Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Every year, Iowa State fans scour the schedule before the season in hopes of finding a path to the six wins needed for bowl eligibility. It’s those exceedingly low expectations _ from supporters and players _ that second-year coach Matt Campbell has worked so hard to change.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Former Washington Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux has been hired by the St. Louis Cardinals. Maddux replaces Derek Lilliquist on manager Mike Mathney’s staff. He joins the Cardinals after spending the last two seasons in Washington, where he coached 2016 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs and Broncos appeared to be the class of the AFC West just a couple of weeks ago. They were a combined 8-1 to start the season. But they have combined to lose their past four games, and that has turned their Monday night showdown at Arrowhead Stadium into a matchup between teams desperate for a win.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jamaal Charles envisioned playing his entire career with the Chiefs, retiring from the organization that drafted him. But the business of the NFL put a twist in those plans. Now their career rushing leader is returning to Kansas City with the rival Denver Broncos for a crucial AFC West showdown on Monday night.

UNDATED (AP) — Jeff Brohm came to Purdue to win. The first-year coach still believes he can even with some midseason missteps. Nebraska coach Mike Riley understands. The Boilermakers and Cornhuskers have both lost back-to-back games. They both need three wins to become bowl eligible. And both know that the turnaround must begin Saturday night in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Friday (10/27/2017)- All games set for 7:00pm kickoffs.

CLASS 4A:
Cedar Falls vs Prairie, Cedar Rapids at Wartburg College
Cedar Rapids, Washington @ Iowa City, West
Davenport, Central @ North Scott, Eldridge
Dowling Catholic High School @ Urbandale
Lewis Central @ Valley, West Des Moines
Pleasant Valley @ Bettendorf-Morningstar-Rivermont
Southeast Polk @ Johnston
Waukee @ Ankeny Centennial

CLASS 3A:
Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City @ Harlan
Carlisle @ Dallas Center-Grimes
Decorah @ Solon
Glenwood @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Oskaloosa @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids
Washington @ Assumption, Davenport
Waverly-Shell Rock @ West Delaware, Manchester
Webster City @ Pella

CLASS 2A:
Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley vs Kuemper Catholic, Carroll at Rock Valley
Centerville @ Mount Vernon
Dike-New Hartford @ New Hampton
Sioux Center @ South Central Calhoun
Union, La Porte City @ Aplington-Parkersburg
Waukon @ Clear Lake
West Liberty @ Cascade, Western Dubuque
Williamsburg @ PCM, Monroe

CLASS 1A:
Belmond-Klemme @ Van Meter
IKM-Manning @ West Lyon, Inwood
Pleasantville @ West Branch
Sigourney-Keota @ Pella Christian
South Hamilton, Jewell @ Denver
South Winneshiek, Calmar @ Regina, Iowa City
Western Christian, Hull @ AHSTW
Wilton @ Bellevue

CLASS A:
East Buchanan, Winthrop @ Saint Ansgar
Gehlen Catholic, LeMars @ Southwest Valley
Gladbrook-Reinbeck @ Wapsie Valley, Fairbank
New London @ Lynnville-Sully
Pekin @ Hudson
Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids @ West Sioux, Hawarden
West Hancock, Britt @ Bishop Garrigan, Algona
Westwood, Sloan @ St. Albert, Council Bluffs

CLASS 8:
Boyer Valley, Dunlap @ St. Mary’s, Remsen
Fremont-Mills, Tabor @ Stanton
Janesville @ Midland, Wyoming
Lenox @ Sidney
Lone Tree @ H-L-V, Victor
Moravia @ Don Bosco, Gilbertville
Newell-Fonda @ Audubon – ON KJAN
Tripoli @ Riceville

The CAM Cougars Volleyball team saw their season come to an end with a 3-1 loss to Coon Rapids-Bayard in a Class 1A Region 4 Semifinal on Thursday night. The Crusaders took the match on their home floor 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19.

CAM fought hard early in the match but saw a lead disappear late in the first set as the Crusaders took control after it was tied up at 19. The Crusaders trailed briefly early in the second set but had three rallies of 4 points or more to take the set. CAM showed grit fighting back and getting the final two points to win the third set to extend the match. The Crusaders trailed 7-4 in the fourth set before tallying 9 straight points to take control 13-7. CAM fought off four match points before the fifth attempt gave the Crusaders the win. Katelyn Winnett had 14 kills to lead the Crusaders and Kristin Mahlberg had 13 including the clincher. Cassidy Baker had 36 assists on the night to go along with 2 aces from the service line.

CAM sees their season end at 15-19.

Coon-Rapids Bayard improved their record to 21-13. They will now move on the the Regional Final on Halloween night at 7:00pm against North Tama. That match is set to be played in Nevada.

Class 1A Region 2

(3-0) Essex 25-25-25, Stanton 16-22-14
(3-0) East Mills 25-25-25, Boyer Valley 11-14-15

Class 1A Region 4

(3-2) North Tama 23-19-25-25-15, Montezuma 25-25-17-5-13
(3-1) Coon Rapids-Bayard 25-25-23-25, CAM 21-18-25-19 – ON KJAN

Class 2A Region 2

(3-2) Unity Christian 25-22-25-15-15, Hinton 16-25-16-25-10
(3-0) Treynor 25-25-25, Missouri Valley 19-14-17

Class 2A Region 3

(3-0) St. Albert 25-25-25, AC/GC 14-9-12
(3-0) Woodward-Granger 25-25-25, Ft. Dodge St. Edmond 17-18-18

Class 2A Region 4

(3-1) Sidney 23-25-25-25, Earlham 25-21-12-16
(3-2) Clarinda 25-22-25-22-15, Des Moines Christian 22-25-20-25-8

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Former Washington Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux has been hired by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Maddux replaces Derek Lilliquist on manager Mike Mathney’s staff. He joins the Cardinals after spending the last two seasons in Washington, where he coached 2016 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.

His departure comes after the Nationals announced last week that manager Dusty Baker wouldn’t return next season .

Maddux previously worked as a pitching coach with the Texas Rangers.

In addition to his arrival, the Cardinals on Thursday announced that Triple-A pitching coach Bryan Eversgerd has been promoted to bullpen coach.

The Cardinals finished third in the NL Central this season. They missed the playoffs for the second straight year, the first time the franchise missed the postseason in back-to-back years since 2007-08.

AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 Conference announced its 2018 league football schedule Tuesday.

The conference shared that several conference games could still have date changes pending network television decisions.

The Cyclones will have seven home games in 2018. Four of their last six games are at Jack Trice Stadium.

Iowa State will open the season by playing host to South Dakota State on Sept. 1.

The Cyclones will travel to Iowa in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game on Sept. 8.

Iowa State begins Big 12 action by playing host to Oklahoma on Sept. 15 before finishing out its non-conference slate against Akron in Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 22.

Iowa State will play seven consecutive weekends before its “off week” on Oct. 20.

Homecoming, kickoff times and television broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

2018 IOWA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Sept. 8 at Iowa
Sept. 15 *OKLAHOMA
Sept. 22 AKRON
Sept. 29 at *TCU
Oct. 6 at *Oklahoma State
Oct. 13 *WEST VIRGINIA
Oct. 27 *TEXAS TECH
Nov. 3 at *Kansas
Nov. 10 *BAYLOR
Nov. 17 at *Texas
Nov. 24 *KANSAS STATE

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have parted ways with pitching coach Chris Bosio and hired Chili Davis as their hitting coach as part of a major shakeup to Joe Maddon’s staff following their ouster in the National League Championship Series a year after winning the World Series. The Cubs confirmed the moves Thursday and also said Brian Butterfield will be the new third base coach. The team decided not to exercise its 2018 option on Bosio’s contract.

Davis has spent the past six years as a major league hitting coach, including three with Oakland and the last three with Boston. The 19-year major leaguer was a three-time All-Star and a member of three World Series championship teams (Twins in 1991 and Yankees in 1998-99).

Davis replaces John Mallee, who served as the Cubs’ hitting coach for the last three seasons. Butterfield replaces Gary Jones, who served as major league third base coach for the last four seasons. The Cubs also said Andy Haines will replace Eric Hinske, who served as assistant hitting coach for the last three seasons.

Postseason volleyball play continues tonight for Classes 1A and 2A with Regional Semifinals being played. Here’s a look at area match-ups. All matches are set to start at 7:00pm.

Class 1A Region 2

Stanton @ Essex
Boyer Valley @ East Mills

Class 1A Region 4

Montezuma @ North Tama
CAM @ Coon Rapids-Bayard – ON KJAN

Class 2A Region 2

Hinton @ Unity Christian
Missouri Valley @ Treynor

Class 2A Region 3

AC/GC @ St. Albert
Ft. Dodge St. Edmond vs. Woodward-Granger @ Boone

Class 2A Region 4

Earlham vs. Sidney @ Corning
Clarinda vs. Des Moines Christian @ Mount Ayr

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jamaal Charles envisioned playing his entire career with the Chiefs, retiring from the organization that drafted him. But the business of the NFL put a twist in those plans. Now their career rushing leader is returning to Kansas City with the rival Denver Broncos for a crucial AFC West showdown Monday night.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Every year, Iowa State fans scour the schedule before the season in hopes of finding a path to the six wins needed for bowl eligibility. It’s those exceedingly low expectations _ from supporters and players _ that second-year coach Matt Campbell has worked so hard to change.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The schedule worked out well for injured Denver linebacker Shane Ray. The Broncos placed him on injured reserve to start the season after he broke his left wrist in training camp. He had to stay out eight weeks but the Broncos’ bye counted as one and Week 8 technically ends Sunday night. So, he’ll be eligible to play Monday night when the Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets have signed tight end Neal Sterling of the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad and placed cornerback Xavier Coleman on injured reserve. Sterling had one catch for 8 yards while playing in three games with the Jets earlier this season after being signed as a free agent on Sept. 3. Coleman injured a shoulder while playing special teams at Miami last Sunday.