TUESDAY SPORTS, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell Kernels football, 1-3 on the season, will be at Tea Area for homecoming on Friday at 6 pm. The KORN pregame show starts at 5 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels boys golf will be at the Watertown Invite on Tuesday at 10 am. The Kernels finished third at the Mitchell Invite on Friday, led by a third-place individual finish from Asher Dannenbring, show shot -2.
— Mitchell Kernels volleyball, 1-8 on the season, are at Brookings on Tuesday at 7 pm. The Bobcats are 8-6 on the season. Mitchell currently sits 18th out of 20 teams in AA power points with 12 game remaining after tonight.
— Mitchell Kernels girls soccer host Brandon Valley on Tuesday at 4 pm at Joe Quintal Field.
— Mitchell Kernels boys soccer host Brandon Valley on Tuesday at 6 pm at Joe Quintal Field.
— Mitchell girls tennis, 15-2 on the season, host Watertown next Tuesday at 11 am at Hitchcock Park. The Class AA state girls tennis tournament takes place in Rapid City on October 10-11.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan volleyball, 7-7 on the season, will be at Dordt on Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan football, 0-3 on the season, play at Midland on Saturday at 1 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s soccer, 4-2-2 on the season, host Northwestern on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. The Tigers are unbeaten in their last five matches, going 4-0-1.
— Dakota Wesleyan women’s soccer, 1-2 on the season, will be at Mt. Marty on Wednesday at 5 pm.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State running back Kirby Vorhees received conference and national honors Monday, following a three-touchdown performance last week at Southeastern Louisiana. A redshirt freshman from Florida, Vorhees was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week as well as the FCS National Freshman Player of the Week after needing only five carries to rack up 179 rushing yards and score three touchdowns in the Jackrabbits’ 41-0 road win on Saturday. As a team, SDSU rushed for 341 yards and five touchdowns. South Dakota State has its lone bye week of the regular season before opening conference play next Saturday, Oct. 5 at Northern Iowa.
— Tickets for the South Dakota State men’s basketball game vs. Northern Colorado on Thursday, Nov. 14, in Rapid City went on sale Monday. The Jackrabbits face the Bears inside Summit Arena at The Monument as part of their non-conference schedule. Fans can purchase tickets online at The Monument website.
— South Dakota State volleyball, 11-0 on the season, open the conference season at Oral Roberts Thursday in Tulsa.
— The SDSU women’s soccer, 7-2-1 on the season, be at Omaha on Sunday at 1 pm to start Summit League play.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— USD Football will open Missouri Valley Football Conference play on Saturday when they play host No. 7-ranked Southern Illinois at 1 pm.
— USD volleyball, 8-3 on the season, start Summit League play on Thursday at Denver 7 pm, followed by a trip to Tulsa to take on Oral Roberts on Saturday on 1 pm.
— USD women’s soccer, 2-5-2 on the season, are at St. Thomas on Thursday at 4 pm to start its Summit League schedule.
MINNESOTA TWINS
— The Minnesota Twins start a three game home series vs. the Miami Marlins tonight at 6:40 pm. With six games left in the regular season, the Twins are one game behind Kansas City and Detroit for the final two playoff spots in the American League. The Tigers are at home hosting Tampa Bay, while the Royals are in Washington taking on the Nationals.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
— The Minnesota Vikings breathed a sigh of relief Monday upon learning that quarterback Sam Darnold’s left knee is not seriously injured. Tests revealed a bruise but no structural damage and Darnold is not expected to miss much if any time in preparation for the team’s Week 4 matchup at the Green Bay Packers. The injury occurred with 3 minutes, 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s 34-7 victory over the Houston Texans. Dropping back for a second-down pass, Darnold absorbed a low hit from Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter and fell awkwardly. Hunter was penalized 15 yards for a low hit to the quarterback. Darnold has been one of the biggest surprises of the NFL season, throwing a league-high eight touchdown passes in leading the Vikings to a 3-0 start.
NFL
— Rookie Jayden Daniels threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score as the Washington Commanders defeated Joe the Cincinnati Bengals 38-33. Daniels finished 21 of 23 for 254 yards, with the No. 2 overall draft pick setting an NFL rookie record for completion percentage at 91%. Washington scored on every possession except for kneel-downs at the end of each half and have not punted or turned the ball over in their last two games. Neither Washington nor Cincinnati punted or turned it over, the first time that’s happened in the Super Bowl era. The Bengals fell to 0-3.
— Josh Allen threw four touchdown passes in the first half as the Buffalo Bills scored on each of their first five drives in a 47-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Allen went 22 of 28 for 247 yards in the first 30 minutes alone, with completions to nine receivers. He only attempted two passes after halftime. Buffalo’s defense limited the Jaguars to 70 yards, five first downs and a field goal in five first-half possessions.
— San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has traveled to Germany to consult with a specialist about his Achilles tendinitis. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that McCaffrey made the trip in hopes of resolving an issue that has bothered him since early in training camp and has forced him onto injured reserve to start the season. McCaffrey got hurt early in training camp and missed four weeks of practice before returning to the field on a limited basis before the season opener Sept. 9 against the Jets. He was unable to play in the opener and was placed on injured reserve the following week.
— The NFL on Monday suspended Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. for one game without pay, citing “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.” James will appeal the suspension. If the suspension is upheld, James would be eligible to return to the Chargers’ active roster Sept. 30, after missing the team’s game this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. James was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a hit to Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth in the third quarter of L.A.’s 20-10 loss.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
— The Pac-12 is adding Utah State as its seventh member and is in discussions with basketball powerhouse Gonzaga to join the rebuilding conference in 2026. Utah State and UNLV were the main targets for the Pac-12 after a group of AAC schools decided to stay put. But the Mountain West was working to keep its remaining eight schools together and UNLV’s decision remained uncertain. The Mountain West received commitments from Air Force and San Jose State on Monday. Air Force had been drawing interest from the AAC to join Army and Navy in that conference. The other Mountain West schools include New Mexico, Wyoming, Nevada and Hawaii for football only.
— Former USC running back and 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush announced that he has filed a lawsuit against the university, the Pac-12 and the NCAA, seeking compensation for his name, image and likeness during his time with the school. Bush’s legal team says that the three organizations earned significant compensation thanks to Bush’s “significant popularity” and “prominence” by way of TV contracts, merchandise sales and media rights. Bush’s attorneys also said that even after he left USC to play in the NFL, the three entities continued to benefit financially from his reputation “without any acknowledgment of his contribution.”
MLB
— Four-time All-Star Charlie Blackmon will retire at the end of the season after spending his entire major-league career with the Colorado Rockies. The outfielder known for his bushy beard announced his decision Monday. The Rockies will celebrate Blackmon throughout their final homestand this week and hold a tribute for him before the season finale Sunday against the Dodgers. Blackmon spent 14 seasons with the team and is the franchise’s all-time leader in triples with 67. He’s also second in games played at 1,618, runs scored, hits, doubles, extra-base hits and total bases. Blackmon won an NL batting title in 2017 with a .331 average.
— The Cincinnati Reds fired manager David Bell on Sunday night after six seasons. The team announced the move hours after a 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates and named bench coach Freddie Benavides as interim manager for the final five games of the season. With a week left in the season, the Reds are 76-81 and in fourth place in the NL Central, 13 1/2 games behind division champion Milwaukee.
— The Philadelphia Phillies have won the NL East for the first time since 2011, clinching the division title with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto hit HR’s as the Phillies won their 12th division title and have their sights set on the No. 1 seed in the National League playoffs. Seeking their third World Series championship following titles in 1980 and 2008, the Phillies overtook Atlanta for the division lead on May 3 and haven’t trailed since.
— Matt Chapman hit an inside-the-park homer for San Francisco, while Casey Schmitt and Michael Conforto both added solo shots as the Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3. Arizona lost more ground in the National League playoff race as they try to claim one of three wild cards. They’re in sole possession of the final wild card, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves. The San Diego Padres and New York Mets are in the first two spots. The Mets and Braves play each other in a three-game series that begins on Tuesday in Atlanta.
— Bryce Miller threw seven shutout innings and Julio Rodríguez had three hits and two RBIs to help the Seattle Mariners to a 6-1 win over Houston that prevented the Astros from clinching the AL West title. The Astros need only on win over second-place Seattle to secure their fourth straight division title. Seattle has won four of five to move within 1 1/2 games of the final American League wild-card spot behind Detroit and Kansas City.
— Boston’s Tanner Houck pitched five shutout innings as the Red Sox won their third straight game with a 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL POLL
CLASS AA
1. Harrisburg (11) 7-0 55 1
2. O’Gorman 7-2 41 2
3. S.F. Jefferson 6-0 35 3
4. S.F. Washington 6-1 23 4
5. Watertown 7-4 10 5
RECEIVING VOTES: S.F. Roosevelt (8-4) 1
CLASS A
1. Dell Rapids (11) 14-0 55 1
2. S.F. Christian 10-6 42 2
3. Dakota Valley 11-1 31 3
4. Miller 12-1 19 5
5. Baltic 11-3 13 4
RECEIVING VOTES: Hamlin (11-1) 3; Elk Point-Jefferson (16-2) 2
CLASS B
1. Chester Area (11) 13-0 55 1
2. Burke 12-1 41 2
3. Warner 14-1 29 4
4. Hitchcock-Tulare 13-0 25 3
5. Gayville-Volin 12-1 10 5
RECEIVING VOTES: Colman-Egan (7-1) 3; Northwestern (16-4) 2
TUESDAY VOLLEYBALL
Hanson vs. Bridgewater-Emery
Winner vs. Parkston
Lennox vs. Mt. Vernon/Plankinton
Corsica-Stickney vs. Kimball/White Lake
Tripp-Delmont/Armour vs. Andes Central/Dakota Christian
Wolsey-Wessington vs. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
Freeman vs. Scotland
Platte-Geddes vs. Burke
Flandreau vs. McCook Central/Montrose
Aberdeen Central vs. Huron
No. 4 SF Washington vs. No. 1 Harrisburg
No. 2 O’Gorman vs. No. 3 SF Jefferson
Tea Area vs. No. 5 Watertown
Yankton vs. SF Lincoln
SF Roosevelt vs. Brandon Valley
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL
Class 11AAA
1. Harrisburg (13) 4-0 92 1
2. Lincoln (7) 4-0 85 2
3. Brandon Valley 4-0 63 3
4. Jefferson 3-1 40 4
5. O’Gorman 1-3 19 5
Receiving votes: Washington 1.
Class 11AA
1. Watertown (19) 3-1 99 1
2. Brookings (1) 4-0 81 5
3. Pierre 2-2 39 2
4. Yankton 2-2 29 4
5. Spearfish 3-1 26 3
Receiving votes: Tea Area 25, Aberdeen Central 1.
Class 11A
1. SF Christian (20) 4-0 100 1
2. Lennox 3-1 66 3
3. Canton 3-1 53 2
4. Dakota Valley 3-1 49 4
5. Dell Rapids 3-1 30 5
Receiving votes: Tri-Valley 2.
Class 11B
1. Winner (19) 4-0 99 1
2. Sioux Valley (1) 4-0 75 2
3. Elk Point-Jefferson 3-1 64 3
4. Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 3-1 35 4
5. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 3-1 27 5
Class 9AA
1. Parkston (17) 4-0 96 1
2. Hamlin (3) 5-0 81 2
3. Elkton-Lake Benton 5-0 61 3
4. Viborg-Hurley 3-1 37 4
5. Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian 4-0 17 5
Receiving votes: Hill City 3, Kimball/White Lake 3, Leola/Frederick Area 2.
Class 9A
1. Howard (19) 5-0 99 1
2. Wall (1) 4-0 72 2
3. Warner 4-0 62 3
4. Wolsey-Wessington 4-0 44 4
5. Harding County/Bison 4-1 22 5
Receiving votes: Philip 1.
Class 9B
1. Avon (19) 5-0 99 1
2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (1) 5-0 77 2
3. Sully Buttes 4-0 63 3
4. Faulkton Area 2-2 24 4
5. Canistota 3-2 14 5
Receiving votes: Corsica-Stickney 12, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 8, Colman-Egan 1, Kadoka Area 1.