MIDLOTHIANMIRROR.COM| THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021| 3B Top 5 kickers for 2021 Mahomes joins effort to SEC football season support youth football

USA TODAY Sports Network Dave Skretta ASSOCIATED PRESS The SEC West will have a leg up in the 2021 football season with the top KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs’ three kickers in the league, according to Patrick Mahomes is teaming with USA a poll of sports journalists who cover Football to host three youth football the conference for the USA TODAY coaching clinics across Missouri this Sports Network. summer while his 15 and the Mahomies LSU's Cade York is the best kicker in Foundation has provided grants to 15 the SEC going into the fall according to youth football leagues. the vote, followed by two more kickers The collaboration between the from the East division. York garnered three-time Pro Bowl quarterback and eight of a possible 17 first-place votes to USA Football was announced Monday. head a list of the top five SEC kickers in Webb City (Missouri) High School the poll. coach John Roderique, who has led the A total of nine kickers from nine Cardinals to a state-record 12 champi- schools received votes. Five points onships, and longtime Rockwood (Mis- were awarded for a first-place vote souri) Summit High School coach Mike down to one point for a fifth-place vote. LSU kicker Cade York (36) kicks a field Bellars will lead the clinics. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes Three kickers received first-place goal as punter Zach Von Rosenberg Their purpose is to prepare other throws during minicamp on June 16 in votes. holds during the second half against coaches to teach youth athletes based Kansas City, Mo. CHARLIE RIEDEL/AP The USA TODAY Sports Network is Missouri at Faurot Field at Memorial on their age, skill level and the type of counting down to SEC Media Days, Stadium on Oct. 10, 2020. York led the football games they are playing. of the Kansas City franchise in the Na- scheduled for July 19-22 in Hoover, Ala- SEC and was sixth nationally with 18 The first of the clinics, which are free tional Women’s Soccer League. bama, by revealing its top players at field goals and set an LSU record with to youth football coaches, will take Meanwhile, the 15 and the Maho- each position grouping. Here is a look six of 50 or more yards. JAY place July 27 in the Kansas City suburb mies Foundation have donated hun- at the top five kickers: BIGGERSTAFF/USA TODAY SPORTS of Olathe, Kansas. The second will take dreds of thousands of dollars to local place July 31 in Web City, Missouri, and causes. 1. Cade York Reichard proved reliable at kicker in the third on Aug. 7 in Kansas City, Mis- That includes funding the renova- 2020, making 14 of his 14 field goals at- souri. tion of Martin Luther King Jr. Park, not LSU, junior (72 points, 8 first-place tempts. His longest came from 52 Along with the clinics, the 15 and the far from Arrowhead Stadium, which votes) yards. Mahomies Foundation announced that will feature an all-inclusive play site York kicked the 57-yard field goal Nick Kelly $2,000 operating grants will be distrib- along with opportunities to learn about with 23 seconds left to lead LSU to a 37- uted to 15 area youth leagues across the and commemorate King’s work. 34 victory at Florida. He led the SEC 4. Jack Podlesny region. “Patrick’s commitment to kids and was sixth nationally with 18 field They will be awarded through an on- through his 15 and the Mahomies Foun- goals and set an LSU record with six of Georgia, junior (21 points) line grant application. dation is immense and uncommon,” 50 or more yards. Podlesny followed Groza Award win- “Smart coaching can make a lasting USA Football chief executive Scott Hal- Glenn Guilbeau ner Rodrigo Blankenship and produced and positive impact on kids and their lenbeck said. “We value Patrick’s at nearly as high a level. The walk-on sports development,” said Mahomes, friendship and love of the game to de- 2. Anders Carlson was 13 of 16 on field goals and kicked the who has led the Chiefs to three consec- liver best-in-class coach training and game-winner in the Peach Bowl from utive AFC tile games and back-to-back grants to help elevate youth football Auburn, senior (62 points, 5 first- 53 yards. Super Bowl appearances. “I’m happy to programs throughout Greater Kansas place votes) Marc Weiszer partner with USA Football to support City.” Carlson has gotten better each year healthy football practices for coaches Mahomes will join the Chiefs’ other on campus, going from making 60% of 5. Jace Christmann and youth athletes across the KC re- quarterbacks, rookies and select veter- his field goal attempts in 2018 to 72% in gion.” ans in reporting to training camp July 2019 to 90.9% last year. His 20 makes Florida, senior (20 points) The collaboration is another exam- 23 at Missouri Western State Univer- led the SEC and came on 22 tries. A grad transfer from Mississippi ple of the investment that Mahomes sity in St. Joseph. Josh Vitale State, Christmann was the Bulldogs’ and his wife, Brittany Matthews, are The rest of the team reports July 28, all-time leader in scoring (219). He also making in their adopted community. with the first full-squad workout the 3. Will Reichard owns the Bulldogs' record for consecu- Mahomes recently purchased a mi- following day open to the public for the tive PATs made (95) and is tied for top nority interest in the Kansas City Roy- first time since the 2019 preseason. Alabama, junior (50 points, 4 first- field-goal percentage (80%). als while Matthews, who played profes- The Chiefs open the regular season place votes) – Zach Abolverdi sional soccer in Iceland, is part owner Sept. 12 against the Cleveland Browns.

Cavendish wins Stage 10 of

ASSOCIATED PRESS

VALENCE, France – Mark Caven- dish’s fairy tale at the Tour de France is a never-ending story. Only months after he contemplated retirement, the 36-year-old British vet- eran is now just one win away from ty- ing Eddy Merckx’s record haul of 34 stage wins at cycling’s biggest race. Cavendish won the 10th stage in a mass sprint Tuesday as Tadej Pogacar kept the race leader’s yellow jersey. Back at the Tour for the first time since 2018, Cavendish has been dom- inating the sprints this summer, with three stage wins under his belt already. In Valence, the from the Isle of Man once again enjoyed a perfect lead-out from his Deceuninck-Quick Step teammates and comfortably edged Belgians and Jasper Phil- ipsen. “It was an old-school, run-of-the- mill, like you read in the cycling maga- zines, textbook lead-out,” Cavendish said. “Just getting the lads on the front, pull as fast as they can so no one can come past you… I just had to finish it off. I’m grateful to all of them. I didn’t have to do anything. Just the last 150 meters. I’m thankful to everyone.” Cavendish has no rival to his mea- sure, especially with the absence of teammate and sprinter Sam Bennett, whom he replaced at the last minute – and after Caleb Ewan crashed out early in the race. He also enjoys the collective experience and force of his team, the Britain’s , wearing the best sprinter’s green jersey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 10th best outfit when it comes to one-day stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday. DANIEL COLE/AP racing. “It’s a bit like with a center-forward in soccer” Thomas Voeckler, a former Tour geance, as if the long absence had whet- Following two hard stages in the Alps The pair quickly opened a gap of six rider turned commentator for public ted his appetite for victory. contested in terrible weather condi- minutes in less than 20 kilometers but broadcaster France TV, said after the The way he fought during the daunt- tions, Pogacar finished safely in the could not keep on the same speed for finish. “When they score, they keep on ing Stage 9 in the Alps to make sure he main pack. The defending champion long. Their lead shrank to four minutes going. It’s the same with sprinters.” made the time cut to stay in the race was on his guard in the last 20 kilome- as they approached the day’s lone climb Cavendish secured a new contract spoke volumes about his determination ters on roads open to crosswinds and – the Col de Couz – and the breakaway with his former team for the 2021 season to see the Champs-Elysees one more pushed hard to remain at the front as was put to an end about 36 kilometers after returning from a bout of depres- time. the peloton split in small groups. from the finish. sion and several seasons of struggles on Having survived the Alpine stages in Earlier, , from the Pogacar has already stamped his au- and off the bike. terrible weather conditions, Cavendish Lotto-Soudal team attacked from the thority on the race. He avoided the But he was not expected to ride in the will have more opportunities to equal or start and was joined at the front by As- crashes that pushed some pre-race fa- Tour and did not train specifically for beat Merckx’s record. And if he man- tana rider Hugo Houle. vorites out of contention, asserted his the three-week race. He was a late call- ages to reach the finish line in two With neither a threat in the general authority during the first time trial and up last month as a replacement for Ben- week’s time, the best sprinter’s green classification, the peloton was happy to attacked relentlessly in the mountains nett, the best sprinter of last year’s Tour. jersey he currently dons will be another let them go as the sun returned to the to open a 2:01 gap over his closest rival, Cavendish has returned with a ven- target. Tour de France route. Ben O’Connor of Australia.