IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Northwestern heads to Iowa this weekend, hoping to keep its season from falling further apart.The Wildcats, once dark horses for the Big Ten title, have lost three straight ahead of a two-game road trip that starts today (Saturday) against the Hawkeyes (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten).

The Wildcats (4-3, 0-3) aren’t counting on star running back Venric Mark to play and versatile quarterback Kain Colter is questionable with a sprained ankle. Northwestern has struggled mightily without those two, combining for just 23 points in losses to Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Iowa has lost four of its last five to Northwestern. Pre-game coverage begins at 9-a.m. on KJAN, with the kick-off at 11.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – No. 19 Oklahoma State will open the second half of the season unsettled at quarterback and with an offense that’s been somewhat average of late. What a perfect time to play Iowa State. The Cyclones (1-5, 0-3 Big 12) are coming off the worst loss in school history, a 71-7 shellacking at No. 6 Baylor. They’ve given up 113 points since a heartbreaking one-point loss to Texas and are on pace for their worst finish in the five-year tenure of coach Paul Rhoads.  Still, the Cowboys (5-1, 2-1) aren’t nearly as certain at quarterback as they’d like to be by now.

Sophomore J.W. Walsh was pulled in favor of senior Clint Chelf after throwing a pair of early interceptions last week against TCU. Chelf’s first pass was also picked off, but he eventually led Oklahoma State past the Horned Frogs 24-10. The Cowboys don’t intend to announce who will start today ( Saturday). The Cyclones – and everyone else – will probably find out who they’re facing when either Walsh or Chelf trots out for the first play. “We feel we have two good quarterbacks and we need to make sure we’re doing what we can to help them improve and get them playing at a high level. It starts with ball security,” Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “It’s about getting the ball to our playmakers and creating space for them.”

Iowa State is also a bit shaky at quarterback. But coach Paul Rhoads said Tuesday that he’s sticking with sophomore Sam Richardson even though he, like Walsh, was pulled during last week’s game. Richardson is just 22 of 52 passing in losses to Texas Tech and the Bears in the past two weeks. “He’s got to make smarter decisions and quicker judgments,” Rhoads said.

Kick-off is set for 11-a.m. at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns after straining his groin in practice this week.  Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Bowe hurt the groin near the end of Thursday’s practice. The former Pro Bowl wide receiver did not participate in Friday’s workout.

Bowe, who signed, a five-year, $56 million contract in the offseason, has struggled to get involved in the Chiefs’ unbeaten start. He’s second on the team with 25 catches, but he has just 295 yards receiving and two touchdown grabs in his first seven games. Reid indicated that Bowe will be a game-time decision on Sunday.

Everybody else on the Chiefs roster practiced Friday, including starting safety Kendrick Lewis, who sat out the previous day with a lingering ankle injury.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – As the World Series moves to St. Louis on Saturday, vast regions of the Midwest and South still love the Cardinals. But there are signs that nationally, Cardinals fatigue is officially setting in. It began in the first round of the playoffs with national commentators openly rooting for the Pirates to beat St. Louis. Then there are online columns like a recent one the website Deadspin implying that Cardinals fans are insufferable.

Fans in St. Louis take the criticism in stride, saying some people are simply tired of all the success. The Cardinals have been in 10 of the past 14 postseasons and have played in the National League championship series eight times in the span. This World Series appearance is their fourth since 2004.

Class 3-A, District 1

• Atlantic 20 @ Glenwood 48
• Creston  10 @ Lewis Central 38
• Saydel 0 @ Perry 46
• Harlan 30 @ ADM 7

Class 2-A, District 8

• Nodaway Valley 59 @ Clarinda Academy 20
• Red Oak 13 @ Shenandoah 10
• Greene County 42 @ OA-BCIG 7
• Clarinda 24 @ Kuemper Catholic 52

Class 1-A, District 8

• Missouri Valley 14 @ St. Albert 49
• West Central Valley 26 @ Tri-Center 65
• Panorama 6 @ Treynor 31

Class A, District 7

• Bedford 20 @ Woodward-Granger 28
• Woodward Academy 20 @ Martensdale-St. Marys 14
• Audubon 36 @ Earlham 24
• Guthrie Center 6 @ Madrid 53

Class A, District 8

• A-H-S-T 46 @ Underwood 8
• Griswold 28 @ Logan-Magnolia 50
• Riverside 7 @ Westwood 22
• West Monona 0 @ East Mills 66

Eight Man, District 6

• East Union 46 @ Grandview Park Baptist 41
• Murray 48 @ Lamoni 40
• Mormon Trail 64 @ Ankeny Christian 18
• Adair-Casey 34 @ Coon Rapids-Bayard 26

Eight Man, District 7

• Woodbine 31 @ Charter Oak-Ute 43
• Ar-We-Va 14 @ Glidden-Ralston 52
• West Harrison 26 @ Boyer Valley 32

Eight Man, District 8

• Sidney 53 @ CAM 30
• Nishnabotna 44 @ Stanton 46
• Lenox 12 @ Fremont-Mills 61
• Essex 8 @ Southwest Valley 63