AMES, Iowa (AP) — One of the defining qualities of Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads is his ability to generate optimism in lieu of success. It’s going to be tough to keep selling hope after another awful start.

The Cyclones (0-1) didn’t just drop their first game for the second year in a row. They fell at home, 34-14, to North Dakota State — an FCS program with 22 fewer scholarships, a new coach and a new quarterback.

Considering what lies ahead for the Cyclones in the coming weeks, starting Saturday against Kansas State (1-0), Rhoads’ stated goal of a bowl win this season already seems a bit out of reach.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State wide receiver Quenton Bundrage is out for the season with a knee injury. Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads said Monday that Bundrage tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Saturday’s loss to North Dakota State. Bundrage, who led the Cyclones with 48 catches for 676 yards and 9 TDs last season, injured his knee just four plays into a 34-14 loss to the Bison.

Rhaods says freshman Allen Lazard and transfer D’Vario Montgomery will likely get more playing time in Bundrage’s absence. Iowa State (0-1) hosts Kansas State (1-0) on Saturday.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — American Hunter Kemper finally won the Hy-Vee Triathlon Sunday in Des Moines after finishing as the runner up three years in a row. The Des Moines Register reports Kemper, who is a four-time Olympian, finished the race in 1 hour, 44 minutes, 43 seconds. It was the 38-year-old’s first win this year.

Helle Frederiksen of Denmark won the women’s race 1 hour, 54 minutes, 44 seconds. Both winners claimed $100,000 for finishing first.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Matt Holliday hit his third home run in two games and broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single, rallying the St. Louis Cardinals past the Chicago Cubs 9-6 on Sunday. Holliday had three hits and four RBIs for the Cardinals, who began the day one game behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.

St. Louis second baseman Kolten Wong left in the top of the eighth after falling backward when he tried to catch a popup in short right field. He appeared to hurt his head and shoulder, and was replaced by Pete Kozma.

Kozma, in his third stint with St. Louis this season, led off the bottom half with a double. It was his second hit in four at-bats this year. After failing to get down two bunt attempts, Daniel Descalso got the third one down and beat Carlos Villanueva’s throw to first for a single.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs claimed defensive tackle Damion Square off waivers and released tight end Richard Gordon as they began final assembly of their roster for the season opener. Unlike last year, when the Chiefs were atop the waiver claim priority list, they were just 23rd in line this season. That means 22 other teams skipped on Square, who was active for 10 games with Philadelphia last year but was among the Eagles’ final cuts Saturday.

Gordon was the fourth tight end kept by the Chiefs and was unlikely to be kept long. The Chiefs also began assembling their 10-game practice squad Sunday, though they had not yet officially announced any of the signings.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Holliday homered twice and drove in five as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 13-2 Saturday night to earn a split of a doubleheader. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for St. Louis, which won for just the third time in its past nine games. It’s the most runs this season for the Cardinals and the first time in seven games they scored at least three runs. Their previous high was 10, which they did twice. Chicago is 2-3 in its past five, but has won nine of 14.

Westwood, Sloan 54, West Monona, Onawa 32

BCLUW, Conrad 42, GMG, Garwin 14

Hinton 40, Akron-Westfield 0

Muscatine 31, Dubuque, Hempstead 16

North Iowa, Buffalo Center 36, Harris-Lake Park 33

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs have waived veteran kicker Ryan Succop and placed quarterback Tyler Bray and wide receiver Kyle Williams on injured reserve as they trimmed to the 53-man roster limit. Succop was engaged in a heated competition for the kicking job with undrafted free agent Cairo Santos.  Ultimately, Succop’s contract may have played a big part in the decision. He was due $2 million this season while Santos will make just $422,000 with the Chiefs. Bray and Williams were hurt in the Chiefs’ preseason finale against Green Bay.

Other players cut Saturday were defensive backs Malcolm Bronson, Jonathon Amaya, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Justin Rogers; linebackers Alonzo Highsmith, Devan Walker and Nico Johnson; defensive linemen Kyle Love, Kona Schwenke and Dominique Hamilton; offensive linemen Ricky Henry and J’Marcus Webb; wide receivers Mark Harrison and Fred Williams; fullback Jordan Campbell; and running back Charcandrick West.