Even while the team is on their break they made some news by trading Stephen Weatherly to Denver along with a 2023 7th round pick for a seven in the next draft. It was effectively a salary dump of a guy who had been a non-factor this season and simultaneously gets back a bit of the lost compensation from the latest reactionary training camp trade. It also opens up a few snaps a game for one of the younger defensive lineman but I think that's the most insignificant part of the move.
A few days prior to the beginning of the week's competition Cordell Volson was named Conference OL of the Week a distinction which may help his already solid standing with talent evaluators. The same scouts who helped the current contingent get to the highest level of the game.
When the games began it was less positive. 🏐 went to Tulsa but ended Thursday with a 3 - 1 loss. It wasn't any better two days later at Kansas City shut them out. In-between ⚽️ hosted Omaha and that one finished 4 - 0 in favor of the visitors. As they left the field Sunday it was the same difference, except in Denvers favor.
Which just leaves the 🏈 game.
Moorhead State's weekend began with a 1 - 0 ⚽️ win over Winona thanks to one kick by Anna Steadland in the second half. Despite more than doubling their shot total, Winona became the first team to lose to Moorhead this season.
🏐 played the first of their two contests this weekend against Duluth. They followed the shutout defeat with a 3-1 loss against St. Cloud. It wasn't much better in Nebraska as the men's & women's cross country managed eighth & ninth place respectively.
🏈 did their best to salvage the weekend against Mary. The two-win marauders made a strong effort for their third W and if not for a four minute drive late in the fourth quarter very well may have went West with such an accomplishment. Even when the win seemed secure there proved to be drama that Mary a chance to have their own game-winning drive but the defense did enough to prevent the Hail Mary from connecting. It's a win they were supposed to get but the way it happened could prove to be more of a building block than anyone would have guessed ahead of time.
Which only left ⚽️ Sunday. They were back on the field against Upper Iowa but when time expired the Peacocks were ahead 2 - 0.
The Corn rolled up hill to start the week when it was announced that senior LB Noah Jenson was selected for the national D3 Players of the Week list after his touchdown return and general dominance against Bethel.
They kept rolling when Morris came to town Tuesday. It took a four-set comeback but the Maroon managed their second win a row 3 - 1. Then the week began to turn. A Friday showdown against Gustavus capped it at 2 wins in shutout fashion and Saturday against St. Olaf wasn't any better.
🏈 concluded the non-divisional portion of their schedule against Carleton. After taking a 21 - 7 lead into the locker room Concordia gave up 14 in the fourth quarter & lost by an extra point in overtime. It's the sort of heart breaker that could propel them to a 2-win season or with all the youth on the roster could be the catalyst for future successes, the answer will become clear with time!
Through two games against teams that seem likely to finish high in the next draft lottery, Minnesota has managed to take care of business. In the season opener they showed that the backend of the roster would still be a liability if pressed into long stretches but the main guys had built enough cushion to avoid the loss. Then the first of two against New Orleans proved to be a grind-it-out game which showed the sort of grit that Patrick Beverly may have already helped instill in his teammates. It'll be interesting to see how the two teams adjust to each other in the rematch Monday night and that goes extra for Towns who fouled out early Saturday night.
A Minnesota castoff played a major role in propelling Atlanta to the ⚾️ championship series. Yeah, Eddie Rosario - the MVP of the Conference Championship - gave a taste of what was lost. Brace yourselves because Byron Buxton may one-up that in the not-too-distant future...
In-between contests the Bolts announced a bit of recognition for one of their rookies, Cole Knuble. He is included on a pro player watchlist for upcoming draft. They've had plenty of high-level college talent come through but this could prove to be a step beyond that.
Then came the first road set of the season. To put it simple, it could use a redo. Friday night Omaha won going away, 4 - 1. Fargo jumped out a 2 - 0 lead in the rematch but then surrender three in the second period. They answered early in the third but the tie was broken minutes later with the final score of the night to give Omaha a 4 - 3 victory.
The Bolts will be back on home ice for the next two weekends against that Omaha team & Waterloo in between.
In a bit of unexpected October news by the Birds, they sent Correlle Prime & Dylan Kelly to Milwaukee for catcher Christian Correa. They'll now have as potent a 1-2 of catchers as any team in the Association. So they'll need to find a replacement for Prime at first but considering the recent track record of accruing talent that's quite feasible!
Reminder that scores are added daily, so check back often.
But now for the highlights
Moorhead started a great week with a first place finish by their girls XC in Bemidji while their boys collectively finished a few spots off the lead. Isaac Martel did continue his tremendous Fall crossing the line behind only one runner but the girls best was seventh place and six of the top 25.
A day later their boys ⚽️ hosted a section semi-final against Sartell. The shutout victory set them up against St. Michael/Albertville, one of two teams to get the better of them this season. It took the maximum amount of time to determine the champion but the shootout finished in their favor. They'll go against #2 seeded Duluth East Wednesday at 5:30 on Irondale HS's field.
Thursday also began the ushering in of more postseason 🏈. South finished the regular season on a high note against Central and Sheyenne completed it's second straight undefeated regular season against Davies. With the outcomes they, along with North, Shanley & West Fargo secured home games in the first round. It will be Minot, Mandan & Legacy for the AAA schools while Wahpeton will be on the North side & Dickinson will be at South.
The next phase of Moorhead's title defense will commence Saturday against the winner of Alexandria & Sartell on home turf. D/G/F also earned a first round bye & will get the winner of Thief River Falls & East Grand Forks Saturday. Park Christian will have to win Tuesday to advance, they have a date at Ulen/Hitterdal/NCE.
As for the playoff action already underway, Kindred, Casselton & Hillsboro all advanced. The latter pair will get each other in the second round up I29.
The weekend also brought a volume of 🏐 to the Tater gym. A seventh place finish by D/G/F accompanied an event win by Moorhead over Willmar. It served as a precursor to the announcement for Minnesota's tournaments. Moorhead, D/G/F, Barnesville & Hawley are all set to host as the tournaments get underway Wednesday.
In special alumni news, Moorhead's weightlifting wunderkind Chris D’Agostino finished second at the Junior Pan American Championships. It stands to reason that this won't be the last high achievement he manages!
Comments