Brenner Furlong
While Soldotna’s Brenner Furlong is winding down at Dakota State University, Anchorage’s Ja’Sem Atonio is just getting ramped up.
It’s too bad the senior running back and freshman quarterback are going in different directions because the Alaskans have been in sync when both are on the field.
In their four games together, they have combined to score nine touchdowns, including one Alaskan-to-Alaskan connection through the air.
Both guys scored in Dakota State’s 53-15 victory over Iowa Wesleyan in the NAIA’s North Star Athletic Association.
Furlong, of Soldotna High fame, is having a career year in the backfield. He has scored a career-high four touchdowns and averaged a career-high 59.3 rushing yards per game, which doubled his previous high of 29.7 set in 2019.
Ja’Sem Atonio
Furlong is closing in on the 1,000-yard benchmark for his career, sitting at 887 with at least two games left.
He ran for 43 yards on 15 carries against Iowa Wesleyan, scoring on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
Furlong has scored eight career TDs – six rushing, one receiving and one on special teams.
His long receiving touchdown came courtesy of Atonio, who connected with the fellow Alaskan from 17 yards out in his first college game under center.
Atonio, of East High fame, has led Dakota State to back-to-back wins after starting 0-2.
The southpaw signal caller has completed 52-of-88 pass attempts for 586 yards and three touchdowns.
He has also rushed for three scores, including two against Waldorf.
