The Exira-EHK Spartans (4-0) will travel to face the CAM Cougars (3-1) on Friday night in Anita for a huge 8-Man District 8 football contest. The Spartans are on a roll with an undefeated record through a very tough early season schedule. That run includes wins over Fremont-Mills, Audubon, and Glidden-Ralston; all teams that have spent time in the top ten rankings this season. CAM is off to a great start as well with their only hiccup coming on the road against Glidden-Ralston. Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen said this will be his team’s toughest test to date, and it will be tough trying to slow down the wealth of ball carriers for the Cougars.

The Spartans success has come through a number of guys that have played together for a long time. Quarterback Josh Pettepier has been efficient completing 67% of his passes for 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions. Coach Petersen said Josh has really improved his game this year.

Cole Burmeister has been a do-it-all weapon for the Spartans with 209 yards rushing and 7 scores along with 444 yards receiving and 6 more scores. CAM Head Coach Joe Wollum said his team will need to know where he is on the field and he reminds him of a special player the Cougars had last season.

The Cougars have been able to get a lot of guys involved on both sides of the ball and Coach Wollum said that continued growth of depth has been big for the Cougars. Three guys (Darien Burnison, Isaac Bower, and Mitchell Williamson) have carried the ball for over 200 yards for CAM.

Coach Wollum knows this matchup always has a big game atmosphere and the teams will be excited to get out there and compete.

We’ll have coverage of the game on KJAN with pregame at 6:30pm and kickoff at 7:00pm. Chris Parks and Mike Smith will have the call from Anita. Catch the game on-air, online, on the mobile app, or catch live video on our Facebook page. Catch our weekly pick ’em show Who’s Gonna Win? at 6:00pm. Stay tuned after the game as all the scores from around the state will come at you on the Iowa High School Scoreboard Show from 10:00pm-11:30pm.

The Atlantic Trojans football team is getting set to open up district play this week in Class 2A District 9. The Trojans (2-2) will begin the new district run by hosting the team that won the district last year, the Kuemper Catholic Knights (1-3). The Trojans are coming off a 56-14 loss at Harlan last week but despite the loss did take away some positives from the game. The run game showed some flashes of efficiency and the Trojans were able to break a couple big plays in the first half to stay tight with the Cyclones for a quarter and a half. Where the Trojans struggled was defending the deep ball and Head Coach Mike McDermott said they have been working on trying to win those jump ball battles this week in practice. The Knights are a team that will try to spread the defense out and Coach McDermott wants his defense to stop the run game first.

Nate Wendl leads the Knights on the ground with 345 yards and 1 touchdown so far this season against a tough schedule where the Knights have played up or against ranked opponents each week. Defensively Coach McDermott expects the Knights to be tough and the Trojans will need to take advantage of space they are given.

Chase Mullenix has thrown for 477 yards and 4 scores and rushed for 408 yards and 5 touchdowns. Coach McDermott said they are looking at more ways to use Chase’s talents but at the same time he said they are asking some of their other upperclassmen to step up their game down the stretch.

Tune in for a full interview with Coach McDermott on Trojan Preview on Friday afternoon at 4:45pm on KJAN.

The Trojans and Knights will kickoff at 7:00pm at the Trojan Bowl on Friday night.

The Atlantic Trojans volleyball team will play host to the St. Albert Saintes tonight and we’ll have coverage on KJAN. The Trojans are 6-16 on the season and have been off since a road loss to Harlan last Thursday. The Saintes are 11-4 on the season and also have been off since a big 3-2 upset of Kuemper Catholic last Thursday.

The Trojans and Saintes have met once already this season. That was a St. Albert 2-0 sweep at the Trojan Tournament in Atlantic on September 8th.

We’ll start our coverage at 6:50pm this evening with first serve at 7:00pm.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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

ATLANTA (AP) — The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves snapped a four-game skid with a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals as Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer and Touki Toussaint pitched into the sixth inning. The Cardinals, leading for the second wild-card spot, ended a three-game winning streak.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer pitched seven strong innings, and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 2-1 win. In his most impressive start since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31, Archer allowed one run on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. The right-hander made it out of the sixth inning for the first time in nine starts for the Pirates, who traded for him in hopes of making a playoff run.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Teammates and others who knew an Iowa State University student-athlete who was killed this week while playing golf near the campus shared stories about her and lit candles in her memory. The vigil Wednesday evening to remember 22-year-old Celia Barquin Arozamena drew a large crowd to the Ames campus. Several speakers, including women’s golf coach Christie Martens, talked about the star golfer from Spain. Barquin, an engineering student, was the Big 12 women’s golf champion this year.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Relatives of a star collegiate golfer from Spain who was stabbed to death by a stranger on an Iowa golf course say they are distraught. Miriam Arozamena says it was terrible fate that her 22-year-old daughter, Celia Barquin, crossed paths with her killer on Tuesday morning. Collin Daniel Richards has been charged with murder in Barquin’s death. Speaking from her residence near Torrelavega in northern Spain, Arozamena told broadcaster Tele 5 on Wednesday that her daughter had “such bad luck.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs were desperate for help at cornerback this offseason when general manager Brett Veach made the curious decision to spend what remained of his salary cap on Sammy Watkins. Well, that questionable move paid off last Sunday, when the full depth of the Chiefs’ offensive arsenal was on display in Pittsburgh. Now, the pressure is on opposing defense to figure out a way to stop it.

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman spent the previous four seasons playing for an Atlanta team that averaged 90 losses a year.

Now that the Braves are back challenging for a division title, the All-Star first baseman knows his club can’t afford any long losing streaks.

“It’s been four days, so I thought this was a big win for our team,” Freeman said. “I thought we played a quality baseball game today and hopefully we can carry that into this Philly series.”

Freeman hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, Touki Toussaint pitched into the sixth inning and the NL East-leading Braves snapped a four-game skid with a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

It was a big win for Atlanta, which began the day with a 5½-game lead over Philadelphia and opens a four-game home series against the Phillies on Thursday.

The Braves need any combination of six victories or Philadelphia losses to clinch their first division title since 2013.

St. Louis, which had won three straight, began the day leading Colorado by 1½ games for the second wild-card spot.

Closer A.J. Minter, working in a non-save situation in the ninth, walked two to load the bases, but he ended it by striking out Jose Martinez and getting Paul DeJong to pop up.

Freeman’s 23rd homer, an opposite-field shot to left-center, put the Braves up 2-0 in the fourth against Jack Flaherty. Freeman went 3 for 3 and is hitting .405 over his past 11 games.

“He’s getting the ball in the air, and it’s carrying, and that’s always a good thing,” manager Brian Snitker said. “That’s a welcomed sight if we can get him going.”

Toussaint (2-1) allowed five hits, two runs, three walks and struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. A rookie making his fourth career start, Toussaint was chased after Yadier Molina’s RBI single cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth.

“We survived the first couple of innings with essentially zero fastball command, then suddenly we had some decent command of it and were able to flip the script and challenge guys with some early contacts,” Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said. “If he gets ahead of guys, it’s a tough arsenal to defend.”

Flaherty (8-8) gave up five hits, a season-high five runs and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Facing the Braves for the first time, Flaherty began the game as the NL rookie leader in strikeouts, winning percentage and opponents’ batting average. He had gone 4-1 with 1.69 ERA in his previous eight starts.

Flowers doubled to begin the three-run fifth and scored on a wild pitch. Freeman chased Flaherty with an RBI single, and the lead swelled to four runs on a double steal by Ender Inciarte and Freeman. The Braves successfully challenged to get the call overturned that Freeman had been tagged out.

“I thought things went well early, then Freeman put a good swing on a ball and then in that one inning things kind of got away,” Flaherty said. “I put a couple of guys on base with walks and then Freeman put another good swing on the ball.”

Atlanta added a run to make it 6-2 in the seventh. Inciarte doubled and scored when second baseman Kolten Wong threw errantly to first on a potential double play grounder.

Jedd Gyorko’s sacrifice fly in the eighth cut the lead to 6-3. Flowers’ eighth homer in the bottom half of the inning made it 7-3.

At least for one game, Atlanta played well at home, where it had dropped 14 of 18 and has won just one of its past seven series.

Freeman, who became the first Braves first baseman with 20 homers and 10 stolen bases in a season since Dale Murphy in 1978, wants his teammates to enjoy the pennant race and not press.

“It’s fun. It really is,” Freeman said. “This is what you work for six, seven months. To be in this situation this year, it’s the greatest feeling there is.”

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP John Gant (7-6, 3.53 ERA) will start when St. Louis, following a day off, opens a three-game home series against San Francisco. He allowed six hits and six runs in his previous start, a 17-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.92 ERA) will make his ninth start since being acquired in a trade with Baltimore as Atlanta tries to pad its lead on the Phillies. He is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in four starts at SunTrust Park.

The IATC also released their updated individual cross country rankings including action up through this past Sunday. Here is a look at area ranked runners.

3A Boys

14. Jalen Petersen, Atlantic

3A Girls

5. Janette Schraft, Glenwood
7. Taylor McCreedy, Atlantic
22. Raegan Anderson, Denison-Schleswig
24. Greichaly Kaster, Harlan

2A Boys

3. Jerry Jorgensen, Treynor
8. Jordan Hustak, Missouri Valley

2A Girls

6. Ella Waddle, Panorama

1A Boys

6. Joshua Baudler, Nodaway Valley
9. Noah Nelsen, AC/GC
12. Justin Ambrose, Boyer Valley
13. Louden Foster, West Central Valley
18. Noah Jorgensen, Sidney
26. Leo Garrigan, St. Albert

1A Girls

1. Emma Lucas, Bedford
2. Peyton Pogge, Tri-Center
3. Courtney Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia
4. Taylor Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia
5. Kate Crawford, AC/GC
16. Gracie Springman, St. Albert
22. Reagan Weinheimer, Nodaway Valley
24. Lauryn Embleton, AC/GC
28. McKinna Hogan, Lenox
29. Alexis Post, Riverside

Full rankings here.

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches released their latest Cross Country rankings on Tuesday evening. Here is a look at area teams that are ranked this week.

GIRLS 1A

1. Logan-Magnolia
14. AHSTW

Teams to Watch: AC/GC

BOYS 1A

2. Nodaway Valley
12. AC/GC
15. Tri-Center
Teams to Watch: Woodbine

GIRLS 2A

15. Shenandoah

BOYS 2A

Teams to Watch: Red Oak

GIRLS 3A

2. Harlan
7. Glenwood
9. Atlantic

BOYS 3A

Teams to Watch: Atlantic

Check out the full rankings here.

The Creston Cross Country Invite was held on Tuesday night. Atlantic’s Taylor McCreedy was Runner-Up in the Girls Class A race and the Trojans placed third as a team. In the Boys Class A race Atlantic’s Jalen Petersen finished in 3rd place and the Trojans were 4th in the team race.

Girls Class A Team Top 5

1. Harlan 41
2. Glenwood 58
3. Atlantic 87
4. Creston 120
5. Winterset 134

Girls Class A Individual

1. Janette Schraft, Glenwood 18:27.0
2. Taylor McCreedy, Atlantic 18:45.8
3. Brielle Baker, Creston
4. Kaia Bieker, Harlan
5. Braelyn Baker, Creston

Girls Class B Team

1. Earlham 31
2. Nodaway Valley 63
3. East Union 94
4. Mount Ayr 95
5. Southwest Valley 106
6. CAM 139
7. Bedford 179

Girls Class B Individual

1. Reagan Weinheimer, Nodaway Valley 20:41.8
2. Sophia Broers, Nodaway Valley 21:12.4
3. Carly Schaffer, Earlham
4. Cassidy Nelson, Lenox
5. Katie Noah, Earlham

Boys Class A Team Top 5

1. Lewis Central 60
2. CB Thomas Jefferson 66
3. Glenwood 66
4. Atlantic 101
5. Winterset 151

Boys Class A Individual

1. Trey Gross, Harlan 16:45.7
2. Aidan Booton, CB Thomas Jefferson 16;47.4
3. Jalen Petersen, Atlantic 16:57.3
4. Aiden Rudloff, Lewis Central
5. Wynn Yeager, Winterset

Boys Class B Team

1. Nodaway Valley 41
2. Earlham 45
3. Mount Ayr 79
4. Bedford 85
5. Martensdale St. Marys 110
6. CAM 170
7. Clarinda Academy 187
8. Southwest Valley 245

Boys Class B Individual

1. Joshua Baudler, Nodaway Valley 16:37.7
2. Isaac Timmerman, Mount Ayr 17:02.4
3. Chase Smith, Mounty Ayr 17:27.2
4. Michael Allen, Earlham 17:29.5
5. Zach Dixon, Earlham 17:38.9

Full Results: Creston XC 2018

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of driving onto and damaging the eastern Iowa baseball field made famous by the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” has changed his plea to guilty. Dubuque County court records say 21-year-old Austin Pape, of Dyersville, entered the plea Monday, the day his trial was to begin on a felony charge of criminal mischief. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

Investigators say Pape acknowledged driving onto the field Jan. 22. Court records say the owner estimated the damage at more than $5,500. The vehicle left deep gashes in the field and damaged sprinklers.

The field sits just outside Dyersville, which is 140 miles northeast of Des Moines. Thousands of people visit the property every year, running around the bases and walking to the surrounding cornfields.