MHS soccer times on Thursday changed

McPherson High’s home boys soccer game on Thursday with Andover Central has been moved to prime time.

The game had an original 5:30 p.m. start at McPherson Stadium, but has been moved to 6:30. 96.7 KBBE-FM will be carrying the game with “Voice of the Bullpups” Jim Joyner on the call.

 “A facility use conflict that required an earlier start time is no longer an issue, so we were able to move our times back to more normal event start times on this date,” MHS Athletic Director Shane Backhus said.

The JV game will start at 5:00.

Andover Central will be a quality foe as it is undefeated so far this season, except for a tie. The Bullpups, 5-2, are on the road tonight at Mulvane.

Chrysler Cars 4 Classrooms raises money for Washington Elementary

On August 15, Midway Motors Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge LLC partnered with Washington Elementary to raise $2,100 during the Chrysler Cars 4 Classrooms fundraising initiative. Through Chrysler’s Cars for Classrooms fundraiser, the Chrysler brand makes a $10 contribution, up to $2,000, toward the school on behalf of every test drive participant. 

“The Midway Motors Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge LLC enjoyed raising funds for a great cause with families and the local community. We always look forward to giving back to the community and the Chrysler Cars 4 Classrooms initiative is a great way to do it,” said Steve Yandura, Denver Business Center Regional Director. “On behalf of the Chrysler brand and the dealership, I would like to personally thank everyone who took the time to participate in this test drive to help us raise money for such a deserving group of students.”  

In 2017, the Chrysler brand celebrates 25 years of supporting schools and families. Since 1993, the brand had helped to raise over 7 million dollars through fundraising test drives. For more information, visit www.cars4classrooms.com.

KU showing signs of optimism

The Kansas Jayhawks ended their albatross-around-the-neck 46-game road losing streak against Central Michigan 2 weeks ago.

And now they defeat a team from the prestigious Big 10.

What in the name of David Beaty saving his job is going here?

The Jayhawks looked like a real football team on Saturday in shedding their label of being the worst team in all of the Power 5 Conferences with a 55-14 rout of Rutgers, which now assumes that non-desired monicker after a stinker performance.

Maybe, just maybe, Beaty and the Jayhawks are finally getting things figured out. While I always expect the worst and hope for the best, KU played its most complete game by far in the Beaty era.

I don’t want to get too excited about the prospects of a three-game winning streak, but if the Jayhawks can play offensively like they did on Saturday, they could give Baylor a game in their Big 12 opener.

For starters, it appears that offensive coordinator Doug Meacham has finally figured out you can’t put a square peg in a round hole. While he’s an alleged guru of the Air Raid offense that has flopped like a soggy firecracker, he came to the realization the Jayhawks have a nice stable of sleek running backs and that they should be the focal point. He’s also slowed the pace of the offense to shorten games and allow the defense to catch its breath. He simply didn't have the type of personnel to run the Air Raid and has adjusted.

KU pounded out a 400-yard rushing game and that’s tremendous no matter the competition. Electrifying freshman Pooka Williams had a second straight 100-yard game, Dom Williams made some hard runs and the Jayhawks dusted off former top back Khalil Herbert and all he did was go 59 yards to paydirt on his first touch.

But it’s Pooka who has made a huge impact on this team and his enthusiasm is contagious. While he’s slight of build, he’s a stop-on-a-dime runner the likes KU hasn’t had for a while. Had he played against Nicholls State, I guarantee we would be talking about a 3-0 Jayhawk start.

The Jayhawks have to resist temptation on giving him too many carries, as he’s not suited for a pounding, which is where Dom Williams and Herbert come in. You can stop Pooka three or four plays in a row, but then he goes zip, zip for about 30 on the fifth.

Peyton Bender got the start at quarterback and while his numbers were OK, the offense seemed to pick up when Miles Kendrick was inserted.

Kendrick reminds me of the guy who was honored on Saturday at the half, former star QB Todd Reesing. Don’t go all apoplectic on me now, I’m not saying Kendrick is the next Reesing, I’m just saying I like the grasp he has of the offense and how he can make plays with his legs. Bender’s strengths are tailored to the Air Raid offense and mobility is his biggest drawback.

The rebuilt KU offensive line performed well, but we’ll see how it holds up in Big 12 play.

The Jayhawk defense came up with six takeaways, but chalk a lot of that up to a Scarlet Knights game plan that left me gobsmacked. Rutgers had no trouble when it ran the ball, but head scratchingly kept allowing freshman quarterback Artur Sitkowski to launch passes that looked to be intended for KU defensive backs. He not only missed, but missed badly and the Kansas defense made him pay with a pair of pick-6s.

KU’s defense is still pretty bad and it will be exposed when conference play starts, even though through three games it has allowed only 47 points. But that’s a mirage, especially when you see the numbers the other Big 12 teams put up this weekend against much stronger competition. I still cringe at the thought what Oklahoma, West Virginia or Texas Tech will ring up against them as the pass defense is still like those of Beaty’s first three years.

I’m not even sure KU will win another game, but at least it’s starting to look more like a team that belongs in the Big 12.