The high school football season is set to kick-off Friday. Several area team are listed in the Kpreps.com preseason rankings.

6A
1. SHAWNEE MISSION EAST
2. BLUE VALLEY
3. DERBY
4. LAWRENCE
5. TOPEKA HIGH

5A
1. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
2. BISHOP CARROLL
3. SALINA SOUTH
4. BLUE VALLEY WEST
5. MILL VALLEY

4A-D1
1. BISHOP MIEGE
2. BUHLER
3. TOPEKA HAYDEN
4. ULYSSES
5. FORT SCOTT

4A-D2
1. ANDALE
2. HOLCOMB
3. HOLTON
4. COLUMBUS
5. FRONTENAC

3A
1. ROSSVILLE
2. SCOTT CITY
3. WICHITA COLLEGIATE
4. HALSTEAD
5. SILVER LAKE

2-1A
1. MEADE
2. PHILLIPSBURG
3. OLPE
4. SEDGWICK
5. MARION

8-Man 1
1. CENTRAL PLAINS
2. SPEARVILLE
3. WAKEFIELD
4. UDALL
5. SOLOMON

8-Man 2
1. VICTORIA
2. SHARON SPRINGS-WALLACE CO.
3. INGALLS
4. ARGONIA-ATTICA
5. AXTELL

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Kansas has dismissed cornerback Matthew Boateng for an undisclosed violation of team rules just three days before the Jayhawks open the season against South Dakota State.

Jayhawks coach David Beaty announced the decision in a brief statement Wednesday.

Boateng, a sophomore from Toronto, played in eight games as a freshman, making nine tackles with an interception and forced fumble. But exactly where he was on the Jayhawks’ depth chart was unknown because Beaty has yet to release one to the media.

Still, the loss of any experience is a blow to the Jayhawks. They return just four starters from last season, and more than two dozen players are expected to make their Division I debut on Saturday against the Jackrabbits.

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota Division I football fans looking to catch their teams’ openers against FBS foes have to hit the road to the state of Kansas.

Saturday’s cross-state doubleheader begins at 11 a.m. Central in Lawrence as South Dakota State takes on Kansas. The nightcap is in Manhattan, with South Dakota facing Kansas State.

South Dakota State posted a 9-5 record in 2014. The Jackrabbits are retooling their offense after the graduation of running back Zach Zenner, but coach John Stiegelmeier says Brady Mengarelli, Kyle Paris and Isaac Wallace had good camps and are ready to step up.

South Dakota is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2-10 season marred by injuries. Coyotes coach Joe Glenn said he’s happy to get off to a healthy start in 2015.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Justin Verlander threw his fifth consecutive quality start, and Ian Kinsler homered and drove in three runs as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 Tuesday night.

The Tigers, who had lost nine of 10 to drop into last place in the AL Central, snapped a four-game losing streak.

Verlander (3-6) limited the Royals to seven hits and four runs, two unearned, over 6 2-3 innings. He has a 0.76 ERA in his past five starts and the Tigers’ lone two victories since Aug. 19, including a one-hit shutout of the Angels in his previous outing.

Johnny Cueto (2-4), who the Royals acquired in a July 26 trade with Cincinnati, allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings. Cueto has given up 38 hits in his past four starts, the most hits he has allowed in his career over a four-start span.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City Royals All-Star pitcher Kelvin Herrera and right fielder Alex Rios have been diagnosed with chickenpox, raising concerns that others on the AL Central-leading team may have been exposed.

Team officials said Tuesday that Herrera and Rios will likely miss a couple of weeks as the season wraps up. Both players were sent home from Tampa Bay after experiencing symptoms over the weekend.

The Royals have reached out to players, coaches and their families to determine whether anyone else has had chickenpox or may be at risk.

The disease is highly contagious, spread through the air via coughing or sneezing and sometimes by touching. It causes a blister-like rash, fever and tiredness. It can be serious for people with weakened immune systems.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weberannounced today that junior forward Brandon Bolden has been granted a medical exemption and will not return to the men’s basketball team.

Bolden will remain at K-State, where he is on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in May 2016.

“It is always disappointing for a student-athlete when injuries derail on the court dreams, but Brandon has continued to work hard in the classroom and we look forward to seeing him earn his K-State degree next spring and supporting him as he determines his post school path,” said Weber.

A 6-foot-11, 215-pound forward from Sumter, South Carolina, Bolden suffered a season-ending wrist injury against Oklahoma on February 14, 2015 after playing in just 17 games as a sophomore in 2014-15. He will require additional surgery and would miss the 2015-16 season.

Bolden averaged 0.9 points and 0.9 rebounds in 4.2 minutes per game in 2014-15. It was his first season of eligibility at K-State after transferring from Georgetown and sitting out the 2013-14 season.

Jesse Ertz will be the starting quarterback for the Kansas State Wildcats when they host  South Dakota Saturday night. The announcement was made by Bill Snyder at his football press conference in Manhattan Tuesday.

Ertz is in his third year in the program after redshirting in 2013 and seeing limited action a year ago where he played in four games, and rushed for 46 yards on seven attempts.

It was his consistency that put him apart from the three other candidates according to Snyder.

“I think it was a consistency factor across the board. From A to Z, name the position, we have had inconsistency throughout our preparation. I think Jesse, from that group of players, performed with greater consistency throughout that time than any of the others did,” said Snyder.

During his high school days at Mediapolis High in Burlington, Iowa, Ertz was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012 and an Honorable Mention All-American selection by Parade. He broke the Iowa high school state record for career touchdowns with 98 and ranked fifth in state history in career passing yardage with 7,317. He registered over 9,000 total yards and 130 touchdowns in his prep career.

Also in the quarterback competition, freshman Alex Delton and junior Hubener are battling for the number spot at that position. Junior college transfer Jonathan Banks will be red shirted.

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Kansas State students will have to sign a sportsmanship pledge before they can pick up their tickets for sporting events this year.

The pledge requires students to refrain from using profanity and inappropriate chants and to show respect for all athletes, coaches, fans and officials.

The Wichita Eagle reports (https://bit.ly/1UoOOGH ) the sportsmanship pledge is the first in the Big 12 Conference.

The pledge comes after problems arose during a Kansas State-Kansas basketball game last season in Manhattan. Students chanted inappropriate language during the game and stormed the court afterward, and one student seemed to intentionally bump a Kansas player.

Kansas State officials say students who behave badly during games will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

The Junction City Blue Jay boys soccer team will travel to Emporia for their season opener Tuesday.

Blue Jay coach Drew Proctor stated Bobby Khoury, Andrew Beemer, and Allen Martin are the three senior captains. A newcomer Proctor described as being impressive is Florian Schulz. “He’s a senior this year. He’ll be a big impact in the middle of the field for us, so hopefully we can make a little bit of noise.”

The junior varsity contest in Emporia begins at 4:30 p.m. followed by the varsity match.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder knows which of his four quarterbacks will be the new starter.

Snyder plans to reveal who is replacing Jake Waters on Tuesday.

Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury is taking a different approach in letting everyone know who is starting again for the Red Raiders. The depth chart lists the quarterback as Davis Webb or Patrick Mahomes. Both who started multiple games last season.

During the first Big 12 coaches teleconference Monday, Kingsbury said everyone will know Saturday when one of them “will jog out there” to take the first snap against Sam Houston State.

All 10 league teams play this week, with three getting early starts on the road. No. 2 TCU and Oklahoma State have games Thursday, and Baylor plays Friday.