AMES, Iowa -- Standout Iowa State wide receiver Allen Lazard will return for his senior season.Lazard caught 69 passes as a junior in 2015, including seven for touchdowns, and his 1,018 yards rank third in school history. Lazard also averaged seven catches for 114 yards in his final five games, coinciding with quarterback Jacob Parks elevation to the starting job.The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Lazard, who grew up in nearby Urbandale, Iowa, was one of the most highly sought recruits the Cyclones ever landed in 2014. Lazard has lived to his promise, with 170 career grabs for 2,419 yards. The Cyclones finished 3-9 in 2016 despite averaging nearly 30 points in conference games, a program-high since the Big 12 was formed.Our football team made a lot of strides this past year, Lazard said. Coach (Matt) Campbell has this program going in the right direction and the enthusiasm and excitement within the locker room is extremely high.Lazards return will boost expectations in 2017 for Iowa State, which made strides this season despite winning just two league games.The Cyclones will also bring back talented left tackle Jake Campos, who broke his leg early in fall camp and missed all of last season. Park and backup Joel Lanning are expected to return, as are running back David Montgomery and young receiver DeShaunte Jones.Iowa State has holes to fill on defense, and its offensive line could be in flux until September because of graduations, the development of younger players and some possible additions through transfers.But Lazards return is a big boost to a program hoping to reach its first bowl game since 2013 next season.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Sammy Baugh Womens Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Sean Taylor Jersey . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. 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AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Busch won for the 10th time in the Xfinity Series this season with a victory at Phoenix International Raceway on the night NASCARs second-tier series set its inaugural championship field.The final four for next weekends race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be a battle between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joe Gibbs.Both car owners got two drivers each into the championship field the first year NASCAR rolled out the Chase for its lower two national series. The Chase uses the same elimination format as the Sprint Cup Series, and eight drivers were competing for the final four slots on Saturday night.Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones, both driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, got in. JR Motorsports qualified Justin Allgaier and Elliott Sadler.After the race, Sadlers car was inspected for a lug nut infraction. NASCAR announced the car had two loose nuts but Sadler wont receive a penalty and he will be racing for the title next weekend. Sadlers crew chief Kevin Meendering will be suspended for the championship race.I think we might have a loose lug. Theyll look at it. But, hey, we did what we had to do, Sadler said.Sadler, a longtime NASCAR veteran, is seeking his first title at the national level and has his best chance this year in this winner-take-all format.Were pumped about it -- we really put all our eggs in one basket, and thats that Homestead car, he said.Allgaier had to stretch a drying gas tank over the closing laps to claim his spot and keep Blake Koch out of the field.dddddddddddd Koch was keeping an eye postrace on Sadlers situation, but immediately apologized for an earlier incident with Darrell Wallace Jr. that knocked Wallace out of title contention.Busch, meanwhile, is racing Sunday for a spot in Sprint Cups final four. New rules will make him ineligible to race in any Chase races in a lower series next year, so this was his last victory in the fall race at Phoenix.Busch noted hed learned something about the tires by running the Xfinity race, and he planned to confer with his Cup team to get better prepared for Sundays main event. The reigning Sprint Cup champion had the fastest car in Saturdays final practice.We got a lot better. I feel like were at least in the ballpark, Busch said of Sunday. Weve got a top-five race car and well go from there.Brendan Gaughans championship chances ended when he wrecked with 63 laps remaining. He was in a must-win situation and came to Phoenix last in the eight-driver standings.Wallace, who was seventh in the standings, was wrecked when Koch ran into Wallaces lane and caused the accident. Wallace was mourning his grandmother, who died earlier this week, and had trouble controlling his emotions after.My grandmother was giving me the ride of my life, said Wallace, nearly sobbing. That was the most fun I have had all year. Just circumstances took us out. ' ' '
