St. Joseph Christian volleyball has had a nice run of success lately with four straight winning seasons - all under the direction of coach Erin Patrick, who’s assisted in coaching by his wife, Sheryl.

Last year was one of the best volleyball seasons in school history for the Lions. The team went 25-2 and won a district title for the first time since 2005 before falling to Santa Fe in five sets during sectionals.

St. Joe Christian loses their top three hitters from that team, including all-state performer and now Nebraska track and field athlete Brooklyn Miller, who led the team with 303 kills and 93 blocks. She was second on the team with 232 digs.

The Lions also lose starters Tori Hudgens (291 kills, 268 digs), Emma Forrett (175 kills, 111 digs) and El Meadows (19 kills, 33 digs).

Coach Patrick has a pretty young team with only one senior, Diana Ye, who just transferred in. However, Patrick has four players returning with starting experience, and he looks forward to having most of this current roster for two full seasons.

"We do return four girls (from last year) who were under classmen," Patrick said. "They'll be a big part of our team. They all four started. But, without having many seniors, essentially we have this team for two years. So, having coached 22 years, I've never done that before - had the same team for two years. So, there's some excitement there."

Junior middle Ella Bowman, who logged 65 kills and 51 blocks in 2020, is the top returning hitter this season and was a letter winner last year. She says last year’s seniors taught her a lot about leadership, and she hopes to apply what she has learned to this season.

"Their leadership was really important to me personally," Bowman said. "And how they conducted themselves on and off the court. Just their friendship to all of us is kind of a big thing to me."

Patrick expressed confidence in Bowman's ability to become a leader. Juniors Laurel DuBois, Charlee Stanley, Haidyn Gardner and Jenna Burton could also grow into that role, according to Patrick.

"We do need somebody to step up and Ella has done a good job of doing that," he said. "We have four other juniors who haven't played varsity, but they've done a good job of leading. So, you tell them the expectations, you build it in your program and you teach them how to lead and give them that opportunity to do it."

The Lions also return their starting setter in sophomore Danika Wattenbarger. She says those who are back this fall can help lay the foundation for another run toward the state tournament.

"We have some great hitters like we did last year," she said. "And I feel like since we're all really good friends, we can communicate like we did last year and bond with each other and all of that."

Indeed, it is that bond and comradery that has been the glue for Erin and Sheryl Patrick's teams these last four years. Faith, friendship and volleyball is what binds this group together.

"(Erin) just wants us to glorify God through everything we do," sophomore hitter Chloe Burnham said. "He's just really good at what he does and he really helps us spiritually and through volleyball."

Patrick says his main role entering his fifth season is to simply maintain those values and that culture, and challenge his team to be better than they were the day before.

"Those are things that other girls have helped me with," Patrick said. "And it's just my job to make sure we keep on track doing that and keep trying to reach higher."

St. Joe Christian has a home jamboree this Saturday against West Platte and East Buchanan that starts at 10 a.m. The first regular season action will be August 28 in the East Atchison Tournament at the Tarkio Rec Center. The start time for that has yet to be determined.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629326590756.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Christian volleyball has had a nice run of success lately with four straight winning seasons - all under the direction of coach Erin Patrick, who’s assisted in coaching by his wife, Sheryl.Last year was one of the best volleyball seasons in school history for the Lions. The team went 25-2 and won a district title for the first time since 2005 before falling to Santa Fe in five sets during sectionals.St. Joe Christian loses their top three hitters from that team, including all-state performer and now Nebraska track and field athlete Brooklyn Miller, who led the team with 303 kills and 93 blocks. She was second on the team with 232 digs.The Lions also lose starters Tori Hudgens (291 kills, 268 digs), Emma Forrett (175 kills, 111 digs) and El Meadows (19 kills, 33 digs).Coach Patrick has a pretty young team with only one senior, Diana Ye, who just transferred in. However, Patrick has four players returning with starting experience, and he looks forward to having most of this current roster for two full seasons."We do return four girls (from last year) who were under classmen," Patrick said. "They'll be a big part of our team. They all four started. But, without having many seniors, essentially we have this team for two years. So, having coached 22 years, I've never done that before - had the same team for two years. So, there's some excitement there."Junior middle Ella Bowman, who logged 65 kills and 51 blocks in 2020, is the top returning hitter this season and was a letter winner last year. She says last year’s seniors taught her a lot about leadership, and she hopes to apply what she has learned to this season."Their leadership was really important to me personally," Bowman said. "And how they conducted themselves on and off the court. Just their friendship to all of us is kind of a big thing to me."Patrick expressed confidence in Bowman's ability to become a leader. Juniors Laurel DuBois, Charlee Stanley, Haidyn Gardner and Jenna Burton could also grow into that role, according to Patrick."We do need somebody to step up and Ella has done a good job of doing that," he said. "We have four other juniors who haven't played varsity, but they've done a good job of leading. So, you tell them the expectations, you build it in your program and you teach them how to lead and give them that opportunity to do it."The Lions also return their starting setter in sophomore Danika Wattenbarger. She says those who are back this fall can help lay the foundation for another run toward the state tournament."We have some great hitters like we did last year," she said. "And I feel like since we're all really good friends, we can communicate like we did last year and bond with each other and all of that."Indeed, it is that bond and comradery that has been the glue for Erin and Sheryl Patrick's teams these last four years. Faith, friendship and volleyball is what binds this group together."(Erin) just wants us to glorify God through everything we do," sophomore hitter Chloe Burnham said. "He's just really good at what he does and he really helps us spiritually and through volleyball."Patrick says his main role entering his fifth season is to simply maintain those values and that culture, and challenge his team to be better than they were the day before."Those are things that other girls have helped me with," Patrick said. "And it's just my job to make sure we keep on track doing that and keep trying to reach higher."St. Joe Christian has a home jamboree this Saturday against West Platte and East Buchanan that starts at 10 a.m. The first regular season action will be August 28 in the East Atchison Tournament at the Tarkio Rec Center. The start time for that has yet to be determined.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F346298457206041%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F4579233998776251%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629334629976.jpeg" alt="Sheryl (left) and Erin Patrick (right) talk during a practice. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Sheryl (left) and Erin Patrick (right) talk during a practice. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629334652077.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Post Preview: St. Joseph Christian volleyball leaning on its youth in 2021

The Kansas City Chiefs concluded their final training camp practice of 2021 on Wednesday morning&nbsp; - their 16th practice over the last 22 days at Missouri Western.

Head coach Andy Reid had high praise for the University and the city for their hospitality in that time.

"We appreciate the people here," Reid said. "They did a great job, which they always do. We just appreciate the hospitality that St. Joe, the city, and Missouri Western State University has given us."

In terms of on-the-field work, Reid was very pleased with the effort his team has shown.

"Job well done," Reid told his team, "for what we needed to get done here. We've got to keep going. It's not done here, but we have to keep rolling. Their effort and attitude and everything was good and I appreciated that. As did the coaches."

Defensive end Chris Jones&nbsp;says the team learned a lot about themselves, and about each other, over the last three weeks, and coming back to St. Joseph was a huge benefit.

"I think it was great for us," Jones said. "To build that chemistry amongst the locker room and also on the field. When you have to spend 17-18 days together, you learn a lot about each other, you know?"

Training camp was confined to Kansas City without fans last year due to COVID-19. While Jones appreciated being back, he and the rest of the team are eager to head home.

"St. Joe has been amazing to us," Jones said. "But, I think it's about time for my own house, you know? I love the dorms. Amazing program that (Missouri Western) is running here, the faculty, staff and cafeteria has been amazing, and the people around the facility have been amazing. I appreciate Missouri Western for giving us the opportunity to come back."

This marked the 11th year of training camp in St. Joseph. The Chiefs now head back to Kansas City as they prepare for the next preseason game this Friday at Arizona. Kick off in that game is set for 7 p.m.

Linebacker Willie Gay, who didn't get to play last Saturday against San Francisco, is now feeling 100 percent coming out of concussion protocol.

He's excited to play again, and just wants himself and others in his position group to have fun and make plays.

"I just want to see guys having fun," Gay stated. "Don't think too much on it. Don't think too much about not messing up. Just go play ball and have fun. Enjoy the moment."

Coach Reid said Wednesday that the starters will play in the first half, with second and third-team players entering during the second half.

The Chiefs leave St. Joseph fairly healthy. The only players who didn't practice at all Wednesday were Laurent Duvarney-Tardif (hand), Kyle Long (knee) and Malik Herring (knee).

Reid said both Long and LDT are "doing well" in their current rehab.

Frank Clark (hamstring) and Derrick Nnadi (hip flexor) began practice, but both left early. Reid said neither injury is serious or long-term.

With Clark and Nnadi sidelined, Mike Danna and Khalen Saunders saw reps with the first-team defense Wednesday.

This will obviously be something to watch moving forward, but Mike Remmers ended camp getting most of the reps with the second offense at left tackle, while rookie Lucas Niang has assumed starting right tackle duties for now.

Niang is overall happy with how his position group has progressed over the last few weeks.

"We've come together fast," he said. "We've got a ways to go, but we're doing a good job. Everybody is communicating, getting on the same page. We're gelling as a group, so that's something to look forward to."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629317911832.jpeg" alt="Tyreek Hill (10) moves up field during training camp. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Tyreek Hill (10) moves up field during training camp. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs concluded their final training camp practice of 2021 on Wednesday morning&nbsp; - their 16th practice over the last 22 days at Missouri Western.Head coach Andy Reid had high praise for the University and the city for their hospitality in that time."We appreciate the people here," Reid said. "They did a great job, which they always do. We just appreciate the hospitality that St. Joe, the city, and Missouri Western State University has given us."In terms of on-the-field work, Reid was very pleased with the effort his team has shown."Job well done," Reid told his team, "for what we needed to get done here. We've got to keep going. It's not done here, but we have to keep rolling. Their effort and attitude and everything was good and I appreciated that. As did the coaches."Defensive end Chris Jones&nbsp;says the team learned a lot about themselves, and about each other, over the last three weeks, and coming back to St. Joseph was a huge benefit."I think it was great for us," Jones said. "To build that chemistry amongst the locker room and also on the field. When you have to spend 17-18 days together, you learn a lot about each other, you know?"Training camp was confined to Kansas City without fans last year due to COVID-19. While Jones appreciated being back, he and the rest of the team are eager to head home."St. Joe has been amazing to us," Jones said. "But, I think it's about time for my own house, you know? I love the dorms. Amazing program that (Missouri Western) is running here, the faculty, staff and cafeteria has been amazing, and the people around the facility have been amazing. I appreciate Missouri Western for giving us the opportunity to come back."This marked the 11th year of training camp in St. Joseph. The Chiefs now head back to Kansas City as they prepare for the next preseason game this Friday at Arizona. Kick off in that game is set for 7 p.m.Linebacker Willie Gay, who didn't get to play last Saturday against San Francisco, is now feeling 100 percent coming out of concussion protocol.He's excited to play again, and just wants himself and others in his position group to have fun and make plays."I just want to see guys having fun," Gay stated. "Don't think too much on it. Don't think too much about not messing up. Just go play ball and have fun. Enjoy the moment."Coach Reid said Wednesday that the starters will play in the first half, with second and third-team players entering during the second half.Injury updateThe Chiefs leave St. Joseph fairly healthy. The only players who didn't practice at all Wednesday were Laurent Duvarney-Tardif (hand), Kyle Long (knee) and Malik Herring (knee).Reid said both Long and LDT are "doing well" in their current rehab.Frank Clark (hamstring) and Derrick Nnadi (hip flexor) began practice, but both left early. Reid said neither injury is serious or long-term.With Clark and Nnadi sidelined, Mike Danna and Khalen Saunders saw reps with the first-team defense Wednesday.Offensive lineThis will obviously be something to watch moving forward, but Mike Remmers ended camp getting most of the reps with the second offense at left tackle, while rookie Lucas Niang has assumed starting right tackle duties for now.Niang is overall happy with how his position group has progressed over the last few weeks."We've come together fast," he said. "We've got a ways to go, but we're doing a good job. Everybody is communicating, getting on the same page. We're gelling as a group, so that's something to look forward to."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629318052387.jpeg" alt="Young fans take in training camp in St. Joseph. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Young fans take in training camp in St. Joseph. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629318099085.jpeg" alt="Jody Forston." />
 <figcaption>Jody Forston.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs thank MWSU, St. Joseph for hospitality as training camp concludes Wednesday

The Kansas City Chiefs have just one training camp practice left on Wednesday before they head back to their team facilities in Kansas City. 

While it’s been an enjoyable experience for the team and the fans, special teams coach Dave Toub is ready to get home.

"St. Joe is great," Toub reiterated. "I'm 59 years old, and I'm sleeping in a dorm room. You know, it's kind of hard."

Running backs coach Greg Lewis said much the same. 

"I'm enjoying it up here in St. Joe," said Lewis, who made the switch from receivers coach to running backs coach this offseason. "Good team building, but honestly I do want to get home and see my kids and my wife. The players probably do, too, but we still have work to do and need to come out (Wednesday) and finish up strong."

Training camp began July 28, and will have spanned 16 practices over a 22-day period.

The Chiefs practiced in full pads for just over two hours Tuesday. Defensive end Frank Clark left practice early with a hamstring. Jarran Reed left early due to cramping. Demone Harris (oblique) and Derrick Nnadi (hip) were also pulled from practice early.

Coming into Tuesday, the Chiefs had gotten mostly healthy. The only three who didn't practice at all Tuesday were Laurent Duvarney-Tardif (hand), Kyle Long (knee) and Malik Herring (knee).

The Chiefs announced a flurry of roster moves Tuesday to get their number down to 85 players, per NFL rules.

Receiver Chad Williams was released, while corner Manny Patterson, tight end Evan Baylis and receiver Antonio Callaway have all been waived. Running back Elijah McGuire has been placed on injured reserve. 

One area where future cuts may have to be made is offensive line, where many young guys are competing for a roster spot and playing time.

 Offensive line coach Andy Heck says the competition there has been solid, and that could make decisions difficult.

"We have a lot of depth," Heck said, "particularly at those inside center/guard positions, and we have a lot of guys who I think belong in this league, and I'm not sure how many of them are going to be able to make this team. So, it's great competition there. It's a good problem to have, though."

The Chiefs will have to cut five more players by next Tuesday and be down to 53 on the active roster by August 31.

A second-year pro out of Michigan, Danna has had a solid camp and got the chance to play with the first-team defense late in Tuesday's practice after Clark and Nnadi were sidelined.

Alex Okafor also saw some first-team reps at DE Tuesday.

Defensive line coach Brendan Daly says Danna has turned a corner this camp.

"He's expanded his role," Daly said of Danna. "He's doing some different things for us. He's moving around to some different spots, and he's been able to handle it. He's handled a little bit more communication roles, so he's hit that mark."

Receivers coach Joe Bleymaier, who's entering his first season in that role, gave credit where credit is due Tuesday, pointing out how impressive receiver Mecole Hardman has been this camp.

"Mecole is incredibly smart," Bleymaier said. "He's obviously incredibly athletic. He's taken coaching and he's taken the quarterbacks' input, the coaching staff's input on what he's doing and he's really applied it to the field."

Bleymaier also credited receiver Marcus Kemp saying, "he knows the offense, he knows where to be and how to get there."

Coach Daly says the defensive staff will continue to utilize Chris Jones at both defensive tackle and defensive end. Jones got beat by rookie Trey Smith early in one-on-one blocking drills Tuesday, but then buried the rookie on the second go-round.

Rookie safety Zayne Anderson (BYU) got some time with the first-team defense Tuesday. Another rookie, corner Devon Key (Western Kentucky)&nbsp; has been fighting to keep a roster spot in the secondary as well.

Both Key and Anderson were signed as undrafted free agents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629239877879.jpeg" alt="Antonio Callaway (19) was among those who the Kansas City Chiefs waived on Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Antonio Callaway (19) was among those who the Kansas City Chiefs waived on Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs have just one training camp practice left on Wednesday before they head back to their team facilities in Kansas City. While it’s been an enjoyable experience for the team and the fans, special teams coach Dave Toub is ready to get home."St. Joe is great," Toub reiterated. "I'm 59 years old, and I'm sleeping in a dorm room. You know, it's kind of hard."Running backs coach Greg Lewis said much the same. "I'm enjoying it up here in St. Joe," said Lewis, who made the switch from receivers coach to running backs coach this offseason. "Good team building, but honestly I do want to get home and see my kids and my wife. The players probably do, too, but we still have work to do and need to come out (Wednesday) and finish up strong."Training camp began July 28, and will have spanned 16 practices over a 22-day period.The Chiefs practiced in full pads for just over two hours Tuesday. Defensive end Frank Clark left practice early with a hamstring. Jarran Reed left early due to cramping. Demone Harris (oblique) and Derrick Nnadi (hip) were also pulled from practice early.Coming into Tuesday, the Chiefs had gotten mostly healthy. The only three who didn't practice at all Tuesday were Laurent Duvarney-Tardif (hand), Kyle Long (knee) and Malik Herring (knee).Roster movesThe Chiefs announced a flurry of roster moves Tuesday to get their number down to 85 players, per NFL rules.Receiver Chad Williams was released, while corner Manny Patterson, tight end Evan Baylis and receiver Antonio Callaway have all been waived. Running back Elijah McGuire has been placed on injured reserve. One area where future cuts may have to be made is offensive line, where many young guys are competing for a roster spot and playing time. Offensive line coach Andy Heck says the competition there has been solid, and that could make decisions difficult."We have a lot of depth," Heck said, "particularly at those inside center/guard positions, and we have a lot of guys who I think belong in this league, and I'm not sure how many of them are going to be able to make this team. So, it's great competition there. It's a good problem to have, though."The Chiefs will have to cut five more players by next Tuesday and be down to 53 on the active roster by August 31.Mike DannaA second-year pro out of Michigan, Danna has had a solid camp and got the chance to play with the first-team defense late in Tuesday's practice after Clark and Nnadi were sidelined.Alex Okafor also saw some first-team reps at DE Tuesday.Defensive line coach Brendan Daly says Danna has turned a corner this camp."He's expanded his role," Daly said of Danna. "He's doing some different things for us. He's moving around to some different spots, and he's been able to handle it. He's handled a little bit more communication roles, so he's hit that mark."ReceiversReceivers coach Joe Bleymaier, who's entering his first season in that role, gave credit where credit is due Tuesday, pointing out how impressive receiver Mecole Hardman has been this camp."Mecole is incredibly smart," Bleymaier said. "He's obviously incredibly athletic. He's taken coaching and he's taken the quarterbacks' input, the coaching staff's input on what he's doing and he's really applied it to the field."Bleymaier also credited receiver Marcus Kemp saying, "he knows the offense, he knows where to be and how to get there."Other observationsCoach Daly says the defensive staff will continue to utilize Chris Jones at both defensive tackle and defensive end. Jones got beat by rookie Trey Smith early in one-on-one blocking drills Tuesday, but then buried the rookie on the second go-round.Rookie safety Zayne Anderson (BYU) got some time with the first-team defense Tuesday. Another rookie, corner Devon Key (Western Kentucky)&nbsp; has been fighting to keep a roster spot in the secondary as well.Both Key and Anderson were signed as undrafted free agents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629229738870.jpeg" alt="Fans take in a training camp practice in St. Joseph. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Fans take in a training camp practice in St. Joseph. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs make first roster moves Tuesday, eyeing the end of training camp in St. Joseph

North Platte has enjoyed a string of successful seasons in running sports lately, particularly on the girls' side.

The Panthers <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/70bd2bf1-acff-4d61-936c-8f138b5b6c7a">took second in girls' state track</a> this past May in Jefferson City. Prior to that, the girls' cross country team put together its second consecutive second place finish at the state meet in Columbia in November 2020.

North Platte finished second in Class 2 girls' cross country last year- the highest finish at state at the Class 2 level for any North Platte sport.

As Brendan Cary enters his 10th season as coach, he can't help but be appreciative of what his student-athletes have achieved in recent seasons.

"That's what's nice about having consistency and culture that's sort of engrained in them," Cary said. "It's really easy to get those kids to know what they're supposed to do, and know the expectations as well as, with the newer ones, get them in and on board pretty quickly."

Cary has a total of 13 runners out for cross country this year, including six girls who were on the state qualifying team last fall.

Junior Jessa Cassity led her team in that state meet with a 19th place finish in a field of 161 runners.

"I would say we're pretty confident in ourselves," said Cassity, who also finished 3rd at state track in the girls' 4x800 meter relay. "I think we're ready for this season. We're going to try and do better this season than we did last season, but we're really excited."

The Panthers do lose Madison O'Neill from last year's team. O'Neill finished 25th at the state cross country meet and went on to win four silver medals at the state track meet in May.

A two-time state cross country qualifier, O'Neill is continuing her track career at the University of Alabama. She may no longer be in Dearborn, but O'Neill showed a strong work ethic that her teammates hope to mimic this coming season.

"She just showed us how to work hard and never give up," said junior Shelby Lingle, who finished 61st at last year's state cross country meet. "Even if we're struggling. She was a great leader."

Cary acknowledges that O'Neill was a big loss, but he has high confidence that those coming back, particularly juniors Cassity, Lingle and Alaina Scroggins, and senior Jenna Cassity, can help set the tone in 2021.

"It's huge that those kids know what's going on," Cary said, "and they're there for the kids who are new to it, or haven't had that experience quite as much. For them to go, 'Hey, you can do this. It's not something to be scared of. It's something to be excited for.'"

Scroggins, who finished 30th at last year's state meet, says having Coach Cary back is just as important.

"He teaches us a lot," she said. "Not only about being a better runner, but being a better person, and it just connects really well and helps us grow as runners and as people."

The Panthers open the season with their home meet on August 31 before coming to Missouri Western on September 4.

There'll be a lot of running in practice between now and that first meet, but Cary says getting ready for the season is just as much mental as it is physical.

"How do we get better every day?" Cary said. "And that includes meets. That includes practices. I think our kids have that growth mindset, and that's what we really push on them is the idea to have a growth mindset. Keep getting better every day, and that's what we will push for them."

Listen to the interview with Coach Cary and Alaina Scroggins, Jessa Cassity and Shelby Lingle <a href="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/episodes/North-Platte-girls-cross-Country-Preview-e161pu8">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629199541946.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostNorth Platte has enjoyed a string of successful seasons in running sports lately, particularly on the girls' side.The Panthers <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/70bd2bf1-acff-4d61-936c-8f138b5b6c7a">took second in girls' state track</a> this past May in Jefferson City. Prior to that, the girls' cross country team put together its second consecutive second place finish at the state meet in Columbia in November 2020.North Platte finished second in Class 2 girls' cross country last year- the highest finish at state at the Class 2 level for any North Platte sport.As Brendan Cary enters his 10th season as coach, he can't help but be appreciative of what his student-athletes have achieved in recent seasons."That's what's nice about having consistency and culture that's sort of engrained in them," Cary said. "It's really easy to get those kids to know what they're supposed to do, and know the expectations as well as, with the newer ones, get them in and on board pretty quickly."Cary has a total of 13 runners out for cross country this year, including six girls who were on the state qualifying team last fall.Junior Jessa Cassity led her team in that state meet with a 19th place finish in a field of 161 runners."I would say we're pretty confident in ourselves," said Cassity, who also finished 3rd at state track in the girls' 4x800 meter relay. "I think we're ready for this season. We're going to try and do better this season than we did last season, but we're really excited."The Panthers do lose Madison O'Neill from last year's team. O'Neill finished 25th at the state cross country meet and went on to win four silver medals at the state track meet in May.A two-time state cross country qualifier, O'Neill is continuing her track career at the University of Alabama. She may no longer be in Dearborn, but O'Neill showed a strong work ethic that her teammates hope to mimic this coming season."She just showed us how to work hard and never give up," said junior Shelby Lingle, who finished 61st at last year's state cross country meet. "Even if we're struggling. She was a great leader."Cary acknowledges that O'Neill was a big loss, but he has high confidence that those coming back, particularly juniors Cassity, Lingle and Alaina Scroggins, and senior Jenna Cassity, can help set the tone in 2021."It's huge that those kids know what's going on," Cary said, "and they're there for the kids who are new to it, or haven't had that experience quite as much. For them to go, 'Hey, you can do this. It's not something to be scared of. It's something to be excited for.'"Scroggins, who finished 30th at last year's state meet, says having Coach Cary back is just as important."He teaches us a lot," she said. "Not only about being a better runner, but being a better person, and it just connects really well and helps us grow as runners and as people."The Panthers open the season with their home meet on August 31 before coming to Missouri Western on September 4.There'll be a lot of running in practice between now and that first meet, but Cary says getting ready for the season is just as much mental as it is physical."How do we get better every day?" Cary said. "And that includes meets. That includes practices. I think our kids have that growth mindset, and that's what we really push on them is the idea to have a growth mindset. Keep getting better every day, and that's what we will push for them."Listen to the interview with Coach Cary and Alaina Scroggins, Jessa Cassity and Shelby Lingle <a href="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/episodes/North-Platte-girls-cross-Country-Preview-e161pu8">here</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629199770776.jpeg" alt="North Platte girls' cross country is honored during a basketball game last winter. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>North Platte girls' cross country is honored during a basketball game last winter. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Post Preview: North Platte girls' cross country seeks another solid state run

The American Football Coaches’ Association released their Division II college football top 25 poll Monday, and Northwest Missouri State is ranked No. 4 in the country. 

The Bearcats received one first place vote after finishing 2019 with a 12-2 record and finishing that season ranked No. 7.

Northwest opens their season on Thursday, September 2 at Fort Hays State at 7 p.m.

Missouri Western football, meanwhile, received one vote in the AFCA poll. The Griffons open their season on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Central Oklahoma. That game starts at 7 p.m. and will be carried on KFEQ Radio - 680 AM and 95.3 FM in St. Joseph.

The only other MIAA school to be ranked is Central Missouri. The Mules are No. 13.

MIAA members UNK, Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State all received votes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629154053586.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe American Football Coaches’ Association released their Division II college football top 25 poll Monday, and Northwest Missouri State is ranked No. 4 in the country. The Bearcats received one first place vote after finishing 2019 with a 12-2 record and finishing that season ranked No. 7.Northwest opens their season on Thursday, September 2 at Fort Hays State at 7 p.m.Missouri Western football, meanwhile, received one vote in the AFCA poll. The Griffons open their season on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Central Oklahoma. That game starts at 7 p.m. and will be carried on KFEQ Radio - 680 AM and 95.3 FM in St. Joseph.The only other MIAA school to be ranked is Central Missouri. The Mules are No. 13.MIAA members UNK, Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State all received votes.

Northwest Missouri State football ranked No. 4 to start 2021 season

The Kansas City Chiefs were back in St. Joseph Monday for training camp after a 19-16 win over San Francisco in the first preseason game Saturday.

The team practiced in helmets and shorts for about two hours on what was a very pleasant morning with clear skies and temperatures in the 60s and 70s.

All-in-all, coach Andy Reid felt pretty good about what he saw in the first preseason game, especially from the younger players who got most of the snaps.

"There were some good things," Reid said. "There were things that we can definitely learn from. Most of all, it was good to get the young guys some reps in there. I thought they did a nice job for the most part, assignment wise, effort wise. And down the stretch, it was nice to see them battle and get the win."

While the starting offensive line didn't see all that many snaps Saturday, Reid has liked the way that newly formed O-line has come together, particularly rookies Creed Humphrey (center), Trey Smith (right guard) and Lucas Niang (right tackle), who have all been practicing with the first-team offense throughout camp.

"They had 11 snaps I believe it was," Reid said of the starting linemen. "I thought they did a good job with what they had. We'll keep increasing (their snap count) as we go. They'll get a little more (work) this week and see how that rolls, but normally that's how that happens."

Smith, the rookie out of Tennessee, is feeling better about his overall grasp of the offense now compared to when camp started on July 28.

"I'm going out there and understanding what I'm supposed to do on most of the plays," Smith said. "Just having a better football understanding and what we're trying to get accomplished and the concept of the actual plays."

Injury wise, linebacker Willie Gay and tackle Mike Remmers were at full speed Monday. Gay had been coming back in limited capacity from concussion protocol, but was a full participant in team drills.

Remmers meanwhile missed a decent portion of camp due to back spasms, but he too was a participant in team drills. After starting camp out at right tackle, Remmers was playing left tackle behind Orlando Brown, Jr. Monday.

"He can play either/or," Reid said of Remmers. "I wouldn't read much into that."

Receiver Marcus Kemp and linebacker Darrius Harris also practiced Monday after getting dinged up in Saturday’s game.

Those who did not practice Monday include guard Kyle Long (knee), receiver Antonio Callaway (bone bruise), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (hip flexor), running back Elijah McGuire (ankle), tight end Evan Baylis (ankle), linebacker Riley Cole (ankle) and defensive end Malik Herring (knee).

The second-year pro out of Valdosta State is making a strong case for making the 53-man roster by August 31.

After making three catches for 32 yards against San Francisco Saturday, Forston made several more catches in Monday's practice, including a deep pass down the sideline from Chad Henne.

Bell enters his seventh year in the NFL and his second with the Chiefs after re-signing with the team in March.

Behind Travis Kelce and Bell, several guys like Forston and rookie Noah Gray have been battling to make plays at the tight end spot and be the No. 3 guy.

At 6-6 and 250 pounds, Bell has proven himself to be a solid blocking tight end. Bell says he'll just do whatever he can to be a better teammate and help the offense in any way possible.

"I've always been a guy where I'm going to do whatever I can to help the team," Bell said Monday. "I feel like every year, I'm getting better and better at blocking, and that's just reps. So, yeah if I'm going to be out there, if they need me to run a route or if they need me to block, and it's 3rd and short, I'm going to do it."

The Chiefs have just two more training camp practices left - the last one is on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629142709641.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph Post&nbsp;The Kansas City Chiefs were back in St. Joseph Monday for training camp after a 19-16 win over San Francisco in the first preseason game Saturday.The team practiced in helmets and shorts for about two hours on what was a very pleasant morning with clear skies and temperatures in the 60s and 70s.All-in-all, coach Andy Reid felt pretty good about what he saw in the first preseason game, especially from the younger players who got most of the snaps."There were some good things," Reid said. "There were things that we can definitely learn from. Most of all, it was good to get the young guys some reps in there. I thought they did a nice job for the most part, assignment wise, effort wise. And down the stretch, it was nice to see them battle and get the win."While the starting offensive line didn't see all that many snaps Saturday, Reid has liked the way that newly formed O-line has come together, particularly rookies Creed Humphrey (center), Trey Smith (right guard) and Lucas Niang (right tackle), who have all been practicing with the first-team offense throughout camp."They had 11 snaps I believe it was," Reid said of the starting linemen. "I thought they did a good job with what they had. We'll keep increasing (their snap count) as we go. They'll get a little more (work) this week and see how that rolls, but normally that's how that happens."Smith, the rookie out of Tennessee, is feeling better about his overall grasp of the offense now compared to when camp started on July 28."I'm going out there and understanding what I'm supposed to do on most of the plays," Smith said. "Just having a better football understanding and what we're trying to get accomplished and the concept of the actual plays."Injury wise, linebacker Willie Gay and tackle Mike Remmers were at full speed Monday. Gay had been coming back in limited capacity from concussion protocol, but was a full participant in team drills.Remmers meanwhile missed a decent portion of camp due to back spasms, but he too was a participant in team drills. After starting camp out at right tackle, Remmers was playing left tackle behind Orlando Brown, Jr. Monday.Reid says not to look into it too much."He can play either/or," Reid said of Remmers. "I wouldn't read much into that."Receiver Marcus Kemp and linebacker Darrius Harris also practiced Monday after getting dinged up in Saturday’s game.Those who did not practice Monday include guard Kyle Long (knee), receiver Antonio Callaway (bone bruise), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (hip flexor), running back Elijah McGuire (ankle), tight end Evan Baylis (ankle), linebacker Riley Cole (ankle) and defensive end Malik Herring (knee).Jody ForstonThe second-year pro out of Valdosta State is making a strong case for making the 53-man roster by August 31.After making three catches for 32 yards against San Francisco Saturday, Forston made several more catches in Monday's practice, including a deep pass down the sideline from Chad Henne.Blake BellBell enters his seventh year in the NFL and his second with the Chiefs after re-signing with the team in March.Behind Travis Kelce and Bell, several guys like Forston and rookie Noah Gray have been battling to make plays at the tight end spot and be the No. 3 guy.At 6-6 and 250 pounds, Bell has proven himself to be a solid blocking tight end. Bell says he'll just do whatever he can to be a better teammate and help the offense in any way possible."I've always been a guy where I'm going to do whatever I can to help the team," Bell said Monday. "I feel like every year, I'm getting better and better at blocking, and that's just reps. So, yeah if I'm going to be out there, if they need me to run a route or if they need me to block, and it's 3rd and short, I'm going to do it."The Chiefs have just two more training camp practices left - the last one is on Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629142769271.jpeg" alt="Jody Forston." />
 <figcaption>Jody Forston.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629142749015.jpeg" alt="Blake Bell. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Blake Bell. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs return to St. Joseph in half pads Monday following Saturday win in SF

The Lafayette football team is under new leadership this year, but their new leader is certainly a familiar face.

Lafayette alum and former Irish assistant Ryan Shroyer is back home to be the head coach after spending the last two years as an assistant coach at nearby Polo.

"Being able to come back and give back to these kids and come back to St. Joe where I have a lot of friends is a great experience," Shroyer said. "We've got some real good kids here, have a great senior class with great leadership. We have an awesome coaching staff who are really for the players and really want to take care of these guys on and off the field."

Shroyer brings with him new assistants in&nbsp;Jason Guthrey, Tyler Meinert, Clint Spencer and Austin Shanks. Shroyer was hired this past summer after Eric McDowell stepped down to take a new job at Platte County.

Shroyer and company inherit a Lafayette team that went 4-6 in 2020, and returns a healthy core of seniors, including starting quarterback Jaron Saunders.

"The energy has been great," Saunders said. "The coaches love us up every day. They're all teaching us great things. Getting a new offense installed. Installing the defense as well. The energy is always great here. We love the game, and the coaches love the game, so everyone is always hyped to be out here at practice."

Other seniors coming back include receiver/linebacker Jackson Compton, running back Xavier Cary, linebacker/running back Hayden McCrary, linemen Quintin Garrett and Jacob Inscho, along with receivers/corners Kingston Oliver and Carlos Cortez.

Cortez had a record-breaking track season as a sprinter this past spring, placing 11th at the state meet in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.12 seconds.

He looks forward to carrying that momentum into his senior year.

"It was a big confidence booster for me," Cortez said of his state track appearance. "Going to state and then coming here and getting a new (football) coach, it's a really refreshing senior year for me."

Saunders, entering his second year as the Irish starting quarterback, is hopeful that all of the seniors can lead Lafayette to new heights this fall.

"We've all played together since third or fourth grade," Saunders said of his classmates. "We've been together for years. The biggest thing we're trying to do is have a better season than last year. With a 4-6 record last year, we weren't pleased with that. So, this year we're trying to have a better record and move further into districts."

The Irish beat Savannah 21-20 in district quarterfinals last year, but fell to Smithville 42-0 in the next round.

The Irish had a slight schedule change to open this season. Instead of traveling to Carnahan in St. Louis, Carnahan will now come to St. Joseph to play the Irish on Saturday, August 28 at 1 p.m.

Lafayette will also host Savannah, Cameron and St. Pius X. They'll travel to Atchison, KS, Benton, St. Joseph Central, Chillicothe and Maryville.

"Expectations wise, I won't tell these guys any number of wins or losses," Shroyer said. "I just tell them that we're going to play hard, and if you try as hard as you can, that's all you can do and we'll see how the result turns out."

Lafayette will also take part in the city jamboree on August 20 against Benton and Central.

"It's basically your dress rehearsal before week one," Shroyer said. "We play both of those teams in the regular season. So, we're not going to empty out the kitchen sink or anything like that, but we're looking forward to it."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628865805138.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Lafayette football team is under new leadership this year, but their new leader is certainly a familiar face.Lafayette alum and former Irish assistant Ryan Shroyer is back home to be the head coach after spending the last two years as an assistant coach at nearby Polo.Safe to say, he's happy to be back."Being able to come back and give back to these kids and come back to St. Joe where I have a lot of friends is a great experience," Shroyer said. "We've got some real good kids here, have a great senior class with great leadership. We have an awesome coaching staff who are really for the players and really want to take care of these guys on and off the field."Shroyer brings with him new assistants in&nbsp;Jason Guthrey, Tyler Meinert, Clint Spencer and Austin Shanks. Shroyer was hired this past summer after Eric McDowell stepped down to take a new job at Platte County.Shroyer and company inherit a Lafayette team that went 4-6 in 2020, and returns a healthy core of seniors, including starting quarterback Jaron Saunders."The energy has been great," Saunders said. "The coaches love us up every day. They're all teaching us great things. Getting a new offense installed. Installing the defense as well. The energy is always great here. We love the game, and the coaches love the game, so everyone is always hyped to be out here at practice."Other seniors coming back include receiver/linebacker Jackson Compton, running back Xavier Cary, linebacker/running back Hayden McCrary, linemen Quintin Garrett and Jacob Inscho, along with receivers/corners Kingston Oliver and Carlos Cortez.Cortez had a record-breaking track season as a sprinter this past spring, placing 11th at the state meet in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.12 seconds.He looks forward to carrying that momentum into his senior year."It was a big confidence booster for me," Cortez said of his state track appearance. "Going to state and then coming here and getting a new (football) coach, it's a really refreshing senior year for me."Saunders, entering his second year as the Irish starting quarterback, is hopeful that all of the seniors can lead Lafayette to new heights this fall."We've all played together since third or fourth grade," Saunders said of his classmates. "We've been together for years. The biggest thing we're trying to do is have a better season than last year. With a 4-6 record last year, we weren't pleased with that. So, this year we're trying to have a better record and move further into districts."The Irish beat Savannah 21-20 in district quarterfinals last year, but fell to Smithville 42-0 in the next round.The Irish had a slight schedule change to open this season. Instead of traveling to Carnahan in St. Louis, Carnahan will now come to St. Joseph to play the Irish on Saturday, August 28 at 1 p.m.Lafayette will also host Savannah, Cameron and St. Pius X. They'll travel to Atchison, KS, Benton, St. Joseph Central, Chillicothe and Maryville."Expectations wise, I won't tell these guys any number of wins or losses," Shroyer said. "I just tell them that we're going to play hard, and if you try as hard as you can, that's all you can do and we'll see how the result turns out."Lafayette will also take part in the city jamboree on August 20 against Benton and Central."It's basically your dress rehearsal before week one," Shroyer said. "We play both of those teams in the regular season. So, we're not going to empty out the kitchen sink or anything like that, but we're looking forward to it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628868003927.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F360063172390602%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F203441095132427%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F267548444831542%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Post Preview: Lafayette football ready for new chapter with new coaching staff

The Chiefs had a full-pads practice Thursday as they finalize preparations for their first preseason game at San Francisco this Saturday.

The starters will play in only the first quarter, the second string will be in for the second quarter and so on.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes just hopes to see smooth operation for the time that he's in the game.

"Just going out there and executing," Mahomes said. "In and out of the huddle, making the right calls, getting the ball out of my hands, making some plays happen. You'd always like to score, but at the end of the day, if the communications and procedures in and out of the huddle, especially with so many new guys on the offensive line, I think that'd be a win for me throughout this first game."

&nbsp;There’s certainly going to be lots of eyes on this newly reassembled Chiefs offensive line. Head coach Andy Reid says he hopes that group just continues to do what they’ve been doing in training camp, and apply it to a game situation.

"That continuity and communication," Reid said. "Working together through different looks...functioning."

Defensively, safety Tyrann Mathieu hopes they can keep the 49ers scoreless. He also hopes that some of the younger players on defense can continue to take steps forward and get better.

"I think anytime a defense takes the field, you want to keep the other team out of the end zone," Mathieu said. "I think that's most important, and obviously you want to see the young guys kind of step up, make plays. I think the most important thing is you want to be able to communicate. You want to have sound communication. Obviously, you don't want to have any mental errors."

The Chiefs kick off against the 49ers on Saturday night at 7:30 central. You can hear the game on Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

&nbsp;Linebacker Willie Gay, defensive end Alex Okafor and right tackle Mike Remmers all came back in limited capacity Thursday.

"They all did a little bit of something," Reid reported.

Defensive end Frank Clark left practice early Thursday with hamstring spasms. So did cornerback BoPete Keyes with a dislocated finger and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, who has a hip flexor ailment.

Right guard Kyle Long is still shelved with a knee injury. Tight end Evan Baylis (ankle), left guard Luarent Duvarney-Tardif (hand), receiver Antonio Callaway (bone bruise) and defensive ends Taco Charlton (unknown) and Malik Herring (knee) did not practice Thursday.

The best part of training camp is getting to watch the first-team offense go against the first-team defense in 11-on-11 team drills. Best on best. Iron sharpens iron.

So, it's always entertaining when Mahomes throws up a pass and someone like Tyrann Mathieu is back in coverage trying to defend it. Mahomes says Mathieu has a tendency to back off of a wide receiver to give the impression that the receiver is open.

Then once the ball is in the air, Mathieu is able to get back on the receiver and knock the ball away.

"He kind of puts me on my toes," Mahomes said of Mathieu. "He makes sure I'm ready for all sorts of different things. I mean, he's truly a special talent."

Not surprisingly, the Honey Badger feels the same way about Mahomes.

"You know, he's not your average quarterback," Mathieu said. "He can put the ball anywhere at any spot on the field. But, I think us just kind of working off of each other, competing with each other, that mental gymnastics that we go through pre-snap and post snap, just trying to find each other and what we're doing, I think it's going to make both of us sharper."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628794401462.jpeg" alt="Jody Forston (88) makes a catch during 7-on-7 drills Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Jody Forston (88) makes a catch during 7-on-7 drills Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Chiefs had a full-pads practice Thursday as they finalize preparations for their first preseason game at San Francisco this Saturday.The starters will play in only the first quarter, the second string will be in for the second quarter and so on.Quarterback Patrick Mahomes just hopes to see smooth operation for the time that he's in the game."Just going out there and executing," Mahomes said. "In and out of the huddle, making the right calls, getting the ball out of my hands, making some plays happen. You'd always like to score, but at the end of the day, if the communications and procedures in and out of the huddle, especially with so many new guys on the offensive line, I think that'd be a win for me throughout this first game."&nbsp;There’s certainly going to be lots of eyes on this newly reassembled Chiefs offensive line. Head coach Andy Reid says he hopes that group just continues to do what they’ve been doing in training camp, and apply it to a game situation."That continuity and communication," Reid said. "Working together through different looks...functioning." Defensively, safety Tyrann Mathieu hopes they can keep the 49ers scoreless. He also hopes that some of the younger players on defense can continue to take steps forward and get better."I think anytime a defense takes the field, you want to keep the other team out of the end zone," Mathieu said. "I think that's most important, and obviously you want to see the young guys kind of step up, make plays. I think the most important thing is you want to be able to communicate. You want to have sound communication. Obviously, you don't want to have any mental errors."The Chiefs kick off against the 49ers on Saturday night at 7:30 central. You can hear the game on Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.Injury update&nbsp;Linebacker Willie Gay, defensive end Alex Okafor and right tackle Mike Remmers all came back in limited capacity Thursday."They all did a little bit of something," Reid reported.Defensive end Frank Clark left practice early Thursday with hamstring spasms. So did cornerback BoPete Keyes with a dislocated finger and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, who has a hip flexor ailment.Right guard Kyle Long is still shelved with a knee injury. Tight end Evan Baylis (ankle), left guard Luarent Duvarney-Tardif (hand), receiver Antonio Callaway (bone bruise) and defensive ends Taco Charlton (unknown) and Malik Herring (knee) did not practice Thursday.Mahomes vs. MathieuThe best part of training camp is getting to watch the first-team offense go against the first-team defense in 11-on-11 team drills. Best on best. Iron sharpens iron.So, it's always entertaining when Mahomes throws up a pass and someone like Tyrann Mathieu is back in coverage trying to defend it. Mahomes says Mathieu has a tendency to back off of a wide receiver to give the impression that the receiver is open.Then once the ball is in the air, Mathieu is able to get back on the receiver and knock the ball away."He kind of puts me on my toes," Mahomes said of Mathieu. "He makes sure I'm ready for all sorts of different things. I mean, he's truly a special talent."Not surprisingly, the Honey Badger feels the same way about Mahomes."You know, he's not your average quarterback," Mathieu said. "He can put the ball anywhere at any spot on the field. But, I think us just kind of working off of each other, competing with each other, that mental gymnastics that we go through pre-snap and post snap, just trying to find each other and what we're doing, I think it's going to make both of us sharper."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628794456192.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628794576393.jpeg" alt="Lucas Niang (67) and Trey Smith (65) during blocking drills." />
 <figcaption>Lucas Niang (67) and Trey Smith (65) during blocking drills.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs finish training camp for the week, ready for first preseason game

GOWER - East Buchanan football has enjoyed a pretty nice run of success lately, with seven winning seasons in the last eight years and two district titles since 2014.

The late Kevin Bryan was the head coach for much of that run, spending 13 years as the Bulldogs' head coach before retiring in 2020.

"Coach Bryan definitely set the tone here," second-year head coach Daniel Ritter said. "I'm reaping the benefits of him and how much he gave to this program, because I came into a good situation, and I can't thank the man and his family enough for doing that."

After an 8-3 run in his first season last year, Ritter looks to guide the Bulldogs this fall to their first district title since 2017.

He'll do it with a fairly young team. Of the 51 kids out for football this year, only 12 are upperclassmen.

"But those 12 have a lot of talent," Ritter reiterated, "and they are good leaders and I'm excited to see how they can bring these younger kids along to really make us become a team that we could be. This team has a lot of potential. We definitely are young, so we'll use that as motivation, because it's either now or never, so let's do it."

One of those 12 upperclassmen is senior Cru Conaway, who plays both safety and receiver. He says the best way the upperclassmen can lead is by example.

"It's not about yourself, but it's about what you're doing," Conaway said. "You've got to set an example, and depending on what kind of leader you are, whether you lead by example or whether you lead vocally, you just have to step up and be a leader. Everybody does."

Senior Trevor Rush, a starter on the offensive and defensive line, is optimistic that this team will adjust, despite the loss of guys like Cross McCormack, Heath Walley, Blake Antle and Gavin Ray up front.

"We're just going to keep pushing each other and adapt to change," Rush said. "We lost one of our starting defensive and offensive linemen. But, we're just going to adapt to it and keep getting better everyday."

Ritter has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of energy and enthusiasm his team has brought in the early days of practice, and he's excited to oversee a larger roster than last year.

"These young men have a lot of energy," Ritter admitted. "I was very surprised the first day. They just came out ready to go. We have 51 kids. Last year, we only had around 40. So, there's definitely some things moving around here in Gower, Missouri and at East Buchanan for sure."

The players, however, aren't the only ones bringing the energy this fall.

"One thing I love about Coach Ritter is that he's very energetic," Rush said. "He always knows what to say, and he's always there for us. He's always working on keeping us energetic and keeping us working in the offseason and during the season."

That said, the upperclassmen on this team had the chance to play for Kevin Bryan, and they haven't forgotten the lessons he instilled in them.

"I played for Coach Bryan my first two years here," Conaway recalled. "He taught me a lot of what I know about football, and the way he coached still is still in my memory bank and I still take all of that in and use it."

East Buchanan opens their season on August 27 at East Harrison. They also have road trips at Trenton, West Platte, North Platte and rival Mid-Buchanan, which is always a fun area rivalry for those involved.

"It's the battle of the Buchanans," Conaway said. "That's all I put there, but at the end of the day, it's about who comes out on top and it's going to be a never ending battle between us two."

The Bulldogs have home games against Lathrop, Hamilton/Penney, Plattsburg and Lawson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628733210149.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostGOWER - East Buchanan football has enjoyed a pretty nice run of success lately, with seven winning seasons in the last eight years and two district titles since 2014.The late Kevin Bryan was the head coach for much of that run, spending 13 years as the Bulldogs' head coach before retiring in 2020."Coach Bryan definitely set the tone here," second-year head coach Daniel Ritter said. "I'm reaping the benefits of him and how much he gave to this program, because I came into a good situation, and I can't thank the man and his family enough for doing that."After an 8-3 run in his first season last year, Ritter looks to guide the Bulldogs this fall to their first district title since 2017.He'll do it with a fairly young team. Of the 51 kids out for football this year, only 12 are upperclassmen."But those 12 have a lot of talent," Ritter reiterated, "and they are good leaders and I'm excited to see how they can bring these younger kids along to really make us become a team that we could be. This team has a lot of potential. We definitely are young, so we'll use that as motivation, because it's either now or never, so let's do it."One of those 12 upperclassmen is senior Cru Conaway, who plays both safety and receiver. He says the best way the upperclassmen can lead is by example."It's not about yourself, but it's about what you're doing," Conaway said. "You've got to set an example, and depending on what kind of leader you are, whether you lead by example or whether you lead vocally, you just have to step up and be a leader. Everybody does."Senior Trevor Rush, a starter on the offensive and defensive line, is optimistic that this team will adjust, despite the loss of guys like Cross McCormack, Heath Walley, Blake Antle and Gavin Ray up front."We're just going to keep pushing each other and adapt to change," Rush said. "We lost one of our starting defensive and offensive linemen. But, we're just going to adapt to it and keep getting better everyday."Ritter has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of energy and enthusiasm his team has brought in the early days of practice, and he's excited to oversee a larger roster than last year."These young men have a lot of energy," Ritter admitted. "I was very surprised the first day. They just came out ready to go. We have 51 kids. Last year, we only had around 40. So, there's definitely some things moving around here in Gower, Missouri and at East Buchanan for sure."The players, however, aren't the only ones bringing the energy this fall."One thing I love about Coach Ritter is that he's very energetic," Rush said. "He always knows what to say, and he's always there for us. He's always working on keeping us energetic and keeping us working in the offseason and during the season."That said, the upperclassmen on this team had the chance to play for Kevin Bryan, and they haven't forgotten the lessons he instilled in them."I played for Coach Bryan my first two years here," Conaway recalled. "He taught me a lot of what I know about football, and the way he coached still is still in my memory bank and I still take all of that in and use it."East Buchanan opens their season on August 27 at East Harrison. They also have road trips at Trenton, West Platte, North Platte and rival Mid-Buchanan, which is always a fun area rivalry for those involved."It's the battle of the Buchanans," Conaway said. "That's all I put there, but at the end of the day, it's about who comes out on top and it's going to be a never ending battle between us two."The Bulldogs have home games against Lathrop, Hamilton/Penney, Plattsburg and Lawson.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F521575985584397%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F210784224326702%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F211057740958938%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F220686259969319%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628736464216.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628733184511.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628736497536.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Post Preview: East Buchanan football growing under coach Daniel Ritter

FAUCETT -&nbsp;Mid-Buchanan football had perhaps its best season in program history in 2020.

 The Dragons won their third straight district title and reached the state championship game for the first time before falling to Windsor 43-20 and coming home as state runners-up in Class 1.

The Dragons lost 12 seniors from that roster, including dual threat quarterback and all-state performer Javan Noyes, who accounted for over 4,100 all-purpose yards and 65 all-purpose touchdowns last year alone. Noyes was also the starting punter, and contributed on defense.

Mid-Buchanan also lost T.J. Runyan (leading rusher), Lane Ellison (top receiver) and Leyton Starks (place kicker).

The Dragons do, however, return five players from last season who have starting experience on both sides of the ball.

One of the returning starters is senior receiver and linebacker Blake Hunter, who had over 450 yards receiving and five touchdowns last year. He also had 47 tackles, seven pass break-ups and four interceptions.

 Hunter says proving doubters wrong is a leading motivator this season.

"We're very motivated," he said. "Everyone is saying that we're not going to be as good as we were last year. But, we still come in every day and put the work in, and get the job done."

Other returning starters expected to take a leading role in 2021 include seniors Rawlins Brant, Caiden Bailey and Cage Burns, along with junior Wade Stanton.

"They all played significant minutes on both sides of the ball for us," seventh-year head coach Aaron Fritz said. "Those are the guys we're looking for to make sure that the guys who are stepping in and having to play a little bit more understand what's expected and how hard they need to play."

While some of the names may be different, Fritz says the expectation remains the same.

"Everybody here knows what to expect," Fritz said. "We have a good core of kids who come to weights and do things like that, so they know we're going to play as hard as we can, as fast as we can. Whether people believe we're going to win or not because of what we lost, that doesn't matter. We've got to do what we need to make sure we're taking care of our business."

Burns, a linebacker who led the Dragons with 113 tackles last year, says those who are back this season and have starting experience can help lay a foundation for success this year.

"It'll help us a lot," Burns said of the returning talent. "Because, we know from last year and we still have the talent and stuff like that."

Mid-Buchanan opens the season at home against Princeton/Mercer on August 27. They'll also host Lawson, Lathrop, North Platte and top rival East Buchanan.

The Dragons have road games at Southeast, Penney/Hamilton, Plattsburg and West Platte.

Many don't expect Mid-Buchanan to be quite the powerhouse they were last year. This year's Dragons are taking that personally.

This year's Dragons are bent on silencing doubters in their quest for a fourth straight district title and consecutive trips to the state championship game.

"If you're not playing for a state title every year, you're not doing it right," Fritz said. "Whether that's a realistic expectation or not, that needs to be a goal for everybody. Our kids want to win, and they want to do as good as they can.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628647916107.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostFAUCETT -&nbsp;Mid-Buchanan football had perhaps its best season in program history in 2020. The Dragons won their third straight district title and reached the state championship game for the first time before falling to Windsor 43-20 and coming home as state runners-up in Class 1.The Dragons lost 12 seniors from that roster, including dual threat quarterback and all-state performer Javan Noyes, who accounted for over 4,100 all-purpose yards and 65 all-purpose touchdowns last year alone. Noyes was also the starting punter, and contributed on defense.Mid-Buchanan also lost T.J. Runyan (leading rusher), Lane Ellison (top receiver) and Leyton Starks (place kicker).The Dragons do, however, return five players from last season who have starting experience on both sides of the ball.One of the returning starters is senior receiver and linebacker Blake Hunter, who had over 450 yards receiving and five touchdowns last year. He also had 47 tackles, seven pass break-ups and four interceptions. Hunter says proving doubters wrong is a leading motivator this season."We're very motivated," he said. "Everyone is saying that we're not going to be as good as we were last year. But, we still come in every day and put the work in, and get the job done."Other returning starters expected to take a leading role in 2021 include seniors Rawlins Brant, Caiden Bailey and Cage Burns, along with junior Wade Stanton."They all played significant minutes on both sides of the ball for us," seventh-year head coach Aaron Fritz said. "Those are the guys we're looking for to make sure that the guys who are stepping in and having to play a little bit more understand what's expected and how hard they need to play."While some of the names may be different, Fritz says the expectation remains the same."Everybody here knows what to expect," Fritz said. "We have a good core of kids who come to weights and do things like that, so they know we're going to play as hard as we can, as fast as we can. Whether people believe we're going to win or not because of what we lost, that doesn't matter. We've got to do what we need to make sure we're taking care of our business."Burns, a linebacker who led the Dragons with 113 tackles last year, says those who are back this season and have starting experience can help lay a foundation for success this year."It'll help us a lot," Burns said of the returning talent. "Because, we know from last year and we still have the talent and stuff like that."Mid-Buchanan opens the season at home against Princeton/Mercer on August 27. They'll also host Lawson, Lathrop, North Platte and top rival East Buchanan.The Dragons have road games at Southeast, Penney/Hamilton, Plattsburg and West Platte.Many don't expect Mid-Buchanan to be quite the powerhouse they were last year. This year's Dragons are taking that personally.This year's Dragons are bent on silencing doubters in their quest for a fourth straight district title and consecutive trips to the state championship game."If you're not playing for a state title every year, you're not doing it right," Fritz said. "Whether that's a realistic expectation or not, that needs to be a goal for everybody. Our kids want to win, and they want to do as good as they can."But, I'm telling you - there's a lot of kids here that are pretty disappointed with people even in our own community that don't think we're going to be very good and are doubting. These kids can play, so I think that's all they're worried about right now is kind of going out there and taking care of what they need to take care of."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F1216455032201324%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628647883092.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628647949813.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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