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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jorge Lopez scattered five hits over a career-best seven innings to help rout Baltimore 9-1 and complete a three-game sweep. The only run Lopez allowed came on Jonathan Villar’s homer in the first inning. The Royals pounded David Hess to win for the seventh time in eight games. They finished with 14 hits, their sixth straight game with at least 10.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer off of Bud Norris in the tenth inning lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. After Suarez’s 31st of the season, Brandon Dixon hit a solo homer four pitches later as the Reds hit back-to-back homers for the fifth time this season.

UNDATED (AP) — With bowl eligibility potentially at stake for both schools later in the season, officials at Nebraska and Iowa State say they’ll work to find new opponents to fill out their schedules. Both schools’ season openers were canceled because of severe weather. Nebraska wanted to resume game Sunday but Akron balked. ISU never seriously considered playing Sunday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs announced the signing of veteran Ron Parker and placed fellow safety Daniel Sorensen on injured reserve amid a series of roster moves that included the signing of their practice squad. Parker had spent the past four seasons with Kansas City before signing with the Falcons in free agency. He was released last week and visited the Chiefs on Saturday, when he agreed to a deal.

Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer off of Bud Norris in the tenth inning lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. After Suarez’s 31st of the season, Brandon Dixon hit a solo homer four pitches later as the Reds hit back-to-back homers for the fifth time this season.

The Reds won for just the third time in their last 11 games, including the last two against the Cardinals, snapping their series winning streak at 10. St. Louis (76-61) fell a half game behind the Milwaukee Brewers into the second wild card spot in the National League.

UP Next for St. Louis: RHP Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.87 ERA) kicks off a three-game series at Washington and St. Louisan RHP Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.22 ERA) on Monday afternoon. Flaherty has won four straight decisions and will make his first career start against the Nationals.

With bowl eligibility potentially at stake for both schools later in the season, officials at Nebraska and Iowa State said Sunday they’ll work to find new opponents to fill out their schedules after their openers were canceled because of severe weather.

Nebraska and Iowa State were among several teams across the nation that contended with weather problems Saturday on the first full weekend of college football. The Akron-Nebraska and South Dakota State-Iowa State games were called off shortly after they started, and other games had lengthy delays.

A team needs to win six games to assure itself of bowl eligibility. Nebraska went 4-8 last season and hopes to rebound under new coach Scott Frost. Deputy athletic director Bob Burton said Nebraska would begin looking immediately for an opponent, whether it be from the Bowl Subdivision or second-tier Championship Subdivision. The Cornhuskers have an open date Oct. 27.

Players were pulled off the field at Memorial Stadium immediately after the opening kickoff because of lightning in the Lincoln area. The game was called off after a 2-hour, 40-minute delay. Athletic director Bill Moos had discussions with Akron about resuming the game Sunday at 10:30 a.m., but the Zips balked.

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, who was unavailable for an interview, wrote in a letter to fans Sunday the Cyclones are trying to find an opponent to play either on its October open date or on Dec. 1 if, at that time, it needs another win to achieve bowl eligibility. The Cyclones were 8-5 last season and have high hopes for this year.
Iowa State’s game against South Dakota State was canceled shortly after it started because of storms in the Ames area. Pollard wrote there was no serious consideration given to playing the game Sunday because it would have required finding lodging for SDSU late Saturday night, thrown off preparations for the teams’ games this week, and the Sunday forecast called for more stormy weather.

South Dakota State is unavailable during Iowa State’s Oct. 20 open date and hopes to be participating in the FCS playoffs on Dec. 1, which also is the same date as the Big 12 championship game. ISU officials said South Dakota received its payout of $425,000. If the Cyclones achieve six wins by November, he said, a 12th regular-season game wouldn’t be needed.

Nebraska Athletic director Bill Moos in his statement, said, “Regarding any potential additions or adjustments to the 2018 football schedule, we will explore and discuss those options in the coming weeks. In the meantime, fans are encouraged to hold onto their tickets from [Saturday night’s] game in the event a game were to be added later in the season.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Saturday night’s season-opening contest between Drake and Division II William Jewell was canceled due to severe weather and will not be rescheduled.

Braeden Hartwig had a 6-yard touchdown run on Drake’s first possession and the Bulldogs led 7-0 with 7:18 remaining in the first quarter when lightning caused the initial delay. The score and statistics from the game won’t be counted and will be recorded as a no contest.

Fans who purchased tickets to the game may redeem their ticket stub at the Drake athletics ticket office for another game ticket this season.

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Dalton Sneed ran for one score and threw for another, helping Montana hold off Northern Iowa 26-23 Saturday night in Bobby Hauck’s first game back as Montana’s coach. Hauck, who guided the Grizzlies (1-0) to Big Sky Conference titles in each of his seven seasons at the helm from 2003-09, saw his defense hold Northern Iowa to 47 total yards in the first half.

The Panthers (0-1), ranked No. 13 in the FCS, got on the board when backup quarterback Colton Howell ran in from 1-yard out with 1:57 left in the third quarter.
Marcus Weymiller added a 1-yard touchdown run with 11:43 to play and, after a pair of Montana punts, Northern Iowa drew to 26-23 after Howell’s 11-yard pass to Nick Fossey with 3:14 remaining. Howell ran for 22 yards and threw for 140 in relief of starter Eli Dunne, who was just 5-of-20 passing for 24 yards, with in interception.

The Grizzlies improved to 6-0 all-time against UNI. Montana also beat the Panthers 48-10 in the 2011 I-AA playoffs, but the win was vacated due to NCAA infractions.

(2-1) AHSTW, Avoca 21-10-15, Coon Rapids-Bayard 15-21-9
(2-0) AHSTW, Avoca 21-21, CAM, Anita 19-17
(2-0) AHSTW, Avoca 21-21, Cardinal, Eldon 13-12
(2-0) AHSTW, Avoca 21-21, Panorama 13-8
(2-1) Atlantic 16-21-15, AHSTW, Avoca 21-18-11
(2-1) Atlantic 21-14-15, Paton-Churdan 17-21-7
(2-0) Atlantic 21-21, Ankeny Christian Academy 8-11
(2-0) Audubon 21-21, Belmond-Klemme 10-6
(2-1) Audubon 23-14-15, IKM-Manning 21-21-11
(2-1) Boyer Valley 21-10-15, Woodbine 12-21-10
(2-0) Boyer Valley 21-21, Exira-EHK 16-7
(2-0) Boyer Valley 21-21, Riverside, Oakland 19-18
(2-0) CAM, Anita 21-21, Cardinal, Eldon 9-5
(2-0) CAM, Anita 21-21, Panorama 18-19
(2-0) CAM, Anita 21-22, Atlantic 12-20
(2-0) CAM, Anita 21-22, Coon Rapids-Bayard 15-20
(2-0) East Mills 21-21, Riverside, Oakland 16-10
(2-0) East Mills 21-21, Woodbine 7-1
(2-1) East Mills 21-21-15, Missouri Valley 14-23-12
(2-0) East Sac County 21-21, MMCRU 12-12
(2-0) East Sac County 21-21, OA-BCIG 17-16
(2-0) East Sac County 21-21, Westwood, Sloan 10-18
(2-1) East Sac County 25-25-15, West Monona 19-27-11
(2-1) Greene County 11-21-15, Audubon 21-15-13
(3-1) Griswold 23-25-25-25, Heartland Christian 25-12-22-21
(2-0) IKM-Manning 21-21, Belmond-Klemme 16-9
(2-0) IKM-Manning 21-21, Pocahontas Area 17-18
(2-0) IKM-Manning 23-14, Greene County 25-21
(2-0) Missouri Valley 21-21, Boyer Valley 11-15
(2-0) Missouri Valley 21-21, Riverside, Oakland 17-9
(2-0) MOC-Floyd Valley 21-21, Denison-Schleswig 13-11
(2-0) MOC-Floyd Valley 21-21, MVAOCOU 9-11
(2-0) MOC-Floyd Valley 21-21, Sioux City, North 12-8
(2-0) MOC-Floyd Valley 21-21, Sioux City, West 7-11
(2-0) Pocahontas Area 21-25, Audubon 10-23
(2-0) Ridge View 21-21, Ar-We-Va, Westside 9-7
(2-0) Ridge View 25-25, East Sac County 16-21
(2-0) Riverside, Oakland 21-21, Exira-EHK 19-13
(2-0) Shenandoah 21-21, Stanton 15-19
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Clarinda 7-14
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 13-17
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Stanton 7-13
(2-0) Sidney 21-25, Shenandoah 11-23
(2-1) Sidney 21-25-17, Tri-Center, Neola 19-27-15
(2-1) Sioux City, East 21-8-15, MOC-Floyd Valley 8-21-6
(2-1) Sioux City, North 21-12-15, Sioux City, East 19-21-10
(2-1) Sioux City, North 21-14-15, Denison-Schleswig 11-21-8
(2-0) Sioux City, North 21-21, MVAOCOU 7-8
(2-0) Sioux City, North 21-21, Sioux City, West 11-17
(2-0) South Central Calhoun 21-21, Audubon 9-13
(2-0) South Central Calhoun 21-21, IKM-Manning 8-16
(2-0) South Hamilton 21-21, Audubon 10-16
(2-0) South Hamilton 21-21, IKM-Manning 7-14
(2-0) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 21-21, Tri-Center, Neola 19-19
(2-0) TBD 21-21, Atlantic 13-18
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, Shenandoah 17-13
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, Stanton 8-17
(2-0) West Monona 21-21, Ar-We-Va, Westside 16-13

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The first big weekend of the college football season was marred by weather problems across the country Saturday, with officials calling off games at Nebraska and Iowa State and delays hitting stadiums from the Air Force Academy in Colorado to the Southeast.

Iowa State’s home game against South Dakota State was canceled after a long delay because of severe storms in and around Ames. And Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, which holds some 80,000 people, was evacuated because of a severe thunderstorm two hours after the Akron-Nebraska game went into a lightning delay. There was no immediate word on whether it would be rescheduled.

The Iowa State game was cancelled after a 2 hour, 23 minute delay. Lighting flashed throughout the delay and rain fell off and on. Fans gradually trickled out until only a few students remained. Iowa State had a 7-0 lead on Kyle Kempt’s 55-yard touchdown pass to Deshaunte Jones, but the two teams got in only 10 plays plus a punt before they left the field for good. “At the end of the day, player safety is of the utmost importance,” Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said.

At Nebraska, storm clouds that built south of the stadium in the hours before the game did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm for one of the most anticipated Cornhuskers openers in memory. The stadium was full more than a half-hour before kickoff, with many fans showing up in T-shirts celebrating the arrival of new coach and former Huskers quarterback Scott Frost.

NFL star and ex-Husker Ndamukong Suh and Omaha-born actress Gabrielle Union and her NBA star husband Dwyane Wade were among the celebrities in attendance. The buildup for the game reached a crescendo after an emotional team entrance to the Huskers’ traditional “Tunnel Walk.”

But right after the kickoff, a Nebraska athletics official ran onto the field to notify officials of lightning within an eight-mile radius of Memorial Stadium. Lightning in the area requires at least a half-hour delay. Most fans remained in the stadium watching the Michigan-Notre Dame game on the big screens and dancing to music on the public-address system until a downpour an hour in prompted most to leave. An hour after that, a severe thunderstorm moved in, and fans were instructed to leave the stadium and take shelter in designated areas. The game was postponed indefinitely almost three hours after kickoff.

Because of a forecast calling for potential storms, officials decided against waiting out the weather. In 2011, Oklahoma State and Tulsa started a weather-delayed game at 12:16 a.m. and didn’t finish until 3:35 a.m. Sunday. Nebraska and Akron have not ruled out making up the game.

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

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Dalton Sneed ran for one score and threw for another, helping Montana hold off Northern Iowa for a 26-23 win in Bobby Hauck’s first game back as Montana’s coach. Hauck, who guided the Grizzlies (1-0) to Big Sky Conference titles in each of his seven seasons as the helm from 2003-09, saw his defense hold Northern Iowa to 47 total yards in the first half.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Saturday night’s season-opening contest between Drake and Division II William Jewell was canceled due to severe weather and will not be rescheduled. Braeden Hartwig had a 6-yard touchdown run on Drake’s first possession and the Bulldogs led 7-0 with 7:18 remaining in the first quarter when lightning caused the initial delay.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The first big weekend of the college football season was marred by weather problems across the country on Saturday. Officials called off games at Nebraska and Iowa State and delays for lightning were reported at stadiums from the Air Force Academy in Colorado to North Carolina. Iowa State’s home game against South Dakota State was canceled after a long delay because of severe storms in and around Ames, Iowa.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Whit Merrifield hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning, giving the Kansas City Royals a back-and-forth 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles went ahead off Jake Newberry in the top of the ninth, when Trey Mancini homered to lead off and Tim Beckham hit a two-run double, his fourth hit of the night. The Royals have won six of seven on their current homestand, their best seven-game stretch since July 2017.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Luis Castillo and two relievers combined on a two-hitter to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds snapped a three-game losing streak.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are poised to head into the regular season with a defensive backfield that bears very little resemblance to the one that spent the offseason and training camp together. The Chiefs released eight players from their secondary on Saturday, including underperforming cornerback David Amerson, as they trimmed their roster to the NFL’s 53-man limit. They also were poised to add safety Ron Parker, who spent the past four seasons with Kansas City before joining Atlanta.

He was released by the Falcons this past week and was visiting the Chiefs on Saturday.
Throw in a trade with Dallas on Thursday night that landed cornerback Charvarius Ward, and another with Miami on Friday for safety Jordan Lucas, and that’s quite the secondary overhaul.

Amerson was released by the Raiders before signing with Kansas City, where he was expected to solidify the secondary after Peters was sent to the Rams. But he was often burned in preseason games, and his release appeared imminent when the Chiefs traded for Ward during their preseason finale.

They also added Kendall Fuller earlier this year, grabbing him from the Redskins in the trade for quarterback Alex Smith, and signed veteran Orlando Scandrick late in camp. Late-round pick Tremon Smith has shown flashes, too, giving the Chiefs an intriguing but unproven mix of talents.

The Chiefs kept safety Daniel Sorensen on the 53-man roster, an indication they expect him back at some point this season. He broke a bone in his leg but was not placed on injured reserve. With the status of Eric Berry a bit uncertain — he missed most of training camp with a stubborn heel injury — it made sense that Veach would bring in Parker to solidify the safety spot.

The Chiefs kept undrafted rookie Ben Niemann over Ukeme Eligwe at middle linebacker, even though Eligwe was a fifth-round pick last year and started Week 17. Eligwe was among the players who protested during the national anthem, though it appears that had nothing to do with his release. The Chiefs cut Jace Amaro and Tim Wright, leaving them only Travis Kelce and Alex Ellis for their Week 1 game against the Chargers. Demetrius Harris is suspended for the opener for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and Veach said the Chiefs are content with three tight ends when he returns.

Matt McGloin beat out Chase Litton for the No. 3 quarterback job, though Veach said the Chiefs hope to keep the undrafted rookie on the practice squad. Damien Williams and undrafted rookie Darrel Williams joined Kareem Hunt and Spencer Ware at running back, where Kerwynn Williams, Ray Lawry and Algernon Brown were released. The final wide receiver spot went to Marcus Kemp, who beat out a group that included Jehu Chesson, Gehrig Dieter and Jordan Smallwood.

The only player placed on IR was wide receiver Byron Pringle, an undrafted rookie who surprised in training camp. In what might have been a fortuitous injury for the Chiefs, Pringle hurt a hamstring in their preseason finale, allowing them to keep him on IR this season.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kirk Ferentz’s record-setting 144th win at Iowa could not have been more emblematic of his tenure in Iowa City. There were times when every play on offense looked like a struggle — especially early on. But they kept grinding, finally breaking through with a win powered by mental toughness, the running game and a punishing defense.

Nate Stanley threw for 108 yards and a touchdown, Ferentz passed mentor Hayden Fry as Iowa’s all-time leader in wins and the Hawkeyes rolled past Northern Illinois 33-7 in a season opener on Saturday. Fry, who counted Ferentz among his assistants for nearly a decade, went 143-89-6 in 20 seasons before Ferentz took over in 1999.

The often-stoic Ferentz couldn’t hold back his emotions as the seconds ticked down, sharing a tearful embrace with his son, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz. “I’ve just enjoyed coaching … there’s a lot of luck involved, too. Because everything pretty much in my whole career has happened by chance. I swear to God it has,” Ferentz said. “I never had a master plan or a list of things I was trying to accomplish. But the commonality is that I’ve just been around really good people.”

It was a signature Ferentz win, with the Hawkeyes running for 209 yards while holding the Huskies to just 211 yards overall.

The Hawkeyes were missing their starting left and right tackles against one of the better Group of Five programs in America in their opener. The goal was survival, not style points, and in that regard Iowa did what it had to do. But Iowa’s defense was so dominant that its offense had time to find its footing.
UP NEXT
Iowa hosts Iowa State on Sept. 8.