Kansas.com: State Colleges

Darby fills it up for Jets

JEFFREY LUTZ — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:40 CST

Newman freshman Jake Darby missed about a month of the season with a toe injury and was playing in his first Heartland Conference game on Thursday night.

He didn't look hurt, rusty or nervous.

Darby scored 12 points in the second half, when the Jets were without much production from center Ryan Bradley, and helped Newman to a 74-68 win over St. Edward's in the conference opener.

"I just try to play hard, play with passion and help my team win," Darby said.

The 6-foot-11 Bradley carried the Jets (7-5, 1-0) for much of the first half, scoring 13 points and making 6 of 8 shots against St. Edward's center Taylor Mullenax, who was giving away four inches.

Junior College Men

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:39 CST

Garden City 58, Butler 56

BUTLER: Underwood 3-6 1-1 8, Morgan 1-3 0-0 3, Pierce 3-6 0-0 6, Engelken 2-11 0-0 6, Milliner 5-9 0-0 11, Colter 2-6 1-2 7, Brooks 3-7 0-0 6, Walker 1-6 3-5 5, Creecy 0-0 2-2 2, (unknown) 2. Totals 21-58 7-10 56.

GARDEN CITY: Wesley 0-3 3-6 3, Manzano 3-12 0-0 8, Thomas 8-12 0-0 17, Ottley 2-3 1-3 7, Burley 1-4 0-0 2, Anderson 3-6 1-2 9, Stephens 0-1 0-0 0, Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Williams 1-3 2-2 5, Kirkland 0-1 1-2 1, Jackson 2-2 2-4 6. Totals 20-48 12-22 58.

Halftime -- Butler 27, Garden City 26. 3s -- BC 7-26 (Engelken 2-8, Colter 2-5, Underwood 1-3, Morgan 1-3, Milliner 1-2); GC 6-23 (Manzano 2-9, Anderson 2-5, Thomas 1-3, Williams 1-3). Rebounds -- BC 36 (Engelken 9); GC 35 (Manzano 7). Assists -- BC: 12 (Underwood 6), GC: 9 (Thomas 3).

Hutchinson 86, Dodge City 74

GMAC

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39 CST

Tulsa (10-3) vs. Ball St. (12-1), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Players to Watch: Ball State QB Nate Davis is efficient when given time to find open receivers. Davis ranks No. 8 nationally in pass efficiency and 15th in total offense. He has passed for 250-plus yards eight times this season and thrown only seven interceptions against 26 touchdown passes.

Tulsa RB Tarrion Adams rushed for 1,316 yards and 11 touchdowns. In an offense filled with weapons like QB David Johnson and WR Brennan Marion (1,112 yards receiving), Adams sets up the passing game and feasts on defenses that are geared toward stopping it.

Facts & Figures: Ball State will be making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in its 84-year history. Tulsa is playing in a fourth straight bowl for the second time, joining a five-year string from 1941-45.... Tulsa can set a school record with win No. 11.... Golden Hurricane coach Todd Graham signed a new contract extension on Jan. 1. Stan Parrish took over Ball State's program on Dec. 18 after Brady Hoke left for San Diego State.... Tulsa set an NCAA bowl record for largest margin of victory with last year's 63-7 GMAC win over Bowling Green.... The Cardinals have scored a school-record 476 points and 62 touchdowns. With 616 points, Tulsa is five shy of the school mark set in 1920.... Ball State is the nation's least penalized team.

Longhorns have outside shot at title

ANDREW BAGNATO — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Texas coach Mack Brown has a theory about bowl games.

"If the teams are fairly even, the team that wants to be there the most and has the edge and is more motivated usually wins," Brown said.

If third-ranked Texas had a choice, it would be in Miami preparing to face Florida for the BCS title. But the Longhorns still have plenty of motivation against No. 10 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl tonight.

Snubbed in their bid for a slot in the Bowl Championship Series title game, the Longhorns (11-1) will try to take their frustrations out on the Buckeyes (10-2), who have made their fifth bowl trip to Arizona since 2002.

"Really, what's going through our minds is, 'Let's just put on a show, basically,'" Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo said.

Broyles honored, looks to future

TONY ADAME — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

The select company that joined Pittsburg State football coach Chuck Broyles in his selection as the NCAA Division II Liberty Mutual coach of the year last week was nothing to scoff at.

Alabama's Nick Saban was the man for the Football Bowl Subdivision. James Madison's Mickey Matthews for the Football Championship Subdivision. Legendary Mount Union (Ohio) coach Larry Kehres was the pick for Division III.

It wasn't the prestigious nature of the names in that group that had Broyles excited about winning the award.

It was the $50,000 that Liberty Mutual will donate to his favorite charity and the $20,000 they'll donate to Pittsburg State's alumni scholarship fund that made Broyles' day.

"It's just unbelievable," Broyles said. "My brother told me that it's always great to win a national award, but something like this that gives back, and that part of the voting is based on your charity work, well that's a pretty good deal."

FIESTA BOWL

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

No. 3 Texas (11-1) vs. No. 10 Ohio State (10-2), 7 p.m. (Fox)

What's at Stake: The Longhorns have a slim shot at a share of the national title. They'd need to leap from No. 3 to No. 1 in The Associated Press poll, and that would presumably require No. 1 Florida to lose to second-rated Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series title game. The Longhorns would have to hope the pollsters credit them for handing the Sooners their only loss in October.

For the Buckeyes, the Fiesta Bowl represents a chance to restore their place among the national elite after lopsided losses in the last two BCS title games. The first of those defeats came two years ago in University of Phoenix Stadium, site of tonight's game.

Players to Watch: Ohio State junior RB Beanie Wells overcame injuries to rush for 1,091 yards in nine games. With 3,276 yards, Wells ranks fourth in the fabled list of Ohio State rushers. Wells did not play in the Buckeyes' 35-3 loss to USC on Sept. 13.

Texas WR Jordan Shipley had his best games against Texas' top opponents. In a four-game stretch against teams all ranked in the Top 11, he caught 40 passes for 411 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score to help spark the Longhorns to a 45-35 victory over Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 11.

Juco Men

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Butler 70, Dodge City 66

DODGE CITY: Jantz 1-3 0-0 2, Perkins 3-8 0-2 6, Coley 7-12 0-2 15, Clinscales 7-20 3-9 22, Seitz 0-0 0-0 0, Redman 0-3 0-0 0, Wheeler 3-5 0-0 6, Angelos 1-2 2-4 4, Thompson 1-5 1-2 3, Goodson 1-7 6-11 8, Salzar 0-2 0-2 0, Maxwell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-67 14-29 66.

BUTLER: Colter 1-9 9-10 11, Underwood 0-2 0-1 0, Morgan 1-5 1-2 3, Pierce 1-2 0-0 2, Brooks 5-12 3-4 13, Walker 9-13 2-5 22, Engelken 0-5 0-0 0, Milliner 6-7 0-3 12, Creecy 3-6 1-1 7. Totals 26-61 16-26 70.

Halftime -- Butler 28, Dodge City 24. 3s -- Dodge City 4-15 (Coley 1-3, Clinscales 3-9, Redman 0-1, Thompson 0-1); Butler 2-16 (Walker 2-3, Colter 0-4, Underwood 0-1, Morgan 0-2, Brooks 0-2, Engelken 0-4). Rebounds -- Dodge City 36 (Coley 6); Butler 54 (Brooks 11). Assists -- Dodge City: 17 (Perkins 2), Butler: 20 (Colter 3).

Juco Women

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Butler 50, Dodge City 37

DODGE CITY: Lane 1-2 0-0 2, Sims 1-5 2-4 4, Parker 3-12 3-10 9, Easter 0-5 0-1 0, Baker 2-4 0-1 4, Sedoc 4-9 0-0 8, Eskew 2-10 6-8 10. Totals 13-47 11-24 37.

BUTLER: Hunter 2-7 2-3 6, Hart 6-15 1-1 14, Mleynek 2-5 1-2 5, Maple 2-6 0-0 5, Wuthrich 2-8 1-2 5, Holt 0-5 0-0 0, Dean 3-11 1-1 7, Handcox 1-3 0-0 2, Briar 0-7 1-2 1, Lewis 1-3 0-0 2, Guest 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 20-72 7-11 50.

Halftime -- Butler 28, Dodge City 16. 3s -- Dodge City 0-2 (Easter 0-1, Baker 0-1); Butler 2-15 (Hart 1-4, Maple 1-1, Holt 0-4, Dean 0-2, Briar 0-3, Lewis 0-1). Rebounds -- Dodge City 53 (Easter and Sedoc 7); Butler 45 (Hunter 10). Assists -- Dodge City: 9 (many with one), Butler: 10 (Hart 2).

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Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Friends 60, York 36

FRIENDS: Polley-Davis 4-10 2-2 10, VinZant 2-5 0-0 4, Selves i6-9 1-3 13, Price 2-6 1-4 5, Onelio 0-5 1-1 1, Snell 2-8 0-0 5, Porter 1-4 0-0 3, Rogers 0-1 0-0 0, Hudspeth 2-4 0-0 4, Marshall 5-8 5-7 15. Totals 24-60 10-17 60.

YORK: Witt 0-7 2-4 2, Wiedemann 4-18 2-2 10, Phillips 1-1 0-0 3, Thomas 4-19 0-0 9, Berger 2-9 5-6 10, Witt 1-4 0-0 2, Tribbett 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-58 9-12 36.

Halftime -- Friends 31, York 18. 3s -- Friends 2-14 (Snell 1-5, Porter 1-4); York 3-18 (Phillips 1-1, Thomas 1-10, Berger 1-7). Rebounds -- Friends 41 (Marshall 11); York 48 (Wiedemann 12). Assists -- Friends: 10 (Polley-Davis 3), York: 5 (Wiedemann 3).

Tabor 87, Ecclesia 46

Bethany 97, Baker 91

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

BAKER: Greer 20, Iversen 20, Entner 13, Baird 6, Highfill 2, Houser 17, Shaw 13. Totals 28-75 25-30 91.

BETHANY: Littlejohn 25, Honeycutt 1, Wells 13, Goggins 15, Banning 5, Jennings 7, Holcom 4, Beachum 16, Miller 2, Aspegren 9. Totals 33-80 25-37 97.

Halftime -- Baker 39, Bethany 36. 3s -- Baker 10-22 (Greer 3, Iversen 4, Entner, Baird 2); Bethany 6-16 (Littlejohn 2, Wells, Goggins 3). Rebounds -- Baker 43 (Greer and Shaw 9); Bethany 52 (Miller 14). Assists -- Baker: 17 (Baird 7), Bethany: 20 (Littlejohn 5).

Cent. Missouri 73, Washburn 64

CENTRAL MISSOURI: Watts 2, Luellen 9, Redel 7, Moosmann 8, Byrd 21, Miller 2, Young 24. Totals 28-67 12-16 73.

State College Men

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Sterling 56, Cen. Methodist 48

CENTRAL METHODIST: Regan 3, Sherman 6, Smith 4k Blauvelt 12 Prosser 6, Harper 7, Howell 1, Edris 5, Johnson 4. Totals 14-54 17-26 48.

STERLING: Stephenson 17 Goodrich 7, Brazelton 9, Friess 7, Woods 12, July 2, Lee 2. Totals 20-49 12-27 56.

Halftime -- Sterling 22, Central Methodist 22. 3s -- CM 3-21 (Regan, Sherman, Edris); SC 4-12 (Stephenson 4, Goodrich). Rebounds -- CM 48 (Harper 10); SC 33 (Woods 11). Assists -- CM: 8 (Prosser 3), SC: 10 (Goodrich 4, Friess 4).

women

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Cent. Missouri 79, Washburn 77

CENTRAL MISSOURI: Davenport 20, Roberts 2, Dace 9, Fleming 12, Pence 3, Waggoner 3, Shippy 2, Slifer 20, Blakemore 8. Totals 25-59 18-22 79.

WASHBURN: Graham 2, Silovsky 2, Ulsaker 4, Mainz 10, Bright 26, Brown 3, Mullen 5, Tailele 8, Gregory 8, Rodriguez 9. Totals 25-56 18-25 77.

Halftime -- Washburn 35, Central Missouri 34. 3s -- Central Missouri 11-25 (Davenport 2, Dace, Pence, Waggoner, Slifer 6); Washburn 9-23 (Bright 5, Brown, Mullen, Gregory 2). Rebounds -- Central Missouri 35 (Dace 7); Washburn 32 (Bright 7). Assists -- Central Missouri: 12 (Dace and Fleming 4), Washburn: 17 (Mainz 6).

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Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Ottawa 98, Avila 82

AVILA: Prindiville 4, Mahler 6, Lott 24, Short 22, Bookerk 6, Phelps 6, Dierkes 7, Smith 2, Haase 2, Early 3. Totals 32-64 15-23 82.

OTTAWA: Brightman 9, McClintock 17, Green 15, Birch 31, Smith 6, Carter 6, Anderson 14. Totals 36-71 19-33 98.

Halftime -- Ottawa 42, Avila 33. 3s -- AU 3-13 (Short 2, Dierkes); OU 7-15 (Green 3, Smith 2, Brightman, Birch). Rebounds -- AU 44 (Booker 7); OU 36 (McClintock 7, Anderson 7). Assists -- AU: 10 (Phelps 3), OU: 21 (Brightman 9).

Sooners just fine away from home

TIM REYNOLDS — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Chances are, if there's a Florida logo posted on a BCS championship game sign around Miami this week, there's an Oklahoma emblem right next to it. The gift bags doled out to players from both teams were exactly the same, and one school won't be invited to more events than the other.

Forgive the Sooners, though, if they don't find all things to be equal in South Florida.

They know the reality -- the Bowl Championship Series title matchup Thursday night takes place in the Gators' home state.

Even though that crystal trophy will be awarded 324 miles south of The Swamp in Gainesville, it seems much like a road game for the Sooners. Facing a hostile crowd in Miami will only make winning that much sweeter, they say.

"It's in Florida. It's where they're from," Sooners wide receiver Manuel Johnson said. "But we feel like it's us against the world. And we've been great on the road this year."

State College Women

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Sterling 75, Benedictine 65

BENEDICTINE: Huff 9 Kovac 6, Garoutte 3, Hollembeak 14, Morrison 4, Wolfe 5, Winder 15, Leonard 8, Wansing 1. Totals 24-57 6-10 65.

STERLING: Thiessen 4, Tinkel 17, Shultze 12, Kraft 15, Racette 2, Stuckey 1, Gasper 7, Patrick 7, Wiebe 10. Totals 24-49 24-38 75.

Halftime -- Sterling 37, Benedictine 28. 3s -- BC 11-23 (Huff 3, Hollembeak 3, Kovac 2, Garoutte, Wolfe, Winder); SC 3-10 (Tinkel, Schultze, Patrick). Rebounds -- BC 30 (Kovac 6); SC 30 (Wiebe 10). Assists -- BC: 20 (Wolfe 4), SC: 12 (Kraft 3).

UConn runs wild

JOHN WAWROW — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Donald Brown and a stout defense helped Connecticut overcome a fumble-prone performance.

Brown, the nation's leading rusher, ran for a career-best 261 yards -- including 208 in the first half -- in his final college game, and UConn defeated Buffalo 38-20 in the International Bowl on Saturday.

After vowing last month that he would return for his senior season, Brown announced after the game he would apply for the NFL draft in April.

The Huskies (8-5) overcame five first-half turnovers and a 20-10 deficit to win their second bowl game in three appearances since joining the Big East in 2004.

The Mid-American champion Bulls (8-6) had their breakout season under coach Turner Gill end with a loss in their bowl debut. James Starks scored on a 4-yard run for the Bulls, who scored all 20 points off turnovers, but were unable to get their potent offense in gear.

Early lead propels Utah

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama players repeatedly said the Sugar Bowl will be a key to how this team will be remembered.

If true, that's bad news for the No. 4 Crimson Tide. Down to its third-team left tackle, Alabama's offensive line uncharacteristically struggled and its normally stingy defense was victimized by quarterback Brian Johnson and No. 7 Utah in a 31-17 Sugar Bowl loss Friday night in New Orleans.

Alabama (12-2) couldn't summon the physical, feisty style that led to a perfect regular season, and the absence of All-America left tackle Andre Smith clearly hurt.

Alabama faced its biggest deficit of the season after falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter.

Alabama had no answer to the spread, no-huddle offenses of Florida and former Utah coach Urban Meyer in the Southeastern Conference championship game or the Utes (13-0) in the Sugar Bowl.

State College Men

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Sterling 67, Benedictine 52

BENEDICTINE: Huppe 6, Hamilton 9, Johnson 7, Goettelmann 4, McNeil 4, Bonham 4, Daniels 5, Henton 13. Totals 22-55 6-7 52.

STERLING: Stephenson 12, Goodrich 2, Stutzman 6, Brazelton 20, Friess 8, Finister 8, Woods 4, July 5, Lee 2. Totals 26-52 10-16 67.

Halftime -- SC 30, BC 22. 3s -- BC 2-12 (Hamilton, Johnson), SC 5-15 (Stutzman 2, Stephenson, Friess, July). Rebounds -- BC 24 (Henton 5); SC 38 (Woods 15). Assists -- BC 11 (Huppe, Goettelmann 3), SC 14 (Stephenson 6).

Central Methodist 93, Tabor 78

Ole Miss sends message

JAIME ARON — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

There were backflips across midfield, 50-yard dashes carrying oversized flags and a team-wide sprint to the student section. Ole Miss waited five years to feel this good and the Rebels were going to enjoy every second of it.

A season of revival that already included an upset at the Swamp culminated Friday with a 47-34 victory over No. 8 Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl, sending No. 20 Mississippi into the offseason with a six-game winning streak and the anticipation of how coach Houston Nutt will build on his terrific debut year.

"I wish we could keep this team and bring it back," Nutt said. Then, turning to some seniors next to him, he barked, "You can't leave!"

To understand the excitement, appreciate how far this program has come: from 3-8 last season, winless in the SEC and bowl-less since 2003 (back when Eli Manning was a senior) to 9-4 and likely to grab a season-ending ranking in the teens.

It's also worth noting those four losses were by a combined 19 points.

INTERNATIONAL

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Connecticut (7-5) vs. Buffalo (8-5), 11 a.m. (ESPN2)

What's At Stake: UConn attempts to prove it's a legitimate big-time program and no longer simply a basketball school in making its third bowl appearance in five seasons. A Huskies win would also ease the frustrations of how they ended the regular season, losing five of their last seven after a 5-0 start.

The Bulls have an opportunity to cap an improbable turnaround in making their bowl debut and further elevate Turner Gill's standing. Buffalo is 15-22 in three seasons under Gill after going 10-69 the previous seven years since joining Mid-American Conference.

Players to Watch: Connecticut senior QB Tyler Lorenzen is coming off one of the worst games of his career in a 34-10 season-ending loss to Pitt and went 1-3 in the final four games after returning from a broken foot.

Buffalo QB Drew Willy closes his impressive and record-setting four-year career as a starter. In his past 625 passing attempts over 19 games dating to last season, Willy has thrown 36 TDs and only five interceptions to post 12-7 record.