which the Lopers saw a 21-point second half lead slip away.The Lopers rank fourth in the nation with 273 rushing yards per game. Their quarterback, T.J. Davis, has 1,594 all-purpose yards and 18 all-purpose touchdowns - 11 rushing and seven passing.Nebraska-Kearney also runs an option-style offense, which Williamson says has caused their opponents headaches this season."He's very talented, Williamson said of UNK's dual threat quarterback. "We'll have to slow him down quite a bit. They're going to get yards rushing. Most options team do. So, we have to keep things in front. We can't give the big plays up."Nebraska-Kearney beat Missouri Western in St. Joseph on Nov. 9, 2019, 49-21, spoiling the Griffons' senior day and any remaining MIAA title hopes.The Lopers have won two of the last three meetings. The Griffons won the last meeting in Kearney, 25-17, on Nov. 3, 2018.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU football looks to bounce back, faces another big challenge in Lopers Saturday

FAUCETT - It's one of those games you look at on the schedule in the beginning of the season that you know is going to be important. You know it's going to be special.

That's exactly the case this Friday night in Faucett as No. 2 Mid -Buchanan (6-0) hosts No. 5 East Buchanan (6-0) in a battle of unbeaten KCI rivals.

The winner also takes control of their own destiny in terms of the KCI Championship and also who gets the No. 1 seed in the Class 1 District 8 bracket.

It's been a special season for both teams, but second-year head coach Daniel Ritter knows the biggest goals and the biggest games are still out there.

"We know our goals have not been met yet," Ritter told KFEQ , "and they're more at the end of the season. Now, is this a big test for us on Friday? Absolutely, but our goals are beyond that."

East Buchanan is fresh off of a 44-20 win at home over Plattsburg last Friday, having already scored wins over two other tough KCI teams in Hamilton (4-2) and West Platte.

"We were definitely glad to get out of there with a win," Ritter said of the Plattsburg game. "Plattsburg has definitely been competing. They beat North Platte and they almost beat Lawson, so we knew they were a good team for sure."

East Buchanan had a solid season last year in Ritter's first season, going 8-3 and finishing second in the district to none other than Mid-Buchanan.

Of their 51 players on the roster, only 12 are upperclassmen. But seniors Conner Musser, Luke Webb and Cru Conaway, along with juniors Carson White and Adam Stephen-Inges have provided solid leadership on both sides of the ball.

Plus, sophomore Trevor Klein has been among the very best running backs in Class 1 with 680 yards rushing and nearly 1,100 all-purpose yards as the kick return man.

Mid-Buchanan, meanwhile, seeks its fourth straight district title after finishing as state runners-up to Windsor last season. Like the Bulldogs, the Dragons started this season a bit young, losing 12 seniors and several key starters from last year's team.

But with five returning starters on both sides of the ball, and a thirst to prove that they're every bit as good as last year, Mid-Buchanan had an explosive start to the season, outscoring their first five opponents a combined 237-19.

Last week, the Dragons had their biggest test to date, going on the road to face No. 9 Hamilton. Mid-Buchanan got off to a 21-0 start and held on for a 21-19 victory.

While he was happy to get the win, seventh-year head coach Aaron Fritz wants his team to bring that same intensity and explosiveness that they've shown in the first five weeks.

"We cannot quit having great focus and great physicality and we cannot slow down our effort," Fritz said. "All three of those things have to continue for us to be a good football team, and we have to be sure we're doing that non-stop."

The Dragons are led by senior quarterback Rawlins Brant, who has accounted for 1,278 all-purpose yards and 24 all-purpose touchdowns. He also has a team-best five sacks and three fumble recoveries on defense.

Senior Cage Burns has been up front on both sides of the ball, leading the team with 36 tackles.

Even with many new players in new and bigger roles this season, Fritz says his team has never doubted and has never waivered at any point this fall.

"Our kids still believe that we can win every game," Fritz remarked. "I think that's a big deal that even when things change and turnover happens in terms of your program and numbers changing that your kids still believe in your program and are still working hard and I think that's been a big positive for us."

Needless to say, this is a huge game for both teams. Not just for this season, but just overall. Only 11 miles separate the two communities, and everyone knows everyone on either side.

The two schools see each other in every other sport every year. Usually multiple times. Mid-Buchanan has won five of the last six meetings on the gridiron, including twice last year.

East Buchanan had won 10 in a row from 2010-2017. Whatever happens Friday will be remembered for a long time, and will only make those future meetings between Mid-Buchanan and East Buchanan that much more special.

"We're right next to each other and all of these young men know each other," Ritter said. "Their parents know each other. Really, they share a community. It definitely runs deep. It allows all of these people who live in one area to come together and celebrate their teams and their players."

Kickoff in Friday's game is set for 7 p.m. Pregame starts at 6:35 and the game can be heard on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM) and 680kfeqcom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633687372821.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostFAUCETT - It's one of those games you look at on the schedule in the beginning of the season that you know is going to be important. You know it's going to be special.That's exactly the case this Friday night in Faucett as No. 2 Mid -Buchanan (6-0) hosts No. 5 East Buchanan (6-0) in a battle of unbeaten KCI rivals.The winner also takes control of their own destiny in terms of the KCI Championship and also who gets the No. 1 seed in the Class 1 District 8 bracket.It's been a special season for both teams, but second-year head coach Daniel Ritter knows the biggest goals and the biggest games are still out there."We know our goals have not been met yet," Ritter told KFEQ , "and they're more at the end of the season. Now, is this a big test for us on Friday? Absolutely, but our goals are beyond that."East Buchanan is fresh off of a 44-20 win at home over Plattsburg last Friday, having already scored wins over two other tough KCI teams in Hamilton (4-2) and West Platte."We were definitely glad to get out of there with a win," Ritter said of the Plattsburg game. "Plattsburg has definitely been competing. They beat North Platte and they almost beat Lawson, so we knew they were a good team for sure."East Buchanan had a solid season last year in Ritter's first season, going 8-3 and finishing second in the district to none other than Mid-Buchanan.Of their 51 players on the roster, only 12 are upperclassmen. But seniors Conner Musser, Luke Webb and Cru Conaway, along with juniors Carson White and Adam Stephen-Inges have provided solid leadership on both sides of the ball.Plus, sophomore Trevor Klein has been among the very best running backs in Class 1 with 680 yards rushing and nearly 1,100 all-purpose yards as the kick return man.Mid-Buchanan, meanwhile, seeks its fourth straight district title after finishing as state runners-up to Windsor last season. Like the Bulldogs, the Dragons started this season a bit young, losing 12 seniors and several key starters from last year's team.But with five returning starters on both sides of the ball, and a thirst to prove that they're every bit as good as last year, Mid-Buchanan had an explosive start to the season, outscoring their first five opponents a combined 237-19.Last week, the Dragons had their biggest test to date, going on the road to face No. 9 Hamilton. Mid-Buchanan got off to a 21-0 start and held on for a 21-19 victory.While he was happy to get the win, seventh-year head coach Aaron Fritz wants his team to bring that same intensity and explosiveness that they've shown in the first five weeks."We cannot quit having great focus and great physicality and we cannot slow down our effort," Fritz said. "All three of those things have to continue for us to be a good football team, and we have to be sure we're doing that non-stop."The Dragons are led by senior quarterback Rawlins Brant, who has accounted for 1,278 all-purpose yards and 24 all-purpose touchdowns. He also has a team-best five sacks and three fumble recoveries on defense.Senior Cage Burns has been up front on both sides of the ball, leading the team with 36 tackles.Even with many new players in new and bigger roles this season, Fritz says his team has never doubted and has never waivered at any point this fall."Our kids still believe that we can win every game," Fritz remarked. "I think that's a big deal that even when things change and turnover happens in terms of your program and numbers changing that your kids still believe in your program and are still working hard and I think that's been a big positive for us."Needless to say, this is a huge game for both teams. Not just for this season, but just overall. Only 11 miles separate the two communities, and everyone knows everyone on either side.The two schools see each other in every other sport every year. Usually multiple times. Mid-Buchanan has won five of the last six meetings on the gridiron, including twice last year.East Buchanan had won 10 in a row from 2010-2017. Whatever happens Friday will be remembered for a long time, and will only make those future meetings between Mid-Buchanan and East Buchanan that much more special."We're right next to each other and all of these young men know each other," Ritter said. "Their parents know each other. Really, they share a community. It definitely runs deep. It allows all of these people who live in one area to come together and celebrate their teams and their players."Kickoff in Friday's game is set for 7 p.m. Pregame starts at 6:35 and the game can be heard on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM) and 680kfeqcom.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633687416693.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633687450363.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633687483740.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

East Buchanan travels to Mid-Buchanan for top five rivalry showdown

Winning three consecutive matches in a week, two of them against city rivals, and winning them all in four or more sets seems like a lot of fun.

The Lafayette volleyball team has certainly had some fun this week.

"For me, it's been exhausting," Irish head coach Laura Rehmeier chuckled. "But, it's shown our resiliency and our ability to not quit and to keep fighting."

The Irish (13-12), after dropping the first set to Bishop LeBlond 25-12, lost the second set 25-22, but stormed back to take set three 25-21, set four 25-18 and the fifth 15-11 at Grace Gymnasium inside Bishop LeBlond High School Thursday.

LeBlond got off to a 19-6 start in the first set and it seemed like, at that point, the match would end quickly in the Eagles' favor.

"We got off to a slow, slow start," Rehmeier admitted. "I mean, it just was not a pretty first set, and somewhere in the middle of that second set, we just kind of got it together and everything fell into place."

Even in the second, LeBlond was in control for most of the time, and had set point at 24-16, but the Irish reeled off six straight to lose the second by just three points.

The Eagles again got off to a big start in set three, leading 8-0, but a 10-3 run by the Irish tied the set 11-11, and Lafayette won a mostly back-and-forth third set, 25-21.

In the fourth, the Irish started off hot, leading 11-2 early. Lafayette weathered a 7-0 run by LeBlond in set four, and took the frame 25-18.

The fifth, again, started slow for Lafayette, and the Irish found themselves behind 8-4. But yet again, fortunes changed for the Irish, and after a timeout, they reeled off an 11-3 run to win the fifth 15-11 and beat the Eagles 3-2 on their Senior Night.

"The seniors pulled through," said Lafayette senior outside hitter Audrey Willoughby, who finished with 11 kills and two aces. "We brought some energy to the team. We had some sort of kickstart in us. We wanted to beat them on their Senior Night."

Another Lafayette senior, middle Khiani Jackson, brought her share of energy and then some Thursday, finishing with a match-high 18 kills, three blocks and two aces.

"Our energy started to drop," Jackson said of her team in the early part of the match. "And I feel like when we pick our energy up, we really show how we can play. Like, those first two sets were not our team."

Despite some service errors scattered throughout, Lafayette served very well at key moments, totaling nine ace serves in the match. In fact, it was back-to-back aces by junior Jazlyn King that ended the match in the fifth set.

Defensively, Lafayette had trouble stopping LeBlond's attack early. Junior Paige Perry led the Eagles (17-5-1) with 12 kills. Fellow junior Sadie Ward had eight kills and two aces, while senior Kianna Herrera had nine kills.

"We kind of adjusted our defense," Willoughby said. "They were kind of hitting spots that we weren't at. So, we kind of shifted our defense, because their outside (hitters) are very strong. They hit good spots."

Lafayette started out the week beating Benton 3-2 Monday and Chillicothe 3-1 Tuesday - both on their home floor. The Irish will take part in the Benton tournament Saturday, where they'll face the Cardinals, along with Bedford and Pembroke Hill.

With a couple more weeks left before district play, the Irish hope to make good on this late-season momentum and help their seniors end on a high note.

"We want it," Jackson said. "We just want it. There's nothing else I can really say about it. We just want the wins. We just want to have a good season. For me, it's my senior year. I just want to do good before it's over, you know?"

LeBlond will also take part in the Benton tournament on Saturday before going to Trenton Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633666754153.jpeg" alt="Lafayette celebrates a point in the fifth set. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Lafayette celebrates a point in the fifth set. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostWinning three consecutive matches in a week, two of them against city rivals, and winning them all in four or more sets seems like a lot of fun.The Lafayette volleyball team has certainly had some fun this week."For me, it's been exhausting," Irish head coach Laura Rehmeier chuckled. "But, it's shown our resiliency and our ability to not quit and to keep fighting."The Irish (13-12), after dropping the first set to Bishop LeBlond 25-12, lost the second set 25-22, but stormed back to take set three 25-21, set four 25-18 and the fifth 15-11 at Grace Gymnasium inside Bishop LeBlond High School Thursday.LeBlond got off to a 19-6 start in the first set and it seemed like, at that point, the match would end quickly in the Eagles' favor."We got off to a slow, slow start," Rehmeier admitted. "I mean, it just was not a pretty first set, and somewhere in the middle of that second set, we just kind of got it together and everything fell into place."Even in the second, LeBlond was in control for most of the time, and had set point at 24-16, but the Irish reeled off six straight to lose the second by just three points.The Eagles again got off to a big start in set three, leading 8-0, but a 10-3 run by the Irish tied the set 11-11, and Lafayette won a mostly back-and-forth third set, 25-21.In the fourth, the Irish started off hot, leading 11-2 early. Lafayette weathered a 7-0 run by LeBlond in set four, and took the frame 25-18.The fifth, again, started slow for Lafayette, and the Irish found themselves behind 8-4. But yet again, fortunes changed for the Irish, and after a timeout, they reeled off an 11-3 run to win the fifth 15-11 and beat the Eagles 3-2 on their Senior Night."The seniors pulled through," said Lafayette senior outside hitter Audrey Willoughby, who finished with 11 kills and two aces. "We brought some energy to the team. We had some sort of kickstart in us. We wanted to beat them on their Senior Night."Another Lafayette senior, middle Khiani Jackson, brought her share of energy and then some Thursday, finishing with a match-high 18 kills, three blocks and two aces."Our energy started to drop," Jackson said of her team in the early part of the match. "And I feel like when we pick our energy up, we really show how we can play. Like, those first two sets were not our team."Despite some service errors scattered throughout, Lafayette served very well at key moments, totaling nine ace serves in the match. In fact, it was back-to-back aces by junior Jazlyn King that ended the match in the fifth set.Defensively, Lafayette had trouble stopping LeBlond's attack early. Junior Paige Perry led the Eagles (17-5-1) with 12 kills. Fellow junior Sadie Ward had eight kills and two aces, while senior Kianna Herrera had nine kills."We kind of adjusted our defense," Willoughby said. "They were kind of hitting spots that we weren't at. So, we kind of shifted our defense, because their outside (hitters) are very strong. They hit good spots."Lafayette started out the week beating Benton 3-2 Monday and Chillicothe 3-1 Tuesday - both on their home floor. The Irish will take part in the Benton tournament Saturday, where they'll face the Cardinals, along with Bedford and Pembroke Hill.With a couple more weeks left before district play, the Irish hope to make good on this late-season momentum and help their seniors end on a high note."We want it," Jackson said. "We just want it. There's nothing else I can really say about it. We just want the wins. We just want to have a good season. For me, it's my senior year. I just want to do good before it's over, you know?"LeBlond will also take part in the Benton tournament on Saturday before going to Trenton Tuesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633666794925.jpeg" alt="Khiani Jackson (right) hits a ball in the first set against Bishop LeBlond." />
 <figcaption>Khiani Jackson (right) hits a ball in the first set against Bishop LeBlond.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633666863714.jpeg" alt="Audrey Willoughby (left) tries to hit a ball past LeBlond's Paige Perry (11) Thursday." />
 <figcaption>Audrey Willoughby (left) tries to hit a ball past LeBlond's Paige Perry (11) Thursday.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633666910576.jpeg" alt="LeBllond's Sadie Ward (left) tries to hit past two Lafayette blockers." />
 <figcaption>LeBllond's Sadie Ward (left) tries to hit past two Lafayette blockers.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Lafayette overcomes slow start, beats LeBlond on the road in five sets Thursday

SAVANNAH - Bishop LeBlond made history last fall when the girls' tennis team made it to state and finished in the top four for the first time since 2009.

The Eagles (10-3) look to repeat, if not rewrite history, in 2021. LeBlond went on the road and dominated a tough Savannah team, 5-0, at Savannah High School on Wednesday afternoon in the Class 1 District 16 team championship.

The Eagles dominated, going 3-0 in doubles and 2-0 in singles. LeBlond claims the district title for a second straight year, and qualifies for the state tournament as a team in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996-97.

"I'm so happy and so proud of them," LeBlond head tennis coach Jackson Gwinn said, leading the Eagles to state in his first season coaching the girls. "They did even better than I thought they would do. They really surpassed my expectations. Just...playing their best, playing their hardest, staying focused. That's all I can ask of them."

Senior Peyton Netten and sophomore Emily Weddle, who both qualified for state at the individual district tournament as a doubles team on Saturday, were also individual state qualifiers in 2020 - Netten went last year in doubles, and Weddle went last year in singles.

"It really shows how hard we work in practice to get to where we are," Netten said. "We wouldn't get to where we are without the work that we put in."

Weddle qualified for state in doubles as an individual for the first time Wednesday after going to state in singles as an individual, and going with the team to state as a freshman last year.

"I'm just really proud of myself," Weddle said. "Really excited. Just a really big accomplishment for me."

The doubles team of Netten and freshman Iris Ideker, who qualified for sectionals individually as a freshman in singles Saturday, won on Wednesday, 8-5. Weddle and freshman Murphy King won their doubles match Wednesday 8-3, while senior Lily Sullivan junior Katie King won their doubles match, 8-2.

In singles, Sullivan won her match 6-0, 6-1, and Weddle won 6-1, 6-1.

LeBlond moves on to team sectionals, where they'll face either Marshall or Lafayette County on October 11 - most likely at the Noyes Tennis Courts. Start time is to be determined.

Individual sectionals for doubles and singles start this weekend.

"Throughout the lineup, I was just very happy with their performance," Gwinn said. "Everyone just stayed tough and played their game and that's all we need to do. I think we'll keep doing well in sectionals and hopefully state if they just keep that mind set."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633572532881.jpeg" alt="From left to right: Katie King, Iris Ideker, Lily Sullivan, Peyton Netten, Emily Weddle and Murphy King. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>From left to right: Katie King, Iris Ideker, Lily Sullivan, Peyton Netten, Emily Weddle and Murphy King. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSAVANNAH - Bishop LeBlond made history last fall when the girls' tennis team made it to state and finished in the top four for the first time since 2009.The Eagles (10-3) look to repeat, if not rewrite history, in 2021. LeBlond went on the road and dominated a tough Savannah team, 5-0, at Savannah High School on Wednesday afternoon in the Class 1 District 16 team championship.The Eagles dominated, going 3-0 in doubles and 2-0 in singles. LeBlond claims the district title for a second straight year, and qualifies for the state tournament as a team in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996-97."I'm so happy and so proud of them," LeBlond head tennis coach Jackson Gwinn said, leading the Eagles to state in his first season coaching the girls. "They did even better than I thought they would do. They really surpassed my expectations. Just...playing their best, playing their hardest, staying focused. That's all I can ask of them."Senior Peyton Netten and sophomore Emily Weddle, who both qualified for state at the individual district tournament as a doubles team on Saturday, were also individual state qualifiers in 2020 - Netten went last year in doubles, and Weddle went last year in singles."It really shows how hard we work in practice to get to where we are," Netten said. "We wouldn't get to where we are without the work that we put in."Weddle qualified for state in doubles as an individual for the first time Wednesday after going to state in singles as an individual, and going with the team to state as a freshman last year."I'm just really proud of myself," Weddle said. "Really excited. Just a really big accomplishment for me."The doubles team of Netten and freshman Iris Ideker, who qualified for sectionals individually as a freshman in singles Saturday, won on Wednesday, 8-5. Weddle and freshman Murphy King won their doubles match Wednesday 8-3, while senior Lily Sullivan junior Katie King won their doubles match, 8-2.In singles, Sullivan won her match 6-0, 6-1, and Weddle won 6-1, 6-1.LeBlond moves on to team sectionals, where they'll face either Marshall or Lafayette County on October 11 - most likely at the Noyes Tennis Courts. Start time is to be determined.Individual sectionals for doubles and singles start this weekend."Throughout the lineup, I was just very happy with their performance," Gwinn said. "Everyone just stayed tough and played their game and that's all we need to do. I think we'll keep doing well in sectionals and hopefully state if they just keep that mind set."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633572610273.jpeg" alt="Murphy King." />
 <figcaption>Murphy King.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633572691329.jpeg" alt="Emily Weddle." />
 <figcaption>Emily Weddle.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633572709000.jpeg" alt="Iris Ideker." />
 <figcaption>Iris Ideker.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond girls' tennis sweeps Savannah to claim team district title  Wednesday

Volleyball Bishop LeBlond 3 West Platte 1 Cameron 3 East Buchanan 1 North Kansas City 3 St. Joseph Central 1 Lafayette 3 Chillicothe 1 Mid-Buchanan 3 Mound City 0 South Holt 3 North Platte 0

Softball Benton 4 Lafayette 3 in 8 innings St. Joseph Central 18 North Kansas City 4 Northeast Nodaway 7 Bishop LeBlond 6 East Buchanan 9 Hamilton 8 West Platte 9 Mid-Buchanan 8. The Bluejays erased an 8-1 deficit for their first win over the Dragons in softball since 2014.

North Andrew 17 South Holt 7 Worth County 4 Platte Valley 2 King City 5 Gallatin 3 Lathrop 11 Plattsburg 1 Lawson 8 North Platte 3

Boys’ soccer Maryville 4 Benton 0

Savannah 5 Maryville 1. The Savages now face LeBlond for a team district title on Wednesday in Savannah. LeBlond defeated Lafayette in team districts Tuesday, though the exact result was not available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633521630943.jpeg" alt="LeBlond tennis player Peyton Netton. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond tennis player Peyton Netton. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostVolleyball Bishop LeBlond 3 West Platte 1 Cameron 3 East Buchanan 1 North Kansas City 3 St. Joseph Central 1 Lafayette 3 Chillicothe 1 Mid-Buchanan 3 Mound City 0 South Holt 3 North Platte 0Softball Benton 4 Lafayette 3 in 8 innings St. Joseph Central 18 North Kansas City 4 Northeast Nodaway 7 Bishop LeBlond 6 East Buchanan 9 Hamilton 8 West Platte 9 Mid-Buchanan 8. The Bluejays erased an 8-1 deficit for their first win over the Dragons in softball since 2014.North Andrew 17 South Holt 7 Worth County 4 Platte Valley 2 King City 5 Gallatin 3 Lathrop 11 Plattsburg 1 Lawson 8 North Platte 3Boys’ soccer Maryville 4 Benton 0Girls’ tennisSavannah 5 Maryville 1. The Savages now face LeBlond for a team district title on Wednesday in Savannah. LeBlond defeated Lafayette in team districts Tuesday, though the exact result was not available.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - October 5, 2021

Senior Ali Tauchen and sophomore Allie Kerns each had 10 kills, and Missouri Western volleyball dominated the middle set in a 3-0 win over Missouri Southern at MWSU Fieldhouse Tuesday.

The Griffons (11-4, 3-3 MIAA), winners in four of their last five matches, won the first and third set 25-18, but dominated the second 25-7, which is their largest margin of victory in any set this season. It marked Missouri Western's first sweep since a 3-0 win over Maryville University on Sept. 11.

"It was really nice to see us put together a full, three-set performance," Missouri Western coach Marian Carbin said. "We pretty consistently did the things we wanted to do."

Tauchen, who's now the program's all-time leader in career points with 1,438, was happy to help her team to victory Tuesday, but is also grateful to have cemented her name in Griffon history with the help of those she's played with.

"It's really special," Tauchen said of the achievement. "I think it speaks highly to how special this place is and the people here and I couldn't do it without any of my teammates present or past, so it's just a really big honor."

Missouri Western broke a 16-16 tie in set one, going on a 9-2 run late to take the set 25-18.

The Griffons got behind 2-0 to start in set two, but then went on a 20-2 run to end it. Missouri Western scored 11 unanswered points in the second set to pull ahead for good. Missouri Western had an outstanding .409 hitting percentage in the second set.

"We just took over and played Missouri Western volleyball," Tauchen said of the second set. "We got our own kills, we got digs and we didn't wait for them to make a mistake. We went and took the reigns."

Missouri Southern (3-12, 0-5 MIAA) hung around for awhile in set three, but junior Emilee McGowan&nbsp;broke open the third set for the Griffons, serving five straight points to give Missouri Western an 18-13 lead in the final set.

Missouri Western had a solid night serving, finishing with seven aces. They also managed 11 blocks compared to just four by the Lions.

"That's the type of team that we are," coach Carbin said. "A great serving team, a good blocking team. We like to get into our transition game and I think we did that really well."

The Griffons are on the road for their next three matches, starting Friday with a trip to Central Oklahoma. First serve is set for 6 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633488203093.jpeg" alt="Allie Kerns (middle) hits a ball during Missouri Western's 3-0 win over Missouri Southern Tuesday. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Allie Kerns (middle) hits a ball during Missouri Western's 3-0 win over Missouri Southern Tuesday. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSenior Ali Tauchen and sophomore Allie Kerns each had 10 kills, and Missouri Western volleyball dominated the middle set in a 3-0 win over Missouri Southern at MWSU Fieldhouse Tuesday.The Griffons (11-4, 3-3 MIAA), winners in four of their last five matches, won the first and third set 25-18, but dominated the second 25-7, which is their largest margin of victory in any set this season. It marked Missouri Western's first sweep since a 3-0 win over Maryville University on Sept. 11."It was really nice to see us put together a full, three-set performance," Missouri Western coach Marian Carbin said. "We pretty consistently did the things we wanted to do."Tauchen, who's now the program's all-time leader in career points with 1,438, was happy to help her team to victory Tuesday, but is also grateful to have cemented her name in Griffon history with the help of those she's played with."It's really special," Tauchen said of the achievement. "I think it speaks highly to how special this place is and the people here and I couldn't do it without any of my teammates present or past, so it's just a really big honor."Missouri Western broke a 16-16 tie in set one, going on a 9-2 run late to take the set 25-18.The Griffons got behind 2-0 to start in set two, but then went on a 20-2 run to end it. Missouri Western scored 11 unanswered points in the second set to pull ahead for good. Missouri Western had an outstanding .409 hitting percentage in the second set."We just took over and played Missouri Western volleyball," Tauchen said of the second set. "We got our own kills, we got digs and we didn't wait for them to make a mistake. We went and took the reigns."Missouri Southern (3-12, 0-5 MIAA) hung around for awhile in set three, but junior Emilee McGowan&nbsp;broke open the third set for the Griffons, serving five straight points to give Missouri Western an 18-13 lead in the final set.Missouri Western had a solid night serving, finishing with seven aces. They also managed 11 blocks compared to just four by the Lions."That's the type of team that we are," coach Carbin said. "A great serving team, a good blocking team. We like to get into our transition game and I think we did that really well."The Griffons are on the road for their next three matches, starting Friday with a trip to Central Oklahoma. First serve is set for 6 p.m.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western dominates second set, earns sweep over Missouri Southern

After more than 20 years of service to Missouri Western athletics, senior associate athletic director for external affairs Brett Esely is ready to take on a new challenge.

Starting January 3rd, he'll become the director of development at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau while also becoming director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission. Missouri Western made the announcement late last week.

Esely helped revive the St. Joseph Sports Commission in recent years, becoming chair of their board. He also led efforts to create the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame, which conducted its inaugural induction ceremony on Sept. 19.&nbsp;

"We were hopeful that it would one day turn into an opportunity for someone to lead that every day," Esely said of the sports commission. "That became a little bit of a reality late this summer that if our commission was going to go like this and continue this upward climb, it needed somebody that was able to focus on it on a day-to-day basis."&nbsp;

Esely's last day at Missouri Western is November 7. While he's excited to start a new chapter, he looks to finish strong in his last few weeks on campus, remaining thankful that he got to work at the University he went to and that he loves dearly.

"I love St. Joe," he said. "Was born and raised here. Don't ever have any plans to leave. As an alum of the institution, Missouri Western is a special place and always will be. The opportunities I've had at Missouri Western and the impact on my life have been unbelievable."

Esely started at Western as a student assistant men's basketball coach in July 2000. He moved into administration in 2003, overseeing NCAA compliance and ticketing before taking on the external affairs role in 2007.

He oversees the athletic department's marketing, advertising, public relations, corporate partnerships and event management. Esely has led event operations for Chiefs Training Camp, helped run many MIAA conference and NCAA championship events and has served as public address announcer and color commentator on Griffon radio broadcasts.

While he'll miss certain parts of his current job, Esely is thankful that he's not leaving his hometown of St. Joseph, and he looks forward to opportunities to still work closely with the University in the future.

"I'll still be around events," Esely said. "I'll still have the great chance of being an alum, because I graduated from the institution. Whereas this kind of closes one chapter of my life and another one opens, I'll still be here. I'm excited about the chance to impact our community in a way that has tremendous room for growth."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633429139451.jpeg" alt="Brett Esely at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau this past summer, announcing the first ever St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame class." />
 <figcaption>Brett Esely at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau this past summer, announcing the first ever St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame class.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostAfter more than 20 years of service to Missouri Western athletics, senior associate athletic director for external affairs Brett Esely is ready to take on a new challenge.Starting January 3rd, he'll become the director of development at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau while also becoming director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission. Missouri Western made the announcement late last week.Esely helped revive the St. Joseph Sports Commission in recent years, becoming chair of their board. He also led efforts to create the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame, which conducted its inaugural induction ceremony on Sept. 19.&nbsp;"We were hopeful that it would one day turn into an opportunity for someone to lead that every day," Esely said of the sports commission. "That became a little bit of a reality late this summer that if our commission was going to go like this and continue this upward climb, it needed somebody that was able to focus on it on a day-to-day basis."&nbsp;Esely's last day at Missouri Western is November 7. While he's excited to start a new chapter, he looks to finish strong in his last few weeks on campus, remaining thankful that he got to work at the University he went to and that he loves dearly."I love St. Joe," he said. "Was born and raised here. Don't ever have any plans to leave. As an alum of the institution, Missouri Western is a special place and always will be. The opportunities I've had at Missouri Western and the impact on my life have been unbelievable."Esely started at Western as a student assistant men's basketball coach in July 2000. He moved into administration in 2003, overseeing NCAA compliance and ticketing before taking on the external affairs role in 2007.He oversees the athletic department's marketing, advertising, public relations, corporate partnerships and event management. Esely has led event operations for Chiefs Training Camp, helped run many MIAA conference and NCAA championship events and has served as public address announcer and color commentator on Griffon radio broadcasts.While he'll miss certain parts of his current job, Esely is thankful that he's not leaving his hometown of St. Joseph, and he looks forward to opportunities to still work closely with the University in the future."I'll still be around events," Esely said. "I'll still have the great chance of being an alum, because I graduated from the institution. Whereas this kind of closes one chapter of my life and another one opens, I'll still be here. I'm excited about the chance to impact our community in a way that has tremendous room for growth."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Esely looks to finish strong at Missouri Western, excited for new chapter at CVB

After a tough loss at Maryville just four days prior, Bishop LeBlond wanted to come back strong at home and play a complete match against an intracity rival.

LeBlond (10-2) got a hat trick from junior midfielder Noah Stevenson in the first half, and five more goals by the Eagles in the second half sent them to a 9-1 victory over Benton at Eagle Stadium Monday.

Stevenson put LeBlond on the board in the first 4:27 on an unassisted goal. He scored twice more in a nine-minute span to give his team a comfortable 3-0 lead early.

"We were getting really good through balls," Stevenson said. "I shanked a couple in the first (half) there and I had to make up for it. Yeah, I just kept my cool and put them in."

LeBlond got another goal in the first half from sophomore midfielder Davis Jungbluth. Benton (3-7) got on the board with 7:17 left in the first half with an unassisted goal from sophomore midfielder Ryker Wells.

The Cardinals, who lost to LeBlond 3-0 on August 31 in the city round robin, managed just two shots-on-goal Monday.

It took the Eagles a few minutes to get hot in the second half, but once they did, there was no turning back. A goal by senior midfielder Eli Spencer put LeBlond ahead 5-1 with 30:56 remaining.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633397011522.jpeg" alt="Adan Seiter dribbles in the first half. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Adan Seiter dribbles in the first half. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostAfter a tough loss at Maryville just four days prior, Bishop LeBlond wanted to come back strong at home and play a complete match against an intracity rival.That they did.LeBlond (10-2) got a hat trick from junior midfielder Noah Stevenson in the first half, and five more goals by the Eagles in the second half sent them to a 9-1 victory over Benton at Eagle Stadium Monday.Stevenson put LeBlond on the board in the first 4:27 on an unassisted goal. He scored twice more in a nine-minute span to give his team a comfortable 3-0 lead early."We were getting really good through balls," Stevenson said. "I shanked a couple in the first (half) there and I had to make up for it. Yeah, I just kept my cool and put them in."LeBlond got another goal in the first half from sophomore midfielder Davis Jungbluth. Benton (3-7) got on the board with 7:17 left in the first half with an unassisted goal from sophomore midfielder Ryker Wells.The Cardinals, who lost to LeBlond 3-0 on August 31 in the city round robin, managed just two shots-on-goal Monday.It took the Eagles a few minutes to get hot in the second half, but once they did, there was no turning back. A goal by senior midfielder Eli Spencer put LeBlond ahead 5-1 with 30:56 remaining.Junior midfielder Aiden Seiter scored exactly 30 seconds after Spencer, and would get another goal just 59 seconds later, putting a surging LeBlond ahead 7-1."It was a fun game," Seiter said. "They played hard, we played hard. Teammates played the ball really hard. I was just there to finish."Goals by senior defender Hayden Cross and sophomore striker Davis Jungbluth put the Eagles ahead 9-1, and the game was called with 11:33 still on the clock.LeBlond stayed aggressive on the offensive end throughout, managing 18 shots-on-goal. Benton made a change at goalie halfway through the second half, subbing Ethan Colwell for Bradyn Hayes.Hayes managed a couple of saves, but LeBlond scored on five of their seven shots-on-goal in the second half. A feel good win for a LeBlond team, which lost a 4-2 heartbreaker at Maryville last Thursday - a team that's also contending for an MEC title."It was a real confidence booster," Seiter said of Monday's match. "It helped us get our motivation back. I think we're going to go on and win these next couple of games as well. Hopefully beat Maryville in the end as well."LeBlond, who will see Maryville again in St. Joseph on October 26, will go on the road Thursday to face Kansas City Lutheran.Benton, who's lost four straight, will host Maryville on Tuesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633397050405.jpeg" alt="Noah Stevenson (right) puts a ball in the back of the net in the first half." />
 <figcaption>Noah Stevenson (right) puts a ball in the back of the net in the first half.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633397102102.jpeg" alt="Davis Jungbluth (right) dribbles past Benton's Sage Miller (19)." />
 <figcaption>Davis Jungbluth (right) dribbles past Benton's Sage Miller (19).</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.