Preseason Weeks 1 and 2 Complete (This time with injuries off)

[joe the commissioner]

thanks everyone for resubmitting... I'll do week 3 tomorrow. As far as getting us back on schedule, I've released a poll so please vote on that.

[joe the commissioner]

So apparently not everyone can see the poll... your two options are:

(1) I do the midweek prior to Regular Season Week 1 on Sunday

or

(2) I combine preseason weeks 4 and 5 (with injuries off) on Friday.

[rgvicedo]

Ogres Set Tone in Preseason Win Over Whalers
Horsetooth, CO — Exhibition Week 2

The Horsetooth Ogres used a determined defensive surge and a handful of explosive plays to pull away from the Hartford Whalers in a crisp preseason showing on a warm evening at Ogres Field.

Hartford opened the night with confidence, piecing together an efficient touchdown drive and adding a quick field goal to seize early control. Horsetooth steadied things behind kicker Bryant Page, who chipped away at the deficit with two first-half field goals, but the breakthrough came late in the second quarter. Giovanni Tresca uncorked a deep strike to Matt Hammes, who broke free and sprinted in for a long touchdown that flipped momentum just before halftime.

The Ogres carried that energy into the third quarter, where the defense delivered the night’s signature moment. Linebacker Cody Doyle read Caden Barlow’s pass perfectly, jumped the route, and rumbled back for a pick-six that electrified the stadium and swung full control to Horsetooth. Tresca added another touchdown pass before the quarter closed, pushing the Ogres comfortably ahead.

From there, Horsetooth leaned on the power run game, with Kenneth Venable grinding out yards and helping Page add two more field goals in the fourth as the Ogres managed the clock with ease. Hartford continued to move the ball but stalled repeatedly, undone by turnovers, long-yardage situations, and improved Ogres coverage downfield.

For a preseason tilt, Horsetooth got exactly what it wanted: resilience after a slow start, explosive offensive flashes, and a defense led by Doyle that tightened when it mattered. The Whalers showed early promise, but the Ogres’ second-half surge sealed a convincing August performance at home.