AMES, Iowa (AP) – In the Nigerian homeland of Kelechi Osemele’s family, his first name translates as “Thank God.”  Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads certainly can relate. He says he is glad to have 6-foot-6, 347-pound offensive tackle playing for the Cyclones.  Osemele became part of Gene Chizik’s first recruiting class at Iowa State, signing in February 2007. He didn’t start until eighth game in 2008, and hasn’t missed a start since. When the Cyclones open the season against Northern Iowa on Sept. 3, Osemele will
start his 31st consecutive game.

     DAVIE, Fla. (AP) – Veteran running back Larry Johnson has signed with the Miami Dolphins after sitting out most of last season.  Johnson gained 2 yards on five carries in two games before he was released by the Washington Redskins last September.  The 31-year-old has rushed for 6,221 yards and 55 scores in his career, but has played in just 16 games in the past three seasons.  In 2009 Johnson was released by the Kansas City Chiefs in November and finished the year with Cincinnati. His time in Kansas City was marred by off-field problems, including two suspensions in his final 12 months with the team.  Johnson’s best years were in 2005-06 with the Chiefs, when he had consecutive 1,750-yard seasons.  The Dolphins waived running back Kory Sheets.

w/ Jim Field

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Cy-Hawk Trophy (Associated Press)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Fans, a former coach and the governor are all panning the new Cy-Hawk trophy that will go to the winner of the annual game between Iowa and Iowa State.  The trophy features a farm family around a bushel of corn.  The trophy, sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, was unveiled Friday. Since then, newspaper and television websites have been filled with people unhappy with it.  Even former Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry and Gov. Terry Branstad have let their feelings known.  Fry tells The Des Moines Register it’s a nice-looking trophy but doesn’t relate to football. Branstad says he thinks the Corn Growers Association could have done a better job.  A corn growers spokeswoman says they are taking comments and trying to figure out “what’s best.”  Sponsoring officials have announced that they will hold a press conference to discuss the new trophy.

     KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Dexter McCluster is back where he feels most comfortable.  That should make opposing defenses decidedly uncomfortable.  The 5-foot-8, 170-pound self-described “jitterbug” played mostly running back growing up, but he moved into a slot receiver role while becoming a multi-purpose star at Mississippi. When he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2010 draft, the idea was to use him a similar fashion to college, putting him in the backfield and at times splitting him out wide.  He played mostly receiver last season, along with returning kicks and punts, but is shifting into the backfield again during training camp, and coach Todd Haley says he’s encouraged by his progress.  The Chiefs return to preseason action Friday night against St. Louis.

     ST. LOUIS (AP) – A moth got stuck deep in Matt Holliday’s right ear, forcing the St. Louis Cardinals slugger out of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  With two outs in the top of the eighth inning Monday night, Holliday walked off the field holding his ear. Cardinals trainer Barry Weinberg tried to assist the All-Star left fielder as he
headed toward the dugout.  Team spokesman Brian Bartow says Holliday was taken into a dark room and trainers put a light by his ear to try to lure the moth out. That didn’t work, so they used a utensil to get the moth, which was still alive, out of Holliday’s ear.  Holliday was not available for comment after a 2-1 loss but appeared to be OK, Bartow said.  Holliday was replaced in left field by Corey Patterson.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Aaron Miles’ RBI triple keyed a two-run, ninth inning rally and the Los Angeles Dodgers came from behind to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.  Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter, who has never lost to Los Angeles, dominated the Dodgers for eight innings, shutting them out on five hits. Carpenter took a 1-0 lead into the ninth, but then hit Juan Rivera to start the frame.  Manager Tony La Russa brought in Arthur Rhodes, who struck out Andre Ethier. La Russa then went back to his bullpen, but that move backfired when Miles tripled to right center off Fernando Salas (5-5) to tie the game at 1-1.  La Russa then went to Jason Motte, who got Rod Barajas to ground sharply to short. But shortstop Rafael Furcal bobbled the ball briefly allowing Miles to score the go-ahead run.

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school football polls of the 2011 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and 2010 Final rank at right:

Class 4A
Record Pts Prv
1. Cedar Falls (8) 0-0 105 3
2. Iowa City High (2) 0-0 91 2
3. West Des Moines Valley (1) 1-0 88 NR
4. Bettendorf 0-0 79 4
5. Ankeny 1-0 64 NR
6. Southeast Polk 1-0 51 NR
7. West Des Moines Dowling 0-1 36 1
8. Marion Linn-Mar 0-0 25 9
9. Iowa City West 0-0 16 NR
10. Cedar Rapids Xavier 0-0 13 8
Others receiving votes: 11, Eldridge North Scott 9. 11, Sioux City East 9. 13, Davenport Assumption 5. 13, Ames 5. 15, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 4. 16, Cedar Rapids Washington 2. 16, Johnston 2. 18, Muscatine 1.

Class 3A
Record Pts Prv
1. Sioux City Heelan (7) 1-0 104 5
2. Solon (4) 0-0 97 4
3. Clear Lake 0-0 70 2
4. La Porte City Union 0-0 63 6
5. Denison-Schleswig 1-0 43 NR
6. Webster City 0-0 40 9
7. Harlan 0-1 35 3
8. Pella 0-0 30 1
9. Manchester West Delaware 0-0 29 NR
10. Williamsburg 0-0 27 7
Others receiving votes: 11, Marion 17. 12, Adel ADM 14. 13, Decorah 11. 14, Waverly-Shell Rock 9. 15, Maquoketa 8. 16, Oskaloosa 4. 17, Grinnell 2. 17, Carlisle 2.

Class 2A
Record Pts Prv
1. State Center West Marshall (3) 0-0 94 9
2. Iowa City Regina (7) 0-0 92 1
3. West Union North Fayette 0-0 85 2
4. Carroll Kuemper (1) 0-0 56 6
5. Dyersville Beckman 0-0 54 NR
6. Alleman North Polk 0-0 37 NR
7. South Central Calhoun 0-0 35 3
8. Mediapolis 0-0 28 NR
9. Sigourney-Keota 0-0 24 4
10. Fort Dodge St. Edmond 0-0 16 NR
Others receiving votes: 11, Osage 14. 12, Central Lyon-GLR 12. 13, Sheldon 10. 14, Spirit Lake 9. 15, Bloomfield Davis County 7. 15, Iowa Falls-Alden 7. 17, Monroe PCM 6. 18, Iowa Falls 5. 19, West Liberty 4. 20, Pella Christian 3. 21, New Hampton 2. 21, Hull Western Christian 2. 23, O-A/BCIG 1. 23, Roland-Story 1. 23, Waterloo Columbus 1.
Class 1A
Record Pts Prv
1. Emmetsburg (5) 0-0 96 2
2. Council Bluffs St. Albert (3) 0-0 92 1
3. West Branch (1) 0-0 77 4
4. Aplington-Parkersburg 0-0 71 3
5. Inwood West Lyon (1) 0-0 55 8
6. Woodward-Granger 0-0 53 5
7. Dike-New Hartford (1) 0-0 51 NR
8. St. Ansgar 0-0 30 NR
9. Logan-Magnolia 0-0 25 6
10. Stanwood North Cedar 0-0 13 9
Others receiving votes: 11, Jackson Junction Turkey Valley 10. 12, Hartley HMS 7. 12, IKM/Manning 7. 14, Panora Panorama 5. 15, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 4. 16, Hinton 2. 16, Eagle Grove 2. 18, Des Moines Christian 1. 18, Hudson 1. 18, Garner-Hayfield 1. 18, Treynor 1. 18, Lawton-Bronson 1.

Class A
Record Pts Prv
1. Madrid (4) 0-0 97 1
2. Britt West Hancock (2) 0-0 82 NR
3. Le Mars Gehlen Catholic (3) 0-0 78 5
4. Traer North Tama (1) 0-0 76 3
5. Mason City Newman 1-0 57 2
6. Lisbon (1) 0-0 55 9
7. Wayland WACO 0-0 44 4
8. Postville 0-0 42 10
9. Brooklyn BGM 0-0 24 6
10. Algona Garrigan 0-0 10 NR
Others receiving votes: 11, Clay Central-Everly 9. 12, Bedford 8. 13, Akron-Westfield 5. 13, Northwood-Kensett 5. 15, Van Meter 4. 15, Avoca AHST 4. 17, North Butler 3. 18, Belle Plaine 2.

Class 8-Man
Record Pts Prv
1. Armstrong-Ringsted (10) 1-0 109 2
2. Blairsburg NE Hamilton 0-0 89 4
3. Preston 1-0 68 3
4. Tabor Fremont-Mills 0-0 66 6
T5.Lenox (1) 0-0 40 1
T5.Maynard West Central 1-0 40 NR
T5.Adair-Casey 0-0 40 NR
8. Stanton 0-0 27 NR
9. Glidden-Ralston 0-0 21 9
T10.East Mills 0-0 16 NR
T10.West Bend-Mallard 0-0 16 NR
Others receiving votes: 12, Graettinger-Terril 14. 13, Kingsley-Pierson 12. 13, Clarksville 12. 15, Remsen-Union 11. 16, Lansing Kee 10. 17, Des Moines Grandview Park Baptist 5. 18, Moravia 4. 19, Janesville 3. 20, North Sentral Kossuth 1. 20, Newell-Fonda 1.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., August 22, 2011 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that Pitching Coach Dave Duncan will take a leave of absence from the ballclub.  Duncan’s wife, Jeanine, underwent major surgery on Sunday (August 21) and will require additional tests and rehabilitation.  Duncan will remain with his wife during this period.  The Duncan family asks for privacy during this time.  They are optimistic that Jeanine will have a positive recovery and the Cardinals have expressed their full support to the Duncan family during this difficult time.

Class 4A
1. Cedar Falls
2. Iowa City High
3. WDM Valley (1-0)
4. S.E. Polk (1-0)
5. Bettendorf
6. Ankeny
7. Dowling Catholic (0-1)
8. Linn-Mar
9. Cedar Rapids Xavier
10.Cedar Rapids Wahington

Class 3A
1. Solon
2. Sioux City Heelan (1-0)
3. Clear Lake
4. West Delaware
5. Union (La Porte City)
6. Decorah
7. Webster City
8. Pella
9. Denison-Schleswig (1-0)
10.Marion

Class 2A
1. Iowa City Regina
2. North Fayette
3. West Marshall
4. Carroll Kuemper
5. South Central Calhoun
6. PCM (Monroe)
7. Mediapolis
8. Sheldon (1-0)
9. North Polk
10.Central Lyon/GLR (1-0)

Class 1A
1. Emmetsburg
2. West Lyon
3. Woodward-Granger
4. St. Albert
5. Aplington-Parkersburg
6. West Branch
7. Saint Ansgar
8. Dike-New Hartford
9. Logan-Magnolia
10.North Cedar

Class A
1. West Hancock
2. North Tama
3. LeMars Gehlen
4. Madrid
5. Mason City Newman (1-0)
6. WACO
7. Postville
8. B-G-M (Brooklyn)
9. Clay Central-Everly
10.Algona Garrigan

Eight-man
1. Armstrong-Ringsted (1-0)
2. Preston (1-0)
3. N.E. Hamilton
4. West Central (Maynard) (1-0)
5. Fremont-Mills
6. West Bend-Mallard (1-0)
7. Adair-Casey
8. Glidden-Ralston
9. Stanton
10.Janesville (1-0)