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WHAT'S UP, DAKOTA FANS!?! I'm sure you're as excited as we are about the new football season and the new faces on your Dakota Totems! Remember, you can get all your news right here on the OSFL News Network - The only network that covers OSFL football!
Week one of preseason saw some positive signs from the rebuilt Dakota Totems, looking to rebound from their 5-11 rebuilding season of a year ago. Jonathon McBriar looked impressive in limited action, as did rookie WR Artie "Reverend" Lovejoy, who notched 7 catches for 67 yards in his debut. In a hard fought contest featuring only one TD, the Lake County extreme edged the Totems 16-9. The game featured two 50+ yard field goals and two goal line stands by the Lake County defense.
It ended in exciting fashion, with former starter Nate Small driving the Totems 79 yards downfield in a 2 minute drill, only to be denied at the one yard line by the fearsome Lake County defense, who earlier held the Totems to a field goal attempt inside the 5 yard line, which was blocked. "Even in preseason, it hurts to come that close and fall short," said Small, who holds the Dakota Totems' single game passing yardage record with 396 yards.
Totems fans who remember Chief Parrish knew better than to give up, and the Totems' new look defense featuring emerging stars Jerome Howe, A.J. Hassett and talented rookie Chris Hutchins forced a fumble and gave the Totems one last chance to tie the game with under a minute left.
A false start and a questionable unnecessary roughness penalty called against Lincoln Lewis backed the Totems up to the 23, but an 11 yard completion to the good Reverend Lovejoy and an offsides penalty against Lake County gave the Totems one more shot from the 7 yard line. Small completed a pass to Pat Donaghy at the four yard line, but he was mobbed by tacklers and held short of the goal line, sealing the game for Lake County.
At his postgame news conference, head coach Gene Rachmaninoff said "We came up a little short today, but we loved what we saw from Lovejoy and Leon (Martinez.) The defense struggled a little, but I'm not overly worried about it. We've got a lot of new faces, especially with our younger players in the secondary, and they'll be up to speed by week one."
Answering a question regarding the personal foul called on Lincoln Lewis at the end of the game, Rachmaninoff quipped "Well, it's preseason for the officials too, apparently."
Rachmaninoff refused to specify whether Lovejoy has locked up the #2 receiver position opposite Pat Donaghy, or whether J.B. Trotter or Rob Wickes will be the starting running back this year. "It's a fluid situation with J.B. and Rob. We're fortunate enough to have two starting caliber backs on this team."
Rachmaninoff did not address the fact that long time starting guard Timothy Batchelor was inactive, but insisted that "it's not something to read into." Batchelor reportedly showed up to camp out of shape and failed his conditioning test. Justin Zandofsky, who is rumored to be on the trade block after starting 8 games last season, was active but did not play.
Rookie CB Leslie Troglia was spotted being ripped into by defensive coordinator Ernie James on the sidelines after blowing coverage on receivers multiple times. Asked about Troglia in the locker room after the game, James said "He needs to work on his technique, particularly his tackling. He's in the OSFL now - he's not going to get by with pure talent anymore."
The Totems' next preseason game will be at home against the Los Alamos monsters, where fans will receive a free Dakota Totems back massager emblazoned with the face and signature of former QB Roy Parrish.
"I'm glad we're playing Los Alamos at home," said WR Pat Donaghy "those guys are all gonna get sterile playing there 8 games a year. Except for boy Kevin Newman, he's got ***** like (expletive) watermelons." Newman and Donaghy played against each other in an NCAA championship game in 2020 between Donaghy's USC and Newman's Arizona State, where Donaghy's team triumphed in a 21-20 victory marred by a bench clearing brawl started after Newman drilled Donaghy coming over the middle.
Week one of preseason saw some positive signs from the rebuilt Dakota Totems, looking to rebound from their 5-11 rebuilding season of a year ago. Jonathon McBriar looked impressive in limited action, as did rookie WR Artie "Reverend" Lovejoy, who notched 7 catches for 67 yards in his debut. In a hard fought contest featuring only one TD, the Lake County extreme edged the Totems 16-9. The game featured two 50+ yard field goals and two goal line stands by the Lake County defense.
It ended in exciting fashion, with former starter Nate Small driving the Totems 79 yards downfield in a 2 minute drill, only to be denied at the one yard line by the fearsome Lake County defense, who earlier held the Totems to a field goal attempt inside the 5 yard line, which was blocked. "Even in preseason, it hurts to come that close and fall short," said Small, who holds the Dakota Totems' single game passing yardage record with 396 yards.
Totems fans who remember Chief Parrish knew better than to give up, and the Totems' new look defense featuring emerging stars Jerome Howe, A.J. Hassett and talented rookie Chris Hutchins forced a fumble and gave the Totems one last chance to tie the game with under a minute left.
A false start and a questionable unnecessary roughness penalty called against Lincoln Lewis backed the Totems up to the 23, but an 11 yard completion to the good Reverend Lovejoy and an offsides penalty against Lake County gave the Totems one more shot from the 7 yard line. Small completed a pass to Pat Donaghy at the four yard line, but he was mobbed by tacklers and held short of the goal line, sealing the game for Lake County.
At his postgame news conference, head coach Gene Rachmaninoff said "We came up a little short today, but we loved what we saw from Lovejoy and Leon (Martinez.) The defense struggled a little, but I'm not overly worried about it. We've got a lot of new faces, especially with our younger players in the secondary, and they'll be up to speed by week one."
Answering a question regarding the personal foul called on Lincoln Lewis at the end of the game, Rachmaninoff quipped "Well, it's preseason for the officials too, apparently."
Rachmaninoff refused to specify whether Lovejoy has locked up the #2 receiver position opposite Pat Donaghy, or whether J.B. Trotter or Rob Wickes will be the starting running back this year. "It's a fluid situation with J.B. and Rob. We're fortunate enough to have two starting caliber backs on this team."
Rachmaninoff did not address the fact that long time starting guard Timothy Batchelor was inactive, but insisted that "it's not something to read into." Batchelor reportedly showed up to camp out of shape and failed his conditioning test. Justin Zandofsky, who is rumored to be on the trade block after starting 8 games last season, was active but did not play.
Rookie CB Leslie Troglia was spotted being ripped into by defensive coordinator Ernie James on the sidelines after blowing coverage on receivers multiple times. Asked about Troglia in the locker room after the game, James said "He needs to work on his technique, particularly his tackling. He's in the OSFL now - he's not going to get by with pure talent anymore."
The Totems' next preseason game will be at home against the Los Alamos monsters, where fans will receive a free Dakota Totems back massager emblazoned with the face and signature of former QB Roy Parrish.
"I'm glad we're playing Los Alamos at home," said WR Pat Donaghy "those guys are all gonna get sterile playing there 8 games a year. Except for boy Kevin Newman, he's got ***** like (expletive) watermelons." Newman and Donaghy played against each other in an NCAA championship game in 2020 between Donaghy's USC and Newman's Arizona State, where Donaghy's team triumphed in a 21-20 victory marred by a bench clearing brawl started after Newman drilled Donaghy coming over the middle.