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

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s descent from the top of the college football hierarchy is going on two decades. The Cornhuskers’ 0-4 start still seems jarring, and not just to people inside the program and the fan base that has sold out Memorial Stadium every game since 1962. Former Kansas coach Glen Mason says he never thought he would see the day when a Nebraska team was struggling so much.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have the NFL’s worst defense, allowing more than 450 yards per game. But the strangest thing happens when they manage to hold an opposing offense and first and second downs: They suddenly become the league’s best. Yes, that sieve-like defense holds opponents to a measly 23.8 percent conversion rate on third down.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State knew it needed an instant infusion of veteran talent after its worst record in seven years. The Cyclones are yet again leaning on a senior transfer, this time intriguing swingman Marial Shayok. The 6-foot-6 Shayok, who was a starter for powerhouse Virginia two years ago, is expected to be a crucial piece for a Cyclones program coming off a painful 13-18 finish in 2017-18.

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered as the New York Yankees thumped the Oakland Athletics, 7-2 to win the American League Wild-Card game in the Bronx. Judge put the Yanks ahead with a two-run blast in the bottom of the first and Luke Voit tripled home a pair in a four-run sixth. The Yanks advanced to the AL Division Series and will take on the Boston Red Sox beginning Friday at Fenway Park.

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs infielder Addison Russell has accepted a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the ban and said MLB had completed its investigation into the accusations made by Melisa Reidy. The punishment includes the 11 regular-season games he missed after being placed on administrative leave Sept. 21.

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have fired Buck Showalter after eight-plus seasons and a 669-684 record. Showalter led the club to three playoff appearances after taking over in August 2010, but the front office felt a change in the dugout was necessary after the Birds went 47-115 and finished 61 games behind the AL East-leading Red Sox. The club also dismissed executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Capitals lifted their Stanley Cup banner to the rafters before Evgeni Kuznetsov scored twice in a 7-0 blasting of the Boston Bruins. T.J. Oshie put the defending champs ahead to stay just 24 seconds into the game. Nicklas Backstrom set up three goals and Alex Ovechkin had a goal and one assist to support Braden Holtby’s 33rd career shutout.

TORONTO (AP) — John Tavares scored in his Toronto Maple Leafs debut and Auston Matthews tallied twice in a 3-2 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens. Matthews ended the game by scoring 61 seconds into the extra session after scoring a power-play goal in the opening period. Max Domi had two assists in his first game with the Canadiens.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have ruled out running back Leonard Fournette four days before the team’s game at Kansas City.

Coach Doug Marrone announced Wednesday that Fournette and cornerback D.J. Hayden (toe) will miss the road game Sunday. It was a somewhat surprising move considering NFL teams rarely rule out players before Friday.

Fournette re-injured his right hamstring in a 31-12 victory against the New York Jets last Sunday. Considering he missed two and a half games after initially tweaking it and came back too soon, the Jaguars (3-1) are expected to be more cautious this time around.

No one would be surprised to see Fournette sidelined until after Jacksonville’s bye week, potentially returning Nov. 11 against Indianapolis.

The second-year pro from LSU already has missed five of 20 regular-season games and left his only two starts this season because of hamstring tightness.

He has 71 yards rushing on 20 carries this season.

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches released their latest team and individual rankings on Tuesday. Here is a rundown of the area teams and individuals that are ranked. Find links to the full rankings at the bottom.

Class 3A Boys

Team

13. Glenwood

Individuals

30. Jalen Petersen, Atlantic

Class 3A Girls

Team

2. Harlan
5. Glenwood
7. Atlantic

Individuals

3. Janette Schraft, Glenwood
6. Taylor McCreedy, Atlantic
22. Raegan Anderson, Denison-Schleswig

Class 2A Boys

Individuals

2. Jerry Jorenson, Treynor
9. Jordan Hustak, Missouri Valley

Class 2A Girls

Team

3. Panorama
13. Shenandoah

Individuals

6. Ella Waddle, Panorama
27. Tori Castle, Treynor
29. Payton Beckman, Panorama

Class 1A Boys

Team

3. Nodaway Valley
14. AC/GC
15. St. Albert

Individuals

3. Joshua Baudler, Nodaway Valley
8. Nodah Nelsen, AC/GC
12. Justin Ambrose, Boyer Valley
13. Noah Jorgensen, Sidney
24. Leo Garrigan, St. Albert
30. Adam Thompson, Sidney

Class 1A Girls

Team

1. Logan-Magnolia
11. AHSTW

Individuals

1. Emma Lucas, Bedford
2. Peyton Pogge, Tri-Center
3. Courtney Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia
4. Taylor Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia
5. Kate Crawford, AC/GC
18. Gracie Springman, St. Albert
25. Lauryn Embleton, AC/GC
29. Alexis Post, Riverside
30. Reagan Weinheimer, Nodaway Valley

Full Team Rankings here.

Full Individual Rankings here.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the regional volleyball pairings for this season late Tuesday. Follow the links below to see all the regional brackets for each class.

Class 1A Regional Pairings 

Class 2A Regional Pairings

Class 3A Regional Pairings

Class 4A Regional Pairings

Class 5A Regional Pairings

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Kuemper Catholic was the lone area school that competed in the South Central Calhoun Cross Country Invitational on Tuesday night. The Knights finished 4th in the boys team race. Tyler Putney led the team with a 4th place individual finish.

Full results here

Hawkeye Ten Conference

(3-0) Denison-Schleswig 25-25-25, Atlantic 14-21-19
(3-0) Harlan 25-25-25, Glenwood 13-23-17
(3-1) Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 25-25-24-25, Lewis Central 12-23-26-15
(3-0) Red Oak 25-25-25, Clarinda 19-18-17
(3-0) Shenandoah 25-25-25, Creston 15-20-20
(3-0) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 25-25-25, Glenwood 20-23-22
(3-0) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 25-25-25, Harlan 10-11-17

Western Iowa Conference

(3-2) AHSTW, Avoca 24-25-25-18-15, Missouri Valley 26-23-23-25-6
(3-1) IKM-Manning 25-18-25-25, Audubon 8-25-17-18
(3-1) Logan-Magnolia 10-25-25-29, Riverside, Oakland 25-16-16-27
(3-2) Tri-Center, Neola 25-25-18-12-15, Treynor 17-22-25-25-11

Rolling Valley Conference

(3-2) Ar-We-Va 25-23-15-25-15, Glidden-Ralston 16-25-25-16-13
(3-2) Exira-EHK 20-12-25-25-16, Woodbine 25-25-19-17-14
(3-2) Paton-Churdan 13-19-25-25-15, Coon Rapids-Bayard 25-25-17-22-11

Corner Conference Tournament Semifinals

(3-0) East Mills 25-26-25, Fremont-Mills 21-24-21
(3-0) Sidney 25-25-25, Stanton 8-10-15

Pride of Iowa Conference

(3-2) Nodaway Valley 24-25-15-25-15, Lenox 26-22-25-20-9
(3-0) Southeast Warren 25-25-25, East Union 19-11-23
(3-2) Southwest Valley 25-19-22-25-15, Mount Ayr 22-25-25-22-9

Other Scores

(3-0) ACGC 25-25-25, Interstate 35, Truro 14-11-8
(3-1) ADM, Adel 25-20-25-25, Boone 20-25-17-22
(3-0) Bondurant-Farrar 25-25-25, Carroll 20-18-14
(3-1) CB Abraham Lincoln 25-23-25-25, Sioux City West 6-25-12-7
(3-0) Lamoni 25-25-25, Ankeny Christian Academy 20-18-11
(3-2) Lawton-Bronson 17-25-17-25-15, Westwood, Sloan 25-22-25-21-10
(3-0) Sioux City North 25-27-25, CB Thomas Jefferson 12-25-13
(3-1) Van Meter 26-25-23-25, Panorama 24-11-25-23
(3-0) West Monona 25-25-25, River Valley 11-22-10
(3-0) Winterset 25-25-25, Perry 4-12-19

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter at Denver, proving that he can handle a bit of adversity in the comeback win. Now comes another test in Jacksonville and its stingy defense, and Mahomes could be without one of his top playmakers in Sammy Watkins.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Perhaps the biggest question for Iowa’s defense heading into October was about its limited use of sophomore pass-rushing star A.J. Epenesa. The truth is that the Hawkeyes have enough talent to afford keeping Epenesa on the bench until they need him. Iowa enters its upcoming game against Minnesota ranked fifth in the country in scoring defense at 13 points a game and third nationally in yards allowed with 260.5 per game.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Another attempt by the National Football League to stop a legal showdown over the move of the Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles has been turned away. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a Missouri appeals court issued a ruling Tuesday that allows a lawsuit to proceed. The 2017 lawsuit alleges that the Rams’ departure violated a league guideline that was established after the Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner has earned a starting job at wide receiver after walking on to Nebraska last year. Kade Warner caught two passes in the loss to Purdue last week and is listed No. 1 on the depth chart for the game at No. 16 Wisconsin on Saturday night. Kade said his next goal is to play well enough that fans know him as Kade Warner and not just as Kurt Warner’s son.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State is struggling a year after a breakout season. The Cyclones are just 1-3 so far and have lost both of their Big 12 games. One of the problems is that coach Matt Campbell has not yet turned his offensive line into a strength. Iowa State plays at No. 25 Oklahoma State this weekend.