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sports Dialuna 19 OctOber 2020

Texas showcase: Cards’ Kingsbury, Murray return home for MNF

(AP) — Arizona Cardi- fore a college career at Texas
nals coach Kliff Kingsbury A&M and Oklahoma. The
is headed back to his home two have bonded over their
state of Texas on Monday Texas background and speak
for a pretty big football highly of the state's football
game. scene, even if their playing
careers were nearly two de-
He's unsure if his southern cades apart.
drawl will make a return ap-
pearance as well. “It’s usually Both say it's a thrill to go back
after a few Coors Lights so I home despite COVID-19
don’t know if it’ll really break restrictions that mean the
out this trip,” Kingsbury said crowd won't be nearly as full
with a wry grin. The Cardi- or raucous as usual. “He’s
nals travel to face the Dallas probably more anxious than
Cowboys for “Monday Night me,” Murray said of Kings-
Football” in a game that isn't bury, before poking fun at his
short on storylines. age. “I’ve never actually seen
his film or his high school
Arizona (3-2) is one of the tape. I heard it was on the
NFL's up-and-coming teams news last night.
and trying to stay competi-
tive in the tough NFC West. I heard it was real grainy, real
The Cowboys (2-3) are try- old clips.” Murray has quick-
ing to regain their footing ly matured into a productive ing our team.” One reason nine seasons before coming Lamb’s caught 29 passes for
with backup quarterback NFL quarterback less than Kingsbury was so excited to to Dallas — is a Houston-ar- 433 yards and two touch-
Andy Dalton, who's making two years after being selected draft Murray in 2019 was the ea native who played in col- downs in his first five NFL
his first start in place of the with the No. 1 overall pick in knowledge of his Texas back- lege a few miles from AT&T games. Murray called Lamb
injured star Dak Prescott. the 2019 draft. He's thrived in ground and how he thrived Stadium at TCU. Kingsbury “a natural” and isn't surprised
It'll also be a showcase for big moments throughout his in pressure-packed environ- doesn't expect the Dallas of- he's having so much success
some of the premier talent career and certainly has good ments. fense to be any less difficult early in his career.
that the Texas football scene memories at AT&T Stadium, to stop with Dalton under
has produced over the years. where he has a 6-0 record as The coach said Murray was center. “We had a lot of success to-
Kingsbury and second-year a starter, including three high already drawing rave reviews gether, a lot of great times,”
Cardinals quarterback Kyler school state championships by his freshman year of high “A Pro Bowl-caliber player, Murray said. "That’s my boy
Murray will both be making and a Big 12 championship. school and lived up to the we faced him last year when on and off the field. Wish him
their first NFL appearances Monday will be another big hype, especially during big he was at Cincinnati, he had nothing but the best, but this
in their home state. moment. moments at AT&T Stadium. a heck of a game and he’s got weekend he’s on the other
“He obviously likes that sta- great weapons,” Kingsbury side.” Lamb said the feeling
The 41-year-old Kingsbury Growing up in football-cra- dium and has had a lot of suc- said. “He’s been a tremen- is mutual. “I mean, that’s my
was a standout prep player in zy Texas, he's used to them. cess there,” Kingsbury said. dous player in this league for brother at the end of the day,”
the late 1990s at a high school “Ever since I was a kid, pee- "This is what he’s worked a long time and it’s going to Lamb said.
just north of San Antonio wee, whole field surrounded hard for his entire life, to be a huge challenge trying
and later played and coached whenever we played games have moments like this, and to slow that offense down.” “We went to college togeth-
at Texas Tech. He was also and stuff like that," Murray I know he’s excited to go out It'll also be the "MNF" debut er. Had great memories and
the offensive coordinator at said. “So it was something I there and try to put his best for Cowboys rookie receiver we’re living out our dream
Texas A&M. The 23-year- was used to, something that foot forward.” The Cowboys CeeDee Lamb, who played that we’re going through
old Murray was a phenom in I always wanted to be a part have plenty of Texas-grown high school football in Rich- now. Somebody’s got to
the Dallas suburbs, winning of, to be that guy on the field talent as well. Dalton — who mond, Texas, before teaming come out with an ‘L.’ I’m not
three high school titles be- and have everybody watch- started for Cincinnati for with Murray at Oklahoma. planning on it being us.”

Truex to start at back for Cup Series race at Kansas

(AP) — Martin Truex Jr. will start from the
back of the field for the NASCAR Cup Series
race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday after his
car failed inspection twice, leaving him with an
even longer way to go to advance to the final
round at Phoenix.

Truex was supposed to start on the inside of Row 3
alongside playoff contender Alex Bowman.

The 2017 series champion already was facing a slight-
ly uphill battle to reach the finale. Truex hasn't won
since Martinsville in June and began the three-race
round of eight in sixth place, 10 points below the cut
line.

Chase Elliott will start from the pole alongside Joey
Logan with fellow playoff contender Kurt Busch and
Kevin Harvick in the second row. Denny Hamlin
and Brad Keselowski make up the fourth row.

Clint Bowyer will start in Row 6 in the retiring Kan-
sas native's final race at his home track.