The Week That Was

The first game week of the season began with the announcement of the first depth chart. The number take away was the designation of both Mannion & Mond as the backup. When it was announced Friday that Kirk Cousins contracted the China Virus the tie got that much more attention. That solidified the chance for the pair to get even more time on the field. ICYMI, here are the thoughts about the game.

Two more small steps toward the season occurred this week as the 🏈 team received 52 of 54 votes to remain where they ended last season - atop the subdivision. The next day they and several of the other Fall athletes took some time to interact with fans.

Just ahead of the weekend ⚽️ hit the pitch for an easy exhibition win against Viterbo.

As the first week of preseason action happened the best alumni started making waves. Trey Lance was responsible for the biggest as the anticipated visit to his home state got a wet blanket with reporting that he won't be playing in the second preseason game. On the other end of the spectrum, Darrius Shepherd was signed by Denver after a good Spring season and then reeled in a pair of passes against Dallas, who was playing without Jabril Cox. As the week wound-down Cordell Volson got his first reps with the 1s in Cincinnati and all but assures that he will get significant opportunity for the runner-up this eason!

🤼 coach Kris Nelson was named a finalist for the Coaches Association Excellence award. That came after 75 competitors from across all three seasons were announced as Academic Achievement honorees.

The week also included the opening practices of the year!

As the highly-anticipated season draws ever-nearer Minnesota continues to make moves, this week through the addition of two more Denverites. Jon Wallace was brought over to head player personnel as well as the Iowa squad while Tim Connelly's brother Joe will be in charge of scouting. It should come as little surprise that the new boss would bring on people he's familiar with, now comes the waiting game to see how much improvement they can bring to the organization.

The fade is in full effect. After leading for most of the season and making a surprising number of additions at the deadline the team has fallen off the edge. They are now merely a tie-breaker ahead of Chicago & looking up at Cleveland. The only bright spot that could be found this week was Luis Arraez finishing another three-hit night with his 127th, a career high. They now face the real possibility of becoming an after-thought for the discerning sports fans.

The Birds started weakly, losing two of their first three to the floundering Dogs of Lincoln only to storm back with a broom-show against the top team in the East, Chicago. They will look to improve upon their lead in the West, three up on Kansas City & six ahead of Winnipeg, with four more at home against Sioux Falls to start this week and then rolling to Chi-town.

Reminder that scores and recruiting news are added continually so check back often!

Now for this week's highlights

It began with another big-time commitment as Davies/Post 400 junior pitcher Drew Rerick chose a school from one of the top conferences in the country!

⚽️ then took the baton as they always do with mixed results amongst the East/West clashes.

The season previews continued to drop. In addition to Shanley, Horace & Kindred checked in as the season is just days away!

Summer may be in it's final weeks but the local youth teams are not letting it go out quietly. In Indianapolis the Little Leaguers advanced to the semi-finals where they came up a run short against the champions from Iowa. The latest player to standout from the crowd was Henry Schrum as he baffled batters while dominating in the box, including a 7-RBI performance against Coon Rapids Tuesday. Their potential heirs to continuing the rapidly-developing tradition of success made it to the Cal Ripken World Series but were downed in consecutive contests. That left both of the Fargos to hold it down in Williston at the Babe Ruth WS. Tallahassee edged the Westerners in the third game of the opening day but the original took down the hosts to finish it. West was dropped hard by Tri-Valley in their second game while Fargo's boys came up a couple runs short Sunday as well.