THURSDAY SPORTS, OCTOBER 15, 2026
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell Kernels volleyball, 8-10 on the season will be at Yankton on Thursday at 7 pm. The Kernels are coming off a 3-0 loss to No. 3 SF Lincoln on Tuesday.
— Mitchell Kernels football hosts Sturgis on Friday for Senior Night at 6 pm on KORN. Coverage starts with the KORNer Booth pregame show at 5 pm.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN.
— No. 24 Dakota Wesleyan volleyball lost in straight sets to No. 4 Morningside on Wednesday night in Sioux City, Iowa. The Mustangs won 25-22, 25-13, 25-18. Evy Knoblock led the Tigers with 12 kills, while Keatyn Liebsack added eight. Kayleigh Hybertson recorded 15 assists and 10 digs. Dakota Wesleyan fell to 16-7 overall and 5-6 in the GPAC. The Tigers host Briar Cliff on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell.
— Dakota Wesleyan women’s soccer set multiple program records in an 11-1 victory over Waldorf on Wednesday in Mitchell. Hannah Petrucci scored seven goals, setting a school record, and recorded 15 points, also a program record. The Tigers scored eight goals in the first half and added three more after halftime. Dakota Wesleyan improved to 4-2-5 overall and 2-2-3 in GPAC play. The Tigers host Midland on Saturday at 3 pm for Senior Day.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s soccer shut out Waldorf 6-0 on Wednesday night in Mitchell on Senior Night. The Tigers led 1-0 at halftime before scoring five goals in the second half. Aidan Bennett and Evan Bolster each scored twice, while Lewis Cunningham and Luis Waeschle added a goal apiece. Dakota Wesleyan improved to 5-4-1 overall and 4-2 in GPAC play. The Tigers host Midland on Saturday at 5 pm at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s and women’s golf competed in the Battle at the Dance in Windsor, Colorado. The DWU women finished fourth out of seven teams, led by Claire Crawford, who placed third individually with a two-round score of 154, (+10). Allison Meyerink finished in the top five with a 157. The DWU men finished seventh out of nine teams. Freshman Zane Messick led the Tigers, placing 27th individually after shooting a (+7) final round that included an eagle.
— Dakota Wesleyan football, 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the GPAC, will be at Hastings (Neb.) on Saturday at 1 pm.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— No. 1 ranked South Dakota State football returns from its bye week on Saturday with a road game against No. 11 North Dakota in Grand Forks. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The Jackrabbits are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference after a 31-14 win at Illinois State. North Dakota is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play after a 24-17 loss to Northern Iowa. SDSU has won the last five meetings between the teams, including a 34-31 overtime victory last season. Coverage starts with the Jackrabbit pregame show at 11 am on KORN News Radio.
— South Dakota State volleyball is on the road this week for a pair of Summit League matches. The Jackrabbits visit North Dakota State on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Fargo, then face North Dakota on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Grand Forks. SDSU swept Kansas City and Oral Roberts last week, dropping just one set over the two matches. Senior Sylvie Zgonc recently reached 1,500 career kills and leads the Summit League in total kills, kills per set, total points and points per set.
— South Dakota State women’s soccer continues Summit League play on the road Thursday at St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Jackrabbits are 7-3-3 overall and 2-1-2 in conference play. SDSU is coming off a 3-0 win over Kansas City on Sunday. South Dakota State is 5-0 all time against St. Thomas. Thursday’s match starts at 3 p.m. The Jackrabbits visit Omaha on Sunday.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— USD football, 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, visits Murray State on Saturday at 4 pm
— USD volleyball takes a four-match winning streak on the road for two Summit League contests. The 11-5 Coyotes, who are 4-1 in conference play, visit North Dakota on Thursday before facing North Dakota State on Saturday. Lauren Medeck and Sierra Pokharel were named Summit League offensive and defensive players of the week.
— USD women’s soccer begins a two-game road trip Thursday at Omaha before visiting St. Thomas on Sunday. The Coyotes are 4-4-5 overall and 1-1-3 in Summit League play. Thursday’s match in Omaha starts at 7 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
— Mitchell Christian swept the individual titles at the Region 3B cross country meet Wednesday in Freeman. Silas Holdeman won the boys race in 16 minutes, 11 seconds, followed by teammate Luke Mentele in second. The Golden Eagles captured their fourth consecutive boys team championship, placing all five runners in the top 15. Laura Nemec won the girls race in 19 minutes, 43 seconds, but Mitchell Christian finished second in the team standings behind Kimball-White Lake. The top three teams and top 20 individuals qualified for the Class B state meet Oct. 24 in Rapid City.
MLB PLAYOFFS
— The Milwaukee Brewers moved within one win of the World Series after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series Wednesday night. Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning to put Milwaukee ahead after the Dodgers had taken a 2-1 lead. Jackson Chourio also homered to open the game. The Brewers lead the best-of-seven series three games to none and can clinch their first National League pennant Thursday night in Los Angeles.
— The American League Championship Series matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians is moving to an afternoon start on Thursday because of the threat of rain. Game 3 will begin at noon Central, five hours earlier than originally scheduled. The best-of-seven series is tied at one game apiece after Tampa Bay’s 3-1 win Tuesday. The Rays will start Griffin Jax against Cleveland’s Gavin Williams. Friday’s Game 4 remains scheduled for 5 p.m. Central, with Game 5 set for Saturday at 7 p.m. Central.
— The Philadelphia Phillies have removed the interim tag from manager Don Mattingly and signed him to a two-year contract. Mattingly took over in late April after Rob Thomson was fired and led the Phillies to a 79-55 record and a postseason berth. Philadelphia was swept by Atlanta in the first round. The 65-year-old Mattingly has a career record of 968-1,005 in seven seasons with Miami and five seasons with the Dodgers.
— The Houston Astros have parted ways with manager Joe Espada after declining to renew his contract. The decision comes after Houston finished 81-81, winning the American League West but becoming the first team in Major League Baseball history to reach the postseason with a non-winning record. The Astros were then swept by the Chicago White Sox in the wild-card round. Espada went 256-229 in three seasons as manager, including a division title in 2024.
MLB PLAYOFFS – THURSDAY
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Noon on TBS – Series tied at 1-1.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 7 pm on FS1 – Milwaukee leads the series 3-0.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL – THURSDAY
Parkston vs. Parker/Marion
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton vs. West Central
Andes Central/Dakota Christian vs. Wagner
Kimball/White Lake vs. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
Mitchell Christian vs. No. 5 Gayville-Volin
Platte-Geddes vs. Chamberlain
Winner vs. Corsica-Stickney
Hanson vs. Bon Homme
Scotland vs. Tripp-Delmont/Armour
Wolsey-Wessington vs. Wessington Springs
SF Lutheran vs. Freeman
Avon vs. Centerville
Aberdeen Central vs. No. 1 Harrisburg
No. 1 SF Christian vs. No. 2 Brandon Valley
SF Jefferson vs. No. 3 SF Lincoln
Huron vs. No. 4 Watertown
Brookings vs. Pierre
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
— SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says the league could adopt its own rules to address college sports issues if Congress fails to establish national standards. The Senate passed a bipartisan bill last month addressing athlete compensation and transfers, but the legislation remains in the House. Sankey says consistent national rules are needed to ensure fairness across college sports. He also expressed openness to expanding the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams, with a decision on changes for next season due by Dec. 1.
NFL
— Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson’s suspension for punching Buffalo Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb after Monday’s game has been reduced from two games to one following an appeal. The NFL said Wednesday that hearing officer Derrick Brooks reduced the penalty. Jackson will miss Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
— A Miami jury has found wide receiver Tyreek Hill liable for two counts of battery in a civil case brought by his estranged wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro. The jury awarded Vaccaro $500,000 in compensatory damages but rejected eight other claims, including allegations of assault and continuing domestic violence. Hill denied most of the allegations during the trial but acknowledged shoving Vaccaro in one incident. The verdict’s impact on Hill’s NFL future remains unclear as he continues recovering from a dislocated knee and torn ligaments suffered in September 2025.
— Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat has been suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Sweat will miss Sunday’s game at Atlanta and Chicago’s Oct. 22 home game against New England. Sweat has two sacks this season and 59 in his NFL career.
SOCCER
— FIFA is proposing a $6.3 billion fund for soccer development from 2027 through 2030, more than doubling planned funding for national associations and other organizations. The proposal would provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with $25 million over four years, up from $10 million, and $99 million to each of the six continental confederations. FIFA says the additional funding would emphasize women’s and youth soccer. The plan is expected to be finalized by the FIFA Council in December and requires approval at the FIFA Congress in March 2027.
SOUTH DAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 8 – OCTOBER 16
CLASS 11AAA
1. Sioux Falls Jefferson at 3. O’Gorman
2. Brandon Valley at 5. SF Lincoln
4. Harrisburg vs. Rapid City Central
Rapid City Stevens vs. SF Washington
CLASS 11AA
1. Pierre at Brookings
2. Tea Area at SF Roosevelt
3. Yankton vs. Douglas
4. Watertown at Huron
5. Sturgis at Mitchell
Spearfish vs. Aberdeen Central
CLASS 11A
1. Sioux Falls Christian vs. Milbank
2. West Central at Vermillion
3. Lennox at Belle Fourche
4. Canton vs. Madison
5. Dell Rapids at Dakota Valley
CLASS 11B
1. Elk Point-Jefferson at Wagner
2. St. Thomas More at Rapid City Christian
3. Clark/Willow Lake vs. 5. Deuel
4. Winner at Chamberlain
Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central vs. Mt. Vernon/Plankinton – Q107.3 Game of the Week
Parker/Marion vs. McCook Central/Montrose
CLASS 9AA
1. Parkston vs. Gregory
2. Platte-Geddes at Bon Homme
3. Hamlin vs. Estelline/Hendricks
4. Britton-Hecla at Sisseton
5. Garretson at Sioux Falls Lutheran
Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan vs. Hanson – KORN Country 92.1 Game of the Week
Canistota vs. Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian
CLASS 9A
1. Freeman – BYE
2. Castlewood at De Smet
3. Timber Lake vs. Harding County/Bison
4. Centerville vs. 4B Avon
5. Sully Buttes at Lemmon/McIntosh
Howard vs. Chester Area
Stanley County vs. Kimball/White Lake
Corsica-Stickney vs. Alcester-Hudson
CLASS 9B
1. Dell Rapids St. Mary vs. Arlington
2. Wall vs. Jones County
3. Warner at Ipswich
4. Avon at 4A Centerville
5. Hitchcock-Tulare vs. Wolsey-Wessington