College Football is here! Loyola-Istria travel to Elephant Valley with loaded expectations
ISTRIA, MORAVICA- College football, indeed, is back. You know it is- you're talking smack to your friends, dusting off your old college gear, making sure that it still fits (get a jog in folks!) It's a beautiful sport, indeed. And if you are a Loyola-Istria fan, there's no way around it- you think your brightest days are in front of you. "We haven't had this kind of hype for Loyola in a number of years." Said the play-by-play radio announcer for Loyola football, who is Istria's top radio show personality. "I mean obviously, the talent has really always been there with this team. You see how we recruit, you see how we put dudes in the pros, you see how our alumni are wrecking it at the World Bowl. But those playoff wins last year, that playoff win in Ranoria... That sent something through the fanbase. We've all collectively forgotten the FSU loss- things are lining up."
When your offense is looking as good as this one is going to, then you can understand the newfound confidence and swagger of the Blue Thunder faithful. The passing attack is going to be insane. Anne-Maurice Vavayavich is an underdog contender for the Most Outstanding Player award- not quite under the radar, per say, but the senior Quarterback is not the odds-on favorite- unless you are talking to someone affiliated with the team. "Look, I've seen her at training camp- she's been balling out." Said the head coach, Dennis Zervos. "You talked a QB who follows the long line of great QBs we've had here at this school... She's gonna ball out. These WRs. The weapons she has. Everybody's gonna eat."
Everybody's going to eat, indeed. To show, Loyola challenged themselves- flying off to New Gesem for the final week of training camp, for joint practices with the GCAA champions, Eriksberg University(of course, they beat both New Gesemite schools in domestic play, showing their talent level). The head coach described it as a 'learning opportunity'. "Look, Eriksberg U is definitely a talented school- national champions." Zervos told reporters. "We have a tough schedule this year- this is a way to ensure that we start fast." Of course, like with most joint practices, there was plenty of fighting. But competition was fierce, and different players stood out.
Who really stood out? A-MV stood out, of course. Arnas Rønning, the team's listed WR2, had a fantatsic week of joint practices. Ken Geode had a particularly good time at the joint practices as well- going viral on social media after making a one-handed interception. There is worry about the CB2 position- Ulu Niazi, the listed starting CB2, went viral on social media for getting put on a spin cycle by a Eriksberg receiver. "The practices allow us to see different kinds of competition, because we get used to each other." Zervos told reporters. "The camaraderie of going to a foreign college town for a week. Playing against different competition. Seeing things you aren't used to seeing. We start the season with back to back trips to South Newlandia- this will help us prepare for that."
The schedule does not do Loyola any favors. With the Quebecois schools joining the Celestia, it's a loaded schedule- the Savannah Division remaining the same, alongside the Quebecois schools joining Hankow State in the opposite division. "Re-gaining the conference championship is going to be a challenge- but the Celestia always is." Zervos told reporters. "I don't expect anything different." That schedule is certainly going to be a challenge. Opening two games in South Newlandia. Trips to Hankow State and Saguenay both. NMU twice. And that's just the Celestia slate.
"We've got to take things a game at a time." Zervos told reporters. And he is right. Last year, both South Newlandian schools swept Loyola- so despite their semifinal appearance, the Blue Thunder know they have plenty of work to do. "By all accounts, we'll be the underdogs on Friday night against the Red Elephants, as we should be." He told reporters. "But it's up to us to change that narrative, and get ourselves to 1-0." Those opening two road games will tell us a lot- has this team actually turned a corner? Or was last year just an abberation?
NMU is licking their chops- the reigning conference champs look to pound their way back to the conference championship game
HERZEGOVINA CITY, MORAVICA- Loyola-Istria jetted all the way to New Gesem for their week of joint practices. Northern Moravica chose to go a different route. Forgo joint practices, and play a pro-style preseason game against a forgotten rival- the University of Moravica. A true preseason game- referees, crowd, QB hitting, uncontrollable situations, the whole 9 yards. It was great for fans to watch- obviously, you didn't have four quarters of starters, but lots of playing time for some players who maybe are still a year away from playing. And, for NMU fans, their first time seeing Levi Ayange.
Ayange was named the team's starter the day before the preseason game- a good tactic by Kabuye. And what we saw, of course, was limited- he didn't want to give anything away. But Ayange looked good. Game manager type? Yes. But he was accurate, he was a leader in the huddle and on the field, and he showed plenty of mobility- not something you see a lot from Northern Moravica QBs. Now, of course, the cons? His deep ball could certainly use some work. He had Tyler Geese open on a fly route, but underthrew him by about five yards- it was a miracle that the pass wasn't intercepted.
He also had Kimi Lundin open on a post for about a 30 yard touchdown, but sailed the throw behind the Vanorian tight end. "There were a lot of things that we saw today from Ayange- some good, some not so much." Said the head coach, Lance Kabuye. "But we're confident in him. He's got all the tools we need to have success this season." And that success will come from the running game. The top two HBs each only played on one drive, with the lower depth chart guys getting the lions' share of the carries. But the running game looked impressive, regardless.
Despite winning the conference and a playoff game last year, NMU comes into this season with a sour taste in their mouths. First time being swept by Loyola last season. Blowout playoff loss at home to FSU. The feeling up north is that things could have been so much better. And NMU is determined to make it so. They seem to ease into the schedule, with four of the first five games at home- not leaving the country until a week 6 trip to Sum Tash. Those home games aren't gimmes, of course- but it's not unreasonable for them to think they can start at least 5-1- with 6-0 the goal.
"They dominated the Celestia last year, with both conference losses to Loyola." Said a NMU tv analyst. "They'll look to continue that winning streak at home against RUoN. "A couple of noon kicks will see NMU as big favorites early on, and starting anything other than 2-0 would be a big-time disappointment before an always challenging trip to the Istria Lightning Yard. All eyes are on that first trip to the Lightning Yard, where we lost 63-7 last year- but the SNL schools have consistently shown they cannot be overlooked in this division." This analyst told reporters. And he's right. It'll be strength v. strength, but if NMU can establish the run at home, not make Ayange do too much, and have the play-action ready - then they should be able to be successful."
Is a 1-0 record in their future? Or will Ratzupalfu declare their intentions in Herzegovina City to win this division?
