Photo by Darian Hays
Dakota Myers takes the ball downfield for the Knights during the home game with Arcola October 7. Myers had nine yards rushing for the game.

•October 12, 2016•

By Matthew Kracht
NP Sports

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond lost its home matchup with the reigning 2015 Class 1A state champion Purple Riders Oct 7. A back and forth rivalry game saw Arcola prevail 44-20.

However, what the football teams did to honor cancer survivor Kara Kuhns at halftime spoke volumes about both communities. ALAH graduate Kuhns worked for both school districts’ speech departments throughout her four-year battle with the disease. The teams on the field and fans in attendance gave Kuhns a standing ovation to show solidarity against a disease that afflicts millions of Americans every year. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month show your support by wearing pink proudly.

Arcola drew first blood in the contest with a 23-yard run for a touchdown at the five minute mark in the first quarter. Arthur hit back with a 40 yard completion to Kobe Wells on a well-designed play action pass. Wells’ catch set up the Knights’ first down from the Riders’ 36 yard line. Dakota Myers then brought the crowd to its feet with a 36 yard touchdown on a perfectly blocked screen pass. Will Cohan put both passes right where they needed to be despite intense pressure from a talented Arcola defense. ALAH’s two point attempt failed, and the Riders led 7-6 with 3:51 left in the first quarter.

ALAH head coach Dale Schuring said the team has been starting strong but struggling to maintain. “We have made a lot of improvements. Last several weeks out we have been 0-0 6-2. We have started out well; it is just a matter of maintaining it. I think our lack of depth has something to do with that. These kids just don’t get a break. “  Read More

•October 12, 2016•

The Arcola-Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond golf team placed fourth in the Sectionals Oct. 11, which ends their run at state.

The team shot a 338, and that left them in the fourth place position with only three teams advancing.  Read More

Photo furnished
Pictured is Sullivan middle school student Dominick Kimberlin.

•October 5, 2016•

Sullivan middle school student Dominick Kimberlin plays in the Junior All American games at the Chicago Cubs training camp in Mesa, Ariz. this weekend.

Kimberlin, who plays first base, received his invitation to play, along with hundreds of other student baseball players from 16 states and Canada, during a Game Day USA event last summer.

Dominick was playing with the Central Illinois Heat of Mattooon in the Game Day event in Champaign. The team was second place in the tournament, and Kimberlin was handed an MVP card and asked to participate in the  Junior All American Games.

Held at Sloan Field in Mesa, parents Larry and Tina Kimberlin along with eight other family members are making the trip for the three day tournament.

Kimberlin plays in the Cactus League for 13U with the tournament beginning Friday, October  7 through Sunday, October 9.[/s2If]

•October 5, 2016•

By Kirk Whitaker
NP Sports Reporter

It took three sets to do it, but Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond put down another quality LOVC NW opponent in Sangamon Valley/Tri-City Sept. 27, 17-25, 25-14, 25-20.

The Knights fell behind after the first timeout in the first set but regrouped with a stellar service game and a balanced offense and improved blocking to calm the Storm, who entered the contest 14-5, (1-0 LOVC NW) compared to ALAH’s 9-3 (0-1 LOVC NW). Read More

•October 5, 2016•

Kirk Whitaker
NP Sports

Three matchups between top 10 teams, baseball regular season ending, NBA training camp and pre-season commencing: the avid fan could sit a whole weekend and not have to worry about not having something to watch.

The better question would be, “Which do I choose?”

That’s better said than done.

This week there were three matchups against top 10 teams in college football: (10) Washington vs (7) Stanford, (8) Wisconsin at (4) Michigan, and the primetime night-cap of (3) Louisville and (5) Clemson. Read More