Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters was one of 27 quarterbacks across the nation to be named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list as the nation’s top senior quarterback, the organization has announced.

Waters is the fourth Wildcat to be in contention for the honor, and the first since Collin Klein won the award in 2012, while Michael Bishop ( 1998 ) and Chad May ( 1994 ) were both finalists.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith says that the time is approaching where he will shelve all talk about a contract extension and focus solely on football for the remainder of the season.

The Chiefs have been discussing a new deal with Smiths’ representatives for months, though the sides remain far apart. Smith said after practice Wednesday that he’s yet to set a date to break off negotiations, but he acknowledged that “at some point mentally it’ll come to me.”

Smith is due $7.5 million this season, the final year of his contract, and many expect him to get an extension similar to what Colin Kaepernick received from the San Francisco 49ers.

Kaepernick signed a six-year, $126 million deal that includes $61 million guaranteed.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Oft-injured Chiefs safety Sanders Commings was carted off the practice field Wednesday after getting juked to the ground by running back Jamaal Charles and hurting his right ankle.

Commings broke his collarbone in his first practice as a rookie and was finally getting up to speed. He was trying to tackle Charles in the open field when he whiffed, turning his ankle in such a way that he was unable to put any weight on it.

Commings was in a heated competition for a backup job, and the Chiefs hoped he would push veteran Husain Abdullah for the free safety spot that opened when Kendrick Lewis departed.

Meanwhile, right tackle Donald Stephenson returned to practice after missing Monday’s workout with a left ankle injury. The Chiefs had Tuesday off.

The Junction City Brigade has a change in their baseball schedule this week.

Instead of playing the Baldwin City Blues Thursday and Friday nights at Rathert Field, the Brigade will instead host the Kansas City Monarchs at 7 p.m. on Friday evening. That will also be USD 475 night at the ballpark. There will be no game on Thursday night.

Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska noted Baldwin City was experiencing difficulty finding enough players together. ” I think after the end of the season tournament was over they started losing players.”

The tournament wrapped up July 20th at Rathert Field.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kyle Gibson bounced back for a rocky start to shut down Kansas City, and the Minnesota Twins held on through a shaky ninth to beat James Shields and the Royals 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Gibson (9-8) allowed only a single by Alcides Escobar in the third inning and another by Nori Aoki in the sixth over seven dazzling innings. He was at his best toward the end, too, setting down the Royals in order in the seventh on four seemingly effortless pitches.

Casey Fien worked the eighth before Glen Perkins ran into trouble in the ninth, giving up a leadoff double to Omar Infante and an RBI single to Eric Hosmer. Perkins bounced back to get three straight pop outs and record his 26th save of the season.

Josh Willingham hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning and Brian Dozier provided a run-scoring single in the fifth off Shields (9-6).

There will be a student – parent informational meeting Monday August 4 at 6 p.m. for students participating in the fall activities including football, boys and girls cross country, boys soccer, girls tennis, volleyball, cheer and dance. A general meeting for all sports will begin at 6 p.m. covering guidelines within the Athletic Department. Following the general meeting each sport will have an individual meeting to discuss tryouts, procedures,  schedules, etc. for the season.

In addition, the Junction City Youth Clinic will be conducting sports physicals for the 2014-15 school year at JCHS on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday August 5, 6, and 7 from 3-6 p.m.  Students will need to pick up a physical packet from the Athletic Department or Junction City Youth Clinic. Parents and students must fill out and sign all required forms and return the packet with payment to the Athletic Department or Junction City Youth Clinic. For more information contact the Youth Clinic at 762-5022. The cost is $20.

Fall sports practices begin Monday, August 18.

The Junction City Brigade fell to the Hays Larks 10-5 Friday night in Hays.

For the Brigade it was their second loss to the Larks in three days.

Junction City, 26-13, will host the Baldwin City Blues both Thursday and Friday nights at Rathert Field to wrap up the 2014 season for the Brigade.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson has a new contract.

The Packers didn’t reveal terms of the contract but NFL.com reported it was a four-year, $39 million dollar deal, with an $11.5 million signing bonus, and $14.2 million guaranteed.

Nelson, a former player for Riley County High School and Kansas State University, posted career-bests of 85 catches and 1,314 yards last season.

Nelson spoke with reporters. “It’s exciting. Obviously it’s something everyone wants to get done, especially like I said awhile back about training camp.  My wife and I are excited to be here, and hopefully we’ll be able to finish our career here, and finish this out and be done.”

Nelson was a 2008 second round draft pick out of Kansas State.

 

The West team defeated the East squad 21-6 in the Kansas Shrine Bowl football game in Pittsburg, Kansas Saturday night.

The East had led the game 6-5 at halftime, but the West countered with 16 points in the second half to get the win.

Semaj Johnson of Junction City was a member of the West team. He was a tight end for the Junction City Blue Jays during his high school football career, and will continue playing football at Washburn University.

White City Trunk Sale, Saturday, 8 a.m. (homemade aprons) 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 349-2688

Selling – Craftsman self-propelled mower, 307-4143 after 5 p.m.

Selling – Stand-up air compressor, 26 gallon (Coleman Power Mate) 340-9481

Free – Styrofoam cooler, 238-5049

Selling – 80 x 36 inch exterior door; 4-16-inch rims; Moving Sale –  Friday, August 1, 8 a.m., 1314 Pearl, 762-5725

Buy  – A short piece of railroad track, 210-0526

Buy – Lap top computer with CD/DVD capability, 375-0255

Yard Sale – Friday (underway); Saturday, 9:30 a.m., 520 W. 8th Street (dressers, twin bed, glass oval coffee table with matching end table).