stjoelive.com | Stories for November 2009

Monday's Prep

Chargers humiliate Chiefs --- again

The hardest part for Paul Oliver was simply staying on his feet for 40 yards. In a play that seemed to sum up the afternoon, the San Diego Chargers safety suddenly found the ball in his hands after the Chiefs' Matt Cassel had it slip out of his, and Oliver turned the fumble recovery into a touchdown. "It bounced right to me," Oliver said. "It was about as easy of a play as you can make." The Chargers converted four turnovers into scores in a 43-14 win over Kansas City on Sunday to run their winning streak to six games.

Sunday's Local Sports

Griffon men, women pick up wins

Northwest women hit snag, but Bearcat men roll

KANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western men found their footing in the second half and ran past Haskell Indian Nations 81-57 in the Rock U Harvesters Classic in Kansas City. The Griffons shot 47.7 percent from the field with Marcus Rhodes leading the way at 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Western (4-1) has won four in a row.

Chiefs' Chambers faces old mates in San Diego

SAN DIEGO - The guy who could be a difference-maker for Kansas City against the streaking San Diego Chargers was wearing lightning bolts on his helmet four weeks ago. Wide receiver Chris Chambers was released by the Chargers on Nov. 2 and quickly signed by the Chiefs. He's been spectacular, with two touchdown catches his first game and four catches for 119 yards in last today's overtime shocker over Pittsburgh, including a 61-yard catch-and-run to set up the winning field goal. He'll face his old teammates today, when the Chargers (7-3) will try to extend their winning streak to six. They began the streak with a 37-7 rout of the Chiefs (3-7) at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 25. Chambers had a key third-down catch the following week in a 24-16 win against Oakland, then was released the next day.

Hamilton stings Valle Catholic for Class 1 state championship

ST. LOUIS Â-- Trevor Dixon's injury didn't fit in with Hamilton's state championship plans. With the Hornets' leading rusher on the sideline for most of the second half, the players changed the script and found a way to win against Valle Catholic. Atoning for a critical fumble, senior running back Dylan Chadwick ripped off a game-breaking 50-yard run late in the fourth quarter, and Keagan Prather's touchdown scamper on the next play provided the final points in Hamilton's 21-17 victory in Saturday's Class 1 Show-Me Bowl at Edward Jones Dome. Prather's second interception on Valle's ensuing possession allowed the Hornets to run out the clock on the school's first football state championship.

Northwest slips past Central Washington in D-2 quarterfinal

Facing the top-ranked Division II team with the nation's best defense, No. 2 Northwest Missouri State coach Mel Tjeerdsma said he knew his Bearcats would need every possible advantage to continue another run at the national championship game. "When you play a great defense like Central Washington," Tjeerdsma said, "you have to have some help with special teams or defense scoring and we got it today." The Bearcats got what they needed. Defensive lineman Tyler Roach blocked an extra-point attempt with 6 seconds to play to save the victory, and linebacker Chad Kilgore returned an interception for a touchdown in the first half - giving the Bearcats just enough for a 21-20 win in the Division II quarterfinal in Ellensburg.

Sylvia Says: Yoplait Smoothies make sweet treat quickly

I love smoothies. They're creamy and satisfying like a milkshake, but they really do the body good. And, they're fairly easy to make at home. And now Yoplait has come out with a faster way to do it: frozen Yoplait Smoothies.

Northwest defense ready to prove itself

Sean Paddock knows all about Central Washington's stellar defense by now. He's listened to facts and figures about the Wildcats' ferocity all week. But the Northwest Missouri State standout defensive end is eager for today's Division II quarterfinal contest in Ellensburg, Wash. As much as anyone else, he's excited to see how his Bearcats stack up against Central Washington's vaunted defensive unit.

Northwest-Central Washington Scouting Report

Breaking down the Bearcat's Division II Quarterfinal matchup

Griffons stave off Park's late charge

Missouri Western's dynamic duo of Dominique Thuston and Marcus Rhodes kept the Griffons on an early-season roll. The tandem combined for 39 points to lift Western to a 82-72 victory Friday night in Kansas City, lifting the squad to its third consecutive victory, as the Griffons moved to 9-1 all-time against the Pirates.

Northwest suffers cold shooting

DENVER - The Northwest Missouri State women jumped out to an early lead, but the Bearcats' defense faltered midway through the first half against Colorado State-Pueblo, ultimately losing 82-69 in the first day of the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic in Denver. It was the first loss of the season for the Bearcats (4-1).

Hamilton championship game preview

Here's a look at the matchups in today's Class 1 championship game.

Hamilton hopes for historical victory

HAMILTON, Mo. - A talented group of seniors full of speedy skill players and bruising lineman finally broke Hamilton through to an unprecedented level. Nine senior starters lead the Hornets into today's Class 1 Show-Me Bowl against Valle Catholic (14-0). Playing in the state championship game for the first time in school history, Hamilton does not enter Edward Jones Dome alone. The players take the memories of last year's seniors with them - the group that came up just short.

Mound City waltzes to state title

ST. LOUIS - Playing St. Joseph Christian for the fourth time in two seasons, Mound City knew better than to take a second straight state championship for granted. Instead, the Panthers used an efficient running game and stifling defense to confound the Lions. Mound City's 50-8 victory Friday morning in the 8-man Show-Me Bowl made it consecutive years the Panthers started the season with a win against Christian and finished the year with the same result. About the only complaints on Mound City's performance came from the team's demeanor during a subdued trophy presentation.

Maryville secures Class 2 championship

ST. LOUIS - Realizing Maryville didn't need to run another play, Derek DeMott finally let loose. The Spoofhounds' senior leapt into the air near midfield, head tilted toward the rafters at Edward Jones Dome. The chance to enjoy a Class 2 state championship must have seemed overdue. About 363 days overdue.

Friday's Prep

SHOW-ME BOWL: Day 1

Ross reflects on Day 1 of the Show-Me Bowl, which included local victories by Mound City and Maryville.

Hottest movies of the coldest season

Anticipated films come to theaters this winter

It's Oscar season and the holiday season, which means Hollywood is pumping out films like crazy right now. Here are the best of the best coming to theaters in the next month.

A group mind

We All Have Hooks For Hands plays the Record Bar next week

First off, let's leave the East Coast, West Coast and South out of this discussion. Even if you compiled a list of important musical cities in the Midwestern United States, the city of Sioux Falls, S.D., isn't cracking the top 100. But the scene's lack of variety breeds support for its main representatives, as evidenced by the mindset of the indie rock collective We All Have Hooks For Hands.

Christian, Mound City ready for rematch in 8-man title game

Considering his team's recent track record, you'd think St. Joseph Christian's David Welchert would just as soon avoid another rematch with Mound City's powerhouse program. Quite the opposite, as it turns out. The Lions' senior linebacker suffered through three straight losses to the mighty Panthers during the past two seasons but is glad to square off against them once again during today's 8-man Show-Me Bowl contest at Edward Jones Dome.

Entertainment calendars for Nov. 27, 2009

Preview of Christian-Mound City

Here's a capsule look of the matchups in today's 8-man title game.

We recommend for Nov. 27, 2009

Lights on

Kick off the holidays with a few Christmas ceremonies

As you're reading this article, you could be cooking up your signature Thanksgiving side dish, planning your Black Friday attack or recovering from a tryptophan-induced coma. But once that's all said and done, you might be in the mood to kick off the holiday season by witnessing an event that's electric - literally. If you haven't guessed yet, we're talking ceremonial Christmas lightings. They happen all over the country, and in St. Joseph you'll have a few options to choose from to find people and parts of the city lit up with excitement.

Maryville looks to 'finish' in title game

Even a year later, the bitter memories seem painfully strong to Derek DeMott. The Maryville senior vividly recalls the stinging loss in the Edward Jones Dome last November - how his Spoofhounds came up three points short in the Class 2 Show-Me Bowl. At the time, the devastating loss seemed excruciating and impossible to recover from. As he sees it now, DeMott believes the defeat contained a valuable lesson he failed to grasp at the time. After channeling their frustration, the Spoofhounds find themselves back in the Show-Me Bowl for the second consecutive season - preparing for Friday's clash with Brentwood.

Maryville title game matchups

Here's a look at the matchups between Maryville and Brentwood in Friday's Class 2 championship game.

Review: 'The Road'

Cormac McCarthy's popular novel hits the screen, comes to KC

You could call it a modern-day classic. You could also call it an exercise in narrative masochism. Either way, Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Road," about a father and son's brutal and often depressing quest for survival in a post-apocalyptic world, has become one of those books that fans worry will lose its essence when adapted to the big screen.

Call it a Christmas comeback

Popular foursome returns in 'Holiday in Plaid' at Robidoux Landing Playhouse

When Shaun Agnew, Steve Snider, Brad Davidson and Bemo Myers rehearsed for the musical-comedy "Forever Plaid" last spring, they had no idea if the production would be a success. After every show sold out, however, they knew they wanted to bring The Plaids back for another performance.

This is: The artwork of Ila Dell Youngblood

Tuesday's Local Sports

Chiefs still basking in upset victory

KANSAS CITY - To paraphrase Winston Churchill, Kansas City's victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was not the end of a long battle to regain respectability. It was not even the beginning of the end. But maybe it was the end of the beginning. The Chiefs' first two wins under their new regime hardly counted for much, coming against the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders. But Sunday's 27-24 overtime victory was different. These were the defending Super Bowl champions who were walking away with heads hung low. This was the sort of victory a team can build upon.

GRIFFON NOTEBOOK: Smith pays tribute to former mentor

Missouri Western men's basketball coach Tom Smith enjoyed a poignant moment - about an hour and a half, to be more precise - to show his appreciation to the man who has been instrumental in his basketball career. Smith and several other former Valparaiso players were able to spend some time with newly inducted College Basketball Hall of Fame coach Gene Bartow prior to ceremonies held Saturday in Kansas City.

Eats: El Jalapeno brings spice downtown

The brick walls, tiled ceiling and courtyard patio look like they were designed for El Jalapeno in Downtown St. Joseph. When combined with the piped-in Spanish music, Southwestern decor and overall authentic ambiance, it seems like the restaurant may have been here for years. But it was actually just in March of this year when El Jalapeno took over the building most people will remember as the home of Chloe and Bernard, a primarily French cuisine restaurant.

Entertainment briefs for Nov. 27, 2009

Versatile Bearcat key to victory

MARYVILLE, Mo. - Defensive tackle Tyler Roach may not have crammed this much for last semester's final examinations. But Roach, Northwest Missouri State's senior defensive tackle, had his playing career on the line if he didn't pass Saturday's test against Abilene Christian. And he passed a crash course in College Defensive End 101 with flying colors as he and the Bearcats defeated Abilene 35-10 and advanced to the Division II quarterfinals.

Chiefs stun Steelers in overtime

When the last player drafted in 2009 trotted onto the field, the best team of 2008 was doomed. A few minutes after Ben Roethlisberger wobbled off the field Sunday with a possible concussion, Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime and the Kansas City Chiefs snapped a team-record 10-game home losing streak with a 27-24 victory over the stunned Pittsburgh Steelers. Chris Chambers' 61-yard catch-and-run set up Succop, and "Mr. Irrelevant" booted through the game-winner for the Chiefs (3-7), whose stadium was crammed with tens of thousands of towel-waving fans of the Steelers (6-4).

Defense leads Maryville over Lamar

LAMAR, Mo. - If defense doesn't win championships, it will at least get you back to the to title game in Maryville's case. The Spoofhounds used a pair of defensive touchdowns to take a 13-point lead and went on to end the Cinderella run of the Lamar Tigers with a 21-7 victory in their Class 2 semifinal Saturday afternoon at Thomas O'Sullivan Stadium. Maryville (13-1) makes its second trip to the final in as many seasons, where Brentwood (12-1) awaits. The Eagles were a 28-27 winner over Centralia in the other semifinal. The title game is set for 1 p.m. Friday at St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome.

Bearcats shut down Abilene Christian

A dominant defense trumped four turnovers on Saturday, giving Northwest Missouri State the winning hand in its second-round NCAA playoff game against Abilene Christian. The Bearcats turned the ball over on three interceptions and one fumble, all by Blake Bolles, but the defense rose to the occasion nearly every time in a 35-10 victory at Bearcat Stadium that avenged a season-opening loss against the Wildcats. "They did a tremendous job in all three phases of the game," Abilene (9-4) coach Chris Thomsen said. "They were a lot more efficient on offense than in game one. They established the run well, and I thought they threw it down the field more in this game than they did in game one."

Hamilton overwhelms Wellington-Napoleon

HAMILTON, Mo. - Trevor Dixon looked slightly awkward as he broke into the open field on the first play. Almost unsure of where to run, Hamilton's junior running back blasted through the gaping hole opened by his offensive line and bolted 84 yards for a touchdown. "I wasn't really expecting it," Dixon said. "But our line did what they were supposed to do, and we hit it."

Griffon men hit key shots, outlast Central Oklahoma

Sometimes it's not about how many shots a team makes, but when it makes them. Missouri Western hit five clutch free throws in the final minute of an otherwise woeful night from the line to seal an 83-79 win against Central Oklahoma on Saturday at MWSU Fieldhouse. A wave of tension flowed over the home crowd as Griffon guard Martin Nolan missed the first of two free throws with 34 seconds left and Western clinging to a 78-77 lead. Nolan was just 1-for-5 on the night, and another miss would give the visiting Bronchos the chance to hold the ball for the winning shot. Nolan overcame the pressure and made the shot, only for the visitors to tie the game on a layup with 16 seconds left.

Saturday's Prep Sports

Prints and professors

Two new exhibitions open today at Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art

Visitors could very well be overwhelmed by a feeling of nostalgia when they see artist Bruce McCombs' prints at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. That's the feeling McCombs himself got when he saw photos of the prints on the museum's Web site earlier this week. "I haven't seen these in probably 20 years," McCombs says.

Mixing it up

Minus the Bear makes no song or album similar to its last

Squarely fitting Minus the Bear into a musical genre is about as difficult as finding a primo spot for a semi-truck in the Olive Garden parking lot on a Saturday evening. The five-man Seattle group incorporates sonic experimentation and prog rock influences into its sound. No Minus the Bear album embodied this more than 2007's "Planet of Ice," in which the group played everything from acoustic guitars, tambourines and swizzle stix to snare drums, organ pipes and maybe even the kitchen sink.

Entertainment calendars for Nov. 20

Consistency key to Griffon men

Missouri Western coach Tom Smith knew the challenge for his men's basketball team this season before practice even started: offensive consistency. It was the struggle in 2008-09, and it's an issue early this season. But the latest on-the-court lesson arrives tonight at the Griffons' annual early season showcase, the Hillyard Classic.

We recommend for Nov. 20, 2009

Friday's College boxes

Northwest's Council in contention for Harlon Hill Award

In 2008, Northwest Missouri State running back LaRon Council faced the unenviable task of replacing Xavier Omon, one of the more dominant running backs in Division II over his four-year Bearcat career. "The one thing about him," Northwest coach Mel Tjeerdsma said, "is that I don't think anybody thought he could come close to doing what Xavier did."

Review: 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon'

Sequel improves on shortcomings of 'Twilight'

Never judge a book by its cover, the old saying goes. Likewise, we should never judge a movie by its posters full of shirtless young men like Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson, with their brooding abs and heartthrob poses. The core of the "Twilight" fanbase will always be boy-obsessed teenage girls, and the first film of the series was fine for them (watch the MTV Movie Awards for reference). The large remainder of the "Twilight" audience, however, had to endure god-awful acting, mediocre writing, poor special effects and an overbearing seriousness that bogged down the film. Not to mention, much of the movie deviated from the plot and dialogue of Stephenie Meyer's book. For the most part, all of those issues have been resolved in "New Moon."

Times keep getting tougher for Chiefs

KANSAS CITY - First, they release their leading running back and now the scruffy Kansas City Chiefs have said so long to their top wide receiver. How much can a 2-7 team take? The release last week of the disruptive Larry Johnson, on the heels of his second suspension in 12 months, may actually have amounted to addition by subtraction for the struggling Chiefs. Backup Jamaal Charles was more than adequate in a victory over Oakland last week in his first start, running for 103 yards and KC's first rushing touchdown of the year. He looked like he may have deserved to be the starter all along.

Bearcats get familiar foe for 1st playoff game

Familiarity is breeding excitement - rather than contempt - around Bearcat Stadium this week, as Northwest Missouri State prepares for its fourth meeting with Abilene Christian in two years. Northwest and Abilene kick off their second-round NCAA Division II playoff game at noon Saturday in Maryville with the Wildcats holding a 2-1 edge in the recent series.

Turkey day touchdown

'Turkey Bowl' get-togethers becoming more common, more formal

One of the most memorable episodes of "Friends" came in the third season when the gang played a game of touch football on Thanksgiving Day. It ended with a controversial call that led brother Ross and sister Monica to fight over the "Geller Cup," their childhood trophy that was essentially a troll doll nailed to a piece of wood. While the premise seems a little ridiculous, informal touch football games on Thanksgiving are not. In fact, some people are making them a big family event with the works. Others are getting their friends together for a quick pickup game on the day after Turkey Day. There are many different ways to customize the event to the needs of your family or friends.

Thursday's college results

Thursday's prep results

Entertainment briefs for Nov. 20, 2009

Cold shooting costs Western men

Missouri Western's men's program rarely loses a home opener. But the Griffons' dug themselves a big hole on Tuesday night with frigid first-half shooting and ultimately fell 73-65 to Quincy - Western's first loss in a home opener in 16 years. The Griffons shot 27 percent from the field in the first half, which led to a 34-25 halftime deficit.

Cy Young goes to Royals' Greinke

NEW YORK - When the phone rang, Zack Greinke let it go - he didn't recognize the number. Only after listening to the voice mail did he call back and find out he'd won the American League Cy Young Award. The Kansas City Royals ace easily beat out Felix Hernandez for the honor Tuesday after a spectacular season short on wins but long on domination. Winning left the extremely shy Greinke with mixed emotions. "Back in Orlando, I haven't really got a whole lot of attention from people, which has been nice," he said. "So I hope it doesn't get that way, where everyone is like, 'Oh, hey, Zack, hi.'"

Guards play well for Bearcat men

The play of his guards pleases new Northwest Missouri State men's basketball coach Ben McCollum despite their obvious inexperience. While former Lafayette High School standout Bryston Williams started and played well in the season-opener against Manhattan Christian on Monday night, DeShaun Cooper came off the bench to make his mark as well. And both are freshmen.

NFL suspends Chiefs' Bowe for failing drug test

KANSAS CITY - Dwayne Bowe, in and out of his coach's doghouse all year, is in much deeper trouble now. Kansas City's third-year wide receiver was suspended without pay for four games Tuesday for violating the NFL's policy against performance-enhancing substances. Neither the Chiefs nor the league would make further comment and Bowe's agent, Todd France, did not return calls seeking comment. His loss is a blow to the Chiefs (2-7), who have struggled in coach Todd Haley's first year and been particularly weak at wide receiver, signing them off the street throughout the year and then discarding them and trying others.

Bengals show interest in Larry Johnson

CINCINNATI - Larry Johnson might get to revive his troubled career with a team known for giving second chances. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday that Johnson would be in Cincinnati to discuss a limited role - fourth-string running back, essentially an insurance policy in case Cedric Benson's hip injury gets worse or another running back gets hurt. It's a very low-profile role.

Running back Charles steps up for Chiefs

KANSAS CITY - One game into the post-Larry Johnson era is all it took for the Kansas City Chiefs to get their first rushing touchdown, first 100-yard rushing day and second win of the year. This week's opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, may mount more of a challenge than the mistake-prone Oakland Raiders did in Sunday's 16-10 victory. But the Steelers would be wise to prepare for Jamaal Charles as KC's featured back. It would seem a richly deserved reward for his long TD run and 103 yards rushing in the first game since former Pro Bowler Johnson was released amid a cloud of controversy.

Guard play key to Western men as they open season Tuesday night

Missouri Western basketball coach Tom Smith is convinced Mike DeWalt is one of the more valuable tools available to him if he is to construct a winner this season. And Western's season-opener at home tonight against Quincy is just the type of game that could hone DeWalt into form. "The quicker we can get experience for Mike DeWalt, the better off we'll be," Smith said of the junior guard from Carbondale, Ill. "He's going to need to step up and be good enough to play in the MIAA."

Western volleyball sees positives in just-completed season

Missouri Western lost twice as many games as it won this year, but the final days of the volleyball season have first-year coach Cory Frederick twice as optimistic as before. Behind hitter Kelli Sicner and setter Madison Benton, the Griffons went 3-3 over their past six games, including a 3-2 victory on Nov. 6 against then-No. 20 Nebraska-Omaha. "I'm happy with the way the girls finished this season, to make the

The Shuffle: Age restrictions

American rock 'n' roll stalwart Aerosmith has made more news in the past two years than it has since the 1990s. Unfortunately, that has nothing to do with the band's music.

Young lives

'Hide & Seek: Picturing Childhood' examines children through photography at Nelson-Atkins

America is a culture obsessed with recapturing youth from a physical standpoint. But with many of the problems adults face, they may also be wishing they were a kid again to go back to childhood when things were much simpler.

'Tis the season to be jazzy

The Holiday Jazz Express gives Christmas classics some swing at the Missouri Theater Sunday

It doesn't take long for people to start getting into the holiday spirit. Stores already have swapped out the orange and black colors of fall for shades of red and green, ornaments and snowflakes. And sure enough, those familiar Christmas carols will start drilling their way into your heads. But your ears may perk up when you hear the Second Annual Holiday Jazz Express perform at 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Missouri Theater.

This is: "Father Wind" by Aleda Haug

Chiefs win seventh straight in Oakland

Since the middle of the 2007 season, no team in the NFL has been worse than the Kansas City Chiefs. All the losing and mistakes somehow disappear when the Chiefs arrive in Oakland. Jamaal Charles scored on a 44-yard run for Kansas City's first rushing touchdown of the season and the Chiefs used a late interception to win their seventh straight road game against the Oakland Raiders, 16-10 on Sunday. "I guess we got a winning streak here," receiver Dwayne Bowe said. "Every time we play a division team our goal is to win. But every time we play the Raiders, it's always a hated rivalry and coach stressed it all during the week: Hate the Raiders, we've got to beat the Raiders."

Central swimmer Zieger picks up 3 medals at state

ST PETERS, Mo. - In the final solo race of his high school career, Matt Zieger found something extra - a lot extra. Central's senior swimming standout turned in a career-best 47.08 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle Saturday during the finals of the Missouri State Swimming and Diving Championships. The mark bested his previous record of 47.72 during Friday's preliminaries at the Rec-Plex. Zieger finished third and recorded the best solo finish at state in school history.

Hamilton bruises way into Class 1 semifinal

FAUCETT, Mo. - Hamilton's 47-3 victory Saturday against Mid-Buchanan just showed another way for the Hornets to win. After struggling to a turnover-plagued regional victory against Braymer, Hamilton followed with a dismantling of two-time state champion Orrick in Monday's sectional behind a bevy of big plays. The Hornets countered those efforts with brutal efficiency against Mid-Buchanan in their quarterfinal matchup. Hamilton (12-0) rolled up 364 rushing yards and 18 first downs - 17 on the ground.

Maryville hangs on against Hogan Prep, makes Class 2 semifinal

MARYVILLE, Mo. - As his team took a knee with 1 second remaining, Maryville coach Chris Holt finally allowed himself to exhale. Breathlessly, he watched his Spoofhounds build a sizable lead before giving up a series of big plays that threatened to end their season on their home turf. Thanks to some last-minute heroics, Maryville staved off a challenge from a feisty Hogan Prep squad and claimed a 35-32 victory in their Class 2 quarterfinal clash. Seconds after Maryville quarterback Marcus Grudzinski took a knee to end the game, Holt led the parade of players, coaches and fans onto the field to celebrate the win.

Chiefs look to make it seven wins in a row at Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. - Matt Cassel admittedly will have some mixed emotions when he walks onto the field at the Oakland Coliseum for the second time in his career. Just a year ago when Cassel was with New England, he played one of his best games in Oakland by throwing for four touchdowns only days after the death of his father, Greg. Cassel recalled the 49-26 victory this week, calling it one of the most emotional games he has ever played. "I'm sure there'll be a little walk down memory lane," Cassel said. "Obviously it wasn't the highlights of my young life so far, but at the same time I thought my team and also myself honored him in a special way last year."

Benedictine ends season on a positive note

ATCHISON, Kan. - Benedictine's roller coaster ride of a season ended on a high point Saturday. The Ravens beat HAAC foe Graceland 28-16, capping off an up-and-down season in which the Ravens never won more than two games in a row. While the campaign had much higher hopes at its outset, coach Larry Wilcox said it's gratifying to end with a victory.

Saturday's Prep Sports

Christian survives semifinal shootout with Miami (Amoret)

AMORET, Mo. - With the season down to one play, David Welchert lined up under center and followed Jordan Strandell into the end zone. Now, St. Joseph Christian can keep going all the way to St. Louis. The Christian senior's touchdown plunge on the final play Friday night against Miami (Amoret) secured a 42-40 victory in their 8-man semifinal at Miami High School. In a wild finish, the lead changed hands five times in the final 4 minutes, 2 seconds - three times in the final minute.

Central swimmer makes state finals

ST. PETERS, Mo. - Matt Zieger faced plenty of pressure on Friday at the Missouri Swimming and Diving Championships in St. Peters, Mo. As a senior who's built plenty of expectations up for himself and the program, this weekend marked Zieger's last chance to live up to the high standards he's set for himself. Zieger did that and more. He set personal bests in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events and earned spots in the finals for both events today. Zieger's 47.72 placed fourth in the qualifying rounds of the 100. His 21.67 in the 50 positioned him in eighth place after the first day. The top eight swimmers advance to the finals.

Mound City tops Stanberry to return to 8-man title game

MOUND CITY, Mo. - A little selective amnesia went a long way for Mound City quarterback Lucas Schawang on Friday night. Following a slow start, the Panthers' sophomore signal-caller never stopped running and gunning and led his team to a 32-7 victory against Stanberry at Ceglenski Field in an 8-man semifinal clash. Schawang tossed a career-high four touchdowns passes - three of them in the second half - to help his team pull away down the stretch.

Friday's Prep Sports

Missouri high school quarterfinal previews

Check out details on the matchups between Hogan Prep and Maryville and Hamilton at Mid-Buchanan.

An elegant outreach

State Street Ballet and local students present 'Cinderella' at Missouri Theater

The tale of "Cinderella" is one that has been told for generations in books big and small, in animated Disney movies and on stages around the world. It's not often, however, that the inspiring poverty-to-royalty story is told through the art of ballet - especially in St. Joseph. But State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara, Calif., will bring the timeless fairy tale to life at 8 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Missouri Theater.

Putting in the work

The Zac Brown Band rises from the road to country music success

Country music is flooded with blonde starlets and hunky heartthrobs. There's the occasional duo, trio or guitar hero. So, the popularity that the everyman Georgia-based outfit Zac Brown Band has attained is a bit refreshing by Music City's current standards.

Entertainment calendar for Nov. 13, 2009

We recommend for Nov. 13, 2009

Thursday's Local College

All aboard!

KC Rail Experience offers insight into train transportation at Union Station

There's a lot of activity going on in Union Station in Kansas City at any given time. Between its numerous traveling exhibits and permanent fixtures like Science City, it's enough to make you forget why people came to Union Station in the first place. But through the KC Rail Experience, people get a healthy reminder of the building's original purpose along with the storied history and nostalgic allure of train travel. While Union Station was built in 1914 and still operates as a train stop for Amtrak today, it wasn't until 2004 that officials realized people may want to come for activities that tied in to the station itself.

Sports Inc. names Dudik its coach of year

Dan Smith made the announcement of the 2009 St. Joseph Sports, Inc., coach of the year brief and poignant. The president of the group honoring a city coach for the 12th year didn't need to say much else. Central football coach Tony Dudik earned the honor for the first time, and according to Smith, the longtime mentor became the first to earn a unanimous vote. Selected from a pool of one nominee from each of the city's five high schools, Dudik took home an award long overdue for a coach so intertwined with St. Joseph's youth for the past three-plus decades.

Wednesday's Prep

A fairy tale with a twist

Missoula Children's Theatre presents 'The Princess and the Pea,' complete with talking vegetables

It would be hard for any professional actor to learn an entire play in just five days, much less a group of local kids. Yet that's exactly what the actors and actresses in Missoula Children's Theatre's upcoming production of "The Princess and the Pea" are doing.

Mid-Buchanan's defense shuts down North Platte in sectional

DEARBORN, Mo. - When North Platte's offense threatened, Mid-Buchanan's defense didn't just befuddle the Panthers' offense. The Dragons devastated their opponents with repeated timely stops. Mid-Buchanan overcame four turnovers and 10 penalties accounting for 105 yards with five interceptions of North Platte quarterback Evan Hill. Nick Andriano's third pick of the game with 2 minutes, 38 seconds left stopped North Platte's final try, and Mid-Buchanan held on for a 14-10 win in Wednesday's Class 1 sectional. "We just stepped up to the challenge every time," said Andriano, who also caught a 59-yard touchdown pass in the first half.

Bearcats set to make most of bye week

After a grueling 11-week schedule, a first-round bye in the playoffs is almost like a vacation. But don't bet that Northwest Missouri State football coach Mel Tjeerdsma will nap in his office this afternoon. He's got an opportunity to get a big advantage on his second-round opponent - whoever that might be. The Bearcats (10-1), by virtue of their No. 2 ranking in Super Region 4, earned the bye and home-field advantage. They will play the winner of the first-round game between Midwestern State and Abilene Christian on Nov. 21 at Bearcat Stadium.

Northwest running back named MIAA Offensive Player of the Year

LaRon Council couldn't help but feel touched when he was informed that he was named the MIAA's Offensive Player of the Year. "Just as a senior, it's an amazing feeling to win that award," said Council, who also was a unanimous first-team selection at running back. "It's kind of hard to explain, but when you're a senior you know your career's coming to an end, so everything's just a lot more sentimental to you." Council is the third straight conference offensive player of the year to come from Northwest. Running back Xavier Omon won the award in 2007 and quarterback Joel Osborn won it in 2008. But after two injury-prone years early in his career, it clearly became Council's turn.

Western's Martin, Houston get 1st-team MIAA recognition

Missouri Western's offense dominated most of the season, and much of the credit for that had to go to the Griffons' offensive line. And the MIAA coaches noticed. Senior center Nathan Martin, who played nearly every position on Western's offensive line during his four years, was one of the Griffons' two first-team selections. He helped the Griffon offense average 37.9 points per game.

Tuesday's Local Sports

Entertainment briefs for Nov. 13, 2009

The Shuffle: Campaigning for Mayer

I think that whether you're a casual listener or a geek with encyclopedic knowledge, every music fan has at least one artist that they have to do a little campaigning for. You say that you like them and for any number of reasons, you encounter resistance from your peers and the questioning of your taste. So, you state a case - yours and theirs - to convince them that not only is your fanship justified, but that they should get on board. For me, that artist happens to be John Mayer.

Sister's theater

Robidoux Resident Theatre presents 'Late Nite Catechism' at the Missouri Theater Sunday

"Late Nite Catechism" makes a lot of references to the "joy" that was the Catholic school experience. Does anyone remember the Pagan Baby Fund? Have you resorted to burying a St. Joseph statue in your yard to help sell your house in this economy? Have you committed an act of insubordination that it will go on ... GASP ... your permanent record? If so, you could find yourself on a blast from the past. If none of this sounds familiar to you, don't worry. Mary Zentmyer, who plays Sister in the production coming to St. Joseph at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Missouri Theater, says there is one aspect of "Late Nite Catechism" that crosses any religious barriers.

Western accepts invitation to Mineral Water Bowl

Missouri Western knew pretty early that it was headed for the Mineral Water Bowl football game in Excelsior Springs, Mo., on Dec. 5. What seemed to take forever was the selection of its opponent. The Griffons (8-3) knew they had to settle for a bowl game on Sunday night after they fell out of the regional rankings with a devastating 30-21 home loss against Nebraska-Omaha. And with Omaha's conference tie-breaker advantage over the Griffons, the Mavericks chose to go to the inaugural Kanza Bowl in Topeka, Kan. That left Western with its sixth Mineral Water Bowl appearance since the MIAA began its relationship with that bowl in 2000 - more than any other team. It will be Western's seventh Mineral Water Bowl trip overall. The Griffons defeated Graceland 44-0 in 1975 as an NAIA institution.

Maryville defense comes through against Lawson

LAWSON, Mo. - Maryville hoped to catch a mild case of amnesia going into Monday's Class 2 sectional playoff game against Lawson. The last time the two teams met, the Cardinals handed the Spoofhounds a loss before winning the 2007 state championship. On their way to exacting revenge, Maryville stopped a driving Lawson team with 3 minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to preserve the 15-7 victory at Lawson High School.

Western soccer lifts its own expectations

Missouri Western women's soccer coach Jeff Hansen said his team has "turned the page" as far as its expectations in the recently concluded fifth year of the program. The Griffons just concluded the most successful season in school history at 8-10-2 (6-8-2 in MIAA) last week, logging a double-overtime 1-1 tie on the road against conference heavyweight Truman State, then falling 1-0 Saturday at Washburn. "We don't expect to be at the bottom of the league," said Hansen, who didn't have a senior on this year's team and saw his team steadily improve toward the end of the campaign.

Hamilton confounds Orrick

ORRICK, Mo. - When Keagan Prather broke loose for 66 yards on the opening play Monday night, the Hamilton quarterback merely hinted at the success the Hornets would have against Orrick. Prather scored three first-quarter touchdowns, and running back Trevor Dixon added four more during the game's remainder as Hamilton dismantled the two-time defending state champions, 51-13, in their Class 1 sectional at Orrick High School. Hamilton's victory ended Orrick's state-best 40-game winning streak and avenged a loss to the Bearcats from last year in the same playoff round.

Savages can't stop O'Hara rally

KANSAS CITY - Ten seconds from a trip to quarterfinals, Savannah had its playoff hopes ripped away in one of the cruelest ways imaginable. Savannah's stunned supporters watched in horror as O'Hara receiver Aaron Stubblefield hauled in a 20-yard touchdown strike with 2.9 seconds remaining that gave the Celtics a shocking, 21-16 victory in Class 3 sectional play at Paul Monteil Stadium.

Monday's Prep

This is: Science Hill

Tonight's sectional playoff capsules

Tonight's sectional playoff capsules:

Northwest earns playoff berth, first-round bye

Northwest Missouri State's only loss of the season came in the opener at Abilene Christian. The Bearcats, a young team that appears to be peaking just as the playoffs get underway, might get a chance to make amends for that single stumble.

Gray looks to keep Mid-Buchanan rolling

Mid-Buchanan senior quarterback Drew Gray spent his fair share of time on the field the last time the Dragons reached the playoffs.

Jaguars bounce back from embarrassing loss at Chiefs' expense

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting good at bouncing back from embarrassing losses.

Maryville volleyball finishes fourth

KANSAS CITY - The Maryville Spoofhounds volleyball team entered the third-place match of the Missouri Class 2 state tournament with hopes of redemption after a disappointing first day. Instead the Spoofhounds were unable to shake the same nerves that plagued them in the round robin semifinals, and they fell in straight sets Saturday morning to College Heights Christian, 25-22, 29-27 at Municipal Auditorium. It left Maryville, 37-3, with a fourth-place finish - the best in the school history.

Olson turns in top 10 showing

Another year, another state medal for Hannah Olson. St. Joseph Christian's standout sophomore raked in her second top-10 finish in as many years when she finished 10th during the Class 1 race during Saturday's Missouri Cross Country Championships in Jefferson City, Mo.

Hornets haul in cross country title No. 6

A full half-hour of number crunching still wouldn't put Mark Vollmer's mind at ease. His Hamilton girls' team had just turned in yet another incredible performance at the state meet in Jefferson City but had to wait for the official results to learn their fate. Rarely had the wait been more excruciating. "We had people counting and counting, and it was still up in the air," Vollmer said. "No one really knew until they put it on the board."

Benedictine moves to 5-5 with win against Peru State

ATCHISON, Kan. - Benedictine's 42-34 win against Peru State on Saturday does well to characterize the Ravens' season as a whole. Big plays. Punishing runs. Missed assignments. Tough breaks. Flashes of both brilliance and ineptitude. The victory brings Benedictine's overall record to 5-5. While it falls short of expectations, the Ravens have a chance to finish with a winning record for the second straight year with one game remaining, a home contest against Graceland.

Saturday's Prep Sports

Cassel looks to stay clean vs. Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - This could be the week Matt Cassel keeps his jersey clean. Cassel has been sacked 24 times in six starts, including 19 the last four games, and has been hurried and knocked down even more often. The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) could offer him some relief when they host Kansas City (1-6) today. The Jaguars have a league-low five sacks in seven games, struggling to get any consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, Matt Schaub and Matt Hasselbeck all torched Jacksonville's secondary. Even Vince Young looked comfortable in the pocket last week against the Jags.

Calloway earns 5th-round TKO in "Final Conflict"

The details of his "Final Conflict" didn't go as planned, but St. Joseph boxer Rob Calloway still ended his career the way he wanted: with a knockout. Calloway claimed a technical knockout of heavyweight Clinton Boldridge in the fifth round Saturday at Civic Arena. Calloway, the 40-year-old St. Joseph fighter who planned Saturday's card as his retirement bout, originally planned to fight Darrin Humphrey. But Humphrey didn't show up for the Friday weigh-in, so Calloway turned to Boldridge as a late replacement. Boldridge (9-14) is a heavyweight who weighed in at more than 240 pounds. Calloway fought at 204.

Bearcats decimate Mules

MARYVILLE, Mo. - Central Missouri scored first Saturday, but Northwest Missouri State answered with a pace the Mules never matched. The Bearcats' offense scored on five of their first six possessions - four of the drives took less than 2 minutes - and overwhelmed the Mules 56-14 in front of 6,600 people at Bearcat Stadium. "We want to push the tempo - roll, roll, roll," said Northwest left tackle Dane Wardenburg. "That's our big thing. And it worked. "They were getting tired. You saw it happen."

Griffons' playoff hopes take big blow

Nebraska-Omaha's running backs have been a major headache for the Mavericks all season. On Saturday, they were a headache for Missouri Western. Bryce Hawthorne rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while Duane Bowen rushed for 113 and another score in a 30-21 victory against the Griffons at Spratt Stadium. "I knew we had some talented guys backing up," said Nebraska-Omaha coach Pat Behrns, who saw two running backs leave the team before the third game and has had three others injured. "Those two guys playing today were both hurt throughout the course of the year. (Hawthorne) had a high ankle sprain for about four weeks, and Duane Bowen had a separated shoulder."

Friday's Prep Sports

Stanberry runs past Nodaway-Holt

STANBERRY, Mo. - Even after a plodding first half, Stanberry running back Conner Rosier had a feeling his Bulldogs were due for a big play or two. His premonition proved correct shortly after the intermission, as Stanberry quickly ran away from Nodaway Holt - 40-18 - during Friday night's 8-man quarterfinal contest in Stanberry. It took the Bulldogs only one kickoff and two offensive plays from scrimmage to put two scores on the board and establish an all-but insurmountable lead. Stanberry then used a dominant rushing attack to chew up much of the clock and earn a second-straight trip to the semifinals.

Mound City trounces Worth County

MOUND CITY, Mo. - Even after trouncing their rivals, Mound City's players kept the celebration humble. Clearly the previous loss to Worth County refocused the defending state champions. Gage Rosier ran for four first-half touchdowns on his way to 252 yards, and Mound City shut out Worth County in a 52-0 victory in Friday night's 8-man quarterfinal at Ceglinski Field. After losing 22-20 to Worth County during the regular season, Mound City played like a team intent on another run to the Show-Me Bowl.

Christian hammers Hardin-Central

With his team behind 66-12 to St. Joseph Christian at halftime, Hardin-Central coach Kirk Thacker made the curious decision to continue playing. Earlier in the week, in a conversation with St. Joseph Christian coach Mark Juhl, Thacker said he wanted to play the entire game, regardless of the halftime score. Thus, with a running clock, the second half began and Christian wasted no time scoring again. Although the Bulldogs quickly answered with a score of their own, Thacker had a change of heart about playing out the game. Hardin-Central's season ended with 3 minutes, 13 seconds left in the third quarter and Christian on top 74-20.

Local runners head to state cross country championships

Not that long ago, Benton's John Beamon provided plenty of potential as a freshman phenom. Now a junior, Beamon is playing the mentor role to the Cardinals' next rising star. Benton freshman Kain Ellis makes his first state appearance during today's Missouri Cross Country Championships in Jefferson City, Mo. The Cardinals' heralded rookie distance runner hopes to make an impact in his first trip to the rolling hills of Oak Hills Golf Course. Despite his immense, natural talent, Ellis likely wouldn't be the runner he is today without Beamon's guidance.

Technology helps local teams deal with dangers associated with concussions

He may have known where he was, but Myles Burnsides wasn't about to see the field in the second half of a recent Northwest Missouri State football game. The headache-producing impact was bad enough, but the senior safety could blame ImPACT for shutting him down for a couple of days. New research has drastically changed the way athletic trainers manage players who have sustained concussions, as they try to prevent long-term effects from those head injuries.

Spoofhounds hits setback in state volleyball tournament

KANSAS CITY - Maryville's dreams of bringing home the school's first girl's state championship and first state championship of any kind since 2001 were derailed Friday morning. The Spoofhounds volleyball squad started out the state championship tournament strong, winning its opening match against College Heights Christian 25-21, 25-22. But inconsistent play cost them against Scott City 25-23, 25-10 and defending state champions Hermann 25-10, 25-20.

PICK 'EM BLOG: 8-man quarterfinals

Sometimes parity can be a good thing. Early in the season, the possible 8-man outcome appeared pretty cut-and-dry. Mound City looked incredible during beatdowns against St. Joseph Christian and Stanberry and appeared likely to extend its win streak into next season. Then Worth County changed everything.

The night the music lived

'Rave On! The Buddy Holly Tribute' brings an icon's musical legacy to the Missouri Theater

When Buddy Holly emerged on the music scene in the 1950s, he didn't have the California cool of The Beach Boys. He didn't spark an "invasion" like The Beatles. He didn't walk with the devilish blues swagger of The Rolling Stones. But that's only because Buddy Holly, a Lubbock, Texas, kid in black horn-tipped glasses, preceded all of that - and helped create the template that would become rock 'n' roll.

Out of the ordinary

Chevelle bucks the mainstream

Turn your radio to 98.9 and you'll hear a lot of hard rock bands singing about their ladies, whether they are addicted to them, love their girl's assets or are simply celebrating the crazy ones. Chicago hard-rock trio Chevelle has shared a lot of radio time with those bands since unleashing hits like "The Red" and "Send the Pain Below" in 2002 and 2003. And lead singer/guitarist Pete Loeffler has grown tired of being caught up in the Nickelbacks, Buckcherrys and Saving Abels of the world, the bands who release generic crossover hits that can be sandwiched between Britney Spears and Coldplay on Top 40 countdowns.

Reports: Royals trade Teahen

Kansas City veteran utility player Mark Teahen could soon find himself in a different uniform, according to multiple reports. Originally reported by Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, Teahen would be traded to the Chicago White Sox in return for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman Josh Fields. Neither team confirmed the transaction as of Thursday night, however.

Entertainment calendars for Nov. 6, 2009

Spoofhounds prepare for state semifinals

When she took the job four years ago, Maryville coach Lori Klaus saw the vast potential in her bumper crop of freshmen. From outside hitter to the back row, she envisioned the complex puzzle of players shaping up into something special. But not even Klaus could foresee this for her Spoofhounds.

We recommend for Nov. 6, 2009

8-Man Quarterfinal Capsules

Previewing the area's 8-man football games

Calloway set for 'Final Conflict'

Saturday's card features return of several area fighters at Civic Arena

As with all prize fighters that have stepped into the ring over the years, Rob Calloway continues to remain the same guy who started boxing professionally more than 60 bouts ago. But this time, the prize is slightly different. Entering the last bout of his career, Calloway addressed a group of 80 people at a press conference Thursday night at the First Ward House in St. Joseph and talked mostly about his amateur - and much more youthful - stable of boxers.

Thursday's Prep Sports

Treading the line

Pompous Pilot celebrates its first CD release with a show at Room 107

The local alt-rock trio Pompous Pilot wouldn't exist if it weren't for the ongoing quest to strike a balance.

Silly but accomplished

Comedian Alex Ortiz comes to Sammy and Casey's for weekend show

Even when Alex Ortiz was a firefighter in East Chicago and a nurse for the Illinois Masonic Medical Center, stand-up comedy was always in the back of his mind.

Lawson fires on all cylinders while downing South Harrison

LAWSON, Mo. - After Lawson's Taylor Akey fumbled the snap on the first play, it seemed destined to be one of those nights as the Cardinals hosted South Harrison in a Class 2 regional playoff game. However, Lawson showed grit and patience, holding off the Bulldogs for a 40-13 victory. The Bulldogs' (8-3) made things interesting as quarterback T.J. Heitz completed three of his first four passes, each for more than 12 yards, to open the third quarter.

Staley ends Lafayette's season in regional playoff

KANSAS CITY - A year after falling by just five points in the opening round of the playoffs to Staley, Lafayette had big plans to exact revenge along with pulling off a major upset. But on Wednesday in the regional round of the Class 4 playoffs, the undefeated Staley Falcons had none of that. Lafayette (5-6) saw its season end with a 34-0 loss at the North Kansas City District Activities Complex.

Savannah's defense gets the job done

SAVANNAH, Mo. - With his team off to a sluggish start, Mark Cole had no reason for concern. Not with his predatory defense roaming the field. The second-year Savannah coach watched with joy as his Savages throttled St. Pius X 47-0 on Friday night at Savage Field in front of an overflow crowd at Savage Field. Savannah forced seven turnovers, returned two of them for touchdowns and reveled in a dominant Class 3 regional victory. In the playoffs for the just the second time, the Savages hope to continue their postseason run Monday when they travel to O'Hara.

North Platte downs Rock Port again

DEARBORN, Mo. - North Platte quarterback Evan Hill carried the Panthers past Rock Port in Wednesday's Class 1 regional matchup in Dearborn. Hill found the end zone four times, including twice in the Panthers' first seven plays. He scored on runs of 53, 10, 9 and 44 yards. And Hill proved to be the only offense the Panthers needed as they beat the Blue Jays for the second time this year, this time a 28-7 win.

Early scare motivates Maryville

Maryville, Mo. - Plattsburg's Jordan Hartzell produced the proverbial "eye-opener" against Maryville in their Class 2 regional playoff game Wednesday night in Maryville - and it came early. Hartzell scored what everyone in the stadium thought was a 76-yard run on the Tigers' third play from scrimmage. But with Tigers engulfing him in the end zone and after the public address announcer thought he had scored as well, the senior speedster learned he'd stepped out of bounds back at the Maryville 31-yard line.

A sophisticated shopping experience

The annual Sugarplum Festival returns to the Albrecht-Kemper Museum next week

Many will start their holiday shopping at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27. They will fight huge crowds and long lines on little or no sleep while seeking out the best deals possible. But some will start their shopping one week from today at the Sugarplum Festival at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, where they can enjoy wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, live music and the refined atmosphere of the museum.

Mid-Buchanan gets past King City

KING CITY, Mo. - A long run from Christian Robbins on a jet sweep. A couple of King City penalties. A smattering of short completions. Nothing overwhelming from Mid-Buchanan's offense. But when Christian Robbins capped a 17-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown reception, the Dragons led King City for the first time. The score, 3.4 seconds from halftime, started a streak of 24 unanswered points from Mid-Buchanan. What started so inconspicuously morphed into a 24-12 Mid-Buchanan win in Wednesday night's Class 1 regional at Wehrli Field.

Wednesday's Prep Sports

Wednesday's Local College Sports

This is: David Rogers

Eats: Just like grandma's

You could say Galvin's Dinnerhouse is like the St. Joseph version of Stroud's in Kansas City. Although there are certainly differences in decor and some menu items, they both pride themselves on tender, pan-fried chicken served up family-style in a down-home setting. And they've both been around long enough to get pretty good at what they do.

Tuesday's Local Sports

ACCHS bows out of Kansas postseason

Troy, Sabetha also knocked out

EFFINGHAM, Kan. - Before their bi-district game with Riley County, Atchison County Community High School coach Mark Smith said he saw a lot of his team in the Falcons. Both love to keep defenses on their toes, whether or not a pass or a run is coming. Both teams play in brutal leagues. Both kicked it in gear when it counted most during district play. But the Riley County thumped the Tigers 34-7 on Tuesday to end Atchison County's season, and Smith wished there was a little more of the Falcons in his squad.

High school football playoff previews

Here are capsule looks at the matchups in tonight's high school football playoffs in Northwest Missouri.

MIAA perfection important to Northwest seniors

MARYVILLE, Mo. - The conference title isn't on the line Saturday, but No. 15 Northwest Missouri State football players look to claim something just as special. When Northwest lines up at 1 p.m. against Central Missouri on the Bearcat Stadium turf, it will try to keep its seniors unbeaten in conference play for their entire careers. And few may deserve it more than senior captains Sean Paddock, Abe Qaoud, Myles Burnsides and LaRon Council, who have seen more close calls in this marathon of winning than they'd care to remember.

Lafayette knows turnovers will be critical in playoff tonight

Tired of the torrent of turnovers, Lafayette coach Paul Woolard placed all his focus on sure-handed play in the waning weeks of the regular season. The Fighting Irish must have received the message loud and clear. Lafayette ripped off narrow victories in the final two weeks against Excelsior Springs and Benton to earn a playoff position. In both games, a previously porous offense did not record a single turnover and avoided the crippling mistakes during a mid-season losing streak.

PICK 'EM BLOG: 11-man regionals

As I sit on my couch trying to flush the last of flu symptoms out, I can't help bet look at my picks record and feel even more sick.

The Shuffle: Losing early

When former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno announced his move to prime time to debut "The Jay Leno Show," reports said the show had the potential to revolutionize the 10 o'clock hour, causing other networks to abandon the usual scripted dramas for the cheaper talk show production costs five nights a week. But since its debut, "The Jay Leno Show" has been making news for entirely different reasons.

Entertainment briefs for Nov. 6, 2009

Kansas football playoff previews

Here are capsule looks at tonight's Kansas high school football playoff games in the region.

Griffon defense improves as year moves on

Opponents have scored 30 or more points on them for four straight games earlier this season and five times overall. In fact, their fourth-quarter collapse nearly cost them a game in Pittsburg, Kan., But those numbers are misleading, because almost unnoticed the Missouri Western's much-maligned defense has risen to the No. 2 spot in the conference rankings.

Western football in good position for playoff berth

It's the all-important Week 11 of the NCAA Division II football season, and Missouri Western coach Jerry Partridge's feelings are much like those of the late comedian Minnie Pearl. He's just glad to be here. "When the season started, I thought that if we could get to Week 11 with a chance to beat UNO and make the playoffs, I'd be happy," Partridge aid Monday. "And here we are."

Benton youth nabs ESPN attention

After scoring his first touchdown, Benton's Matt Ziesel ignited a Youtube sensation, found his way onto newspapers across the country and starred on television news broadcasts throughout the region. Today, the media attention hits a new level. Matt will be featured on ESPN's "E:60" at 6 tonight.

Sunday's Local Sports

Bearcats' offense dazzles Fort Hays State

HAYS, Kan. - Northwest Missouri State's defense gets plenty of attention this season. But it was the Bearcats' offense that stood out at Fort Hays State on Saturday. In the offensive shootout, the two teams combined for 1,125 offensive yards with Fort Hays gaining 489 yards and Northwest 636. No. 3 Northwest improved to 9-1 overall and 8-0 in the MIAA with the 66-40 win against Fort Hays (5-5, 3-5) at Lewis Field Stadium.

Cardinals cross country squad makes run at state

KEARNEY, Mo. - As she approached the signature hill at Jesse James Park, Taylor Woodruff knew it was time to flip the script on her own hilly history. Benton's star senior overcame her personal struggles on uneven terrain on the way to a third-place finish Saturday at the Class 3 District 8 meet in Kearney. The rolling hills on this same course gave her problems last year and cracked her confidence heading into state. She was determined not to repeat her performance during her senior campaign.

Hamilton runners make mark at districts

Facing weighty expectations, Kathleen Clevenger seamlessly assumed the mantle of Hamilton's top runner this season. The Hornets' sophomore showed no signs of slowing down on the way to a individual district title at Saturday's Class 1 District 8 meet at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. Her time of 21 minutes, 45 seconds helped her cruise past the competition and boost Hamilton to its sixth straight district crown. Makayla Moon (6th), Lindsay Vollmer (8th) and Erin Esry (12th) also earned all-district honors for the team, which hopes to claim its sixth consecutive Class 1 title next week in Jefferson City.

Western defense shuts down Emporia

EMPORIA, Kan. - The theme all week was "finish." Yet for most of Saturday, Missouri Western's high-powered offense was held in check by Emporia State. But when the Griffons needed to make a play to avoid another Missouri Southern-like collapse, Drew Newhart and Ferrell McGhee stepped up. Facing a second-and-25 midway through the fourth quarter, Newhart found McGhee on a bubble screen that went for 27 yards to extend a scoring drive and enabled the Griffons to cruise to a 29-6 bounce-back win.

Maryville volleyball earns inaugural trip to semifinals

Maryville's dominant net play paved the way for the program's first trip to the Missouri State Volleyball Championships. The Spoofhounds dropped only one game during a pair of victories Saturday during Class 2 postseason play at Lexington High School. Jordan Stiens recorded double-digit kills in wins against Lee's Summit Community Christian and Lafayette County to propel Maryville into next week's semifinals. "It's so surreal," Maryville coach Lori Klaus said. "It was nice to know that the girls rose to the competition. There were some nerves, but I think they handled it the right way."

Stories for November 2009

Monday, November 30

Sunday, November 29

Saturday, November 28

Northwest women hit snag, but Bearcat men roll

Friday, November 27

Anticipated films come to theaters this winter

We All Have Hooks For Hands plays the Record Bar next week

Thursday, November 26

Kick off the holidays with a few Christmas ceremonies

Wednesday, November 25

Cormac McCarthy's popular novel hits the screen, comes to KC

Popular foursome returns in 'Holiday in Plaid' at Robidoux Landing Playhouse

Tuesday, November 24

Monday, November 23

Sunday, November 22

Saturday, November 21

Friday, November 20

Two new exhibitions open today at Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art

Minus the Bear makes no song or album similar to its last

Thursday, November 19

Sequel improves on shortcomings of 'Twilight'

'Turkey Bowl' get-togethers becoming more common, more formal

Wednesday, November 18

Monday, November 16

'Hide & Seek: Picturing Childhood' examines children through photography at Nelson-Atkins

The Holiday Jazz Express gives Christmas classics some swing at the Missouri Theater Sunday

Sunday, November 15

Saturday, November 14

Friday, November 13

State Street Ballet and local students present 'Cinderella' at Missouri Theater

The Zac Brown Band rises from the road to country music success

Thursday, November 12

KC Rail Experience offers insight into train transportation at Union Station

Wednesday, November 11

Missoula Children's Theatre presents 'The Princess and the Pea,' complete with talking vegetables

Tuesday, November 10

Robidoux Resident Theatre presents 'Late Nite Catechism' at the Missouri Theater Sunday

Monday, November 9

Saturday, November 7