Bills QB Josh Allen gives local fan unforgettable birthday

Posted on October 18, 2022 by KOAM TV 7

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. – Carl Junction 10-year-old Cole White got his first taste of Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

“It was kind of loud,” White says, “It was kind of annoying, really.”

It usually is for fans of the visiting team.

Cole is a Buffalo Bills fan – and more specifically, a fan of Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

“He started watching Bills games and it was Josh Allen this and Josh Allen that,” says Cole’s mother, Erin Williams, “He was Josh Allen for Halloween last year. His number one ask from Santa last year was a Josh Allen jersey. It’s just been non-stop Josh Allen ever since he started watching.”

He got to see Allen and the Bills beat the Chiefs 24-20 to celebrate his 10th birthday.

But it was what happened in the minutes after the game that made the day truly unforgettable.

“He had a sign said Josh Allen, it’s my birthday, can I get a picture with you?” Williams says of Cole, “I just thought he was going to run in our direction and maybe slap some hands and run down the tunnel and get out of there.”

“I started going into shock like is he actually coming over here? Is it really happening?” Cole says.

Allen greeted Cole before he ran into the locker room after the game. Cole got a ball and a selfie with his favorite player.

“I could see Cole’s face. He was so happy,” Williams says, “It was so exciting.”

It was an unforgettable day – and an unbeatable birthday present for the young Bills fan.

“There’s nothing that’s going to top that,” Cole says.

“It was what he wanted. He just said so many hilarious things on the way back, like this was on my bucket list, this is the best birthday of my whole life and nothing will ever top this,” Williams finishes, “I said nope, you’re probably right. Nothing is ever going to top this.”

Cole’s family told us that he has slept with the football in his bed the last two nights since he got it from Allen.

Pitt State returns talented sophomore class

Posted on October 17, 2022 by KOAM TV 7

PITTSBURG, Ks. – The basketball preseason is underway and there’s plenty of familiar faces on the floor for Pittsburg State. The Gorillas return their leading scorer in Tristan Gegg. She averaged 17.3 points per game last year. Erin Davis also returns for a 5th year. Alongside those two, PSU has a talented group of underclassmen who are eager to take on bigger roles.

Lions develop talent from last year’s MIAA regular season championship team

Posted on October 15, 2022 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Lions are picked first in the MIAA preseason poll for the first time in program history.

They return four starters from last year’s team: Lacy Stokes, Madi Stokes, Layne Skiles and Kaitlin Hunnicutt.

Head coach Ronnie Ressel says that between new additions and the development of returning players, this is year’s team has more talent than last year’s.

New leaders emerge for Missouri Southern men’s basketball

Posted on October 15, 2022 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Southern men have a new head coach this year. Sam McMahon returns to Southern, where he previously served on the coaching staff for six years.

He takes over for a program that went 14-15 last year. The Lions lose their two leading scorers from that team: Stan Scott and RJ Smith.

McMahon says there’s a handful of other guys who are ready to step up and lead in their place.