College Sports

5 KEYS ANSWERED

MUNCIE, Ind. – One play. One touchdown.

Missouri tailback Damien Nash wasn’t exactly taking baby steps in his return to football.

The individual winner was decided long before the finish line. With a mile left in the race, Amanda Bales was merely a figure in black who could not be caught. Bales, a Missouri sophomore, won the women’s race of the Missouri Cross Country Challenge on Saturday at A.L. Gustin Golf Course in 17 minutes, 41.6 seconds.

Ten games into the 2003 season, three new Cougars players have Columbia College looking in midseason form.

The Hickman volleyball team won the St. Charles Invitational on Saturday, defeating St. Charles 25-6, 25-19 in the final.

MEXICO — Friday night was a balancing act for A.J. Ofodile. Ofodile, the Bruins’ new coach, had more to think about than calling plays during Rock Bridge’s 45-9 victory against the Mexico Bulldogs.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS — Pattonville’s public address announcer tried it all. Begging the crowd to raise different arms during a play, cheer for a third down stop or stand during the kickoff, but nothing worked.

In the end, Hickman coach Greg Nesbitt was the only person able to stop the Blake Tekotte-to-Scottie Guthrie combination. They paired up for three touchdowns before Nesbitt pulled Tekotte late in the third quarter in favor of Nick Steponovich and an attempt to establish a running game.

Although his words are composed, as always, Missouri quarterback Brad Smith’s eyes light up when he talks about playing Ball State. A road game against a Mid-American Conference team for the second straight year means a chance for Smith to forget about the first year.

“It’s motivation,” Smith said. “I’m very motivated and very excited to play another team...”

The new scoring system didn’t faze the Rock Bridge volleyball team as it took advantage of Mexico’s weaknesses Thursday.

The Bruins beat the Bulldogs 25-2, 25-12 at Rock Bridge to improve to 1-1at Rock Bridge.

It takes more than a car accident to keep Hickman’s Ashley Mansfield from playing in a golf match.

Mansfield was in a serious car accident Wednesday on her way to practice. According to Mansfield, her car was totaled. An ambulance took her to Boone Hospital Center and she was released the same evening.

It’s a familiar matchup waiting to happen.

The Rock Bridge and St. Joseph’s Academy tennis teams have a history of meeting each other for titles, and they might again this weekend.

Experience in football can mean everything or nothing; it depends on whom you ask. Hickman coach Gregg Nesbitt’s opinion is somewhere in the middle.

Few coaches in the state can top his experience. Today’s 7 p.m. kickoff against the Pattonville Pirates in Maryland Heights will mark the beginning of Nesbitt’s 24th season as a coach. His starting quarterback, junior Blake Tekotte, has one pass attempt in his Hickman career. Still, Nesbitt has confidence in him.

James Kinney doesn’t say much. He won’t be found jawing with opponents after a big hit and he won’t get any unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

Stefani Worley doesn’t mind pitching out of bases-loaded jams, in fact, she says she enjoys it.

Some drivers celebrate victories with rubber-burning doughnuts, spraying champagne or fence climbing.

Carl Edwards, the latest NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series sensation, scrambles out of his truck after taking the checkered flag and does a backflip.

Make no mistake about it, Pat Daly, Mid-Missouri Mavericks general manager, likes to win.

MU's cross country teams seek improvement over last season and from race to race as their main goal.

If ever there was a classic baseball old-timer, it’s Tony Torchia.

He has the salt-and-pepper hair and the expanded waistline.

It helps to be big and have confidence.

Those are attributes the Hickman Kewpies’ volleyball team used to beat Hannibal 25-6, 25-16 on Tuesday night at Hickman.

Rock Bridge coach Ben Loeb walked to court No. 5 to try to calm Ashley Miles, a sophomore who appeared to be struggling against Hickman’s Kirsten Seaberg.

Loeb reminded Miles to regain composure and refocus. She followed his advice and helped Rock Bridge complete a 9-0 victory against Hickman on Tuesday at Bethel Park.