THURSDAY DECEMBER 31 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/KANSASCITYSTAR 1B KANSASCITY.COM TWITTER.COM/KCSTAR

Lee’s Summit West beats Blue Springs South for Jewell division title. 4B Sports Daily

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COMMENTARY BY VAHE GREGORIAN Orange Bowl Cotton Bowl (1) Clemson vs. (4) Oklahoma, 3 p.m. in Miami Gardens, Fla., ESPN (2) Alabama vs. (3) Michigan State, 7 p.m. in Arlington, Texas, ESPN After years of losses, KC regains hope in ’15

...... The Royals had well-deserved reputation for being kings of the comeback ...... En route to Royals winning the World Series, mayor calls KC “city that never quits” ...... Chiefs provide further testimony Passing yards this season for Clemson Rushing yards this season for Alaba- of that, recovering from 1-5 start with 30 ma running back Derrick Henry on to win nine straight 3,512 touchdowns (287-for-413 passing). 1,986 339 carries with 23 rushing TDs......

As the Royals were unleashing their absurd comebacks and gathering momentum toward beating the Mets to win their first World Series in 30 years, Kansas City Mayor Sly James made this his mantra: “New York may be the city that never sleeps,” he would tell about anyone in earshot, “but Kansas City is the city that never quits.” Even if this is a place that does sometime sleep, James was on to a memorable talking point in seeking to link civic pride in the Royals’ relentlessness to a spirit of revival in the area. And as this redemptive, trans- formative year in sports comes to a close, the label is more apt than Passing yards this season for Oklaho- Yards on 210-for-369 passing this James could have meant it. ma quarterback Baker Mayfield with season for Michigan State quarter- In Kansas City, arguably enjoy- 3,389 35 touchdowns (243-for-354 passing). 2,921 back Connor Cook with 24 TDs. ing the best pro sports mojo it’s ever known, you never have to Kansas City Star photo illustration; AP photos say never again. In the city where Yogi Berra began his professional career with the Kansas City Blues in 1943, it really ain’t over till it’s over. However you might view other Finally, the four testimony to that around the region, you can affirm it with certainty when it comes to a Teams have their sights set on reaching championship game collective pro sports status enjoy- SEE GREGORIAN, 5B

ollege football fans should be ready to help ring in 2016 when the clock strikes midnight tonight, if today’s national semifinal playoff games don’t run too long. // Up first is a showdown between top-seeded Clemson and No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla. Despite being the lower seed, Oklahoma is favored after scoring 52 points per game since a loss to Texas on Oct. 10. Clemson will be without speedy receiver Deon Cain, who was sent home for breaking team rules. // Then Alabama will try to erase the memoryC of last season’s Playoff semifinal loss to Ohio State. This time the Tide faces another Big Ten foe in Michigan State. // The winners play in the championship game Jan. 11 in Glendale, Ariz.

CHIEFS VS. RAIDERS, 3:25 P.M. SUNDAY, FOX K-STATE FOOTBALL A THREAT AT Oakland’s powerful Mack looks TWO POSITIONS to stomp on Chiefs’ win streak Kansas State’s Kody Cook could play quarterback or ...... their first meeting this month. receiver for the Wildcats in Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack leads the NFL with 15 sacks If the Chiefs want to remain in Saturday’s Liberty Bowl. 5B ...... contention for the division title Mack sacked Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith twice in first meeting and a home game in the wild- ...... card round of the NFL playoffs Raiders are hungry for a win to show the team’s progress as a third seed, they’ll have to ...... contend with Mack. “He jumps out on film, for BASEBALL Mack has the Chiefs’ and Alex sure,” Smith said. “He’s playing BY BLAIR KERKHOFF Smith’s full attention. In his at a high level.” JOHN SLEEZER [email protected] KAZMIR SIGNS [email protected] second season, Mack has quickly That level peaked three weeks Raiders defensive end Khalil ascended to a level among the ago when Mack recorded five Mack sacked Chiefs quarterback WITH DODGERS The Chiefs need a victory league’s best. sacks in a victory at Denver. Alex Smith twice when the Sunday for an opportunity to His 15 sacks lead the NFL, by Mack matched Howie Long’s teams met Dec. 6. The Royals’ hopes of land- capture the AFC West. A top a half-sack over the Texans’ J.J. team record for sacks in a game ing starting pitcher Scott individual force opposed to that Watt, and stand one away from and was named AFC Defensive MORE INSIDE possibility has a few goals of his the Raiders’ season record. The Player of the Week for that per- Kazmir ended when he own. total includes two that Mack De’Anthony Thomas misses practice for signed with Los Angeles. 2B Raiders defensive end Khalil recorded against the Chiefs in SEE CHIEFS, 4B unknown reason after missing game. B4