Here is the latest sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran through the rain for 138 yards and another score, and the Kansas City Chiefs began defense of their first championship in 50 years by beating the Houston Texans 34-20 on Thursday night. The first game of the NFL season was played before a socially distanced crowd of about 17,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It also came after a series of videos and demonstrations by both teams designed to raise awareness of social justice initiatives.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jeimer Candelario capped off a two-homer day with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to help the Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 for a doubleheader split, Thursday. The Cardinals won the opener 12-2 behind a five-homer attack. In the first game, Yadier Molina, wearing uniform No. 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente, hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the second inning for the Cardinals. Candelario hit a two-run homer in the first game and added a solo shot in the nightcap.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kansas City rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit _ a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning _ and flirted with baseball history while leading the Royals to a 11-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. Making just his ninth career start, the 24-year-old Singer (2-4) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges, who came in batting .148, bounced a single through a wide-open right side. The hit came on a full-count and Singer’s 116th pitch. Maikel Franco and Adalberto Mondesi each hit three-run homers for the Royals.

UNDATED (AP) — Iowa State will open against an opponent from the Football Bowl Subdivision for the first time since 2012. The Cyclones originally were set to ease into the season against South Dakota from the Championship Subdivision. The coronavirus pandemic caused postponements and cancellations across college football, and the Cyclones had to scramble to line up Louisiana-Lafayette for Saturday. ISU coach Matt Campbell hopes the Cyclones don’t get more than they bargained for in a game that will net the Ragin’ Cajuns $350,000. Lafayette is coming off an 11-win season that ranks as its best in program history.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Davis had 29 points and 12 rebounds while dominating the paint in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110-100 win over the Houston Rockets. Davis also helped Los Angeles compile a 52-26 rebounding edge in taking a three-games-to-one lead in the NBA’s Western Conference semifinal series. Houston also had trouble stopping LeBron James, who finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran through the rain for 138 yards and another score, and the Kansas City Chiefs began defense of their first championship in 50 years by beating the Houston Texans 34-20 on Thursday night. The first game of the NFL season was played before a socially distanced crowd of about 17,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It also came after a series of videos and demonstrations by both teams designed to raise awareness of social justice initiatives.

Western Iowa Conference

(3-0) Missouri Valley 25-25-26 IKM-Manning 10-23-24
(3-0) Riverside 25-25-25 Audubon 22-19-19
(3-0) Treynor 25-25-25 AHSTW 15-15-14
(3-0) Underwood 25-25-25 Tri-Center 21-18-21

Rolling Valley Conference

(3-2) CAM 21-24-25-25-15, Woodbine 25-26-22-16-5
(3-0) Coon Rapids-Bayard 25-25-25, Exira/EHK 18-12-17
(3-2) Glidden-Ralston 18-27-25-19-15, Boyer Valley 25-25-17-25-12
(3-1) Paton-Churdan 25-25-24-25, Ar-We-Va 18-20-26-14

Corner Conference

(2-1) East Mills 24-25-15 Stanton 26-13-13

Pride of Iowa Conference

(3-0) Lenox 25-25-25 Central Decatur 23-20-13

Other Scores

(2-1) CAM 25-23-15, Griswold 19-25-?
(2-0) Griswold 25-25, Woodbine 14-20
(3-0) CB Abraham Lincoln 25-25-25, CB Thomas Jefferson 19-17-7
(3-1) Murray 25-24-25-25, Ankeny Christian Academy 23-26-20-22
(3-1) Falls City Sacred Heart (NE) 25-25-21-25, Sidney 20-18-25-7
(2-0) Stanton 25-25, Bedford 12-16
(2-0) East Mills 25-25, Bedford 19-16
(2-0) Nodaway Valley 21-21, South Hamilton 19-7
(2-0) Nodaway Valley 21-21, West Central Valley 5-14
(2-0) Nodaway Valley 21-21, Earlham 10-15
(2-0) Nodaway Valley 21-22, Perry 12-20

2020 THIRD Iowa High School Volleyball Rankings
Compiled by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
Thursday, September 10

Class 1A
No. School Record LW
1 Holy Trinity Catholic 3-3 1
2 Wapsie Valley 3-0 2
3 New London 4-0 3
4 Janesville 8-1 4
5 Springville 7-1 6
6 Council Bluffs St. Albert 2-7 5
7 Coon Rapids-Bayard 4-1 7
8 Gehlen Catholic 3-2 8
9 Edgewood-Colesburg 3-1 9
10 Belle Plaine 6-4 10
11 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 6-1 11
12 Grand View Christian 6-4 12
13 Newell-Fonda 3-1 13
14 Southeast Warren 6-0 NR
15 BCLUW 8-4 15
Dropped Out: Saint Ansgar (14)

Class 2A
No. School Record LW
1 Western Christian 5-3 1
2 Dike-New Hartford 8-1 3
3 Wilton 8-0 4
4 Boyden-Hull 6-0 5
5 Beckman Catholic 7-4 2
6 Underwood 7-2 6
7 East Sac County 9-0 7
8 Denver 10-0 11
9 Sumner-Fredericksburg 5-2 12
10 Jesup 6-2 10
11 South Hardin 8-2 NR
12 Grundy Center 6-5 8
13 Hudson 11-2 9
14 West Branch 5-2 14
15 Lake Mills 8-1 13
Dropped Out: Nodaway Valley (15)

Class 3A
No. School Record LW
1 Mount Vernon 10-0 1
2 Osage 3-0 2
3 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 6-0 3
4 Unity Christian 2-0 4
5 Union 5-0 5
6 Davenport Assumption 3-0 6
7 West Liberty 9-0 8
8 Nevada 8-6 7
9 MOC-Floyd Valley 7-0 9
10 Independence 5-2 10
11 Roland-Story 8-1 11
12 Sioux Center 8-1 12
13 Red Oak 5-3 15
14 Des Moines Christian 7-2 13
15 Humboldt 9-0 NR
Dropped Out: Kuemper Catholic (14)

Class 4A
No. School Record LW
1 Cedar Rapids Xavier 4-0 1
2 Western Dubuque 9-2 2
3 Marion 6-1 4
4 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 5-1 5
5 Glenwood 10-1 3
6 North Scott 8-0 7
7 Clear Creek-Amana 5-1 9
8 West Delaware 9-5 6
9 Waverly-Shell Rock 11-3 8
10 Gilbert 12-3 10
11 Bondurant-Farrar 6-2 11
12 Pella 7-2 12
13 Harlan 7-1 15
14 Lewis Central 3-0 NR
15 Dallas Center-Grimes 3-3 NR
Dropped Out: Winterset (13), Wahlert Catholic (14)

Class 5A
No. School Record LW
1 Cedar Falls 8-0 3
2 Ankeny Centennial 5-0 4
3 Dowling Catholic 8-1 5
4 Ankeny 6-2 8
5 West Des Moines Valley 2-2 1
6 Pleasant Valley 1-0 6
7 Iowa City Liberty 1-1 2
8 Waukee 3-3 7
9 Dubuque Hempstead 7-0 9
10 Urbandale 4-2 10
11 Cedar Rapids Prairie 5-3 12
12 Bettendorf 4-1 13
13 Des Moines Roosevelt 7-4 14
14 Ottumwa 4-4 11
15 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 1-5 15
Dropped Out: None

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans tailgating outside the stadium where the Kansas City Chiefs play say precautions will keep them safe from the coronavirus as the NFL returns for the first time in months. But experts fear the return to football stadiums, however limited, along with gatherings to watch games, could result in an uptick in infections.

Fans tailgate outside Arrowhead Stadium before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

NFL football will kick off Thursday in Kansas City at a stadium that’s allowing 17,000 fans inside. Those spectators may be able to physically distance in the stands, but whether they’re able to do so at concessions or in bathrooms is a different story.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs lined up along the goal line about 30 minutes before kickoff Thursday night in a show of solidarity for social justice initiatives while a video played on the screens in each end zone of Arrowhead Stadium. Along with the words “It Takes All of Us” on the screens, the video showcased Alicia Keyes performing the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” It was written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, and is often referred to as the “Black national anthem.”

The Riverside Bulldogs (2-0) will host the St. Albert Falcons (0-2) in a big Class A District 9 football game on Friday night and we’ll have coverage on KJAN. The Bulldogs have played well in their two opening wins over Red Oak and West Monona. Riverside Head Coach Darrell Frain said the guys have met the challenges placed in front of them by the coaching staff so far.

Quarterback Austin Kremkoski has completed 61% of his passes for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns so far. He has also racked up 149 rushing yards and 3 more scores. Rhett Bentley has been the workhorse tailback with 235 yards and 5 scores so far this year. St. Albert Head Coach Jake Driver said they will have a challenge to slow down the Bulldogs backfield.

The Falcons have faced some really tough competition to start the year. They opened with a loss to a top-5 ranked Lewis Central team out of Class 3A. They then had a physical battle with Logan-Magnolia in week 2. Coach Driver said his team is trying to move past those games and focus on the next task.

The Falcons have some experience and speed, especially on the edges and Coach Frain said they will need to try to contain a faster opponent.

Join Chris Parks and Mike Smith for coverage of the game from Oakland. Tune in on AM 1220, FM 101.1, or online at kjan.com. You can also watch the live video stream on KJANTV. We’ll start the night with our weekly pick ’em show Who’s Gonna Win? at 6:00 p.m. with the Dvorak Tire & Service Pregame Show to follow at 6:30 p.m. and Kickoff at 7:00 p.m.