<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=23672&amp;type=Archive">Watch Conor Riley’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=23673&amp;type=Archive">Watch Joe Klanderman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/coordinator-press-conference-october-31-2024/4917">Listen on Wildcats Uncut</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EumD2G5yXNgLSarXhsUzllnCQ7-ea9GjrtXuVomWN3U/edit#gid=0">Media Download</a>

<a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EumD2G5yXNgLSarXhsUzllnCQ7-ea9GjrtXuVomWN3U/edit#gid=0"></a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State offensive coordinator&nbsp;Conor Riley&nbsp;and defensive coordinator&nbsp;Joe Klanderman&nbsp;met with members of the media on Thursday at the Vanier Family Football Complex prior to Kansas State’s game on Saturday at Houston. Links to video and audio of both press conferences are above, and a transcript of select quotes are below.

CONOR RILEY, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

On what needs to happen to have the run game ramp back up…

“Consistency. That's probably the biggest issue I see, is where we're at consistently. You keep things in relative terms. I think last week we may have averaged 5.9 yards per carry, and you take out the three kneel downs, and it goes up to 6.5, and you take out the two sacks, it goes up to 7.5. But, there's explosives, and what's happening, what we've talked about is that there have been those instances where a lot of times it's good defense, and credit KU on them. Sometimes it's not a great calling on a particular pressure, whatever the case might be, and that's part of it. Then part of it, we got to do a better job of staying on and finishing. So, I think it's collective responsibility on my part, not only as one calling the plays, but then it's on them for doing their job. Then, it's on me of not saying, ‘Okay, hey, does this concept confuse with this concept? Hey, this call, we want to leave the ID right here, but then, if they do this, then we got to push it.’ So, is there too much confusion and not allowing those guys to play fast? So that's probably the biggest part of it, but relatively speaking, right now it's keep things in perspective as well.”

On if there is an effort to get Dylan Edwards more touches…

“Yeah, there’s always a plan that we have for him. We still have to go through a progression, and we may do our best as an offensive staff to design some to say, ‘Hey, it's going to go here, it's going to go there.’ Then a defensive look changes. Maybe something else changes, maybe that changes. One thing that we've recognized is everybody knows where he's at on field when he’s on the football field. So, every week you've got to try to find ways to get him the ball, but the other guy is pretty good as well. This past week we did, as you guys could see, we did have a couple more designed quarterback runs in some situations, and that's real as well. So, part of it is, yeah, we do need to find a way to get the ball a little bit more.”

On what makes Houston’s defense good…

“Number one, you look at their coaching staff and their head coach. Their head coach, obviously we competed against here in 2022. I can go back to when I was coaching football at Nebraska Omaha in the Division II ranks, and he was at Central Missouri. One thing that has not changed in 20 years is guys who are physical, guys who are well coached, and guys who run to the football. So, you look at them from a scope of a record, no different than last week's opponent, and that's right now what the Big 12 is. KU, our last opponent, got after them. Well, I think there might have been four or five turnovers in that particular game that helped them, and credit KU, they made some great plays. But you look at their front seven, they're thick, they're active, they’re well coached. They run to the football, they get off blocks, and they present significant challenges for an offense Houston.’

“they do a good job of going into multiple fronts. They really do. They'll stem in and out of those multiple fronts. Front or not front, you still need the players in order to play a particular front. They've got the personnel, and they've got the players and the schemes that do make it a little bit challenging. So, we've got a plan, and just like every single week, we'll have to adjust that plan – against Colorado, we had to adjust a little bit of the plan, against West Virginia, we had to adjust a little bit of our plan, and then obviously against KU there towards the latter part of it, there were some adjustments. Some of those adjustments weren't executed extremely well, and that falls directly on my shoulders, but I know that we're going to have to play a little bit of that game because there's too much respect I have for that coaching staff.”

On who has emerged as a leader on the offensive line…

“It's still Taylor Poitier and Hadley Panzer. Those are the two biggest leaders that we've had. I mentioned Taylor because he's really becoming more and more vocal, and I think that his play is backing that up. Hadley's always been that leader. He's going out there, he's busting his rear end. Hadley came out of that West Virginia game, and my plan going into the Kansas game was you saw Andrew Leingang go in for a series there in the first half. I was playing on getting Hadley probably a couple other series off, and what he told me was, ‘I'm not coming out of this game.’ For a Kansas kid, that goes a long way. So, those are the guys to me that are a lot of leaders.”

JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

On if he expects Houston to run the ball a lot…

“Everybody's got their own recipe to win, and I think that their recipe is play good defense and try to control the ball, limit possessions, limit plays. So, if they're able to turn out first downs like they did against Utah and keep their offense off the field and keep it a manageable game, they probably figured that at the end of the day they can be within striking distance, and hope the team craps the bed, so to speak. So, I think that's kind of been their formula offensively and seems like they're picking up a little theme with it.”

On if Houston’s two quarterbacks are similar…

“We’ve got a lot of experience with Donovan Smith, both at (Texas) Tech and then at Houston last year. So, I have a lot of respect for him as a thrower and as a runner. That was something that always scared us in the past with him. So, he's a good player. I think we know what we're seeing there. It's interesting to see. I don't think their styles are that much different where it’s two drastically different things for us, but they are both good players.”

On taking on another running quarterback…

“It’s a heck of a stretch we've had against these guys, about the four best in the country. Last week we had a couple of errors with contain, and it cost us in a couple instances, especially early in the game on third down. Our guys are very aware of it, and we're coaching the heck out of it. They know, but it's just sometimes you get out there in the heat and things happen. Sometimes it’s scenarios that are boneheaded and sometimes the scenarios that just come up because they come up. So, all we do is talk about it and hope that they are aware of it when the moment comes.”

On what makes VJ Payne an effective blitzer…

“I think, one is he studies. He times things up really well. That's part of it, especially coming from where he's coming from. It's one thing if you're a linebacker and you're coming from linebacker depth. It's another thing if you're coming from 10 to 12 yards away. You have to have an element of timing. There's some blitzes that we've designed here in the past that kids have come clean but didn't get there because they just didn't get there. They didn't get it blocked, they didn't time it up well enough to get there. So, we kind of have some parameters that we talk about with where we want them to be when the ball is snapped, and, boy, was he there a couple times we called his number last week.”

On if he rewatches VJ Payne’s final defensive play against Kansas…

“That's something that's fun to watch, and I see that frequently. I don't know that everybody gets a chance to see that.&nbsp; He's a 22-plus mile per hour guy, and sometimes within a game you don't get opportunities to hit that just because you're working in small spaces or whatever. So, for him to hit that in that little amount of space on a blitz, 21 whatever it was, is incredible. He was flying.”

On what makes defensive tackle Damian Ilalio a great player…

“Just because he's solid, he doesn't make mistakes. It's hard to find a lot of flaws with what he's doing. Great understanding of what we're doing, great understanding what an offense is doing. For example, a couple weeks ago when we played West Virginia, screens were an issue for us against Colorado. We kind of figured that that was going to be in West Virginia's plan. Sure enough, it was. I think he had three TFLs on screens. He has just great feel for the game. I think that comes with maturity, experience and reps.”

Associate Athletics Director for Communications

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730406123197.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=23672&amp;type=Archive">Watch Conor Riley’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=23673&amp;type=Archive">Watch Joe Klanderman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/coordinator-press-conference-october-31-2024/4917">Listen on Wildcats Uncut</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EumD2G5yXNgLSarXhsUzllnCQ7-ea9GjrtXuVomWN3U/edit#gid=0">Media Download</a><a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EumD2G5yXNgLSarXhsUzllnCQ7-ea9GjrtXuVomWN3U/edit#gid=0"></a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State offensive coordinator&nbsp;Conor Riley&nbsp;and defensive coordinator&nbsp;Joe Klanderman&nbsp;met with members of the media on Thursday at the Vanier Family Football Complex prior to Kansas State’s game on Saturday at Houston. Links to video and audio of both press conferences are above, and a transcript of select quotes are below.CONOR RILEY, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOROn what needs to happen to have the run game ramp back up…“Consistency. That's probably the biggest issue I see, is where we're at consistently. You keep things in relative terms. I think last week we may have averaged 5.9 yards per carry, and you take out the three kneel downs, and it goes up to 6.5, and you take out the two sacks, it goes up to 7.5. But, there's explosives, and what's happening, what we've talked about is that there have been those instances where a lot of times it's good defense, and credit KU on them. Sometimes it's not a great calling on a particular pressure, whatever the case might be, and that's part of it. Then part of it, we got to do a better job of staying on and finishing. So, I think it's collective responsibility on my part, not only as one calling the plays, but then it's on them for doing their job. Then, it's on me of not saying, ‘Okay, hey, does this concept confuse with this concept? Hey, this call, we want to leave the ID right here, but then, if they do this, then we got to push it.’ So, is there too much confusion and not allowing those guys to play fast? So that's probably the biggest part of it, but relatively speaking, right now it's keep things in perspective as well.”On if there is an effort to get Dylan Edwards more touches…“Yeah, there’s always a plan that we have for him. We still have to go through a progression, and we may do our best as an offensive staff to design some to say, ‘Hey, it's going to go here, it's going to go there.’ Then a defensive look changes. Maybe something else changes, maybe that changes. One thing that we've recognized is everybody knows where he's at on field when he’s on the football field. So, every week you've got to try to find ways to get him the ball, but the other guy is pretty good as well. This past week we did, as you guys could see, we did have a couple more designed quarterback runs in some situations, and that's real as well. So, part of it is, yeah, we do need to find a way to get the ball a little bit more.”On what makes Houston’s defense good…“Number one, you look at their coaching staff and their head coach. Their head coach, obviously we competed against here in 2022. I can go back to when I was coaching football at Nebraska Omaha in the Division II ranks, and he was at Central Missouri. One thing that has not changed in 20 years is guys who are physical, guys who are well coached, and guys who run to the football. So, you look at them from a scope of a record, no different than last week's opponent, and that's right now what the Big 12 is. KU, our last opponent, got after them. Well, I think there might have been four or five turnovers in that particular game that helped them, and credit KU, they made some great plays. But you look at their front seven, they're thick, they're active, they’re well coached. They run to the football, they get off blocks, and they present significant challenges for an offense Houston.’On Houston’s defensive front…“they do a good job of going into multiple fronts. They really do. They'll stem in and out of those multiple fronts. Front or not front, you still need the players in order to play a particular front. They've got the personnel, and they've got the players and the schemes that do make it a little bit challenging. So, we've got a plan, and just like every single week, we'll have to adjust that plan – against Colorado, we had to adjust a little bit of the plan, against West Virginia, we had to adjust a little bit of our plan, and then obviously against KU there towards the latter part of it, there were some adjustments. Some of those adjustments weren't executed extremely well, and that falls directly on my shoulders, but I know that we're going to have to play a little bit of that game because there's too much respect I have for that coaching staff.”On who has emerged as a leader on the offensive line…“It's still Taylor Poitier and Hadley Panzer. Those are the two biggest leaders that we've had. I mentioned Taylor because he's really becoming more and more vocal, and I think that his play is backing that up. Hadley's always been that leader. He's going out there, he's busting his rear end. Hadley came out of that West Virginia game, and my plan going into the Kansas game was you saw Andrew Leingang go in for a series there in the first half. I was playing on getting Hadley probably a couple other series off, and what he told me was, ‘I'm not coming out of this game.’ For a Kansas kid, that goes a long way. So, those are the guys to me that are a lot of leaders.”JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOROn if he expects Houston to run the ball a lot…“Everybody's got their own recipe to win, and I think that their recipe is play good defense and try to control the ball, limit possessions, limit plays. So, if they're able to turn out first downs like they did against Utah and keep their offense off the field and keep it a manageable game, they probably figured that at the end of the day they can be within striking distance, and hope the team craps the bed, so to speak. So, I think that's kind of been their formula offensively and seems like they're picking up a little theme with it.”On if Houston’s two quarterbacks are similar…“We’ve got a lot of experience with Donovan Smith, both at (Texas) Tech and then at Houston last year. So, I have a lot of respect for him as a thrower and as a runner. That was something that always scared us in the past with him. So, he's a good player. I think we know what we're seeing there. It's interesting to see. I don't think their styles are that much different where it’s two drastically different things for us, but they are both good players.”On taking on another running quarterback…“It’s a heck of a stretch we've had against these guys, about the four best in the country. Last week we had a couple of errors with contain, and it cost us in a couple instances, especially early in the game on third down. Our guys are very aware of it, and we're coaching the heck out of it. They know, but it's just sometimes you get out there in the heat and things happen. Sometimes it’s scenarios that are boneheaded and sometimes the scenarios that just come up because they come up. So, all we do is talk about it and hope that they are aware of it when the moment comes.”On what makes VJ Payne an effective blitzer…“I think, one is he studies. He times things up really well. That's part of it, especially coming from where he's coming from. It's one thing if you're a linebacker and you're coming from linebacker depth. It's another thing if you're coming from 10 to 12 yards away. You have to have an element of timing. There's some blitzes that we've designed here in the past that kids have come clean but didn't get there because they just didn't get there. They didn't get it blocked, they didn't time it up well enough to get there. So, we kind of have some parameters that we talk about with where we want them to be when the ball is snapped, and, boy, was he there a couple times we called his number last week.”On if he rewatches VJ Payne’s final defensive play against Kansas…“That's something that's fun to watch, and I see that frequently. I don't know that everybody gets a chance to see that.&nbsp; He's a 22-plus mile per hour guy, and sometimes within a game you don't get opportunities to hit that just because you're working in small spaces or whatever. So, for him to hit that in that little amount of space on a blitz, 21 whatever it was, is incredible. He was flying.”On what makes defensive tackle Damian Ilalio a great player…“Just because he's solid, he doesn't make mistakes. It's hard to find a lot of flaws with what he's doing. Great understanding of what we're doing, great understanding what an offense is doing. For example, a couple weeks ago when we played West Virginia, screens were an issue for us against Colorado. We kind of figured that that was going to be in West Virginia's plan. Sure enough, it was. I think he had three TFLs on screens. He has just great feel for the game. I think that comes with maturity, experience and reps.”– k-statesports.com –&nbsp;RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications

   K-State Coordinators Discuss Contest at Houston

NEW YORK (AP) — You gotta hand it to Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And not just because the Yankees certainly did.

When New York let LA back into World Series Game 5, the Dodgers did what they’ve done all year — kept on going.

After taking advantage of three miscues to erase a five-run, fifth-inning deficit during one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-yankees-errors-ff3ca215e6064c1983e4cce4f41a97e0">most memorable midgame meltdowns in baseball history</a>, the Dodgers used eighth-inning sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts to beat New York 7-6 on Wednesday night.

"In spring training this is what we said we were going to do and we did it,” Betts proclaimed, champagne stinging his eyes.

Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning for New York. Alex Verdugo’s RBI single&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8475f75a8d70496adacb51f7b18cc9bf">chased Jack Flaherty in the second</a>, and Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning homer against Ryan Brasier built a 5-0 Yankees lead.

In the dugout, the Dodgers remained focused.

“We were like just get one, chip away, chip away,” Freeman said.

Errors by Judge in center and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, combined with pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts' grounder, helped Los Angeles score five unearned runs in the fifth.

Of the 234 teams to trail by five or more runs in a Series game, the Dodgers became just the seventh to win.

“This is going to sting forever,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I'm heartbroken.”

After Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly put the Yankees back ahead 6-5, the Dodgers loaded the bases against loser Tommy Kahnle in the eighth before the sacrifice flies off Luke Weaver.

Judge doubled off winner Blake Treinen with one out in the bottom half and Chisholm walked. Manager Dave Roberts walked to the mound with Treinen at 37 pitches.

“I looked in his eyes. I said how you feeling? How much more you got?" Roberts recalled. “He said: `I want it.' I trust him.”

Treinen retired Stanton on a flyout and struck out Anthony Rizzo.

Walker Buehler, making his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7c697f8d5b3444019845eba0503874d9">first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2018</a>, pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.

When Buehler struck out Verdugo to end the game, the Dodgers poured onto the field to celebrate between the mound and first base, capping a season in which they led the big leagues with 98 wins.

With several thousand Dodgers fans remaining in a mostly empty stadium, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred presented the trophy on a platform quickly erected over second base.

Ohtani, the Dodgers’ record-setting $700 million signing and baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal player, went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after separating his left shoulder during a stolen base attempt in Game 2. Ohtani went through the clubhouse pouring champagne on teammates and having it sprayed on him

“We were able to get through the regular season, I think, because of the strength of this team, this organization,” he said through a translator. “The success of the postseason is very similar.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-freddie-freeman-dodgers-yankees-69c512cf5db1053d10f39e9012068293">Freeman hit a two-run single to tie the Series record of 12 RBIs</a>, set by Bobby Richardson over seven games in 1960, and was voted Series MVP. With the Dodgers one out from losing Friday’s opener, Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s homer off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1988’s Game 1 that sparked Los Angeles to the title.

The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988. They won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-los-angeles-dodgers-win-3f933853d5b790b87788142fc58adbd9">neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020</a>&nbsp;after a 60-game regular season and couldn’t have a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.

These Dodgers of Ohtani, Freeman and Betts joined the 1955 Duke Snider and Roy Campanella Boys of Summer, the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era that spanned the three titles from 1959-65, the Tommy Lasorda-led groups 1981 and ’88, and the Betts and Clayton Kershaw champions of 2020.

Ending a season that started with a gambling scandal involving Ohtani's interpreter during the opening series in South Korea, Roberts won his second championship in nine years as Dodgers manager, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston. The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees.

New York remained without a title since its record 27th in 2009. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from San Diego in December knowing he would be eligible for free agency after the 2024 Series. The 26-year-old star went 5 for 16 with one RBI in the Series heading into what will be intensely followed bidding on the open market.

“I'll be open to listen to every single team," Soto said. "I don't have any doors closed or anything like that, so I'm going to be available to all 30 teams.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-aaron-judge-yankees-3109939e98406dd0ef094d364068c7da">Judge finished 4 for 18 with three RBIs</a>.

“You can't give a good team like that extra outs,” Judge said. “It starts with me there in the line drive coming in, misplay that. So that doesn't happen then I think we got a different story tonight.”

Cole didn’t allow a hit until Kiké Hernández singled leading off the fifth. Judge, who an inning earlier made a leaping catch at the left-center wall to deny Freeman an extra-base hit, dropped Tommy Edman’s fly to center. Volpe then bounced a throw to third on Will Smith’s grounder, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases with no outs.

Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, and Betts hit a grounder to Rizzo — a slow grounder by a Mookie turned the 1986 World Series, by the Mets' Mookie Wilson against Boston.

Cole didn’t cover first, pointing at Rizzo, who didn't charge because he was afraid the spinning ball might get past him. Betts outraced Rizzo to the bag.

“I took a bad angle to the ball,” Cole said. “I wasn't sure really off the bat how hard he hit it. ... By the time the ball got by me, I was not in a position to cover first.”

Freeman followed with a two-run single and Teoscar Hernández hit a tying two-run double.

“When you’re given extra outs and you capitalize in that kind of game, that’s huge," Freeman said. “For us to get it back to even, you could just feel the momentum just coming along.”

Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly off Brusdar Graterol put the Yankees ahead 6-5, but the Dodgers rallied one last time in the eighth after Kiké Hernández singled off Kahnle leading off, Edman followed with an infield hit, and Smith walked on four pitches.

“We faced every adversity possible and we overcame every single one,” Freeman said, who won his second title after 2021 with Atlanta, and rebounded from a sprained ankle to homer in each of the first four Series games.

<a href="https://apnews.com/ddce0cc3fd284b9f96d69ee457230df7">Purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012</a>, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman from Tampa Bay to head their baseball operations two years later. He boosted the front office with a multitude of analytics and performance science staff, and ownership supplied the cash.

Los Angeles went on an unprecedented $1.25 billion spending spree last offseason on deals with Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Much of the money was future obligations that raised the Dodgers’ deferred compensation to $915.5 million owed from 2028-44.

Faced with injuries, the Dodgers acquired Flaherty, Edman and reliever Michael Kopech ahead of the trade deadline, and all became important cogs in the title run. The additions boosted payroll to $266 million, third behind the Mets and the Yankees, plus a projected $43 million luxury tax.

Los Angeles will celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-dodgers-world-series-parade-b50eef167a230b92b29ae725f69f2236">with a parade</a>&nbsp;Friday on what would have been the 64th birthday for Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, who died three days before the Series opener.

“It’s going to be emotional for all of us," Roberts said.

Los Angeles opens its spring schedule on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch, and the Yankees start the next day against Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730348282298.jpeg" alt="The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 to win the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)" />
 <figcaption>The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 to win the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — You gotta hand it to Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers.And not just because the Yankees certainly did.When New York let LA back into World Series Game 5, the Dodgers did what they’ve done all year — kept on going.After taking advantage of three miscues to erase a five-run, fifth-inning deficit during one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-yankees-errors-ff3ca215e6064c1983e4cce4f41a97e0">most memorable midgame meltdowns in baseball history</a>, the Dodgers used eighth-inning sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts to beat New York 7-6 on Wednesday night."In spring training this is what we said we were going to do and we did it,” Betts proclaimed, champagne stinging his eyes.Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning for New York. Alex Verdugo’s RBI single&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8475f75a8d70496adacb51f7b18cc9bf">chased Jack Flaherty in the second</a>, and Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning homer against Ryan Brasier built a 5-0 Yankees lead.In the dugout, the Dodgers remained focused.“We were like just get one, chip away, chip away,” Freeman said.Errors by Judge in center and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, combined with pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts' grounder, helped Los Angeles score five unearned runs in the fifth.Of the 234 teams to trail by five or more runs in a Series game, the Dodgers became just the seventh to win.“This is going to sting forever,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I'm heartbroken.”After Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly put the Yankees back ahead 6-5, the Dodgers loaded the bases against loser Tommy Kahnle in the eighth before the sacrifice flies off Luke Weaver.Judge doubled off winner Blake Treinen with one out in the bottom half and Chisholm walked. Manager Dave Roberts walked to the mound with Treinen at 37 pitches.“I looked in his eyes. I said how you feeling? How much more you got?" Roberts recalled. “He said: `I want it.' I trust him.”Treinen retired Stanton on a flyout and struck out Anthony Rizzo.Walker Buehler, making his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7c697f8d5b3444019845eba0503874d9">first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2018</a>, pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.When Buehler struck out Verdugo to end the game, the Dodgers poured onto the field to celebrate between the mound and first base, capping a season in which they led the big leagues with 98 wins.With several thousand Dodgers fans remaining in a mostly empty stadium, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred presented the trophy on a platform quickly erected over second base.Ohtani, the Dodgers’ record-setting $700 million signing and baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal player, went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after separating his left shoulder during a stolen base attempt in Game 2. Ohtani went through the clubhouse pouring champagne on teammates and having it sprayed on him“We were able to get through the regular season, I think, because of the strength of this team, this organization,” he said through a translator. “The success of the postseason is very similar.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-freddie-freeman-dodgers-yankees-69c512cf5db1053d10f39e9012068293">Freeman hit a two-run single to tie the Series record of 12 RBIs</a>, set by Bobby Richardson over seven games in 1960, and was voted Series MVP. With the Dodgers one out from losing Friday’s opener, Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s homer off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1988’s Game 1 that sparked Los Angeles to the title.The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988. They won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-los-angeles-dodgers-win-3f933853d5b790b87788142fc58adbd9">neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020</a>&nbsp;after a 60-game regular season and couldn’t have a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.These Dodgers of Ohtani, Freeman and Betts joined the 1955 Duke Snider and Roy Campanella Boys of Summer, the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era that spanned the three titles from 1959-65, the Tommy Lasorda-led groups 1981 and ’88, and the Betts and Clayton Kershaw champions of 2020.Ending a season that started with a gambling scandal involving Ohtani's interpreter during the opening series in South Korea, Roberts won his second championship in nine years as Dodgers manager, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston. The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees.New York remained without a title since its record 27th in 2009. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from San Diego in December knowing he would be eligible for free agency after the 2024 Series. The 26-year-old star went 5 for 16 with one RBI in the Series heading into what will be intensely followed bidding on the open market.“I'll be open to listen to every single team," Soto said. "I don't have any doors closed or anything like that, so I'm going to be available to all 30 teams.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-aaron-judge-yankees-3109939e98406dd0ef094d364068c7da">Judge finished 4 for 18 with three RBIs</a>.“You can't give a good team like that extra outs,” Judge said. “It starts with me there in the line drive coming in, misplay that. So that doesn't happen then I think we got a different story tonight.”Cole didn’t allow a hit until Kiké Hernández singled leading off the fifth. Judge, who an inning earlier made a leaping catch at the left-center wall to deny Freeman an extra-base hit, dropped Tommy Edman’s fly to center. Volpe then bounced a throw to third on Will Smith’s grounder, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases with no outs.Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, and Betts hit a grounder to Rizzo — a slow grounder by a Mookie turned the 1986 World Series, by the Mets' Mookie Wilson against Boston.Cole didn’t cover first, pointing at Rizzo, who didn't charge because he was afraid the spinning ball might get past him. Betts outraced Rizzo to the bag.“I took a bad angle to the ball,” Cole said. “I wasn't sure really off the bat how hard he hit it. ... By the time the ball got by me, I was not in a position to cover first.”Freeman followed with a two-run single and Teoscar Hernández hit a tying two-run double.“When you’re given extra outs and you capitalize in that kind of game, that’s huge," Freeman said. “For us to get it back to even, you could just feel the momentum just coming along.”Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly off Brusdar Graterol put the Yankees ahead 6-5, but the Dodgers rallied one last time in the eighth after Kiké Hernández singled off Kahnle leading off, Edman followed with an infield hit, and Smith walked on four pitches.“We faced every adversity possible and we overcame every single one,” Freeman said, who won his second title after 2021 with Atlanta, and rebounded from a sprained ankle to homer in each of the first four Series games.<a href="https://apnews.com/ddce0cc3fd284b9f96d69ee457230df7">Purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012</a>, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman from Tampa Bay to head their baseball operations two years later. He boosted the front office with a multitude of analytics and performance science staff, and ownership supplied the cash.Los Angeles went on an unprecedented $1.25 billion spending spree last offseason on deals with Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Much of the money was future obligations that raised the Dodgers’ deferred compensation to $915.5 million owed from 2028-44.Faced with injuries, the Dodgers acquired Flaherty, Edman and reliever Michael Kopech ahead of the trade deadline, and all became important cogs in the title run. The additions boosted payroll to $266 million, third behind the Mets and the Yankees, plus a projected $43 million luxury tax.Los Angeles will celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-dodgers-world-series-parade-b50eef167a230b92b29ae725f69f2236">with a parade</a>&nbsp;Friday on what would have been the 64th birthday for Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, who died three days before the Series opener.“It’s going to be emotional for all of us," Roberts said.UP NEXTLos Angeles opens its spring schedule on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch, and the Yankees start the next day against Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida.

⚾ Dodgers win World Series in 5 games over the Yankees

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-coit/15715">David Coit</a>&nbsp;scored 19 points,&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/zeke-mayo/15498">Zeke Mayo</a>&nbsp;had 16 points and&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/rylan-griffen/15499">Rylan Griffen</a>&nbsp;had 14 points as Kansas defeated Washburn 84-53 inside Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday night in the team's final exhibition contest of 2024-25.

The 70th season of Allen Fieldhouse kicked off as Kansas hosted their second and final exhibition game of the season and&nbsp;welcoming Washburn. Washburn is led by head coach Brett Ballard, who played for Kansas from 2000-02 and was a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/bill-self/727">Bill Self</a>'s staff for the 2008 National Championship.

The top-ranked Jayhawks got off to an early 11-2 lead with 15:08 left in the first half. The Jayhawk lead stretched to 16 points thanks to a three-pointer from Coit, who had 13 first-half points and finished with 19 in the contest. Coit went 5-of-10 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc in his first game at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas entered halftime up 38-22 after firing a 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) shooting. Five different Jayhawks hit a three-pointer in the opening half with&nbsp;Coit,&nbsp;who hit three from downtown.

Kansas shot 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half.An alley-oop from&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dajuan-harris-jr-/15490">Dajuan Harris Jr.</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kj-adams-jr-/15494">KJ Adams Jr.</a>&nbsp;led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/flory-bidunga/15502">Flory Bidunga</a>&nbsp;block on the other end, resulting in a made three pointer by Griffen to force a Washburn timeout with 18:38 left in the second half.

Kansas' lead stretched to 63-28 with 13:30 left in the second half after Mayo drilled back-to-back three pointers. Kansas would cruise to the finish line from that point on, finishing the game shooting 30-of-59 (50.8 percent) from the field, and holding Washburn to just 34.4 percent shooting.

Bidunga&nbsp;was the fourth Jayhawk in double figures, adding 10 points, a game-high tying seven rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Adams&nbsp;shot a perfect 4-of-4 (100.0 percent) and logged eight points, six boards and four assists.

Kansas will host Howard in the 2024-25 regular-season opener inside Allen Fieldhouse next Monday, Nov. 4&nbsp;with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT. 

The game will be broadcast&nbsp;via ESPN+.The Howard game will mark the second annual McLendon Classic as KU begins the season hosting an HBCU opponent. The contest celebrates University of Kansas alum and legendary coach John McLendon and the McLendon Leadership Initiative.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730253958484.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-coit/15715">David Coit</a>&nbsp;scored 19 points,&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/zeke-mayo/15498">Zeke Mayo</a>&nbsp;had 16 points and&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/rylan-griffen/15499">Rylan Griffen</a>&nbsp;had 14 points as Kansas defeated Washburn 84-53 inside Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday night in the team's final exhibition contest of 2024-25.The 70th season of Allen Fieldhouse kicked off as Kansas hosted their second and final exhibition game of the season and&nbsp;welcoming Washburn. Washburn is led by head coach Brett Ballard, who played for Kansas from 2000-02 and was a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/bill-self/727">Bill Self</a>'s staff for the 2008 National Championship.The top-ranked Jayhawks got off to an early 11-2 lead with 15:08 left in the first half. The Jayhawk lead stretched to 16 points thanks to a three-pointer from Coit, who had 13 first-half points and finished with 19 in the contest. Coit went 5-of-10 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc in his first game at Allen Fieldhouse.Kansas entered halftime up 38-22 after firing a 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) shooting. Five different Jayhawks hit a three-pointer in the opening half with&nbsp;Coit,&nbsp;who hit three from downtown. Kansas shot 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half.An alley-oop from&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dajuan-harris-jr-/15490">Dajuan Harris Jr.</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kj-adams-jr-/15494">KJ Adams Jr.</a>&nbsp;led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/flory-bidunga/15502">Flory Bidunga</a>&nbsp;block on the other end, resulting in a made three pointer by Griffen to force a Washburn timeout with 18:38 left in the second half.Kansas' lead stretched to 63-28 with 13:30 left in the second half after Mayo drilled back-to-back three pointers. Kansas would cruise to the finish line from that point on, finishing the game shooting 30-of-59 (50.8 percent) from the field, and holding Washburn to just 34.4 percent shooting.Bidunga&nbsp;was the fourth Jayhawk in double figures, adding 10 points, a game-high tying seven rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Adams&nbsp;shot a perfect 4-of-4 (100.0 percent) and logged eight points, six boards and four assists.UP NEXTKansas will host Howard in the 2024-25 regular-season opener inside Allen Fieldhouse next Monday, Nov. 4&nbsp;with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast&nbsp;via ESPN+.The Howard game will mark the second annual McLendon Classic as KU begins the season hosting an HBCU opponent. The contest celebrates University of Kansas alum and legendary coach John McLendon and the McLendon Leadership Initiative.

🏀  No. 1 Kansas routs Washburn in final exhibition contest

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;led four Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 15 points, as Kansas State ran its home exhibition winning streak to 30 games with a 70-56 win over Division II Fort Hays State on Tuesday night before 9,526 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.

Hausen was joined in double figures by senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>&nbsp;(13 points), sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/macaleab-rich/12169">Macaleab Rich</a>&nbsp;(11 points) and senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;(10 points). N'Guessan had a near double-double with a game-high 9 rebounds.

K-State led from start to finish despite a spirited effort from Fort Hays State, which is coming off a 23-win campaign and was recently ranked No. 16 in the preseason NCAA Division II Coaches poll. The Wildcats led by as many as 20 points early in the second half before the Tigers cut the lead in half with 8:24 to play, prompting a timeout by head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2541">Jerome Tang</a>.An 8-2 spurt capped by a 3-pointer from Hawkins pushed the lead back out to 60-44 with less than 6 minutes to play and the lead never dipped below 12 points the rest of the way.

Hawkins was stellar all-around in his first action as a Wildcat, adding a team-high 6 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals to go with his 13 points in nearly 32 minutes of action.K-State scored its 70 points on 41.1 percent (23-of-56) shooting, including 28.6 percent (8-of-28) from 3-point range, and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the free throw line. The team had 18 assists on 23 made field goals and posted a 42-34 advantage on the glass, including 14 offensive boards.Defensively, the Wildcats held the Tigers to 36.9 percent (24-of-65) shooting, including 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the first half.In addition to the four double-digit scorers, the squad got a big boost from junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones</a>, who finished the night with 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

K-State is now 75-21 all-time in exhibition play, including a 58-9 mark at home. It was the fifth straight such win over FHSU, following victories in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2017.Hausen stalked the Wildcats to a 7-0 lead after knocking down his first two 3-point attempts, as they built as much as a 14-point lead in the first half. 

He duplicated the feat to start the second half, canning his first two 3-pointers to ignite an 8-0 run and push the lead to 42-22 with 17 minutes to play. However, the Tigers wouldn't go away, as they used an 18-8 run over the next 8 minutes to cut the deficit to 52-42.Rich, who earned additional playing time with senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/max-jones/12171">Max Jones</a>&nbsp;out due to injury, was another bright spot down the stretch, scoring 4 of his 11 points in the last 8 minutes. He finished the night 5-of-7 from the field to go with 4 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes of action.

Fort Hays State was led by 9 points each from graduate&nbsp;Kaleb Hammeke&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;Kyle Grill.K-State officially opens the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, Nov. 4 when the Wildcats welcome New Orleans to Bramlage Coliseum for 7 p.m., CT tip. Tickets are available by calling the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221.CATS or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://kstatesports.evenue.net/events/MBSG?_gl=1*fjor90*_gcl_au*ODUwNjE5NjguMTcyODUxMjY2Nw..*_ga*NjA0NzEyODM1LjE3MjA3MzUyNjg.*_ga_1ZXMBEL67G*MTczMDI1Njk5Ni42NjQuMS4xNzMwMjU3MzM4LjQxLjAuMA..&amp;_ga=2.228836185.45498979.1724528033-604712835.1720735268">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.

HEAD COACH JEROME TANGOpening statement…

"First of all, I lost a friend this past week, [South Florida's head coach] Amir Abdur-Rahim. 43 years old, young guy, got a wife and three kids, and that team still had to take the court, or is getting ready to take the court the next day or so. It's just a tough time. In this coaching circle, there are not a lot of guys who have no enemies, and he had none. The man poured into his guys and loved people. The thing that he always said is love wins. So, it was just hard on me, hard on our staff and a moment like this allows you to be so thankful for life, health, and strength. So, I would just like Amir's family to know that we are praying for them, we're always here for them and we'll support them in any way that we can."

On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen's</a>&nbsp;three-point volume…"I say this all of the time, like, coaches want guys to shoot 40% from three, but they can't live with the six misses, right? He was two for nine in the first half, but he was two for five in the second half. I think he's a two-for-five shooter. He did a better job of being on balance [in the second half], like he hit his first two, and then he didn't fight for his feet anymore. He just felt it was going to be his night and it was going to go in, so what he has to do is make sure that he is focused and concentrated. When he's concentrated, using the right mechanics, and fighting for his feet so he's on balance, he's a 40-plus percent three-point shooter."

On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/max-jones/12171">Max Jones'</a>&nbsp;injury status…"He had a little toe injury. It's not anything serious, but it wasn't worth it to risk. It was better to let him rest."On lineup experimentation…"Not having Max out there today kind of messed up the rotation of what we wanted to do. It forced us to maybe do some things that we wouldn't have done or hadn't done yet. But, I think every dude on the roster, if you put them on the floor, they'll provide something positive. So everyone has to be ready."

On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dug-mcdaniel/12170">Dug McDaniel</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones'</a>&nbsp;role"Dug's a talent and he's learning how to be a point guard and lead. There's so much more to being a point guard than just dribbling and passing, but like running the team, and he's embracing that. I think he still allows the ball going in the hole to affect him on the other end and in other things. But, he's a talent, he's going to be a major part of us being successful this year. [C.J.] it's not that [he] started in [Dug's] place, C.J. started. He's been our best point guard. He has an incredible assist-to-turnover ratio in practice, and you saw it today. He gets guys shots, defends the ball, rebounds, and makes the right play. So, C.J. earned where he's at."TEAM NOTES

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730254113259.png" alt="Photo courtesy K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;led four Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 15 points, as Kansas State ran its home exhibition winning streak to 30 games with a 70-56 win over Division II Fort Hays State on Tuesday night before 9,526 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.Hausen was joined in double figures by senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>&nbsp;(13 points), sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/macaleab-rich/12169">Macaleab Rich</a>&nbsp;(11 points) and senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;(10 points). N'Guessan had a near double-double with a game-high 9 rebounds.K-State led from start to finish despite a spirited effort from Fort Hays State, which is coming off a 23-win campaign and was recently ranked No. 16 in the preseason NCAA Division II Coaches poll. The Wildcats led by as many as 20 points early in the second half before the Tigers cut the lead in half with 8:24 to play, prompting a timeout by head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2541">Jerome Tang</a>.An 8-2 spurt capped by a 3-pointer from Hawkins pushed the lead back out to 60-44 with less than 6 minutes to play and the lead never dipped below 12 points the rest of the way. Hawkins was stellar all-around in his first action as a Wildcat, adding a team-high 6 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals to go with his 13 points in nearly 32 minutes of action.K-State scored its 70 points on 41.1 percent (23-of-56) shooting, including 28.6 percent (8-of-28) from 3-point range, and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the free throw line. The team had 18 assists on 23 made field goals and posted a 42-34 advantage on the glass, including 14 offensive boards.Defensively, the Wildcats held the Tigers to 36.9 percent (24-of-65) shooting, including 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the first half.In addition to the four double-digit scorers, the squad got a big boost from junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones</a>, who finished the night with 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals.K-State is now 75-21 all-time in exhibition play, including a 58-9 mark at home. It was the fifth straight such win over FHSU, following victories in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2017.Hausen stalked the Wildcats to a 7-0 lead after knocking down his first two 3-point attempts, as they built as much as a 14-point lead in the first half. He duplicated the feat to start the second half, canning his first two 3-pointers to ignite an 8-0 run and push the lead to 42-22 with 17 minutes to play. However, the Tigers wouldn't go away, as they used an 18-8 run over the next 8 minutes to cut the deficit to 52-42.Rich, who earned additional playing time with senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/max-jones/12171">Max Jones</a>&nbsp;out due to injury, was another bright spot down the stretch, scoring 4 of his 11 points in the last 8 minutes. He finished the night 5-of-7 from the field to go with 4 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes of action.Fort Hays State was led by 9 points each from graduate&nbsp;Kaleb Hammeke&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;Kyle Grill.K-State officially opens the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, Nov. 4 when the Wildcats welcome New Orleans to Bramlage Coliseum for 7 p.m., CT tip. Tickets are available by calling the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221.CATS or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://kstatesports.evenue.net/events/MBSG?_gl=1*fjor90*_gcl_au*ODUwNjE5NjguMTcyODUxMjY2Nw..*_ga*NjA0NzEyODM1LjE3MjA3MzUyNjg.*_ga_1ZXMBEL67G*MTczMDI1Njk5Ni42NjQuMS4xNzMwMjU3MzM4LjQxLjAuMA..&amp;_ga=2.228836185.45498979.1724528033-604712835.1720735268">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.HEAD COACH JEROME TANGOpening statement…"First of all, I lost a friend this past week, [South Florida's head coach] Amir Abdur-Rahim. 43 years old, young guy, got a wife and three kids, and that team still had to take the court, or is getting ready to take the court the next day or so. It's just a tough time. In this coaching circle, there are not a lot of guys who have no enemies, and he had none. The man poured into his guys and loved people. The thing that he always said is love wins. So, it was just hard on me, hard on our staff and a moment like this allows you to be so thankful for life, health, and strength. So, I would just like Amir's family to know that we are praying for them, we're always here for them and we'll support them in any way that we can."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen's</a>&nbsp;three-point volume…"I say this all of the time, like, coaches want guys to shoot 40% from three, but they can't live with the six misses, right? He was two for nine in the first half, but he was two for five in the second half. I think he's a two-for-five shooter. He did a better job of being on balance [in the second half], like he hit his first two, and then he didn't fight for his feet anymore. He just felt it was going to be his night and it was going to go in, so what he has to do is make sure that he is focused and concentrated. When he's concentrated, using the right mechanics, and fighting for his feet so he's on balance, he's a 40-plus percent three-point shooter."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/max-jones/12171">Max Jones'</a>&nbsp;injury status…"He had a little toe injury. It's not anything serious, but it wasn't worth it to risk. It was better to let him rest."On lineup experimentation…"Not having Max out there today kind of messed up the rotation of what we wanted to do. It forced us to maybe do some things that we wouldn't have done or hadn't done yet. But, I think every dude on the roster, if you put them on the floor, they'll provide something positive. So everyone has to be ready."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dug-mcdaniel/12170">Dug McDaniel</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones'</a>&nbsp;role"Dug's a talent and he's learning how to be a point guard and lead. There's so much more to being a point guard than just dribbling and passing, but like running the team, and he's embracing that. I think he still allows the ball going in the hole to affect him on the other end and in other things. But, he's a talent, he's going to be a major part of us being successful this year. [C.J.] it's not that [he] started in [Dug's] place, C.J. started. He's been our best point guard. He has an incredible assist-to-turnover ratio in practice, and you saw it today. He gets guys shots, defends the ball, rebounds, and makes the right play. So, C.J. earned where he's at."TEAM NOTES<ul>
 <li>Four Wildcats scored in double figures, as K-State won its lone exhibition game of the 2024-25 season with a 70-56 win over Division II foe Fort Hays State.</li><li>With the win, K-State extended its winning streak in home exhibition games to 30.</li><li>K-State is now 75-21 all-time in exhibition play, including 58-9 at home and 52-9 at Bramlage Coliseum.</li><li>Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;led all scorers with 15 points, connecting on 5-of-14 from 3-point range, in 21 minutes.</li><li>Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>&nbsp;had a strong all-around game with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in 32 minutes.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;had a near double-double with 10 points and a game-high 9 rebounds in 21 minutes.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/macaleab-rich/12169">Macaleab Rich</a>&nbsp;scored 11 points off the bench, connecting on 5-of-7 shots.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>K-State started a lineup of juniors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;and seniors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/achor-achor/12177">Achor Achor</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>.</li>
 </ul>

🏀  K-State eases past Fort Hays State in lone exhibition

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;Kansas State sophomore&nbsp;Avery Johnson&nbsp;is one of 35 quarterbacks in the nation to be named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024, the award’s committee announced Tuesday.

Johnson, who is one of six Big 12 quarterbacks named to the list, is now in the running to be named a semifinalist for the 2024 Davey O’Brien Award. The semifinalists will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the first round of the Davey O’Brien Fan Vote.

For the fifth straight year, the Fan Vote will take place on the award’s three social media platforms –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/daveyobrien">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/daveyobrien/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/daveyobrien">Twitter (X)</a>&nbsp;– and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.

To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O’Brien Award (@daveyobrien) post highlighting their quarterback. First-round voting will close Friday, November 8 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The semifinalists will be named on Tuesday, November 12. Looking ahead, the three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, November 26, while the winner will be announced live on Thursday, December 12, on&nbsp;The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

Johnson, a native of Wichita, Kansas, has helped lead the 17th-ranked Wildcats to a 7-1 overall record and a 4-1 record in the Big 12, which includes four-straight victories. He has thrown for 1,654 yards and 16 touchdowns on 130-of-212 (61.3%) aim while running for 373 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson is one of only five quarterbacks in the nation and the only Big 12 signal caller to throw for 1,600 yards and rush for 370 yards this season.

Johnson enters plays this week ranked 19th&nbsp;nationally in total points responsible for (120) and 20th&nbsp;in passing touchdowns. He ranks second and third in school history in passing touchdowns and yards, respectively, by a sophomore. He is also just two touchdown passes shy of entering the school’s overall single-season top-10 list.

No. 17 Kansas State travels to face Houston inside TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Saturday in a 2:30 p.m., contest that will be shown on FOX. Following the game against the Cougars and a bye week, the Wildcats finish out their home schedule with games against Arizona State (November 16) and Cincinnati (November 23). Tickets to the games against both the Sun Devils and Bearcats can be purchased online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;Kansas State sophomore&nbsp;Avery Johnson&nbsp;is one of 35 quarterbacks in the nation to be named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024, the award’s committee announced Tuesday.Johnson, who is one of six Big 12 quarterbacks named to the list, is now in the running to be named a semifinalist for the 2024 Davey O’Brien Award. The semifinalists will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the first round of the Davey O’Brien Fan Vote.For the fifth straight year, the Fan Vote will take place on the award’s three social media platforms –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/daveyobrien">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/daveyobrien/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/daveyobrien">Twitter (X)</a>&nbsp;– and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O’Brien Award (@daveyobrien) post highlighting their quarterback. First-round voting will close Friday, November 8 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The semifinalists will be named on Tuesday, November 12. Looking ahead, the three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, November 26, while the winner will be announced live on Thursday, December 12, on&nbsp;The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.Johnson, a native of Wichita, Kansas, has helped lead the 17th-ranked Wildcats to a 7-1 overall record and a 4-1 record in the Big 12, which includes four-straight victories. He has thrown for 1,654 yards and 16 touchdowns on 130-of-212 (61.3%) aim while running for 373 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson is one of only five quarterbacks in the nation and the only Big 12 signal caller to throw for 1,600 yards and rush for 370 yards this season.Johnson enters plays this week ranked 19th&nbsp;nationally in total points responsible for (120) and 20th&nbsp;in passing touchdowns. He ranks second and third in school history in passing touchdowns and yards, respectively, by a sophomore. He is also just two touchdown passes shy of entering the school’s overall single-season top-10 list.No. 17 Kansas State travels to face Houston inside TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Saturday in a 2:30 p.m., contest that will be shown on FOX. Following the game against the Cougars and a bye week, the Wildcats finish out their home schedule with games against Arizona State (November 16) and Cincinnati (November 23). Tickets to the games against both the Sun Devils and Bearcats can be purchased online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.– k-statesports.com –RYAN LACKEY

K-State’s Johnson Named to Davey O’Brien Award’s QB Class of 2024

The Junction City High School boys’ cross-country team claimed the Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 6A Regional Championship on Saturday.

Individually, Ethan Fontaine crossed the finish line in first place at 15:51.08 to win the regional at Hummer Park in Topeka. Anthony Testa also had a solid outing, wrapping up the competition in seventh place.

On the girl’s side, Linden Pickler claimed runner-up honors with a time of 18:15.51, while Anna Fontaine closed the competition in fourth place. Brittney Dibben also had a banner day in Topeka, finishing 15th overall. The trio will represent the Blue Jays at the Class 6A State Cross Country Championships in Lawrence on Saturday, Nov. 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730234978537.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of USD 475" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of USD 475</figcaption>
 </figure>The Junction City High School boys’ cross-country team claimed the Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 6A Regional Championship on Saturday.Individually, Ethan Fontaine crossed the finish line in first place at 15:51.08 to win the regional at Hummer Park in Topeka. Anthony Testa also had a solid outing, wrapping up the competition in seventh place.On the girl’s side, Linden Pickler claimed runner-up honors with a time of 18:15.51, while Anna Fontaine closed the competition in fourth place. Brittney Dibben also had a banner day in Topeka, finishing 15th overall. The trio will represent the Blue Jays at the Class 6A State Cross Country Championships in Lawrence on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Cross Country boy's teams wins 6A Regional, several athletes qualify for state

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;Following his game-winning, 51-yard field goal to help Kansas State secure a 29-27 victory over in-state rival Kansas, kicker&nbsp;Chris Tennant&nbsp;has been named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

It is the first weekly honor in Tennant’s career, while he is just the second K-State kicker to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week accolades since 2019 (Ty Zentner vs. Oklahoma State, 2022). It is the third time this season a Wildcat has earned a weekly conference accolade as&nbsp;Dylan Edwards&nbsp;(special teams) and&nbsp;Avery Johnson&nbsp;(offensive) were honored after the Arizona and Oklahoma State games, respectively.

Tennant produced the longest game-winning field goal with under two minutes remaining in regulation in school history, while it was the third-longest game-winner in the nation this season. It was his third-career field goal of 50 or more yards – which ranks fifth in school history – and it tied his career long originally set in 2021 at Texas and matched last season against SEMO.

It was one of two fourth-quarter field goals by Tennant, who also got K-State to within one point at 27-26 with a 28-yard field goal with 13:23 remaining in the contest.

A product of Shawnee, Kansas, Tennant enters plays this week tied for 24th&nbsp;nationally and third in the Big 12 in field goals per game (1.50), while he is tied for 26th&nbsp;in the country and third in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (85.7%).

Now in his fourth season in the program, Tennant ranks fourth in K-State history career extra point percentage (97.7%), fifth in career kick scoring (238), extra points made (127) and extra points attempted (130), sixth in field goals made (37), eighth in field goals attempted (50) and ninth in points scored among all players.

No. 17 Kansas State takes on Houston inside TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Saturday. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and will be shown on FOX.&nbsp;

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;Following his game-winning, 51-yard field goal to help Kansas State secure a 29-27 victory over in-state rival Kansas, kicker&nbsp;Chris Tennant&nbsp;has been named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.It is the first weekly honor in Tennant’s career, while he is just the second K-State kicker to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week accolades since 2019 (Ty Zentner vs. Oklahoma State, 2022). It is the third time this season a Wildcat has earned a weekly conference accolade as&nbsp;Dylan Edwards&nbsp;(special teams) and&nbsp;Avery Johnson&nbsp;(offensive) were honored after the Arizona and Oklahoma State games, respectively.Tennant produced the longest game-winning field goal with under two minutes remaining in regulation in school history, while it was the third-longest game-winner in the nation this season. It was his third-career field goal of 50 or more yards – which ranks fifth in school history – and it tied his career long originally set in 2021 at Texas and matched last season against SEMO.It was one of two fourth-quarter field goals by Tennant, who also got K-State to within one point at 27-26 with a 28-yard field goal with 13:23 remaining in the contest.A product of Shawnee, Kansas, Tennant enters plays this week tied for 24th&nbsp;nationally and third in the Big 12 in field goals per game (1.50), while he is tied for 26th&nbsp;in the country and third in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (85.7%).Now in his fourth season in the program, Tennant ranks fourth in K-State history career extra point percentage (97.7%), fifth in career kick scoring (238), extra points made (127) and extra points attempted (130), sixth in field goals made (37), eighth in field goals attempted (50) and ninth in points scored among all players.No. 17 Kansas State takes on Houston inside TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Saturday. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and will be shown on FOX.&nbsp;

K-State’s Tennant Named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 262 yards and two touchdowns and the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs remained undefeated with a 27-20 victory over the reeling Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

The Chiefs (7-0) extended their winning streak to 13 games, including the playoffs. Their last loss was at home to Las Vegas, but the Chiefs are 5-0 against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium and 6-0 there including the Super Bowl in February.

Las Vegas (2-6) has lost four consecutive games, but this was the first time the Raiders had scored at least 20 points since a 20-16 victory over Cleveland on Sept. 29.

Mahomes became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 30,000 yards, doing it in his 103rd game. Matthew Stafford had hit that mark at 109 games.

Mahomes' top target was Travis Kelce, who had 10 catches for 90 yards, both season highs. He last caught double-digit passes on Oct. 22, 2023, and this was the highest-yardage output since Nov. 26.

Kelce also had a touchdown catch, his 75th to pass Jason Witten for fifth on the NFL tight end list. Kelce moved within two of breaking Tony Gonzalez's team record.

Gardner Minshew completed 24 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas, but was sacked five times. Jakobi Meyers, who missed the two previous games because of an ankle injury, caught six passes for 52 yards and the TD.

Minshew had the burden of carrying an offense that had virtually no running game, finishing with 33 yards, averaging 1.6 per carry.

The Raiders, however, made the champs work for this victory. But Las Vegas failed to take advantage of key opportunities

The Raiders had the ball and 1:57 left on the clock at the end of the first half, but went with two running plays before an incomplete pass on third down. Kansas City got the ball back and went 56 yards on nine plays for Harrison Butker's 42-yard field goal with four seconds left that made it 17-10.

Las Vegas trailed 17-13 in the third quarter when safety Tre'von Moehrig intercepted Mahomes' pass to give the Raiders the ball at the Chiefs 3. Running plays by Alexander Mattison resulted in plays of 2 yards, a no gain and a loss of 2 before Minshew was sacked on fourth down.

The Chiefs then went 87 yards on 19 carries, taking 9:43 off the clock, to set up another field goal from Butker, this one from 24 yards early in the fourth quarter for a seven-point lead.

A strip sack of Minshew set up the final Chiefs' touchdown with 4:59 left to all but seal the victory, though the Raiders scored a TD just before the 2-minute warning to create some drama. Kansas City then recovered the onside kick.

Chiefs: S Nazeeh Johnson (concussion) went out in the first half.

Raiders: C Andre James (ankle) was injured in the second half.

Chiefs: Host Tampa Bay on Monday, Nov. 4.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730073126624.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 262 yards and two touchdowns and the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs remained undefeated with a 27-20 victory over the reeling Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.The Chiefs (7-0) extended their winning streak to 13 games, including the playoffs. Their last loss was at home to Las Vegas, but the Chiefs are 5-0 against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium and 6-0 there including the Super Bowl in February.Las Vegas (2-6) has lost four consecutive games, but this was the first time the Raiders had scored at least 20 points since a 20-16 victory over Cleveland on Sept. 29.Mahomes became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 30,000 yards, doing it in his 103rd game. Matthew Stafford had hit that mark at 109 games.Mahomes' top target was Travis Kelce, who had 10 catches for 90 yards, both season highs. He last caught double-digit passes on Oct. 22, 2023, and this was the highest-yardage output since Nov. 26.Kelce also had a touchdown catch, his 75th to pass Jason Witten for fifth on the NFL tight end list. Kelce moved within two of breaking Tony Gonzalez's team record.Gardner Minshew completed 24 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas, but was sacked five times. Jakobi Meyers, who missed the two previous games because of an ankle injury, caught six passes for 52 yards and the TD.Minshew had the burden of carrying an offense that had virtually no running game, finishing with 33 yards, averaging 1.6 per carry.The Raiders, however, made the champs work for this victory. But Las Vegas failed to take advantage of key opportunitiesThe Raiders had the ball and 1:57 left on the clock at the end of the first half, but went with two running plays before an incomplete pass on third down. Kansas City got the ball back and went 56 yards on nine plays for Harrison Butker's 42-yard field goal with four seconds left that made it 17-10.Las Vegas trailed 17-13 in the third quarter when safety Tre'von Moehrig intercepted Mahomes' pass to give the Raiders the ball at the Chiefs 3. Running plays by Alexander Mattison resulted in plays of 2 yards, a no gain and a loss of 2 before Minshew was sacked on fourth down.The Chiefs then went 87 yards on 19 carries, taking 9:43 off the clock, to set up another field goal from Butker, this one from 24 yards early in the fourth quarter for a seven-point lead.A strip sack of Minshew set up the final Chiefs' touchdown with 4:59 left to all but seal the victory, though the Raiders scored a TD just before the 2-minute warning to create some drama. Kansas City then recovered the onside kick.<h2>Injuries</h2>Chiefs: S Nazeeh Johnson (concussion) went out in the first half.Raiders: C Andre James (ankle) was injured in the second half.<h2>Up next</h2>Chiefs: Host Tampa Bay on Monday, Nov. 4.

🏈 Mahomes passes for 262 yards and 2 TDs, Chiefs beat Raiders  

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, Chris Tennant kicked a 51-yard go-ahead field goal with 1:42 to go and No. 16 Kansas State stopped Kansas on fourth down to preserve a 29-27 victory Saturday night.

D.J. Giddens added 102 yards rushing for the Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Big 12), who kept alive their chances of playing for a conference title and in the College Football Playoff by beating their biggest rival for the 16th consecutive time.

Kansas (2-6, 1-4) got the ball back after Tennant's field goal and picked up a quick first down. But Jalon Daniels bookended a short completion with a couple of incomplete passes, and he was tracked down on fourth down with less than a minute to go, giving the Wildcats the ball back and the chance to run out the clock.

Daniels threw for 209 yards and accounted for two touchdowns and an interception. Devin Neal ran for 66 yards and a score.

Kansas opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown drive, then looked as if it would take control a few minutes later, when Daniels spotted Quentin Skinner running open down the middle of the field. But the senior wide receiver dropped the would-be 49-yard touchdown throw, and the Jayhawks ultimately were forced to punt.

The Wildcats seized on the opening, then took advantage of another Kansas blunder.

After Johnson led a 95-yard drive to knot the game, Kansas freshman Jameel Croft Jr. inexplicably caught the ensuing kickoff at the 1-yard line and stepped out of bounds. Neal was stuffed for a safety on the very next play, and Kansas State followed with a 59-yard drive and its second touchdown in a matter of minutes.

Daniels calmed the Jayhawks, though, and his touchdown throw to Luke Grimm got them within 16-14 at the break.

The teams swapped touchdowns to begin the second half, then traded punts, before the Jayhawks regained the lead on Daniels' touchdown run late in the third quarter — the second year in a row they have led Kansas State in the second half.

The Jayhawks still led 27-26 with 3:44 to go when Daniels, trying to scramble near midfield, went airborne and had the ball pop loose. Brendan Mott was there to recover it for the Wildcats, giving Johnson and Co. one last chance with the ball.

They did just enough to set up Tennant's go-ahead field goal inside the final 2 minutes.

Kansas dominated the game for long stretches but was forced to overcome itself. Daniels had two turnovers, something that was a problem for him earlier in the season, and the Jayhawks made too many special teams blunders.

Kansas State had 479 yards of total offense but struggled on third down. It also had a chance to score a go-ahead TD early in the fourth quarter, but Johnson's pass sailed high and the Wildcats kicked a chip-shot field goal that nearly cost them.

Kansa: Plays No. 10 Iowa State on Nov. 9 at Arrowhead Stadium.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730000495626.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, Chris Tennant kicked a 51-yard go-ahead field goal with 1:42 to go and No. 16 Kansas State stopped Kansas on fourth down to preserve a 29-27 victory Saturday night.D.J. Giddens added 102 yards rushing for the Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Big 12), who kept alive their chances of playing for a conference title and in the College Football Playoff by beating their biggest rival for the 16th consecutive time.Kansas (2-6, 1-4) got the ball back after Tennant's field goal and picked up a quick first down. But Jalon Daniels bookended a short completion with a couple of incomplete passes, and he was tracked down on fourth down with less than a minute to go, giving the Wildcats the ball back and the chance to run out the clock.Daniels threw for 209 yards and accounted for two touchdowns and an interception. Devin Neal ran for 66 yards and a score.Kansas opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown drive, then looked as if it would take control a few minutes later, when Daniels spotted Quentin Skinner running open down the middle of the field. But the senior wide receiver dropped the would-be 49-yard touchdown throw, and the Jayhawks ultimately were forced to punt.The Wildcats seized on the opening, then took advantage of another Kansas blunder.After Johnson led a 95-yard drive to knot the game, Kansas freshman Jameel Croft Jr. inexplicably caught the ensuing kickoff at the 1-yard line and stepped out of bounds. Neal was stuffed for a safety on the very next play, and Kansas State followed with a 59-yard drive and its second touchdown in a matter of minutes.Daniels calmed the Jayhawks, though, and his touchdown throw to Luke Grimm got them within 16-14 at the break.The teams swapped touchdowns to begin the second half, then traded punts, before the Jayhawks regained the lead on Daniels' touchdown run late in the third quarter — the second year in a row they have led Kansas State in the second half.The outcome would be the same, too.The Jayhawks still led 27-26 with 3:44 to go when Daniels, trying to scramble near midfield, went airborne and had the ball pop loose. Brendan Mott was there to recover it for the Wildcats, giving Johnson and Co. one last chance with the ball.They did just enough to set up Tennant's go-ahead field goal inside the final 2 minutes.<h2>The takeaway</h2>Kansas dominated the game for long stretches but was forced to overcome itself. Daniels had two turnovers, something that was a problem for him earlier in the season, and the Jayhawks made too many special teams blunders.Kansas State had 479 yards of total offense but struggled on third down. It also had a chance to score a go-ahead TD early in the fourth quarter, but Johnson's pass sailed high and the Wildcats kicked a chip-shot field goal that nearly cost them.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansa: Plays No. 10 Iowa State on Nov. 9 at Arrowhead Stadium.Kansas State: At Houston next Saturday.

🏈 Tennant kicks go-ahead field goal as K-State wins Sunflower Showdown

The Junction City Blue Jays blanked Emporia 38-0 Friday night at Welch Stadium in Emporia.

After a first quarter controlled by the Spartans, the Blue Jays led 3-0 on a 37-yard field goal by senior Ethan Hileman.

Following a long Emporia drive that included three fourth-down conversions, the Blue Jay defense got a defensive score thanks to an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jeremiah Ragin.

The Junction City offense came to life just before the half when junior quarterback Conrad Gomez connected with junior Lovell Autry on a 41-yard touchdown to lead 17-0 at halftime.

The Blue Jays started the second half with fireworks, scoring on their second offensive play on a 28-yard pass from Gomez to Jamarcus Vornes. Following the touchdown, on Emporia's first play of their drive, Lovell Autry intercepted the pass and Junction City scored one play later on a 32-yard connection between Gomez and Scholar Brown. At this point, the Blue Jays led 31-0 and cruised to a 38-0 victory. 

Junction City recorded their third defensive shutout of the season, and with the win, their record is 4-4 to end the regular season. 

Junction City is the eight-seed in the Class 6A West playoff bracket and will host nine-seed Topeka High on Friday, Nov. 1 at Blue Jay Stadium.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582061741774.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony Gorges&nbsp;JC PostThe Junction City Blue Jays blanked Emporia 38-0 Friday night at Welch Stadium in Emporia.After a first quarter controlled by the Spartans, the Blue Jays led 3-0 on a 37-yard field goal by senior Ethan Hileman.Following a long Emporia drive that included three fourth-down conversions, the Blue Jay defense got a defensive score thanks to an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jeremiah Ragin.The Junction City offense came to life just before the half when junior quarterback Conrad Gomez connected with junior Lovell Autry on a 41-yard touchdown to lead 17-0 at halftime.The Blue Jays started the second half with fireworks, scoring on their second offensive play on a 28-yard pass from Gomez to Jamarcus Vornes. Following the touchdown, on Emporia's first play of their drive, Lovell Autry intercepted the pass and Junction City scored one play later on a 32-yard connection between Gomez and Scholar Brown. At this point, the Blue Jays led 31-0 and cruised to a 38-0 victory. Junction City recorded their third defensive shutout of the season, and with the win, their record is 4-4 to end the regular season. Junction City is the eight-seed in the Class 6A West playoff bracket and will host nine-seed Topeka High on Friday, Nov. 1 at Blue Jay Stadium.

Blue Jays shut out Emporia to wrap up the regular season, will be 8 seed in playoffs

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=23630&amp;type=Archive">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-october-21-2024/4911">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-breakout-interviews-october-21-2024/4912">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a>

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;met with members of the media inside the Vanier Family&nbsp;Football&nbsp;Complex to preview the Dillons Sunflower Showdown against Kansas on Saturday night inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.&nbsp;

“Good afternoon, everyone. Coming back and looking at the film, it was not a very good performance in the first half as far as statistics. I didn’t think we tackled very well on defense. We couldn't really move the ball on offense. It was the same thing we talked about on Saturday night, but we were able to get turnovers, get the touchdown on the interception from (Marques) Sigle, and get the explosive play from Avery (Johnson) to J-Jack (Jadon Jackson), and that gave us some life. Two plays really, in my opinion, helped solidify or give us the chance to be successful – one is the fourth down stop that we had at the end of the first half, and the other one was a fourth-and-six or fourth-and-seven on the first drive of that second half where we decided to go for it. We were just a little bit out of field goal range and didn't want to punt. Avery did a great job making a rusher miss, and hit Ty Bow (Ty Bowman), who is playing really well for us. I’m happy for Ty, he makes the big catch and makes the first down, and we scored on that drive. We ended up playing really, really good&nbsp;football&nbsp;in the second half. 

I told the guys after the game what we've done the last two weeks is really impressive, to go on the road in two different time zones at night and get back as late as we get back. We tried to take care of the guys with some of our scheduling that we've adjusted, but to go on the road at Colorado and at West Virginia and find ways to get two big wins in different ways that we did was really impressive. Hopefully we can build off of that. 

Now, this week, fortunately, we get to play at home. Another night game gives us an opportunity to get our bodies back and get our minds fresh with the extra time we have on Friday and Saturday. They (Kansas) do a lot of different things, as they always have, especially offensively. They're really creative with what they do offensively with shift, trade motions. They've got a lot of talented guys on both sides of the ball. So, we've got to come up with really good plans and then spend some time to execute it. Make sure that we know our assignments and can play fast.”

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729903944337.jpeg" alt=" " />
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 </figure><a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=23630&amp;type=Archive">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-october-21-2024/4911">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-breakout-interviews-october-21-2024/4912">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;met with members of the media inside the Vanier Family&nbsp;Football&nbsp;Complex to preview the Dillons Sunflower Showdown against Kansas on Saturday night inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.&nbsp;CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACHOpening Statement…“Good afternoon, everyone. Coming back and looking at the film, it was not a very good performance in the first half as far as statistics. I didn’t think we tackled very well on defense. We couldn't really move the ball on offense. It was the same thing we talked about on Saturday night, but we were able to get turnovers, get the touchdown on the interception from (Marques) Sigle, and get the explosive play from Avery (Johnson) to J-Jack (Jadon Jackson), and that gave us some life. Two plays really, in my opinion, helped solidify or give us the chance to be successful – one is the fourth down stop that we had at the end of the first half, and the other one was a fourth-and-six or fourth-and-seven on the first drive of that second half where we decided to go for it. We were just a little bit out of field goal range and didn't want to punt. Avery did a great job making a rusher miss, and hit Ty Bow (Ty Bowman), who is playing really well for us. I’m happy for Ty, he makes the big catch and makes the first down, and we scored on that drive. We ended up playing really, really good&nbsp;football&nbsp;in the second half. I told the guys after the game what we've done the last two weeks is really impressive, to go on the road in two different time zones at night and get back as late as we get back. We tried to take care of the guys with some of our scheduling that we've adjusted, but to go on the road at Colorado and at West Virginia and find ways to get two big wins in different ways that we did was really impressive. Hopefully we can build off of that. Now, this week, fortunately, we get to play at home. Another night game gives us an opportunity to get our bodies back and get our minds fresh with the extra time we have on Friday and Saturday. They (Kansas) do a lot of different things, as they always have, especially offensively. They're really creative with what they do offensively with shift, trade motions. They've got a lot of talented guys on both sides of the ball. So, we've got to come up with really good plans and then spend some time to execute it. Make sure that we know our assignments and can play fast.”

 K-State Discusses Dillons Sunflower Showdown at Weekly Press Conference

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-jersey-retired-f553e3f694878731b9748532ee47a9f7">Fernando Valenzuela</a>, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, has died. He was 63.

The team said he died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital, but did not provide the cause or other details.

His death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-e9972a2c3394ad1e6fff2c9b6c5bfc5e">Valenzuela had left</a>&nbsp;his color commentator job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month. His job kept him as a regular at Dodger Stadium, where he held court in the press box dining room before games and remained popular with fans who sought him out for photos and autographs.

“God bless Fernando Valenzuela!” actor and Dodgers fan&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/officialDannyT">Danny Trejo</a>&nbsp;posted on X.

Valenzuela was one of the most dominant players of his era and a wildly popular figure in the 1980s, although he was never elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he is part of Cooperstown, which features several artifacts including a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990.

“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes," Stan Kasten, team president and CEO, said in a statement. “He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon.”

Valenzuela's rise from humble beginnings as the youngest of 12 children in Mexico and his feats on the mound made him hugely popular and influential in Los Angeles’ Latino community while helping attract new fans to Major League Baseball. Their fondness for him continued for years after his retirement.

“63 is way too young.... A piece of my childhood is gone,” actor and “Access Hollywood” co-host&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/mariolopezviva/status/1848939573277335998">Mario Lopez posted</a>&nbsp;on X. “Growing up as a Mexican kid one of the main reasons I'm a Dodgers fan is because of Fernando. ... Not only a great player, but a great man to the community. What a legend.”

Eva Torres, originally from Mexico City, drove from Anaheim to look at murals of Valenzuela on Sunset Boulevard near Dodgers Stadium.

“I wasn’t a fan of baseball but I am a fan of his," she said. "He’s like me, an immigrant that came here to do great things.”

In 1981, Valenzuela became the Dodgers’ opening day starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured 24 hours before his scheduled start. He shut out the Houston Astros 2-0 and began the season 8-0 with five shutouts and an ERA of 0.50. He became the first player to win a Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

His performances created the delirium known as “Fernandomania” among Dodgers fans. The ABBA hit “Fernando” would play as he warmed up on the mound.

“Fernando Valenzuela was a true icon of the Dodgers and the game,”&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepJimmyGomez/status/1848941109768045008">Rep. Jimmy Gomez</a>, D-Calif., posted on X. “His legacy and connection with the Latino community in LA is one of the reasons I fell in love with the Dodgers.”

Valenzuela was 13-7 and had a 2.48 ERA in his first season, which was shortened by a players’ strike.

He was an All-Star selection every year from 1981-86, when he recorded 97 victories, 84 complete games, 1,258 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. He was 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA in eight postseason starts. He earned two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove.

Valenzuela’s no-hitter on June 29, 1990, a 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, was an emotional career highlight. He struck out seven and walked three.

“If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efFHcfIuCEs">Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully</a>&nbsp;exclaimed in his game call.

Nicknamed “El Toro” by the fans, Valenzuela had an unorthodox and memorable pitching motion that included looking skyward at the apex of each windup. His repertoire included a screwball — making him one of the few pitchers of his era who threw that pitch regularly. It was taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo after the Dodgers felt Valenzuela, who wasn’t known as a hard thrower, needed another pitch.

Early in his Dodgers career, Valenzuela spoke little English and had trouble communicating with his catchers. Rookie Mike Scioscia learned Spanish and became Valenzuela’s personal catcher before becoming the team’s full-time catcher.

Valenzuela was a better-than-average hitter, with 10 career home runs.

Eventually, his pitching was compromised by nagging shoulder problems that kept him out of the 1988 postseason, when the Dodgers won the World Series.

The team released Valenzuela just before the 1991 season. He also pitched for the former California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.

He retired in 1997, going 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 seasons, the all-time major league leader in wins and strikeouts (2,074) by a Mexican-born player. In 11 seasons with the Dodgers, he was 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA.

Valenzuela’s rise from his tiny hometown of Etchohuaquila in the Mexican state of Sonora to stardom in the U.S. was improbable. He was the youngest child in a large family who tagged along when his older brothers played baseball.

He signed his first pro contract at age 16, and soon began overpowering older players in the Mexican Central League.

In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico to watch a shortstop when Valenzuela entered the game as a reliever. He immediately commanded Brito’s attention and at age 18, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. He was sent to the California League that same year.

In 1980, Valenzuela was called up to the Dodgers in September and soon made his big league debut as a reliever.

He remains the only pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. The left-hander was the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in 1981, the same year the Dodgers won the World Series.

During his career, he made the cover of Sports Illustrated and visited the White House.

In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers as the Spanish-language radio color commentator for NL games. Twelve years later, he switched to the color commentator job on the team’s Spanish-language TV feed.

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-jersey-retired-f553e3f694878731b9748532ee47a9f7">Fernando Valenzuela</a>, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, has died. He was 63.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. <a href="https://t.co/MXeBlDzDWJ">pic.twitter.com/MXeBlDzDWJ</a>&mdash; Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1848930562515615870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The team said he died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital, but did not provide the cause or other details.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fernandomanía por siempre. Fernandomania forever. <a href="https://t.co/zXhOF8cRCP">pic.twitter.com/zXhOF8cRCP</a>&mdash; Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1848942975432462707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>His death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-e9972a2c3394ad1e6fff2c9b6c5bfc5e">Valenzuela had left</a>&nbsp;his color commentator job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month. His job kept him as a regular at Dodger Stadium, where he held court in the press box dining room before games and remained popular with fans who sought him out for photos and autographs.“God bless Fernando Valenzuela!” actor and Dodgers fan&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/officialDannyT">Danny Trejo</a>&nbsp;posted on X.Valenzuela was one of the most dominant players of his era and a wildly popular figure in the 1980s, although he was never elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he is part of Cooperstown, which features several artifacts including a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990.“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes," Stan Kasten, team president and CEO, said in a statement. “He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon.”Valenzuela's rise from humble beginnings as the youngest of 12 children in Mexico and his feats on the mound made him hugely popular and influential in Los Angeles’ Latino community while helping attract new fans to Major League Baseball. Their fondness for him continued for years after his retirement.“63 is way too young.... A piece of my childhood is gone,” actor and “Access Hollywood” co-host&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/mariolopezviva/status/1848939573277335998">Mario Lopez posted</a>&nbsp;on X. “Growing up as a Mexican kid one of the main reasons I'm a Dodgers fan is because of Fernando. ... Not only a great player, but a great man to the community. What a legend.”Eva Torres, originally from Mexico City, drove from Anaheim to look at murals of Valenzuela on Sunset Boulevard near Dodgers Stadium.“I wasn’t a fan of baseball but I am a fan of his," she said. "He’s like me, an immigrant that came here to do great things.”In 1981, Valenzuela became the Dodgers’ opening day starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured 24 hours before his scheduled start. He shut out the Houston Astros 2-0 and began the season 8-0 with five shutouts and an ERA of 0.50. He became the first player to win a Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in the same season.His performances created the delirium known as “Fernandomania” among Dodgers fans. The ABBA hit “Fernando” would play as he warmed up on the mound.“Fernando Valenzuela was a true icon of the Dodgers and the game,”&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepJimmyGomez/status/1848941109768045008">Rep. Jimmy Gomez</a>, D-Calif., posted on X. “His legacy and connection with the Latino community in LA is one of the reasons I fell in love with the Dodgers.”Valenzuela was 13-7 and had a 2.48 ERA in his first season, which was shortened by a players’ strike.He was an All-Star selection every year from 1981-86, when he recorded 97 victories, 84 complete games, 1,258 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. He was 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA in eight postseason starts. He earned two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove.Valenzuela’s no-hitter on June 29, 1990, a 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, was an emotional career highlight. He struck out seven and walked three.“If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efFHcfIuCEs">Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully</a>&nbsp;exclaimed in his game call.Nicknamed “El Toro” by the fans, Valenzuela had an unorthodox and memorable pitching motion that included looking skyward at the apex of each windup. His repertoire included a screwball — making him one of the few pitchers of his era who threw that pitch regularly. It was taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo after the Dodgers felt Valenzuela, who wasn’t known as a hard thrower, needed another pitch.Early in his Dodgers career, Valenzuela spoke little English and had trouble communicating with his catchers. Rookie Mike Scioscia learned Spanish and became Valenzuela’s personal catcher before becoming the team’s full-time catcher.Valenzuela was a better-than-average hitter, with 10 career home runs.Eventually, his pitching was compromised by nagging shoulder problems that kept him out of the 1988 postseason, when the Dodgers won the World Series.The team released Valenzuela just before the 1991 season. He also pitched for the former California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.He retired in 1997, going 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 seasons, the all-time major league leader in wins and strikeouts (2,074) by a Mexican-born player. In 11 seasons with the Dodgers, he was 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA.Valenzuela’s rise from his tiny hometown of Etchohuaquila in the Mexican state of Sonora to stardom in the U.S. was improbable. He was the youngest child in a large family who tagged along when his older brothers played baseball.He signed his first pro contract at age 16, and soon began overpowering older players in the Mexican Central League.In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico to watch a shortstop when Valenzuela entered the game as a reliever. He immediately commanded Brito’s attention and at age 18, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. He was sent to the California League that same year.In 1980, Valenzuela was called up to the Dodgers in September and soon made his big league debut as a reliever.He remains the only pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. The left-hander was the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in 1981, the same year the Dodgers won the World Series.During his career, he made the cover of Sports Illustrated and visited the White House.In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers as the Spanish-language radio color commentator for NL games. Twelve years later, he switched to the color commentator job on the team’s Spanish-language TV feed.“He consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events across his home country,” Manfred said in a statement. “As a member of the Dodger broadcasting team for more than 20 years, Fernando helped to reach a new generation of fans and cultivate their love of the game. Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired.”He was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. Five years later, the Mexican League retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey. The Dodgers followed in 2023 after keeping his number out of circulation since he last pitched for the team in 1991. The team has a rule that requires a player to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame before having the Dodgers retire his number, but they made an exception for Valenzuela.The Dodgers named Valenzuela as part of the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in 2019 and inducted him into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2023.He became a U.S. citizen in 2015.Valenzuela served on the coaching staff for Mexico during the World Baseball Classic in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017. He was a part-owner of the Mexican League team Tigres de Quintana Roo, with son Fernando Jr. serving as team president and son Ricky serving as general manager. Fernando Jr. played in the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox organizations as a first baseman.In addition to his sons, he is survived by his wife, Linda, who was a schoolteacher from Mexico whom he married in 1981, and daughters Linda and Maria as well as seven grandchildren.