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+---- Thread: *A Look At One of The Star Rookies of Your S25 Ultimini Winning London Royals (/showthread.php?tid=25966)
*A Look At One of The Star Rookies of Your S25 Ultimini Winning London Royals - Doomraider - 09-23-2020
The Athletic
A Look At One of The Star Rookies of Your S25 Ultimini Winning London Royals
By Edmund Blackadder
23/9/2020
Well the DSFL season is over and your Ultimini champions are our very own London Royals. All around it was a quality season by our local boys. From the defense keeping the games winnable our unwindable for the other team and solid offense making big plays to take the day this team was destined to win the gold this year. All across the roster you could see special talent everywhere you looked. From star safety Tayshawn Crunk and Defensive End of the year Mattress Andrews on defense to legendary RB Danny King and soon to be legend Charlemagne Cortez on offense, this roster was nothing short of stunning. However there is one rookie in particular that I would like to single out and take a look at today. A small man with lightening quick feet from the island nation of Japan, it’s none other than our very own rookie RB of the year nominee Terry Yaki.
With a middling profile coming out Tampa, Florida at the University of South Florida, the young Yaki certainly did not blow anyone away and that showed with his late round draft to the royals. But this young rookie certainly did not want to keep it that way. Showing some decent play in the preseason behind veteran back Danny King the rookie seemed somewhat ready to play in a professional league. He would split carries with Batista in week 1 in what would become a legendary passing performance by Rookie QB Charlemagne Cortez that would earn him a nomination for rookie offensive performance of the year. It would not be until the next week in a loss against the Portland Pythons that Yaki would score his first touchdown in the pros, the only by the Royals that night. While the week 3 matchup against the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers turned into a shutout this was the week that the young rookie finally showed his ability to be a workhorse 3 down running back. Getting 81% of the carries and 67 yards against a solid Myrtle Beach defense he showed the first signs that he was more than just a 3rd down runner.
In week 4 it would be his breakout performance against out of conference rival the Dallas Birddogs that would finally prove he was above his late round draft pick. Having 84 yards on only 15 carries and touchdown on the night is a great showing on one’s first night as the featured back. The lad was really beginning to show what he was made of. However after this point he would once again begin to split carries with the veteran King who himself had some standout performances in the following weeks. It wouldn’t be until a matchup with the Minnesota Gray Ducks in week 8 that Yaki would regain his featured back status. Running for 91 yards on 17 carries the rookie pounds away at the Gray Ducks Defense to help secure a win in what would be another fantastic performance by Charlemagne Cortez. Huh there’s that name again, might have to give that chap his own article.
Yaki would continue to have solid showings even while splitting carries with King in the following weeks. Accruing vital touchdowns and yardage that would be needed as the season dwindled away and the playoffs grew ever closer. It was in a week 13 game that would evidently be the preview for the season 25 Ultimini against the Seawolves that Yaki would once again show that he was above his late round status. In a game that would become the very definition of ground and pound, the running back duo of King and Yaki ran a total of 48 times against the Seawolves defense for a whopping 209 yards. With Yaki getting the only TD between the two, along with 22 carries for 94 yards on the night, in a drive that was truly the highlight of the night. The Royals continually ran the ball down the opposing defense’s throat alternating between the two running backs with seemingly no answer and finally drove the nail in the coffin with a 2 yard touchdown dive by Terry Yaki. This night however would bring up another point of interest for after this night and with only one game remaining on the season Yaki needed only 62 yards rushing to break 1000 yards on the season.
He would get his opportunity the next week in a game with conference rival the Kansas City Coyotes that held major playoff implications. Needing only 62 yards Yaki would smash that with a 94 yard 1 touchdown win against the Coyotes that gave the Royals the number 1 seed and a ticket to the playoffs. Aided by his mentor and fellow RB King he gave another amazing performance when it really mattered. Thus the Royals were playoff bound and everything seemed to be going their way. But would the rookie running back have what it took to play big game football, in a playoff game against an opponent that the Royals could not beat in the regular season.
These qualms were quickly crushed when Yaki and the rest of the Royals put on a clinic against their conference rivals. Having only 15 carries but 122 yards Terry Yaki once again played his best when the team really needed it. His performance would be capped of with an amazing 52 yard touchdown as he turned on his patented speed and ran through the entire Portland defense. With that big play and and solid showing by the rest of the Royals they were ready to taste the rarified air of the Ultimini. In what would be a stunning upset against the number one ranked team in the league the Royals rose to the occasion and claimed their first Ultimini. While his better half in Danny King would steal the night with his 2 touchdown performance Yaki continued to prove his doubters wrong with 99 yards on 18 carries, the highest of any running back on the night. He had done it. After having traveled all over the world, from Osaka to Tampa and from there to here in merry old England, Terry Yaki had done what he had set out to do win a championship.
With the ISFL draft quickly approaching many are wondering whether the rookie will be picked up by one of the twelve teams or whether he would stay one more year with his lads here in London. Looking at his performance all season I would have to say while the rookie wows, I think he should be left to take his time and develop in the DSFL for one last season. He is a very raw talent, with speed that can excite and 3 down back potential. However there were still many performances where his small stature and strength hindered him. A team looking for a back that can force his way through a line will not find Yaki to their benefit, at least not at the moment. I see great potential in the rookie and I think he has much to look forward too. Regardless of whether he stays in London for one more season or gets drafted to the big leagues in the ISFL I can’t wait to see more of this samurai from Japan.
Stay tuned here with the athletic for more articles and information on your London Royals.
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RE: A Look At One of The Star Rookies of Your S25 Ultimini Winning London Royals - Yeenoghu - 09-24-2020
Thanks Terry, we couldn’t have done it without you.
