Kansas
HISTORY MADE: ISU notches first-ever 10-win season by beating Kansas State, 29-21, on senior night
Iowa State fans rush to the field as Cyclones win 29-21 over Kansas State Wildcats in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht took a wait-and-see approach. He said he might “peek” at his phone to see how No. 19 BYU was doing against Houston in an all-important Saturday nightcap after his 18th-ranked Cyclones’ 29-21 win over No. 24 Kansas State on senior night at a frost-framed Jack Trice Stadium.
But that’s it. His seniors deserved to be the center of attention after helping lead ISU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) to its first 10-win season in program history — and fourth triumph over the Wildcats (8-4, 5-4) in the past five meetings.
“This team deserves what we did tonight,” the sophomore playcaller said. “The seniors deserve what we did tonight. People are gonna remember these seniors for a long time, because that 10-win season, it’s never been done, so this night’s for them.”
One of those seniors, wide receiver Jaylin Noel, appreciated the sentiment, but couldn’t resist the urge to scoreboard watch. Not when the stakes are this high. Not with what he and the relatively short list of seniors have enjoyed and endured during four (or more) seasons as a Cyclones.
“Oh, I’ll be watching it,” said Noel, who joined fellow senior Jayden Higgins in surpassing 1,000 receiving yards this season on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Becht in the second quarter. “It means a lot. Obviously it’s not guaranteed yet, but if it does happen and we get to go to the Big 12 championship it’s just going to show all the work this team’s put in throughout the year. Nobody’s given up. Nobody’s folded up their tents — even after the two losses in a row. To be able to bounce back and win three games in a row, and get to that 10-win threshold, it means a lot.”
It didn’t, as ISU head coach Matt Campbell routinely says, come easy. The Cyclones turned a pair of Kansas State fumbles in the first half into two touchdown drives that spanned 30 or fewer yards. ISU never trailed, but saw 10-point leads shaved to three-point edges twice before sealing the victory with a blocked field goal, a safety, and a final stand when the Wildcats’ Avery Johnson tried in vain to rally his team from deep in its own territory in the closing seconds.
“This is how you have to win at Iowa State,” said Campbell, whose team could play for a league title for the second time in his nine seasons at the helm. “You’ve gotta out tough people. You’ve gotta be the toughest mentally, and the toughest team that you can possibly be, and you’ve gotta be able to do the little things really well here. There’s never gonna be another way to do it, and if there is, God bless ‘em, whoever comes next, but the reality for us of being a tough, physical football team with a great mindset to go play as a team and for each other, I still believe that’s the way to win here.”
Becht completed just 13 of 35 passes for a career-low 137 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Noel and Higgins. He didn’t turn the ball over and also rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown while convert on four of five fourth down situations.
“Rocco is a great leader ands for him to really just want to celebrate the seniors, it means the world to me,” said Noel, who has combined with Higgins for 2,081 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches this season. “All year, he’s been a brother by my side, making sure I’m OK along the way, and vice versa. … I wouldn’t want anybody else as my quarterback.”
Campbell wouldn’t want anybody other than Jon Heacock to be his defensive coordinator, either. The Cyclones’ defense held the Wildcats nine points below their scoring average and linebacker Jacob Ellis recorded a 22-yard sack of Johnson that turned into a safety because of an intentional grounding call in the end zone. It was the only sack of the game for ISU, which won the turnover battle three-to-zero.
Cornerback Darien Porter also recorded the fifth blocked kick of his career when Kansas State attempted a 21-yard field goal midway through the third quarter — another “little” play that made a big difference to extend the Cyclones’ historic run this season.
“Being able to do something that hadn’t been done here as a senior class, that’s something that we set out as our mission before the season started,” Porter said. “So being able to accomplish that, it’s been great.”
Kansas
Farmer receives support from community after Kansas wildfire destroys home
KISMET, Kan. (KWCH) – Last month, wildfires in southern Kansas raged, destroying farmer Randall Thorp’s property, tools and 960 acres of land.
As he handles the massive cleanup project, he knows he is not alone.
“It’s about the greatest show of love I’ve ever seen,” Thorpe said. “I didn’t realize that I would have all this support in my greatest time of need.”
The two main contributors to Thorp’s optimism are the community around him and his faith.
“I’ve seen a lot of darkness that, because of my faith in Jesus, I can see the light in my heart,” Thorp said. “And that’s what keeps me going.”
Throughout the past few weeks, friends, family and neighbors have come to his property to help sort out and clean up the debris.
“I come out here and I’m by myself and I find it hard to do anything, but when a group of people all shows up and they’re wanting to work, then I’m ready to get to work with them, and they’re all ready to help me,” Thorp said.
Even with all the uncertainty following the fire, Thorp has been able to feed the 150 cattle he has, a number that is now growing since it is calving season. Friendly helpers are providing free hay for his animals to eat.
There’s a long way until things will be back to normal, but Thorp is determined to get there.
“You know, I can see some light at the end of the tunnel, but I’ve got to stay strong and keep it going and make it through,” Thorp said.
The powerful show of dependability from fellow Kansans is something he will never forget.
“I’ve been shown lots of love,” Thorp said.
You can still donate to Thorp’s GoFundMe here.
Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
Kansas
Kansas City International Airport reopens after ‘threat’ prompts FBI, cops to swarm terminal
Kansas City International Airport in Missouri was partly evacuated over a “threat” Sunday afternoon but has since resumed “normal operations,” officials said.
“The security incident at [Kansas City International Airport] is now clear and normal operations are resuming,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.
“I want to thank law enforcement including the FBI for their timely response. The safety of our passengers, airport staff, and crew members is always our number one priority.”
Airport representative Jackson Overstreet told The Associated Press in an email that the threat was reported at 11:50 a.m. local time, at which point an entire terminal was evacuated.
He said planes that landed after the threat were being held on the taxiway until it could be fully investigated.
FBI rep Dixon Land said the bureau was “aware of the incident” and worked with “law enforcement officials to determine the credibility of a threat.”
Passenger Logan Hawley, 29, told the outlet he was getting ready to board a flight to Texas when he saw police and K-9 units swarming the terminal.
“Suddenly there was an airport worker saying ‘immediately evacuate,’ people got up fast and rushed out of there,” Hawley said.
Roughly 2,000 people were ushered out of the terminal and onto the tarmac, he said.
Photos and video from the airport circulating online show large groups of passengers being led onto the tarmac or funneling out of the terminal.
With Post Wires
Kansas
Kansas family stranded in Iran with critical medical need makes it home through congressional intervention
SHAWNEE, Kan. – A Kansas family said a call to their congresswoman’s office helped bring their daughter and son-in-law home after they were stranded overseas with an unmet critical medical need.
Janet Fulgham said her daughter Laura and Laura’s husband Adam had been traveling in the UAE when an attack on Iran disrupted their plans to return home.
With their trip delayed and Laura facing a medical need that could not be met there, Fulgham said she contacted the office of Rep. Sharice Davids.
Fulgham said Davids’ office worked with the State Department to flag the emergency and secure a flight for the couple.
“The first thing that went through my mind was her medication. It is such a big part of her life. And then how do we get them out safely? How on earth do we get them out?” Fulgham said.
She said the experience prompted her to share a message with other families.
“Very often things are out of your control. But what I want everyone to know is, no matter what state you’re in, there are services to the American public that we may not know about,” Fulgham said.
Davids, who represents Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, said the situation reflects the real-world impact of international crises.
“This is one of those areas where you really see how much we’re talking about real people. You know, Laura and Adam are real Kansans who are stuck in a situation that they did not ask to be in. I’m just so relieved and glad that they’re back home,” Davids said.
Fulgham said the relief of her daughter’s return is tempered by awareness of others still waiting.
“Happiness and my delight that they’re home. Mixed with my total exhaustion. But then there’s so many other parents and friends and family members who are waiting for their loved ones. It’s hard to really celebrate when you know there’s such a big need,” Fulgham said.
Davids is expected to visit the family later this week. Her office said it is still working to help other Kansas families who remain stranded.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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