THURSDAY, AUGUST 30:
College FB:  Butler @ Western Illinois
   Southern Illinois @ Eastern Illinois
   Minnesota State-Mankato @ Minot State
   Minnesota-Duluth @ Southwest Minnesota State
   Minnesota-Crookston @ Winona State
   Sioux Falls @ St. Cloud State
   Upper Iowa @ Bemidji State
   Southwestern College @ Northwestern, IA
   Valley City State @ Morningside
   South Dakota Mines @ North Dakota

Volleyball:  Huron @ Brookings
   O’Gorman @ Lincoln
   Roosevelt @ Washington
   Watertown @ Mitchell
   Brandon Valley @ Sioux Falls Christian
   Britton-Hecla @ Sisseton
   Webster @ Clark/Willow Lake
   Tiospa Zina @ Florence/Henry
   Redfield/Doland @ Groton
   Deubrook @ DeSmet
   Sioux Valley @ Deuel
   Flandreau @ Hamlin
   Elkton-Lake Benton @ Oldham-Ramona/Rutland
   Garretson @ Baltic
   Lake Preston @ Castlewood
   Dells St. Mary’s @ Arlington
   Colman-Egan @ Estelline
   Great Plains Lutheran @ Rosholt
   Freeman @ Howard

Cross Country:  Brookings @ Brandon Valley Invitational, 4:00pm (CANCELLED DUE TO HEAT)
Clark/Willow Lake, Deuel, Hamlin, Deubrook, Estelline, Great Plains Lutheran @ Redfield/Doland
Invitational, 4:00pm
   Milbank Invitational, 5:00pm
   Mitchell, Watertown @ Madison   

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31:
Football:  Brookings @ Mitchell (Live on Kcountry 102 @ 6:30)
   Pierre @ Aberdeen Central
   Yankton @ Huron
   Sioux Falls Washington @ Sioux Falls Lincoln
   Sturgis @ Rapid City Central
   Spearfish @ Rapid City Stevens
   Arlington @ Estelline (Live on B93.7 @ 6:30)
   Mobridge-Pollock @ Aberdeen Roncalli
   Webster @ Britton-Hecla
   Lake Preston @ Castlewood
   Parker @ Centerville
   Waverly-South Shore @ Clark/Willow Lake
   Canton @ Dell Rapids
   DeSmet/Iroquois @ Dells St. Mary’s
   Colman-Egan @ Deubrook
   Oldham-Ramona/Rutland @ Elkton-Lake Benton
   McCook Central/Montrose @ Flandreau
   Tri-Valley @ Garretson
   Tiospa Zina @ Great Plains Lutheran
   West Central @ Madison
   Chester @ Mt. Vernon
   Milbank @ Redfield/Doland
   Deuel @ Sioux Valley
   Florence/Henry @ Tri-State
   Baltic @ Viborg-Hurley

Soccer:   Drake @ South Dakota State, 6:00pm

Cross Country:  South Dakota State @ North Dakota State Open
   Sioux Valley @ FCA Dakota Bowl Invitational, Sioux Falls

Volleyball:  South Dakota State vs. Gonzaga @ Northwest Challenge, Spokane, WA
   Pierre @ Yankton

MITCHELL FB…The Brookings football team is cleaning up some mistakes in preparation for Friday’s ESD Conference matchup at Mitchell.
   Head coach Lee Schmidt says the offense has to fix some blocking errors.  97621   :17   “good job there”.
   Schmidt says the defense made some key sacks to thwart drives in a 31-14 win over Huron.  97622   :16   “so far defensively”.
   Schmidt says the Brookings defense has to be ready for a multitude of things.  97623   :38   “him in check”.
   The Kernels are coming off a loss Saturday night in Watertown.  You’ll hear Friday’s game on Kcountry 102, starting at 6:30.

SDSU FB…South Dakota State opens the football schedule Saturday night at Kansas – air time on the Ranch 910AM is 5:30, with kickoff at six.
   Former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis coaches the Jayhawks, with former Dallas Cowboys coach Dave Campo as defensive coordinator.  SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier expects to see a lot of man-to-man coverage.  97631   :38   “than we are”.
   Stiegelmeier says opening with the “guarantee game” has had an impact on the squad.  97632   :29   “from last year”.
   It’s doubtful quarterback Austin Sumner will play – he’s recovering from a hand injury suffered in fall camp.

USD FB…University of South Dakota football coach Joe Glenn returns to his old stomping grounds Saturday when the Coyotes visit Montana.
   Glenn says line play is a concern for the Coyotes.  97629   :25   “lack is experience”.
   But Glenn says the Grizzlies have to be aware of USD’s pass rush.  97630   :15   “tell ‘ya that”.
   South Dakota football coach Joe Glenn.

KICKOFF RULES…When the major college football season kicks off Thursday, those kickoffs will be 5 yards closer to midfield.
   The most notable and noticeable of several rules changes made by the NCAA rules committee for this season moved the spot of kickoffs up from the 30 to the 35-yard line. Also, the kicking teams can line up no more than 5 yards from the 35 when the ball is kicked. And when a touchback does occur on a kickoff, the offense will start at the 25-yard line instead of the 20.
   The reasoning is simple: More touchbacks should equal fewer injuries.
   In addition, the receiving team will be able to call for a fair catch on those high-bouncing, one-hop onside kicks that often result in players taking hard hits with no way to defend themselves.

SDSU SOCCER…Non-conference soccer comes to Fishback Soccer Park Friday evening, as Drake visits South Dakota State for a 6:00pm match.
   Head coach Lang Wedemeyer’s expecting a battle:  97625   :46   “with a win”.
   SDSU is 0-1-1 after playing to a scoreless draw with Nevada-Las Vegas, and losing 5-0 to Georgia last weekend in Kansas.

JACKS XC…The 2012 SDSU cross country teams begin their seasons Friday at the NDSU Dual.
   The field for the NDSU Dual will be made up of SDSU, the University of North Dakota, and the host North Dakota State.
   Two weeks again the men were picked first in the Summit League preseason poll, and the women were selected second.

PHEASANT NUMBERS…Annual August pheasant brood counts in South Dakota indicate that the statewide pheasant population is up from last year, which should mean an excellent pheasant season this fall.
   Results show numbers grew due in large part to a mild winter and ideal weather during the nesting and brood-rearing season.
The pheasants-per-mile index for 2012 is 4.21, up 18 percent from the 3.57 index of 2011.  Much of the improvement in the pheasant counts came from areas of the state that had a good habitat base.
   Governor Dennis Daugaard says the pheasant survey is good news for the state.
   The report, complete with comparisons for the different local areas, can be found online at www.gfp.sd.gov.