(S8) - PT 4 - Rivalry

[GoonerBear]

One DSFL rivalry that continues on now with roots in college is the rivalry between linebackers Kolby Deringer of the Kansas City Coyotes and Jesse Marchand of the San Antonio Marshals. With the two teams perched as leaders of their respective conferences 8 games in at the time of writing and having split two one-possession games between them, the Coyotes-Marshals tension finds one focal point between their drafted rookies.

Deringer and Marchand have history that predates their DSFL showdowns. They faced off annually in the Big 12 in games pitting the Universities of Texas and Kansas against one another. Despite the deep, rich history of Texas football on the whole and the bevy of talent recruited to Austin, the Jayhawks held their own in these games with the Longhorns in a time of transition back to their former glory. Though the Kansas football program was not historically or presently strong, they had their occasional high-talent players like Marchand who could turn the tides of any game. Marchand and Deringer split these games 2-2, with Kansas winning their freshman and junior seasons and Texas winning their sophomore and senior seasons. At the end of their senior season, Deringer tagged Marchand upon uploading a selfie with the Big 12 championship trophy.

These two jostled a bit at each other over social media on DSFL Draft night as well. Deringer offered a backhanded congratulations that night after Marchand was selected last among the four linebackers who entered. Marchand has since retaliated with the Marshals' better season than the Coyotes thus far. He has also brought up with Deringer how he leads the DSFL in tackles with 70 at the 8-game mark and, even accounting for games started, still outpaces Deringer's production. An Ultimini between San Antonio and Kansas City would provide yet another opportunity for this rivalry to grow and write another chapter.

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