MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Trey Scott, who worked 11 years in player personnel with NFL clubs and the last three years as a coaches and executives agent, has been hired as the football program’s General Manager, head coach&nbsp;Collin Klein&nbsp;announced Thursday.

Scott brings a unique, well-rounded prospective to Kansas State in the new era of college athletics as he has traveled throughout Division I football as a scout for two NFL clubs before handling contract negotiations over the last several years.

“I have had a long career in football, but this is different – this is Family, and this is home,” Scott said. “I am excited to work with quality people and be aggressive in this era of opportunity. Thank you to Coach Klein for trusting me to help advance our program. I can’t wait for my wife and kids to become a part of this special community.”

In his role in Manhattan, Scott will manage the composition of the football roster and, in consultation with Klein and assistant coaches, determine strategies to retain current student-athletes and attract prospective student-athletes.

“Trey is a huge part of where we are going to take K-State in the future,” said Klein. “With his NFL experience and roster management background – along with how he builds relationships – he is the perfect fit.”

After concluding his playing days as a K-State quarterback in 2010, Scott began in professional football as a pro personnel assistant with the Washington Redskins in 2011. He received an opportunity to work for the Oakland Raiders in 2012 and moved to Las Vegas when the franchise was relocated in 2020. Starting as a Midwest scout of the Raiders, Scott earned multiple promotions, culminating with the title of assistant director of player personnel where he oversaw all aspects of the personnel department.

Scott left the Raiders in 2022 to lead the coaching and executives division of Rep 1 Sports before the company was acquired by Excel Sports Management in 2023. For Excel Sports, Scott represented some of the top college football and NFL coaches in addition to front office members with his primary focus of handling their contract negotiations. He also worked as a consultant for athletic departments around the country, helping schools navigate the new era of college athletics in revenue sharing, NIL and spending of revenue sharing dollars.

A native of Shawnee, Kansas, who played at Mill Valley High School, Scott earned dual bachelor’s degrees in business management and supply chain management – in addition to a minor in economics – from Kansas State in December 2010. His family includes his wife, Lauren, daughter, Allie, and son, Jack.

College:&nbsp;Kansas State – Bachelor’s degrees in business management and supply chain management; Minor in economics (2010)

Family:&nbsp;Wife: Lauren; Children: Allie, Jack

Playing Career:&nbsp;Kansas State (quarterback), 2007-10

TREY SCOTT’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER

2011, Washington Redskins (Pro Personnel Assistant)

2012-22, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (College Scout/Pro Personnel Executive)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765488679350.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Trey Scott, who worked 11 years in player personnel with NFL clubs and the last three years as a coaches and executives agent, has been hired as the football program’s General Manager, head coach&nbsp;Collin Klein&nbsp;announced Thursday.Scott brings a unique, well-rounded prospective to Kansas State in the new era of college athletics as he has traveled throughout Division I football as a scout for two NFL clubs before handling contract negotiations over the last several years.“I have had a long career in football, but this is different – this is Family, and this is home,” Scott said. “I am excited to work with quality people and be aggressive in this era of opportunity. Thank you to Coach Klein for trusting me to help advance our program. I can’t wait for my wife and kids to become a part of this special community.”In his role in Manhattan, Scott will manage the composition of the football roster and, in consultation with Klein and assistant coaches, determine strategies to retain current student-athletes and attract prospective student-athletes.“Trey is a huge part of where we are going to take K-State in the future,” said Klein. “With his NFL experience and roster management background – along with how he builds relationships – he is the perfect fit.”After concluding his playing days as a K-State quarterback in 2010, Scott began in professional football as a pro personnel assistant with the Washington Redskins in 2011. He received an opportunity to work for the Oakland Raiders in 2012 and moved to Las Vegas when the franchise was relocated in 2020. Starting as a Midwest scout of the Raiders, Scott earned multiple promotions, culminating with the title of assistant director of player personnel where he oversaw all aspects of the personnel department.Scott left the Raiders in 2022 to lead the coaching and executives division of Rep 1 Sports before the company was acquired by Excel Sports Management in 2023. For Excel Sports, Scott represented some of the top college football and NFL coaches in addition to front office members with his primary focus of handling their contract negotiations. He also worked as a consultant for athletic departments around the country, helping schools navigate the new era of college athletics in revenue sharing, NIL and spending of revenue sharing dollars.A native of Shawnee, Kansas, who played at Mill Valley High School, Scott earned dual bachelor’s degrees in business management and supply chain management – in addition to a minor in economics – from Kansas State in December 2010. His family includes his wife, Lauren, daughter, Allie, and son, Jack.THE TREY SCOTT FILEHometown:&nbsp;Shawnee, KansasHigh School:&nbsp;Mill ValleyCollege:&nbsp;Kansas State – Bachelor’s degrees in business management and supply chain management; Minor in economics (2010)Family:&nbsp;Wife: Lauren; Children: Allie, JackPlaying Career:&nbsp;Kansas State (quarterback), 2007-10TREY SCOTT’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER2011, Washington Redskins (Pro Personnel Assistant)2012-22, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (College Scout/Pro Personnel Executive)2022, Rep 1 Sports (Agent)2023-25, Excel Sports Management (Agent)

K-State Hires Trey Scott as General Manager

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — P.J. Haggerty sank five of Kansas State's 19 3-pointers and scored 28, leading the Wildcats to a 108-49 romp over Mississippi Valley State on Monday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Haggerty made 11 of 14 shots with just one miss from beyond the arc for the Wildcats (6-4), who improved to 5-2 at home.

David Castillo came off the bench to hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range, scoring 19 for K-State. Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 15 on 5-for-10 shooting from distance as the Wildcats hot 53% from outside the arc. Nate Johnson had two 3s and scored 14, adding six assists and five steals.

Haggerty scored seven in a game-opening 25-9 run by K-State. He had 15 points by halftime as the Wildcats opened up a 55-21 lead.

K-State shot just under 60% from the floor in the first half. The Wildcats made 6 of 13 from distance and 11 of 14 free throws. Mississippi Valley State missed 25 of 31 shots, including all six of its 3-pointers.

Haggerty and Castillo missed one shot each in the second half, combining for 25 of the Wildcats' 53 points after the break.

Michael James scored 23 to lead the Delta Devils (1-9), who are 0-7 on the road and have lost eight straight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765279466746.jpeg" alt="Kansas State guard P.J. Haggerty (4)&nbsp; passes to Elias Rapieque (0) during the first half of their game against Mississippi Valley State on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Manhattan, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State guard P.J. Haggerty (4)&nbsp; passes to Elias Rapieque (0) during the first half of their game against Mississippi Valley State on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Manhattan, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — P.J. Haggerty sank five of Kansas State's 19 3-pointers and scored 28, leading the Wildcats to a 108-49 romp over Mississippi Valley State on Monday night to snap a four-game losing streak.Haggerty made 11 of 14 shots with just one miss from beyond the arc for the Wildcats (6-4), who improved to 5-2 at home.David Castillo came off the bench to hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range, scoring 19 for K-State. Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 15 on 5-for-10 shooting from distance as the Wildcats hot 53% from outside the arc. Nate Johnson had two 3s and scored 14, adding six assists and five steals.Haggerty scored seven in a game-opening 25-9 run by K-State. He had 15 points by halftime as the Wildcats opened up a 55-21 lead.K-State shot just under 60% from the floor in the first half. The Wildcats made 6 of 13 from distance and 11 of 14 free throws. Mississippi Valley State missed 25 of 31 shots, including all six of its 3-pointers.Haggerty and Castillo missed one shot each in the second half, combining for 25 of the Wildcats' 53 points after the break.Michael James scored 23 to lead the Delta Devils (1-9), who are 0-7 on the road and have lost eight straight.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas: At Creighton on Saturday.

🏀 Haggerty scores 28 as K-State rolls past Mississippi Valley State

The Junction City Men's Wrestling Team hosted a dual tournament Saturday at Junction city High School. Coach Rick Bazan said that Junction City got off to a good start going 3-2 on the day. The Blue Jays beat Wichita Heights 66-11, Wichita West 51-24 and Shawnee Heights 39-35. They lost to #3 ranked Washburn Rural 46-33 and Hays 44-35.

Winning records on the day were (113) Riley Luckenbill 5-0 with 5 pins, (126) Jayden Melton 4-1, (175) Cody Owens 4-1, (165) Christian Simmers  4-1 and (215) Chris Coy 4-1.  Going 3-2 on the day were (106) Colden Blockcolsky, (138) Kayun Herring and (157) Tyler Proetti.

JCHS will be in action again this Saturday at the Shawnee Mission Northwest Tournament.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765213243827.jpeg" alt="Riley Luckenbill ( Blue and White ) wrestling for the Blue Jays" />
 <figcaption>Riley Luckenbill ( Blue and White ) wrestling for the Blue Jays</figcaption>
 </figure>The Junction City Men's Wrestling Team hosted a dual tournament Saturday at Junction city High School. Coach Rick Bazan said that Junction City got off to a good start going 3-2 on the day. The Blue Jays beat Wichita Heights 66-11, Wichita West 51-24 and Shawnee Heights 39-35. They lost to #3 ranked Washburn Rural 46-33 and Hays 44-35.Winning records on the day were (113) Riley Luckenbill 5-0 with 5 pins, (126) Jayden Melton 4-1, (175) Cody Owens 4-1, (165) Christian Simmers 4-1 and (215) Chris Coy 4-1. Going 3-2 on the day were (106) Colden Blockcolsky, (138) Kayun Herring and (157) Tyler Proetti.JCHS will be in action again this Saturday at the Shawnee Mission Northwest Tournament.

Blue Jays go 3-2 in a dual tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Texans never made their trip to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night into anything more than their next game.

Didn't matter that the Kansas City Chiefs had been the AFC's bully for the better part of a decade. Or the Chiefs had knocked Houston out of the playoffs last year. Or that the Texans needed to win to keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.

“It was our next game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We needed to come out and execute. Play good football. And we did.”

C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL's top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston walked out with a 20-10 victory that gave a big boost to their postseason hopes.

Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter, as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jaguars in a tight division race.

“We did what we came to do,” Ryans said. “It was just about accomplishing your mission. It wasn't anything extra on top for winning this game. We just knew we had to get the win no matter what it took.”

Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The last of the picks came late in the fourth quarter, when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.

“I thought our defense did a great job sticking in coverage, and relentlessly rushing," Stroud said. "An amazing job.”

While the win gave a big boost to Houston's playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.

“You're getting late in the season. You're not going to get these opportunities back,” Mahomes said. “That's a good football team, but we had chances and we didn't execute at the right time to win it.”

The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including that divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch Sunday night.

The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston's 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.

The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.

Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-injuries-775ebe979ae3135b65a16b1d11c5cfbe">two more significant injuries</a>, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.

“Listen, they battled,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward. “Some of the guys in there hadn't practiced much.”

Still, the Chiefs wound up with just 98 first-half yards, and they trailed 10-0 at the break. It was only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.

The Chiefs' defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. It allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at their deficit, first on Kareem Hunt's TD run and then on Harrison Butker's tying field goal.

Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the fourth quarter.

With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.

The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.

“We've still got an opportunity. Even though it's a slim opportunity, we have an opportunity,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “For us, the door is still open. It might be a 10 percent chance. It might be a 5 percent chance. But as long as we have an opportunity and a chance, we can control that, and let the cards fall where they fall.”

Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half and did not return.

Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.

Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765164441878.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Texans never made their trip to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night into anything more than their next game.Didn't matter that the Kansas City Chiefs had been the AFC's bully for the better part of a decade. Or the Chiefs had knocked Houston out of the playoffs last year. Or that the Texans needed to win to keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.“It was our next game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We needed to come out and execute. Play good football. And we did.”Did enough, anyway.C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL's top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston walked out with a 20-10 victory that gave a big boost to their postseason hopes.Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter, as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jaguars in a tight division race.“We did what we came to do,” Ryans said. “It was just about accomplishing your mission. It wasn't anything extra on top for winning this game. We just knew we had to get the win no matter what it took.”Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The last of the picks came late in the fourth quarter, when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.“I thought our defense did a great job sticking in coverage, and relentlessly rushing," Stroud said. "An amazing job.”While the win gave a big boost to Houston's playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.“You're getting late in the season. You're not going to get these opportunities back,” Mahomes said. “That's a good football team, but we had chances and we didn't execute at the right time to win it.”The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including that divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch Sunday night.The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston's 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-injuries-775ebe979ae3135b65a16b1d11c5cfbe">two more significant injuries</a>, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.“Listen, they battled,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward. “Some of the guys in there hadn't practiced much.”Still, the Chiefs wound up with just 98 first-half yards, and they trailed 10-0 at the break. It was only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.The Chiefs' defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. It allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at their deficit, first on Kareem Hunt's TD run and then on Harrison Butker's tying field goal.Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the fourth quarter.With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.“We've still got an opportunity. Even though it's a slim opportunity, we have an opportunity,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “For us, the door is still open. It might be a 10 percent chance. It might be a 5 percent chance. But as long as we have an opportunity and a chance, we can control that, and let the cards fall where they fall.”<h2>Injuries</h2>Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half and did not return.Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.<h2>Up next</h2>Houston plays the Cardinals next Sunday.Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.

🏈 Texans beat the Chiefs in crucial matchup at Arrowhead

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas has proven over the past month that it can hang with the nation's best without Darryn Peterson on the floor.

The Jayhawks showed Sunday they are capable of beating anybody when he's out there.

The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson returned from a lingering hamstring injury to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-tigers-kansas-jayhawks-score-697f371f46b4674affdf5cbad2707ecc">score 17 points in 23 minutes</a>&nbsp;against Missouri, leading the No. 21 Jayhawks to an 80-60 rout of their biggest rival in the latest edition of the Border War.

Oh, and the high-scoring guard did it while battling flu-like symptoms that had developed over the previous couple of days. He played 17 minutes in the first half but just six in the second, when the Jayhawks had already built a sizeable lead.

“I thought he did fine. I didn't think he pushed it,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “but that's not because of his hammy. It's because he was sick. I was nervous he wasn't going to play, then I was going to have to tell you again that something came up.”

Peterson had missed most of the exhibition season because of issues with cramps. He proceeded to score 21 points in 22 minutes in the Jayhawks' opener against Green Bay, then had 22 points in 28 minutes in a loss at North Carolina later that week.

But he hadn't played since because of the hamstring, forcing the Jayhawks to develop without their best player. And they had made some significant progress, winning three games against power league opponents in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, and putting scares into fourth-ranked Duke and this past week to No. 5 UConn in a nip-and-tuck game at Allen Fieldhouse.

It was after that game against the Huskies that Kansas played a half-court scrimmage between its first and second teams. Peterson had 14 of his side's 20 points in that practice, and he had three assists in helping to produce the other six.

“I mean, he was responsible for every point,” Self said.

Still, the Jayhawks' coach didn't know exactly what to expect on Sunday, both because of the time that Peterson had spent nursing his injury and the illness that had him laid up on the trainer's table just 24 hours before tipoff.

“Man, you could see, even though he was limited in minutes, he was super efficient,” said Kansas forward Tre White, who led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Tigers. “I had a bunch of wide-open shots I haven't normally had. He just makes the game so much easier. He attracts a lot of bodies when he's playing, and that makes it easier for us.”

Peterson wasn't available to talk after the game Sunday, but Self acknowledged that the time off had been difficult on him.

“I think it frustrates him. But it's the world we live in,” Self said. “That kid is over there getting four treatments a day, 45 minutes in every treatment. That kid spends more time shooting on his own maybe than (any player) I've ever coached. That kid wants to be out there so bad, and then when I say whatever I'm going to say, it's not enough for me to say, ‘It’s day to day,' which that's what it's been.”

Self then pondered the attention that Peterson — and his injury — have gotten this season.

Perhaps the scrutiny hasn't been entirely bad, given he will be constantly under it when Peterson heads to the NBA.

“How many people look at our guys and say, ‘We’re going to watch them grow up before our eyes?' If they're making a substantial amount of money? It's a different world,” Self said. “But it's also a world we say, ‘It’s so great for the kids.' But you also give people a reason to have opinions and talk. That's just the way it is. I think in his situation it may be good for him, because he's going to get talked about a lot moving forward. Hey, it's all preparation. I see it as part of the process more than I see it as a negative.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765146850356.png" alt="Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas has proven over the past month that it can hang with the nation's best without Darryn Peterson on the floor.The Jayhawks showed Sunday they are capable of beating anybody when he's out there.The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson returned from a lingering hamstring injury to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-tigers-kansas-jayhawks-score-697f371f46b4674affdf5cbad2707ecc">score 17 points in 23 minutes</a>&nbsp;against Missouri, leading the No. 21 Jayhawks to an 80-60 rout of their biggest rival in the latest edition of the Border War.Oh, and the high-scoring guard did it while battling flu-like symptoms that had developed over the previous couple of days. He played 17 minutes in the first half but just six in the second, when the Jayhawks had already built a sizeable lead.“I thought he did fine. I didn't think he pushed it,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “but that's not because of his hammy. It's because he was sick. I was nervous he wasn't going to play, then I was going to have to tell you again that something came up.”Peterson had missed most of the exhibition season because of issues with cramps. He proceeded to score 21 points in 22 minutes in the Jayhawks' opener against Green Bay, then had 22 points in 28 minutes in a loss at North Carolina later that week.But he hadn't played since because of the hamstring, forcing the Jayhawks to develop without their best player. And they had made some significant progress, winning three games against power league opponents in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, and putting scares into fourth-ranked Duke and this past week to No. 5 UConn in a nip-and-tuck game at Allen Fieldhouse.It was after that game against the Huskies that Kansas played a half-court scrimmage between its first and second teams. Peterson had 14 of his side's 20 points in that practice, and he had three assists in helping to produce the other six.“I mean, he was responsible for every point,” Self said.Still, the Jayhawks' coach didn't know exactly what to expect on Sunday, both because of the time that Peterson had spent nursing his injury and the illness that had him laid up on the trainer's table just 24 hours before tipoff.“Man, you could see, even though he was limited in minutes, he was super efficient,” said Kansas forward Tre White, who led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Tigers. “I had a bunch of wide-open shots I haven't normally had. He just makes the game so much easier. He attracts a lot of bodies when he's playing, and that makes it easier for us.”Peterson wasn't available to talk after the game Sunday, but Self acknowledged that the time off had been difficult on him.“I think it frustrates him. But it's the world we live in,” Self said. “That kid is over there getting four treatments a day, 45 minutes in every treatment. That kid spends more time shooting on his own maybe than (any player) I've ever coached. That kid wants to be out there so bad, and then when I say whatever I'm going to say, it's not enough for me to say, ‘It’s day to day,' which that's what it's been.”Self then pondered the attention that Peterson — and his injury — have gotten this season.Perhaps the scrutiny hasn't been entirely bad, given he will be constantly under it when Peterson heads to the NBA.“How many people look at our guys and say, ‘We’re going to watch them grow up before our eyes?' If they're making a substantial amount of money? It's a different world,” Self said. “But it's also a world we say, ‘It’s so great for the kids.' But you also give people a reason to have opinions and talk. That's just the way it is. I think in his situation it may be good for him, because he's going to get talked about a lot moving forward. Hey, it's all preparation. I see it as part of the process more than I see it as a negative.”___

🏀 Peterson returns from injury to lead KU past Mizzou

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Big 12 Conference announced Sunday it would fine Kansas State and Iowa State $500,000 each for opting out of bowl participation.

Both schools are going through coaching transitions with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-state-coach-25693d0de4692f95c6585b5f436ec11f">Matt Campbell leaving Iowa State for Penn State</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-football-fa06d288abd9c4f320e6c409bc871582">Chris Klieman announcing his retirement.</a>

“While the conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners,” the Big 12 said in a statement.

Iowa State announced its players voted to not play in a bowl because the team doesn't have healthy players to safety practice and play. ISU did not mention the coaching change from Campbell to Jimmy Rogers in its statement.

The Cyclones sustained numerous injuries this season while going 8-4, and members of the athletics administration and the previous coaching staff met Sunday with the players to gauge their interest in a bowl.

“The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players decision,” athletic director Jamie Pollard said. “Our student-athletes have had an incredible season and we are grateful for their leadership as we worked through this process with them today.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-football-fa06d288abd9c4f320e6c409bc871582">K-State athletic director Gene Taylor</a>&nbsp;said he had conversations with players and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark before deciding to decline a bowl bid. The Wildcats were 6-6 after beating Colorado at home in their final home game.

“This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University," Taylor said. "We applaud this group for fighting back from a 2-4 record to lead us to bowl eligibility yet again, and we are happy that our seniors were able to go out on top with a victory inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Big 12 Conference announced Sunday it would fine Kansas State and Iowa State $500,000 each for opting out of bowl participation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Athletics Director Gene Taylor has announced that <a href="https://twitter.com/KStateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KStateFB</a> will not accept a bowl bid for the 2025 season. The Wildcats finished the year with a 6-6 record and qualified for their fifth-straight bowl game and 14th in the last 16 seasons. <a href="https://t.co/AVA9TTDpeO">pic.twitter.com/AVA9TTDpeO</a>&mdash; K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) <a href="https://twitter.com/kstatesports/status/1997713052595306972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Both schools are going through coaching transitions with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-state-coach-25693d0de4692f95c6585b5f436ec11f">Matt Campbell leaving Iowa State for Penn State</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-football-fa06d288abd9c4f320e6c409bc871582">Chris Klieman announcing his retirement.</a>“While the conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners,” the Big 12 said in a statement.Iowa State announced its players voted to not play in a bowl because the team doesn't have healthy players to safety practice and play. ISU did not mention the coaching change from Campbell to Jimmy Rogers in its statement.The Cyclones sustained numerous injuries this season while going 8-4, and members of the athletics administration and the previous coaching staff met Sunday with the players to gauge their interest in a bowl.“The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players decision,” athletic director Jamie Pollard said. “Our student-athletes have had an incredible season and we are grateful for their leadership as we worked through this process with them today.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-football-fa06d288abd9c4f320e6c409bc871582">K-State athletic director Gene Taylor</a>&nbsp;said he had conversations with players and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark before deciding to decline a bowl bid. The Wildcats were 6-6 after beating Colorado at home in their final home game.“This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University," Taylor said. "We applaud this group for fighting back from a 2-4 record to lead us to bowl eligibility yet again, and we are happy that our seniors were able to go out on top with a victory inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”___

🏈 Kansas State declines bowl bid, fined $500,000 by Big 12

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — AJ Staton-McCray and Elijah Fisher scored 16 points apiece, and Seton Hall built a double-digit lead early in the second half to cruise past Kansas State 78-67 on Saturday in a rare matchup.

Adam Clark scored five points and Fisher added four as Seton Hall closed the first half on a 9-3 surge for a 35-29 halftime advantage. The Pirates opened the second half on a 22-6 run and led 51-35.

K-State pulled within 62-54 with about six minutes left but didn't get closer.

Staton-McCray was just 3 of 15 from the floor but made all nine of his free-throw attempts. Fisher was 5-of-9 shooting. Najai Hines added 11 points and Clark finished with 10 for Seton Hall (9-1).

Khamari McGriff scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Kansas State (5-4), which shot 37% (23 of 62) and missed 20 of its 35 free-throw attempts.

Seton Hall earned a 34-29 win over K-State on Dec. 30, 1940 in the only previous meeting. The win was in the midst of the Pirates’ program-record 41-game winning streak that spanned 1939-41.

Kansas State plays at home against Mississippi Valley State on Monday.

Seton Hall will look to extend a four-game win streak with a home game against Rutgers on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765068829046.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — AJ Staton-McCray and Elijah Fisher scored 16 points apiece, and Seton Hall built a double-digit lead early in the second half to cruise past Kansas State 78-67 on Saturday in a rare matchup.Adam Clark scored five points and Fisher added four as Seton Hall closed the first half on a 9-3 surge for a 35-29 halftime advantage. The Pirates opened the second half on a 22-6 run and led 51-35.K-State pulled within 62-54 with about six minutes left but didn't get closer.Staton-McCray was just 3 of 15 from the floor but made all nine of his free-throw attempts. Fisher was 5-of-9 shooting. Najai Hines added 11 points and Clark finished with 10 for Seton Hall (9-1).Khamari McGriff scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Kansas State (5-4), which shot 37% (23 of 62) and missed 20 of its 35 free-throw attempts.The Wildcats have lost four straight.Seton Hall earned a 34-29 win over K-State on Dec. 30, 1940 in the only previous meeting. The win was in the midst of the Pirates’ program-record 41-game winning streak that spanned 1939-41.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas State plays at home against Mississippi Valley State on Monday.Seton Hall will look to extend a four-game win streak with a home game against Rutgers on Saturday.

🏀 Seton Hall hands Kansas State a fourth straight loss

Junction City hosted Atchison on Friday night for the home openers for JCHS. The Lady Jays won big, but the Blue Jays lost in a down-to-the-wire game.

Girls recap – Junction City 63, Atchison 43

Similar to their season-opening game on Tuesday night, the Lady Jays came ready to play in the opening quarter. The game was all about sophomore #10, Aniyah Henry-Rivers. She started the game off with 11 points in the first quarter and finished with a game high, 22 points. The highlight of the quarter, though, came at the end of it. Freshman Alexis Douglas banked in a half-court shot to give the Lady Jays a 16-9 lead after one.

Both teams tightened up with defense in the second quarter; not much scoring occurred, and JC led 22-13 at the half.

Third-quarter action featured an offensive explosion by the JCHS girls. The Lady Jays began the quarter on an 8-3 run, which forced a quick timeout by the Atchison Phoenix. The timeout only fueled the Lady Jays even more. They expanded their lead to 46-23 at the end of the third quarter, and at that time, it was the biggest lead of the game.

In the fourth quarter, the Lady Jays continued to score, and a three-pointer by sophomore Laniyah Warmack gave the girls their largest lead of the game at 61-36. Junction City won by 20, beating the Phoenix 63-43. It is the first win for the Lady Jays this season and the first win for Coach Tim Testa in his second stint as head coach.

The JCHS girls go to 1-1 on the season and are in action next Friday night hosting Hays at Blue Jay Event Center.

On our KJCK radio broadcast, we named Aniyah Henry-Rivers the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. (For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Aniyah Henry-Rivers receives a free meal coupon of up to $20 to Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)

Boys recap – Atchison 67, Junction City 59

The Atchison Phoenix jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, which forced a quick JC timeout. The Blue Jays quickly responded with an 11-2 run to take a 13-9 lead with a minute to go in the first quarter. Both teams then traded buckets, and the Phoenix hit a corner three to tie the game at 15 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, shots began to fall for both sides. It was a back-and-forth battle throughout. Similar to the first quarter, Junction City’s Khaliel Walker hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 31 at the half.

In the third quarter, the defenses buckled in for most of the period. Similar to the first two quarters, the third quarter also ended with a three-point make, this one by Atchison’s Javontae Kelley. The Phoenix led 48-44 after three.

To begin the fourth, JC cut the deficit to three at 52-49, but then freshman Trey’Von Gillum hit back-to-back threes, and Atchison led by nine with three minutes to go. The Phoenix held on to win 67-59. Atchison was led by head coach Pat Battle, who previously coached at Junction City from 2011-2016.

Throughout the game, it was the battle of the big guys on the inside. Junction City’s Brody Boeckman (6’7”), Jackson Hollie (6’6”), and Trevon Briley (6’3”) held their own against Atchison’s 6’7” Javontae Kelley and 6’4” Yogi Purdy.

Ultimately, though, it was the guards who pulled through for Atchison in the second half. Freshman Trey’Von Gillum had a game-high 22 points in his first high school game.

On our KJCK radio broadcast, we named Khaliel Walker the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. (For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Walker receives a free meal coupon of up to $20 to Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)

Walker finished with 14 points and four made three-pointers. Lovell Autry led the team with 18 points, and Boeckman added 15 points.

The Blue Jays fall to 1-1 on the season and will now host Hays next Friday at Blue Jay Event Center.

By Anthony GorgesJC PostJunction City hosted Atchison on Friday night for the home openers for JCHS. The Lady Jays won big, but the Blue Jays lost in a down-to-the-wire game.Girls recap – Junction City 63, Atchison 43Similar to their season-opening game on Tuesday night, the Lady Jays came ready to play in the opening quarter. The game was all about sophomore #10, Aniyah Henry-Rivers. She started the game off with 11 points in the first quarter and finished with a game high, 22 points. The highlight of the quarter, though, came at the end of it. Freshman Alexis Douglas banked in a half-court shot to give the Lady Jays a 16-9 lead after one.Both teams tightened up with defense in the second quarter; not much scoring occurred, and JC led 22-13 at the half.Third-quarter action featured an offensive explosion by the JCHS girls. The Lady Jays began the quarter on an 8-3 run, which forced a quick timeout by the Atchison Phoenix. The timeout only fueled the Lady Jays even more. They expanded their lead to 46-23 at the end of the third quarter, and at that time, it was the biggest lead of the game.In the fourth quarter, the Lady Jays continued to score, and a three-pointer by sophomore Laniyah Warmack gave the girls their largest lead of the game at 61-36. Junction City won by 20, beating the Phoenix 63-43. It is the first win for the Lady Jays this season and the first win for Coach Tim Testa in his second stint as head coach.The JCHS girls go to 1-1 on the season and are in action next Friday night hosting Hays at Blue Jay Event Center.On our KJCK radio broadcast, we named Aniyah Henry-Rivers the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. (For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Aniyah Henry-Rivers receives a free meal coupon of up to $20 to Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)Boys recap – Atchison 67, Junction City 59The Atchison Phoenix jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, which forced a quick JC timeout. The Blue Jays quickly responded with an 11-2 run to take a 13-9 lead with a minute to go in the first quarter. Both teams then traded buckets, and the Phoenix hit a corner three to tie the game at 15 at the end of the first quarter.In the second quarter, shots began to fall for both sides. It was a back-and-forth battle throughout. Similar to the first quarter, Junction City’s Khaliel Walker hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 31 at the half.In the third quarter, the defenses buckled in for most of the period. Similar to the first two quarters, the third quarter also ended with a three-point make, this one by Atchison’s Javontae Kelley. The Phoenix led 48-44 after three.To begin the fourth, JC cut the deficit to three at 52-49, but then freshman Trey’Von Gillum hit back-to-back threes, and Atchison led by nine with three minutes to go. The Phoenix held on to win 67-59. Atchison was led by head coach Pat Battle, who previously coached at Junction City from 2011-2016.Throughout the game, it was the battle of the big guys on the inside. Junction City’s Brody Boeckman (6’7”), Jackson Hollie (6’6”), and Trevon Briley (6’3”) held their own against Atchison’s 6’7” Javontae Kelley and 6’4” Yogi Purdy.Ultimately, though, it was the guards who pulled through for Atchison in the second half. Freshman Trey’Von Gillum had a game-high 22 points in his first high school game.On our KJCK radio broadcast, we named Khaliel Walker the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. (For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Walker receives a free meal coupon of up to $20 to Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)Walker finished with 14 points and four made three-pointers. Lovell Autry led the team with 18 points, and Boeckman added 15 points.The Blue Jays fall to 1-1 on the season and will now host Hays next Friday at Blue Jay Event Center.

Lady Jays pick up first win of the season, boys fall to Atchison

Home openers tonight for Junction City High School Boys and Girls basketball. Both teams are hosting the Atchison Phoenix.

Both games can be heard on 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio. You can also <a href="https://streamdb9web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KJCKAM">listen live by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

Girls Livestream -&nbsp; Clic<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXKKNovGSz8&amp;list=PLAq6WhKxcDUX6Q4BsF-Eiw4l1lcxH_jQT">k here to watch and listen live&nbsp;</a>

Boys Livestream - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRUMXeWWyCQ&amp;list=PLAq6WhKxcDUX6Q4BsF-Eiw4l1lcxH_jQT&amp;index=2">Click here to watch and listen live.&nbsp;</a>

The girls are 0-1, while the boys are 1-0.&nbsp;

Home openers tonight for Junction City High School Boys and Girls basketball. Both teams are hosting the Atchison Phoenix.Both games can be heard on 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio. You can also <a href="https://streamdb9web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KJCKAM">listen live by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>Girls Livestream -&nbsp; Clic<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXKKNovGSz8&amp;list=PLAq6WhKxcDUX6Q4BsF-Eiw4l1lcxH_jQT">k here to watch and listen live&nbsp;</a>Boys Livestream - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRUMXeWWyCQ&amp;list=PLAq6WhKxcDUX6Q4BsF-Eiw4l1lcxH_jQT&amp;index=2">Click here to watch and listen live.&nbsp;</a>The girls are 0-1, while the boys are 1-0.&nbsp;

🏀WATCH/LISTEN LIVE: Junction City hosts Atchison in boys and girls basketball

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Led by first-team selection offensive lineman&nbsp;Sam Hecht, Kansas State collected 13 All-Big 12 citations as the league announced the 2025 Coaches’ All-Big 12 selections on Thursday.

Hecht, a senior who also earned votes from the coaches for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award, has started each of the last 25 games at center and played in 42 career contests. An All-Big 12 Second Team selection last year, he anchored an offensive line that helped the Wildcats finish the regular season in a tie for 13th place nationally in fewest sacks per game (1.08), while they rushed for 678 yards the last two weeks against Utah and Colorado to rank fourth in the nation and tops among Power 4 schools.

A product of Shawnee, Kansas, Hecht anchored an offensive line that paved the way for a school-record 472 rushing yards at Utah, breaking a mark that stood for 71 years.

K-State’s All-Big 12 Second Team honors included junior linebacker&nbsp;Austin Romaine&nbsp;and junior offensive linemen&nbsp;John Pastore. It is the second-straight season that Romaine earned second-team honors from the league’s coaches. He finished second on the team with 66 tackles while only playing in nine games, missing the final three games due to injury. Romaine, a Hillsboro, Missouri, product, also ranked second on the squad with 7.0 tackles for loss, while he had two pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.

Pastore, a native of Erie, Colorado, started all 12 games at left tackle, which were the first starts of his career.

Junior wide receiver&nbsp;Jayce Brown&nbsp;and sophomore running back&nbsp;Joe Jackson&nbsp;each earned All-Big 12 Third Team accolades. Brown, a native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, started nine of his 10 games played this season before missing the final two games due to injury. He hauled in 41 receptions for 712 yards and five touchdowns, which was highlighted by a 160-yard effort at Kansas. He finished the regular season ranked sixth in the Big 12 with 71.2 receiving yards per game and fourth with 17.37 receiving yards per catch.

Jackson, who started nine games this season, finished the regular season with a team-leading 911 rushing yards with eight touchdowns. He recorded 435 of his rushing yards in the last two regular-season games to rank second nationally and tops among Power 4 players. A native of Haines City, Florida, Jackson set the school’s single-game rushing record with 293 yards at Utah, setting a new school single-game record that was previously held by Darren Sproles.

Kansas State’s All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selections this year include wide receiver&nbsp;Jaron Tibbs, tight end&nbsp;Garrett Oakley, defensive linemen&nbsp;Damian Ilalio,&nbsp;Chiddi Obiazor&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cody Stufflebean, linebacker&nbsp;Des Purnell&nbsp;and defensive backs&nbsp;VJ Payne&nbsp;and&nbsp;Zashon Rich.

Coaches’ All-Big 12 Teams (Kansas State)

Second Team:&nbsp;John Pastore (OL), Austin Romaine (LB).

Third Team:&nbsp;Joe Jackson (RB), Jayce Brown (WR).

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Led by first-team selection offensive lineman&nbsp;Sam Hecht, Kansas State collected 13 All-Big 12 citations as the league announced the 2025 Coaches’ All-Big 12 selections on Thursday.Hecht, a senior who also earned votes from the coaches for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award, has started each of the last 25 games at center and played in 42 career contests. An All-Big 12 Second Team selection last year, he anchored an offensive line that helped the Wildcats finish the regular season in a tie for 13th place nationally in fewest sacks per game (1.08), while they rushed for 678 yards the last two weeks against Utah and Colorado to rank fourth in the nation and tops among Power 4 schools.A product of Shawnee, Kansas, Hecht anchored an offensive line that paved the way for a school-record 472 rushing yards at Utah, breaking a mark that stood for 71 years.K-State’s All-Big 12 Second Team honors included junior linebacker&nbsp;Austin Romaine&nbsp;and junior offensive linemen&nbsp;John Pastore. It is the second-straight season that Romaine earned second-team honors from the league’s coaches. He finished second on the team with 66 tackles while only playing in nine games, missing the final three games due to injury. Romaine, a Hillsboro, Missouri, product, also ranked second on the squad with 7.0 tackles for loss, while he had two pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.Pastore, a native of Erie, Colorado, started all 12 games at left tackle, which were the first starts of his career.Junior wide receiver&nbsp;Jayce Brown&nbsp;and sophomore running back&nbsp;Joe Jackson&nbsp;each earned All-Big 12 Third Team accolades. Brown, a native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, started nine of his 10 games played this season before missing the final two games due to injury. He hauled in 41 receptions for 712 yards and five touchdowns, which was highlighted by a 160-yard effort at Kansas. He finished the regular season ranked sixth in the Big 12 with 71.2 receiving yards per game and fourth with 17.37 receiving yards per catch.Jackson, who started nine games this season, finished the regular season with a team-leading 911 rushing yards with eight touchdowns. He recorded 435 of his rushing yards in the last two regular-season games to rank second nationally and tops among Power 4 players. A native of Haines City, Florida, Jackson set the school’s single-game rushing record with 293 yards at Utah, setting a new school single-game record that was previously held by Darren Sproles.Kansas State’s All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selections this year include wide receiver&nbsp;Jaron Tibbs, tight end&nbsp;Garrett Oakley, defensive linemen&nbsp;Damian Ilalio,&nbsp;Chiddi Obiazor&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cody Stufflebean, linebacker&nbsp;Des Purnell&nbsp;and defensive backs&nbsp;VJ Payne&nbsp;and&nbsp;Zashon Rich.Coaches’ All-Big 12 Teams (Kansas State)First Team:&nbsp;Sam Hecht (OL).Second Team:&nbsp;John Pastore (OL), Austin Romaine (LB).Third Team:&nbsp;Joe Jackson (RB), Jayce Brown (WR).

K-State Garners 13 All-Big 12 Selections

By Anthony Gorges JC/Little Apple Post

Kansas State Athletics announced on Wednesday that head football coach Chris Klieman was retiring. Klieman, who has spent seven years with the school and is 58 years old, stated that for the first time, he’s putting his family first and looks forward to spending more time with them moving forward. K-State held a press conference at the Vanier Family Football Complex on Wednesday afternoon where Klieman and Athletics Director Gene Taylor spoke about Klieman’s decision.

A full room of media and K-State staff gave Coach Klieman a round of applause as he made his way to the podium. Klieman began his press conference by thanking everyone for being there. “It just goes to show me that the good guys win,” Kansas State head football coach Chris Klieman said. “Doing things the right way, doing it with class and doing it with integrity is the right way. Guys, that’s the K-State way.”

Klieman said despite it being an emotional day, “I am at peace.” He noted that colleagues, former players, and parents of current players reached out to him and congratulated him and his wife, Rhonda. Klieman stated one of the reasons he was in the business of coaching was to have that kind of impact.

Chris Klieman previously served as head coach at North Dakota State before coming to Kansas State to lead the Wildcats. He held many other coaching positions after spending more than thirty years as a coach. “I am one of the lucky ones,” Klieman said. He pointed out that he spent fifteen years at his last two stops and noted that is very rare in the coaching profession. Current Kansas State Athletic Director (AD) Gene Taylor previously served as AD at North Dakota State and was the one who hired Klieman to be a head coach at both schools. Klieman expressed his thanks and gratitude to Taylor at the press conference.

Speaking about his twelve years as a head coach (five at NDSU and seven at K-State), Klieman said, “I am damn proud of the body of work that all of us put together.” He stated that he was up for the challenge of following in the footsteps of legendary K-State coach Bill Snyder, and said, “I think we did a pretty damn good job here.” Klieman closed out the press conference by thanking everyone “for allowing the Kliemans to come into Manhattan and build something here.” As Klieman left the press conference, he and Director of Athletics Gene Taylor shared a hug.

*Highlights for Klieman at K-State include winning the 2022 Big 12 Championship, winning eight or more games for four straight years, and qualifying for a bowl game in six out of seven years. (The only year KSU did not make a bowl game was during the 2020 COVID season.)

K-State Athletic Director Gene Taylor spoke after Klieman officially announced his retirement. Taylor was passionate that changes need to be made in the current era of college athletics. Taylor, a very close friend of Klieman, was very emotional when speaking to the media. “You just saw one of the greatest guys in this industry walk out of this room and retire from coaching, from the business that he loves,” Taylor said. He continued, “What really pisses me off is he is doing it because of where we are in this industry.” Taylor is referring to the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal, among other issues as well. “If we don’t get this thing fixed, and I am a part of that, as is every other AD in the country and conference commissioners, more really, really good guys like Chris Klieman are going to walk away from this business.”

When asked about the timeline of events and when he knew Klieman would retire, Gene Taylor said they met on Monday, where Klieman expressed he needed a few days to think about what he wanted to do. Taylor admitted he was somewhat caught off guard by the retirement talks because he thought they were meeting to discuss the bowl game and potential coaching/staffing changes.

Klieman told Taylor Wednesday morning he was going to retire, and Taylor admitted he had been emotional all day since their discussion. When asked about if Klieman would coach the bowl game, he said it is still being determined. He said he plans to meet with the players on Thursday and discuss it.

As for the rumors and speculation about a new head coach being named, Gene Taylor said at the press conference that he had not had any conversations prior to that moment. He said with the current landscape, the process will certainly move fast, but he wanted to wait and be respectful to Coach Klieman and let him announce his retirement before anything was officially done.

Lastly, Gene Taylor was very complimentary of Klieman’s seven-year run leading the Wildcats and thanked him for what he gave to the Kansas State program.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764815483798.jpeg" alt="Chris Klieman officially announcing his retirement at a press conference on Wednesday in the Vanier Family Football Complex." />
 <figcaption>Chris Klieman officially announcing his retirement at a press conference on Wednesday in the Vanier Family Football Complex.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony Gorges JC/Little Apple PostKansas State Athletics announced on Wednesday that head football coach Chris Klieman was retiring. Klieman, who has spent seven years with the school and is 58 years old, stated that for the first time, he’s putting his family first and looks forward to spending more time with them moving forward. K-State held a press conference at the Vanier Family Football Complex on Wednesday afternoon where Klieman and Athletics Director Gene Taylor spoke about Klieman’s decision.A full room of media and K-State staff gave Coach Klieman a round of applause as he made his way to the podium. Klieman began his press conference by thanking everyone for being there. “It just goes to show me that the good guys win,” Kansas State head football coach Chris Klieman said. “Doing things the right way, doing it with class and doing it with integrity is the right way. Guys, that’s the K-State way.”Klieman said despite it being an emotional day, “I am at peace.” He noted that colleagues, former players, and parents of current players reached out to him and congratulated him and his wife, Rhonda. Klieman stated one of the reasons he was in the business of coaching was to have that kind of impact.Chris Klieman previously served as head coach at North Dakota State before coming to Kansas State to lead the Wildcats. He held many other coaching positions after spending more than thirty years as a coach. “I am one of the lucky ones,” Klieman said. He pointed out that he spent fifteen years at his last two stops and noted that is very rare in the coaching profession. Current Kansas State Athletic Director (AD) Gene Taylor previously served as AD at North Dakota State and was the one who hired Klieman to be a head coach at both schools. Klieman expressed his thanks and gratitude to Taylor at the press conference.Speaking about his twelve years as a head coach (five at NDSU and seven at K-State), Klieman said, “I am damn proud of the body of work that all of us put together.” He stated that he was up for the challenge of following in the footsteps of legendary K-State coach Bill Snyder, and said, “I think we did a pretty damn good job here.” Klieman closed out the press conference by thanking everyone “for allowing the Kliemans to come into Manhattan and build something here.” As Klieman left the press conference, he and Director of Athletics Gene Taylor shared a hug.*Highlights for Klieman at K-State include winning the 2022 Big 12 Championship, winning eight or more games for four straight years, and qualifying for a bowl game in six out of seven years. (The only year KSU did not make a bowl game was during the 2020 COVID season.)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764817709243.jpeg" alt="Gene Taylor speaking at Klieman's retirement press conference.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Gene Taylor speaking at Klieman's retirement press conference.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Athletic Director Gene Taylor spoke after Klieman officially announced his retirement. Taylor was passionate that changes need to be made in the current era of college athletics. Taylor, a very close friend of Klieman, was very emotional when speaking to the media. “You just saw one of the greatest guys in this industry walk out of this room and retire from coaching, from the business that he loves,” Taylor said. He continued, “What really pisses me off is he is doing it because of where we are in this industry.” Taylor is referring to the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal, among other issues as well. “If we don’t get this thing fixed, and I am a part of that, as is every other AD in the country and conference commissioners, more really, really good guys like Chris Klieman are going to walk away from this business.”When asked about the timeline of events and when he knew Klieman would retire, Gene Taylor said they met on Monday, where Klieman expressed he needed a few days to think about what he wanted to do. Taylor admitted he was somewhat caught off guard by the retirement talks because he thought they were meeting to discuss the bowl game and potential coaching/staffing changes.Klieman told Taylor Wednesday morning he was going to retire, and Taylor admitted he had been emotional all day since their discussion. When asked about if Klieman would coach the bowl game, he said it is still being determined. He said he plans to meet with the players on Thursday and discuss it.As for the rumors and speculation about a new head coach being named, Gene Taylor said at the press conference that he had not had any conversations prior to that moment. He said with the current landscape, the process will certainly move fast, but he wanted to wait and be respectful to Coach Klieman and let him announce his retirement before anything was officially done.Lastly, Gene Taylor was very complimentary of Klieman’s seven-year run leading the Wildcats and thanked him for what he gave to the Kansas State program.

K-State’s Chris Klieman and AD Gene Taylor discuss Klieman's decision to retire

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/2026">Signing Day Roster</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2025/12/3/2026_Signing_Day_Release.pdf">2026 Signee Bios</a>

Thus far, K-State’s Class of 2026 is comprised of 19 high school prospects and four community-college transfers. Of the 23 overall players, there are 11 players on offense and nine players on offense in addition to two specialists and one athlete. There are five offensive linemen; four defensive tackles; three wide receivers; two running backs and safeties; and one athlete, defensive back, defensive end, kicker, linebacker, long snapper and quarterback.

K-State cast a wide net as the 23 signees hail from 10 different states and one foreign country. Texas leads the way with five signees – the second-straight season the Wildcats signed five Texans – four from Missouri, three from Oklahoma, two from Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, and one apiece from Alabama, Illinois, Iowa and South Carolina.

Of the 23 signees on Wednesday, 17 are expected to enroll at K-State for the 2026 spring semester. The list includes: Dejon Ackerson Jr., Tucker Ashford, Lamarcus Barber, Adrian Bekibele, Andy Burburija, Keegan Collins, HD Davis, Garrick Dixon, Michael Graham Jr., Jordan Jensen, Kaprice Keith, Maxwell Lovett, Nick McClellan, Oliver Miller, Derrick Salley Jr., Miles Teodecki and Tanner West.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764796706868.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KSU release<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/2026">Signing Day Roster</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2025/12/3/2026_Signing_Day_Release.pdf">2026 Signee Bios</a>Thus far, K-State’s Class of 2026 is comprised of 19 high school prospects and four community-college transfers. Of the 23 overall players, there are 11 players on offense and nine players on offense in addition to two specialists and one athlete. There are five offensive linemen; four defensive tackles; three wide receivers; two running backs and safeties; and one athlete, defensive back, defensive end, kicker, linebacker, long snapper and quarterback.K-State cast a wide net as the 23 signees hail from 10 different states and one foreign country. Texas leads the way with five signees – the second-straight season the Wildcats signed five Texans – four from Missouri, three from Oklahoma, two from Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, and one apiece from Alabama, Illinois, Iowa and South Carolina.Of the 23 signees on Wednesday, 17 are expected to enroll at K-State for the 2026 spring semester. The list includes: Dejon Ackerson Jr., Tucker Ashford, Lamarcus Barber, Adrian Bekibele, Andy Burburija, Keegan Collins, HD Davis, Garrick Dixon, Michael Graham Jr., Jordan Jensen, Kaprice Keith, Maxwell Lovett, Nick McClellan, Oliver Miller, Derrick Salley Jr., Miles Teodecki and Tanner West.

K-State Signs 23 for 2026

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;After guiding the Wildcats to a 2022 Big 12 Championship and six bowl games in seven seasons, Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;announced his retirement from coaching on Wednesday afternoon.

“After many deep and thoughtful conversations with my family, we have decided that the time is right for me to retire from coaching,” said Klieman, the second-winningest coach in school history with 54 victories. “This decision was not taken lightly and was the culmination of many factors, including my own personal health. I absolutely love coaching the game of football and developing players into young men, but now is the time for me to step away and spend more time with Rhonda and our three kids. I truly am thankful to Gene Taylor for trusting me with this program in 2018, and we have accomplished many great things including winning the 2022 Big 12 Championship. K-State will always be a special part of our family’s story, and we will forever be Wildcats.”

The Wildcats’ 54 wins during Klieman’s seven-year tenure are the most among active Big 12 programs. K-State’s six total bowl appearances are tied for the most in the conference, while the Wildcats are one of two Big 12 programs to advance to the postseason each of the last five seasons. Additionally, Klieman kept the Governor’s Cup in Manhattan for seven-straight years and extended K-State’s winning streak over its in-state rival to 17-consecutive seasons.

“This has been an emotional day for myself, my family and Coach Klieman. Our friendship and family go back to when we first started working together at North Dakota State,” athletics director&nbsp;Gene Taylor&nbsp;said. “Chris Klieman has built a program and culture that embodies what it means to be a K-Stater. Following a legend was no easy task, and he quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in the Big 12 Conference and one of the most successful in our program’s history. He is a special person, and we have been fortunate to have him leading the young men in our program and being a first-class representative of Kansas State University. I will miss being able to work with Coach Klieman on a daily basis, and it has been an honor to do so the last several years. We wish him, Rhonda and the kids all the success and happiness they desire as they enter this next phase of their lives.”

“Coach Klieman is a person of tremendous character, and I appreciate his passion for his players and their success,” University President&nbsp;Dr. Richard Linton&nbsp;said. “Chris is a K-State Wildcat to his core. I am grateful for his dedication and leadership of our football program, and I wish Chris and his family well.”

Instilling a culture of selflessness, discipline, toughness and commitment during his time guiding the Wildcats, Klieman guided K-State to eight or more wins in five of his seven seasons, including five victories over teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 – the most of any active Big 12 program since 2019 – while they have eight wins over top-20 teams since 2019 – tied for the second most among current Big 12 teams. He led the Wildcats to 10 wins in 2022 and nine wins in both 2023 and 2024, the longest streak of nine or more wins since the 1990s.

Klieman presided over 26 First Team All-American designations and eight total All-Americans in Felix Anudike-Uzomah (2021, 2022), Phillip Brooks (2020), Cooper Beebe (2022, 2023), Malik Knowles (2021, 2022), Randen Plattner (2022, 2023), Ben Sinnott (2023), Deuce Vaughn (2020, 2021, 2022) and Joshua Youngblood (2019).

Under Klieman’s guidance, Vaughn became the second player in school history to earn consecutive Consensus All-America honors when he picked up the accolades in 2021 and 2022, while Beebe was the first offensive lineman to be named a Consensus All-American when he earned the honor in 2023.

Klieman also overall 104 total All-Big 12 accolades with 2025 honors pending. Among those were the 2019 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year (Youngblood), 2020 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (Vaughn), 2021 Defensive Lineman of the Year (Anudike-Uzomah), 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year (Anudike-Uzomah), 2022 and 2023 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (Beebe) and 2024 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year (Bredan Mott).

Not only has Klieman’s tenure produced success on the field, but with his mantra of “how you do one thing is how you do everything” has come success in the classroom. Over Klieman’s first six seasons, K-State produced a combined 212 Academic All-Big 12 honors – the second most in the conference during that timeframe – which included a school record 45 in 2023. Additionally, the Wildcats boasted three National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athletes under Klieman in Adam Holtorf (2019), Adrian Martinez (2022) and Beebe (2023).

A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Klieman began his career as a graduate assistant as his alma mater, Northern Iowa, and made stops at Western Illinois, Kansas, Missouri State, Loras College and North Dakota State. He was a three-time All-Gateway Conference defensive back at Northern Iowa and four-year letterwinner from 1986 to 1990. He graduated from UNI in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in health education and a master’s degree in physical education in 1992.

Klieman and his wife, Rhonda, are parents of two sons, Devin and Colby, and one daughter, Haley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764793596826.png" alt="Photo by Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State AthleticsMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;After guiding the Wildcats to a 2022 Big 12 Championship and six bowl games in seven seasons, Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;announced his retirement from coaching on Wednesday afternoon.“After many deep and thoughtful conversations with my family, we have decided that the time is right for me to retire from coaching,” said Klieman, the second-winningest coach in school history with 54 victories. “This decision was not taken lightly and was the culmination of many factors, including my own personal health. I absolutely love coaching the game of football and developing players into young men, but now is the time for me to step away and spend more time with Rhonda and our three kids. I truly am thankful to Gene Taylor for trusting me with this program in 2018, and we have accomplished many great things including winning the 2022 Big 12 Championship. K-State will always be a special part of our family’s story, and we will forever be Wildcats.”The Wildcats’ 54 wins during Klieman’s seven-year tenure are the most among active Big 12 programs. K-State’s six total bowl appearances are tied for the most in the conference, while the Wildcats are one of two Big 12 programs to advance to the postseason each of the last five seasons. Additionally, Klieman kept the Governor’s Cup in Manhattan for seven-straight years and extended K-State’s winning streak over its in-state rival to 17-consecutive seasons.“This has been an emotional day for myself, my family and Coach Klieman. Our friendship and family go back to when we first started working together at North Dakota State,” athletics director&nbsp;Gene Taylor&nbsp;said. “Chris Klieman has built a program and culture that embodies what it means to be a K-Stater. Following a legend was no easy task, and he quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in the Big 12 Conference and one of the most successful in our program’s history. He is a special person, and we have been fortunate to have him leading the young men in our program and being a first-class representative of Kansas State University. I will miss being able to work with Coach Klieman on a daily basis, and it has been an honor to do so the last several years. We wish him, Rhonda and the kids all the success and happiness they desire as they enter this next phase of their lives.”“Coach Klieman is a person of tremendous character, and I appreciate his passion for his players and their success,” University President&nbsp;Dr. Richard Linton&nbsp;said. “Chris is a K-State Wildcat to his core. I am grateful for his dedication and leadership of our football program, and I wish Chris and his family well.”Instilling a culture of selflessness, discipline, toughness and commitment during his time guiding the Wildcats, Klieman guided K-State to eight or more wins in five of his seven seasons, including five victories over teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 – the most of any active Big 12 program since 2019 – while they have eight wins over top-20 teams since 2019 – tied for the second most among current Big 12 teams. He led the Wildcats to 10 wins in 2022 and nine wins in both 2023 and 2024, the longest streak of nine or more wins since the 1990s.Klieman presided over 26 First Team All-American designations and eight total All-Americans in Felix Anudike-Uzomah (2021, 2022), Phillip Brooks (2020), Cooper Beebe (2022, 2023), Malik Knowles (2021, 2022), Randen Plattner (2022, 2023), Ben Sinnott (2023), Deuce Vaughn (2020, 2021, 2022) and Joshua Youngblood (2019).Under Klieman’s guidance, Vaughn became the second player in school history to earn consecutive Consensus All-America honors when he picked up the accolades in 2021 and 2022, while Beebe was the first offensive lineman to be named a Consensus All-American when he earned the honor in 2023.Klieman also overall 104 total All-Big 12 accolades with 2025 honors pending. Among those were the 2019 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year (Youngblood), 2020 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (Vaughn), 2021 Defensive Lineman of the Year (Anudike-Uzomah), 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year (Anudike-Uzomah), 2022 and 2023 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (Beebe) and 2024 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year (Bredan Mott).Not only has Klieman’s tenure produced success on the field, but with his mantra of “how you do one thing is how you do everything” has come success in the classroom. Over Klieman’s first six seasons, K-State produced a combined 212 Academic All-Big 12 honors – the second most in the conference during that timeframe – which included a school record 45 in 2023. Additionally, the Wildcats boasted three National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athletes under Klieman in Adam Holtorf (2019), Adrian Martinez (2022) and Beebe (2023).A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Klieman began his career as a graduate assistant as his alma mater, Northern Iowa, and made stops at Western Illinois, Kansas, Missouri State, Loras College and North Dakota State. He was a three-time All-Gateway Conference defensive back at Northern Iowa and four-year letterwinner from 1986 to 1990. He graduated from UNI in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in health education and a master’s degree in physical education in 1992.Klieman and his wife, Rhonda, are parents of two sons, Devin and Colby, and one daughter, Haley.

K-State’s Chris Klieman Announces Retirement

Tuesday night was the first basketball games of the 2025–26 high school basketball season. The Blue Jays and Lady Jays traveled to Lawrence Free State High School for the season openers. The teams split, with Free State winning the girls game and the Blue Jays winning the boys game.

Girls Recap – Lawrence Free State 53, Junction City 28

The Lady Jays started the game playing well, and sophomore Aniyah Henry-Rivers scored the first basket of the season. The girls played great defense in the first quarter and led 7–0 after one. In the second quarter, the Firebirds of Lawrence Free State woke up. Right out of the timeout, Free State came out firing and hitting shots. They outscored JC 20–8 in the second quarter and led 20–15 at the half.

In the second half, the Lady Jays kept up the good defense, but shots were not falling, and the Firebirds scored several second-chance points off their offensive rebounds. After three quarters, Free State led 35–23. In the fourth, the Firebirds pulled away and won the game by a final score of 53–28.

Six players scored for Junction City. Sophomore Isabel Pruitt led the way with eight points; sophomore Laniyah Warmack and freshman Alexis Douglas both added five points; sophomore Aniyah Henry-Rivers and senior Morgan Nabus both scored four points; and junior Kayla Covington added two for the Lady Jays.

The JC girls fall to 0–1 on the season and will host Atchison on Friday night at Blue Jay Event Center.

Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was freshman Alexis Douglas. (For being our player of the game, Alexis receives a free meal coupon from Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)

Boys Recap – Junction City 64, Lawrence Free State 51

Similar to the girls game, the Blue Jays started out fast. Senior Lovell Autry stole the ball on the first possession and broke away for a layup for the first basket of the boys’ season. The defense continued to play well, which then led to a three-pointer by junior Khaliel Walker. The Blue Jays began the game on a 9–0 run, which led to a Free State timeout. The hot start continued; after the first quarter, JC led 23–9.

Second-quarter action picked up with the Firebirds beginning to hit some shots. Free State went on a run to cut the lead down to six, but the Blue Jays expanded it back to a nine-point halftime lead and led 38–29 at the break.

Both teams settled in defensively in the third quarter, and again, Free State threatened, trailing 43–37. The Firebirds had multiple chances to cut into the lead more, but at the end of three, the Blue Jays were on top 49–41.

In the fourth quarter, the three bigs for Junction City helped seal the deal. Senior 6'6" Jackson Hollie, junior 6'7" Brody Boeckman, and junior 6'3" Trevon Briley came up big down the stretch and helped the Blue Jays hold on to win 64–51. *This was the first official win for new Junction City boys head coach Easton Burgardt.

Senior Lovell Autry led the team with 20 points, senior Jet Thompson added 13 points, and junior Brody Boeckman added 10. Several other boys scored for the Blue Jays as well.

Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Jet Thompson. (For being our player of the game, Jet receives a free meal coupon from Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)

JC is now 1-0, and up next for the Blue Jays is their home opener on Friday night, hosting Atchison.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostTuesday night was the first basketball games of the 2025–26 high school basketball season. The Blue Jays and Lady Jays traveled to Lawrence Free State High School for the season openers. The teams split, with Free State winning the girls game and the Blue Jays winning the boys game.Girls Recap – Lawrence Free State 53, Junction City 28The Lady Jays started the game playing well, and sophomore Aniyah Henry-Rivers scored the first basket of the season. The girls played great defense in the first quarter and led 7–0 after one. In the second quarter, the Firebirds of Lawrence Free State woke up. Right out of the timeout, Free State came out firing and hitting shots. They outscored JC 20–8 in the second quarter and led 20–15 at the half.In the second half, the Lady Jays kept up the good defense, but shots were not falling, and the Firebirds scored several second-chance points off their offensive rebounds. After three quarters, Free State led 35–23. In the fourth, the Firebirds pulled away and won the game by a final score of 53–28.Six players scored for Junction City. Sophomore Isabel Pruitt led the way with eight points; sophomore Laniyah Warmack and freshman Alexis Douglas both added five points; sophomore Aniyah Henry-Rivers and senior Morgan Nabus both scored four points; and junior Kayla Covington added two for the Lady Jays.The JC girls fall to 0–1 on the season and will host Atchison on Friday night at Blue Jay Event Center.Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was freshman Alexis Douglas. (For being our player of the game, Alexis receives a free meal coupon from Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)Boys Recap – Junction City 64, Lawrence Free State 51Similar to the girls game, the Blue Jays started out fast. Senior Lovell Autry stole the ball on the first possession and broke away for a layup for the first basket of the boys’ season. The defense continued to play well, which then led to a three-pointer by junior Khaliel Walker. The Blue Jays began the game on a 9–0 run, which led to a Free State timeout. The hot start continued; after the first quarter, JC led 23–9.Second-quarter action picked up with the Firebirds beginning to hit some shots. Free State went on a run to cut the lead down to six, but the Blue Jays expanded it back to a nine-point halftime lead and led 38–29 at the break.Both teams settled in defensively in the third quarter, and again, Free State threatened, trailing 43–37. The Firebirds had multiple chances to cut into the lead more, but at the end of three, the Blue Jays were on top 49–41.In the fourth quarter, the three bigs for Junction City helped seal the deal. Senior 6'6" Jackson Hollie, junior 6'7" Brody Boeckman, and junior 6'3" Trevon Briley came up big down the stretch and helped the Blue Jays hold on to win 64–51. *This was the first official win for new Junction City boys head coach Easton Burgardt.Senior Lovell Autry led the team with 20 points, senior Jet Thompson added 13 points, and junior Brody Boeckman added 10. Several other boys scored for the Blue Jays as well.Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Jet Thompson. (For being our player of the game, Jet receives a free meal coupon from Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)JC is now 1-0, and up next for the Blue Jays is their home opener on Friday night, hosting Atchison.&nbsp;

🏀Boys win, girls fall in first JCHS basketball games of the season

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Solo Ball scored 17 points, Braylon Mullins also had 17 in a breakout performance by the freshman guard, and fifth-ranked UConn overcame a seven-point deficit in the second half to beat No. 21 Kansas 61-56 on Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

Eric Reibe added 12 points and Alex Karaban scored 11 for the Huskies (7-1), who defeated the Jayhawks (6-3) for the first time in five tries while picking up their third — and arguably most impressive — win over a ranked opponent already this season.

Kansas had a chance to tie the game late after Silas Demary Jr. missed a short jumper. But rather than attempt a tying 3-pointer, the Jayhawks' Jamari McDowell drove to the rim and had his shot blocked by Mullins with just under 10 seconds to go.

Mullins was fouled and made a pair of free throws to put away the game.

Flory Bidunga had 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead Kansas. Melvin Council Jr. added 12 points and Elmark Jackson scored 11.

Both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-darryn-peterson-442e30890932697161787fbe8c8e6ade">teams were missing stars</a>: Kansas was without five-star prospect Darryn Peterson for the seventh time because of a lingering hamstring injury, and UConn played without big man Tarris Reed Jr. because of his own ankle injury.

Still, the showdown between storied programs that each claim six national championships lived up to the hype.

The Jayhawks, coming off three wins without Peterson at the Players Era Festival, leaned into the same formula of tough defense and aggressive rebounding, while the Huskies tried to get into the open court and run. And through the first 20 minutes, Kansas was able to set the tone, threatening a double-digit lead on a couple of occasions and leading 33-28 at the break.

The Huskies clawed their way back into the game behind some defense of their own. They held the Jayhawks to two field goals over the first 12-plus minutes of the second half, and Mullins finally helped UConn regain the lead with 10 minutes to go.

Ball helped stretch it to 55-49 before back-to-back baskets by Bidunga and Council tightened it up again.

Eventually, the Huskies had enough to hold on down the stretch.

UConn plays East Texas A&amp;M on Friday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764733015325.png" alt="Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Solo Ball scored 17 points, Braylon Mullins also had 17 in a breakout performance by the freshman guard, and fifth-ranked UConn overcame a seven-point deficit in the second half to beat No. 21 Kansas 61-56 on Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.Eric Reibe added 12 points and Alex Karaban scored 11 for the Huskies (7-1), who defeated the Jayhawks (6-3) for the first time in five tries while picking up their third — and arguably most impressive — win over a ranked opponent already this season.Kansas had a chance to tie the game late after Silas Demary Jr. missed a short jumper. But rather than attempt a tying 3-pointer, the Jayhawks' Jamari McDowell drove to the rim and had his shot blocked by Mullins with just under 10 seconds to go.Mullins was fouled and made a pair of free throws to put away the game.Flory Bidunga had 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead Kansas. Melvin Council Jr. added 12 points and Elmark Jackson scored 11.Both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-darryn-peterson-442e30890932697161787fbe8c8e6ade">teams were missing stars</a>: Kansas was without five-star prospect Darryn Peterson for the seventh time because of a lingering hamstring injury, and UConn played without big man Tarris Reed Jr. because of his own ankle injury.Still, the showdown between storied programs that each claim six national championships lived up to the hype.The Jayhawks, coming off three wins without Peterson at the Players Era Festival, leaned into the same formula of tough defense and aggressive rebounding, while the Huskies tried to get into the open court and run. And through the first 20 minutes, Kansas was able to set the tone, threatening a double-digit lead on a couple of occasions and leading 33-28 at the break.The Huskies clawed their way back into the game behind some defense of their own. They held the Jayhawks to two field goals over the first 12-plus minutes of the second half, and Mullins finally helped UConn regain the lead with 10 minutes to go.Ball helped stretch it to 55-49 before back-to-back baskets by Bidunga and Council tightened it up again.Eventually, the Huskies had enough to hold on down the stretch.<h2>Up next</h2>UConn plays East Texas A&amp;M on Friday night.