PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers will likely be without leading receiver Antonio Brown next Monday night when they host the Kansas City Chiefs. Brown sprained his right ankle in last Sunday’s 24-20 victory over the New York Giants. Coach Mike Tomlin called Brown’s status “very much in doubt.” Brown leads the Steelers with 42 receptions and is second on the team with 499 receiving yards. If Brown sits, it’s likely Emmanuel Sanders will take Brown’s spot in the starting lineup, with veteran Jerricho Cotchery moving up to starting slot receiver.

The Steelers will also be without safety Troy Polamalu, who will miss his fifth straight game and seventh overall with a right calf injury. Running back Jonathan Dwyer, who sat out last week with a right quad injury, is expected to play.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say Green Valley State Park near Creston, will be closed to the general public Nov. 17-18, for the ninth annual special park deer hunt. The hunt will allow 25 hunters to harvest up to 50 antlerless deer using only muzzleloaders. Hunters have already registered and will receive two antlerless tags each redeemable only during the special hunt at the designated areas and specified dates. Additional DNR staff will be on hand to patrol the park boundaries. Green Valley will re-open to the public on Nov. 19.

Alan Carr, park ranger for Green Valley State Park says “The hunt helps keep the deer population in the park under control. Hunters must attend a special safety meeting before the hunt where we explain the reason for the hunt, discuss the rules and show them the park boundaries.  We hope to harvest as close to 50 female deer as we can and do it in a safe and efficient manner.”  Carr said the hunt has been a great deer management tool for state parks.

“People want to see deer when they come to park, but we need to maintain a balance in the deer herd,” Carr said.  “Research shows that if you stop these hunts completely, the deer population tends to go back up rather quickly so the hunt will probably remain an annual event. The depredation biologist sets number of deer targeted for removal each year that is based on the population survey.”

The average harvest for the two day hunt has been just over 40 deer each year.

w/ Jim Field

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cardinals have promoted John Mabry to hitting coach as the replacement for Mark McGwire, who told St. Louis he won’t return after three seasons and appears headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 42-year-old Mabry, whose 14 major league seasons included three stints with St. Louis, and was assistant hitting coach last season.

St. Louis also promoted Blaise Ilsley to bullpen coach on Monday as the replacement for Dyar Miller, who was not retained after one season under new manager Mike Matheny. The 48-year-old Ilsley was pitching coach for the Cardinals’ Triple-A Memphis affiliate the past five seasons.

The team extended offers to pitching coach Derek Lilliquist, bench coach Mike Aldrete, third base coach Jose Oquendo and first base coach Chris Maloney to return in their current positions. They have not identified a successor to Mabry as assistant hitting coach.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel has relieved himself of duties as defensive coordinator on a day in which the team waived starting cornerback Stanford Routt and signed defensive tackle Shaun Smith. Crennel had been juggling head coaching and coordinator duties since taking over on an interim basis when Todd Haley was fired last December. Crennel announced Monday that Gary Gibbs would become defensive coordinator and he would spend more time with the entire team.

Routt was one of the Chiefs’ notable free-agent acquisitions, signing a three-year, $18 million deal to fill in after Brandon Carr left for the Dallas Cowboys. Crennel said Javier Arenas will move into the starting lineup opposite Brandon Flowers. Smith has been out of the league since the Titans waived him in August.

Jim Field and Chris Parks have the call of the 8-Man Quarterfinal Round Playoff game played in Exira.

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First Team Offense (*unanimous)

• Linemen:
• Austin Lear, Lewis Central
• *Jordan Siebert, Harlan
• *Derek Anderson, Harlan
• Cole Tanner, Creston
• Noah Taylor, ADM

• Receivers:
• *Sam Markham, Atlantic
• Nate Kloewer, Harlan

• Quarterback:
• Luke Neitzel, Creston

• Tight End:
• Dave Ratigan, Harlan

• Running Backs:
• Jordan Grove, ADM
• Bryce McIlravy, Creston
• Derek Jones, Glenwood

• At-Large:
• Harrison Hoegh, Atlantic

• Kicker:
• Caleb Shudak, Lewis Central

First Team Defense

• Linemen:
• JJ Hahn, Glenwood
• *Keaton Hulett, Creston
• Zac Renshaw, Lewis Central
• Nick Kornischuk, Harlan

• Defensive Backs:
• Chad Christensen, Atlantic
• Austin Hess, Harlan
• Will Whiton, Perry
• Blake Heimann, ADM

• Linebackers:
• *Trevor Frain, Creston
• *Dylan Nelson, ADM
• Jeff Flies, Harlan
• Derek Jenkins, Lewis Central

• At-Large:
• Nick Sulentic, Lewis Central

• Punter:
• Mark Savage, Lewis Central

Second Team Offense:

• Linemen:
• Theo Hartman, Creston
• Michael Lansing, Perry
• James Muschenheim, Lewis Central
• Chase Carrick, Perry
• Anthony Weiland, ADM

• Receivers:
• Tate Jensen, ADM
• Luke Harrison, Lewis Central

• Quarterback:
• Kyle Herrick, ADM

• Tight End:
• Nate Petepier, Lewis Central

• Running Backs:
• Chris Hopkins, Harlan
• Spencer Smith, Glenwood
• Seth Stetzel, Perry

• Kicker:
• Ethan Knudson, Harlan

Second Team Defense:

• Linemen:
• Nathan Robinson, Creston
• Shawn Schaben, Harlan
• Torry Brelsford, Perry
• Jesse Bennett, ADM

• Defensive Backs:
• Kainen Somers, Creston
• Grand Goeden, ADM
• Connor Clayton, Harlan
• Mitch Bowden, Glenwood

• Linebackers:
• Stuart Hoegh, Atlantic
• Bryce Wernimont, Atlantic
• Jackson Van Kirk, Perry
• Darold Baker, ADM

• Punter:
• Alex Nielsen, Creston

Honorable Mention:

• Dalton Franken, Atlantic
• Nick Olsen, Atlantic
• Tyler Christensen, Atlantic
• Sam Plagman, ADM
• Ethan Ruby, Lewis Central
• Briar Evans, Creston
• Adam Zaccone, Harlan
• Kyle Kawecki, Glenwood
• Adam Juhl, Harlan
• Alex Martin, Lewis Central
• Brandon Phipps, Creston
• Tristen Pitsenbarger, ADM
• Sergi Olvera, Perry
• Walter Juarez, Perry
• Conner Fikes, Glenwood

Iowa State broke away from a four point lead early in the second half with a 23-0 run as they beat Minnesota State 90-57 in an exhibition game in Ames. The Cyclones started quickly before letting Minnesota State back in the game. Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said the Cyclones played well for a good portion of the game, but Hoiberg said they need to work on playing an entire game as they prepare for Friday’s season opener against Southern University. Tyus McGee led five Cyclones in double figuires with 16 points. Korie Lecious added 15 and ISU finished 15 of 29 from three point range.

The Iowa basketball team jumped out to a 22-2 lead at the outset and cruised by Quincy University 100-54 in a Sunday exhibition game. The added depth of this season was on display as freshman Mike Gessell led four players in double figures with 18 points.
Despite the victory, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says there are plenty of things to work on. The Hawkeyes open the regular season at home on Friday night against Texas Pan-American. The teams lone senior, Eric May, came off the bench to score 15 points. May says while the Hawkeyes reached the century mark the best part of the game was their defense.