IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Everyone thought Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was joking last weekend when he said the Hawkeyes might never return a punt again. Ferentz wasn’t kidding. Ferentz says he’s leaning against sending blockers downfield to help set up returns after Iowa was burned by a fake punt in Saturday’s loss to Michigan State. Ferentz indicated Iowa might always use a punt safe formation in the future, with a returner charged simply with keeping punts from hitting the ground.

The Hawkeyes (4-2, 1-1 Big Ten) have allowed a number of successful fake punts in recent years, including one each in losses to Northern Illinois and the Spartans this season. Iowa next plays at No. 4 Ohio State (6-0, 2-0) on Oct. 19.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas wide receiver Mike Davis has issued an apology for a cut block against an Iowa State defender that drew a personal foul penalty, a day after saying he’d “do the same thing” again. Davis was penalized for his block on Deon Broomfield and was publicly reprimanded by the Big 12 for the play last Thursday.

On Monday, Davis said he was glad Broomfield wasn’t hurt. He said the play called for him to block the defender. But he suggested Broomfield wasn’t playing hard and deserved the cut block at his left knee. Davis said: “I’d do the same thing” in a similar situation.

In a statement released Tuesday, Davis says he didn’t want to hurt Broomfield. He apologized to the player and Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby

With a full week of league play in the books, a familiar trend has emerged in the Big Ten. Running the ball — and stopping others from doing likewise — will likely be huge for teams hoping to contend in the conference this season.

Five Big Ten teams rank in the top 25 nationally in rushing offense, the most of any conference in the country. The Big Ten is also first with six teams ranked in the top 20 in rushing defense, and four of them; Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan, are among the top 10. By contrast, Indiana is the only league team in the top 30 in passing offense.

We have lots coming up later this week on KJAN TV.  You can watch live streaming video of three different events Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Just go to the TV page on kjan.com at the time designated and click on the play button on the video screen.  You’ll be able to enjoy the events as if you were there!  Here is this week’s TV broadcast schedule:

Thursday, October 10 – HS Cross Country – Atlantic Invitational @ AGCC (4:00 pm)
Friday, October 11 – HS Football – Griswold @ Riverside (6:30 pm)
Saturday, October 12 – Atlantic Fire Department Fire Prevention Week Parade (6:00 pm)

w/ Jim Field

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Girls Team Scores:

1. Griswold 54

2. Creston 84

3. West Central Valley 108

4. Exira/EHK 134

5. A-C/CAM 160

Girls Top Finishers:

1. Rebekah Topham, Griswold

2. Destiny Scar, Nodaway Valley

3. Alyx Flippin, Griswold

4. Maria Mostek, Creston

5. Charissa Mogler, Bedford

Boys Team Scores:

1. Creston 74

2. Nodaway Valley 77

3. Van Meter 98

4. Clarinda 146

5. Griswold 146

Boys Top Finishers:

1. Cooper McDermott, Creston

2. Noah Larsen, Moiunt Ayr

3. Jay Wolfe, Creston

4. Shane Breheny, Nodaway Valley

(3-1) Essex 25-16-25-25, East Mills 16-25-16-17

(3-0) IKM-Manning 25-25-25, A-H-S-T, Avoca 13-17-19

(3-1) Murray 26-25-25-25, Mount Ayr 24-27-13-21

(3-2) Nishnabotna 20-13-25-25-15, Sidney 25-25-22-14-9

(3-0) Stanton 25-25-25, South Page 5-8-8

The Associated Press Iowa Prep Football Poll

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school football polls of the 2013 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Class 4-A

1. West Des Moines Dowling (14) 6-0 140 1
2. Iowa City West 6-0 116 3
3. Pleasant Valley 6-0 114 4
4. Ames 6-0 106 5
5. Waukee 5-1 72 7
6. Cedar Rapids Xavier 5-1 51 2
7. Sioux City East 5-1 42 8
8. West Des Moines Valley 4-2 35 NR
9. Bettendorf 5-1 34 9
10. Davenport Assumption 5-1 27 10 & (tie) Iowa City High 5-1 27 10

Others receiving votes: 12, Urbandale 6.

Class 3-A

1. Bishop Heelan Catholic (14) 6-0 140 1
2. Decorah 6-0 122 2
3. Pella 6-0 106 4
4. Clear Lake 6-0 94 5
5. Carroll 5-1 80 6
6. Harlan 5-1 66 7
7. Boone 6-0 51 10
8. Washington 5-1 37 NR
9. Spencer 5-1 34 3
10. Solon 5-1 15 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Dallas Center-Grimes 12. 12, Webster City 6. 13, Grinnell 4. 14, Williamsburg 2. 15, Waverly-Shell Rock 1.

Class 2-A

1. Kuemper Catholic (10) 6-0 136 1
2. Waukon (4) 6-0 129 2
3. West Marshall 6-0 105 3
4. Albia 6-0 86 4
5. Mediapolis 6-0 78 5
6. New Hampton 6-0 68 7
7. Boyden-Hull-RV 5-1 67 6
8. Central Lyon-GLR 5-1 38 8
9. Spirit Lake 5-1 30 9
10. Cascade 5-1 13 10

Others receiving votes: 11, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 9. 12, Wellman Mid-Prairie 8. 13, Alleman North Polk 2. 14, Sioux Center 1.

Class 1-A

1. Iowa City Regina (14) 6-0 140 1
2. St. Albert 6-0 118 2
3. Dike-New Hartford 6-0 102 4
4. Wilton 6-0 94 5
5. North Fayette 6-0 89 6
6. FD St. Edmond 6-0 63 8
7. Maquoketa Valley 6-0 57 9
8. Van Meter 6-0 52 10
9. South Winneshiek 5-1 34 3
10. Mount Ayr 5-1 7 7

Others receiving votes: 11, Paullina South O’Brien 6. 12, Manson-NW Webster 3. 13, Ridge View 2. 14, Jewell South Hamilton 1. 14, Guttenberg Clayton Ridge 1. 14, Tipton 1.

Class A

1. West Lyon (9) 5-0 134 1
2. BGM (3) 6-0 124 2
3. Wapsie Valley (2) 6-0 116 3
4. AGWSR 6-0 93 4
5. A-H-S-T 6-0 84 5
6. Montezuma 6-0 76 6
7. Lawton-Bronson 5-1 51 7
8. Pekin 5-1 39 8
9. East Mills 5-1 23 9
10. Hinton 4-2 10 10

Others receiving votes: 11, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 7. 12, Lisbon 5. 12, Algona Garrigan 5. 14, Grundy Center 2. 15, Griswold 1.

Class 8-Man

1. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton  (9) 6-0 131 1
2. Don Bosco (4) 7-0 128 2
3. Newell-Fonda (1) 6-0 101 3
4. Adair-Casey 7-0 93 4
5. Springville 7-0 86 6
6. West Bend-Mallard 7-0 86 5
7. River Valley 6-0 58 8
8. Janesville 5-1 35 10
9. HLV 6-1 14 NR
10. Coon Rapids-Bayard 6-1 13 7

Others receiving votes: 11, Marcus MMC 12. 12, Glidden-Ralston 8. 13, Lamoni 2. 13, Fremont Mills, Tabor 2. 15, Bussey Twin Cedars 1.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa wrestler Senior Ethen Lofthouse has been cited by police for shooting a duck with a bow and arrow outside of his residence. Iowa City police on Friday cited Lofthouse, a senior and a two-time All-American, for illegal hunting. The university says it’s aware of the situation and is working with Lofthouse through a process outlined in its student-athlete code of conduct.

This is the second incident involving Iowa wrestlers and illegal hunting in less than a year. Freshmen Connor Ryan and Alex Meyer were suspended from the team last November after they were arrested for illegally hunting rabbits on campus.