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Midwest Sports Headlines: 9/7/18

Sports

September 7th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Los Angeles to face the Chargers in a Week 1 matchup between AFC West favorites. The Chiefs have won the AFC West the past two seasons but now have unproven Patrick Mahomes taking over at quarterback. The Chargers closed out last season by winning nine of their final 12 games but missed the playoffs because of an 0-4 start.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes won’t be making his first career start when the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. That came in Week 17 last season. But in many ways it will be the start of the Mahomes era, one that has been eagerly anticipated in Kansas City.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska faces former foe Colorado in its opener. The Cornhuskers were supposed to open against Akron last week but the game was called off because of bad weather. Colorado comes to Lincoln off a big win over Colorado State. The Buffaloes say they’re excited about renewing their rivalry with Nebraska. Former CU coach Bill McCartney showed up at the team’s weekly news conference and expressed his disdain for all things red. The two teams battled for years in the Big Eight and Big 12.

UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy considers starting quarterback Taylor Cornelius something a dinosaur. Cornelius is 22 and one of the older quarterbacks in the Big 12. He waited and is finally the starter as a fifth-year senior. Four of the starting quarterbacks in the Big 12 in Week One started their college careers at other Power Five schools: West Virginia’s Will Grier, Iowa State’s Kyle Kempt, Kansas senior Peyton Bender and Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State sophomore basketball player Cameron Lard is opening up about some of his offseason trouble. Lard left the program for a stint in a wellness center over the summer. He says he was living a “double life” last season and has grown close with Chris Herren, a former basketball player who struggled with substance abuse issues. Lard says he has found a strong support group and he can’t “mess up” again.