Sports, August 31st

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will be traveling to face off against West Burlington tomorrow, September 1st, who is 1-0 after taking down Wapello last Friday. KILJ will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

In other Class 3A District 4 matchups, Washington will host Burlington. Keokuk will take on Pella at home and Fairfield will travel to face off against Fort Madison. 

Mediapolis will travel to take on Sigourney Keota at 7 pm.

Central Lee will compete against Cardinal at home. 

Van Buren County hosts Pekin at 7 pm.

Danville will have their first home game this week against Highland.

Winfield-Mt. Union and New London combine for a district matchup tomorrow at 7 pm. 

WACO takes on the 2-0 Iowa Valley Tigers tomorrow at home.

High School Volleyball

Mt. Pleasant will take on Albia tonight in a road matchup at 7 pm. 

New London will host Holy Trinity Catholic tonight to start their season. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will compete in the English Valleys Tournament on Saturday, September 2nd.

WACO will host Hillcrest Academy tonight.

Van Buren County will face off against Central Lee today.

Cross Country

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Pella on Saturday, September 2nd, to compete in a meet at Central College.

Danville’s first meet will be today in Ottumwa.

College Football

The University of Iowa will be hosting Utah State this Saturday, September 2nd. Cade McNamara is questionable heading into the matchup this weekend. Deacon Hill will get the start if McNamara is unable to play.

Iowa State University will be taking on the University of Northern Iowa this Saturday at 1 pm in Ames. 

Both games will be on KILJ with the Hawkeyes on FM stations and the Cyclones on the AM station at their respective times. 

The College Football Playoff was expected to expand to a 12-team format heading into the 2024 season, but with the Pac-12’s dissolution imminent for the 2024 season the expansion has been put on halt until the “dust settles.” 

The expanded model would have the six highest-ranked conference champions plus the next six highest-ranked teams, which focuses on the conference champion from each Power 5 Conference, which includes the Pac-12, then one Group 5 champion.

10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director discussed the possibility of picking the five highest-ranked conference then the next seven highest-ranked teams, or the option of 12 at-large teams. However, no final decision was reached. 

This Day in Sports History

1894 – Phillies outfielder Billy Hamilton equals George Gore’s MLB single game stolen bases record with 7 steals in 10-8 win vs Washington Senators in Philadelphia.

1987 – The Great Potato Incident: Minor league Williamsport Bills catcher Dave Bresnahan attempts to lure an opposing baserunner off third base using a potato carved to look like a baseball. Umpire calls runner safe, and the catcher is fined $50 and released by the team.

1990 – Baseball outfielders Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. become the 1st father and son to play on the same team (Seattle Mariners), the pair hit back-to-back singles in the first inning and both scored.