Wednesday, October 10th, 2007
Regionals 2007: survive, dry off, and advance
Finish: 2nd, 15-16 finals loss to Doublewide; qualify for Nationals
UPA South Open Regional results
click on photo to see larger version; shot by Chad Borer
…And now, your 2007 South Region Sagarin/BCS/RRI* champs, Chained** Lightning. Only a single 1 point loss mars the record sheet otherwise adorned with dominating double-digit victories. As soon as the mud-caked trophy is located and washed off, a picture with the happy victors will be posted.
(*computer ranking, with margin of victory in other games accounting for the Chain advantage)
(**kidding)
Seriously, though, congratulations to a resilient Doublewide for rallying to take the regional championship title back to Texas. After failing to make Nationals last year, they did what it took in a spirited, intense, back-and-forth game to take this year’s top spot.
1st round: Chain def. Ninja Turtles 15-2
In a game of streaks, Chain ran off the last 13 to cruise to victory over a very young turtles team, as everyone started to become familiar with which were the deepest patches of standing water on the fields.
2nd round: Chain def. Dallas Grit 15-3
An intense, tournament-ready D, sparked by multiple rookie layout blocks, started to show itself for the first time all season in this one, with no let up after a strong start. The weather was alternating between downpour and steamy sunshine, followed by harder downpour.
Semis: Chain def. El Diablo 15-3
In vivid contrast to our two earlier meetings with sectional foes El Diablo, each finishing 15-11, Chain totally controlled this meeting. El Diablo was coming off an extremely tight contest in the previous game, and the Chain defense began the game with three fast breaks before a 20-30 minute break to let lightning pass through. Little changed when the game resumed, and the soggy conditions were not friendly to offenses trying to mount comebacks. The game finished quickly, and Chain Lightning left the fields Saturday loving the slop and having barely been challenged.
Finals: Doublewide def. Chain 16-15
Sunday morning held no rain, but it was windier than the day before, with the field a slow track from absorbing so much water (though considering the amount of rain, the fields, relatively, held up well). Chain got out of the gates quickly, forging a 4-1 lead, only to have Doublewide surge back to take a 6-5 lead after several unforced errors by careless Atlanta throwers (it would be a trend), errors which DW efficiently converted for goals with its strong D-team offense. Doublewide took half 8-6 and received to start the 2nd half. That lead was quickly erased, however, when the defense, led by the play of Josh Ziperstein, did just what veteran John Hammond said it would during the halftime huddle, ratcheting up the pressure and scoring the first 2 goals. The teams traded until around 11-11, Chain finally taking the lead at 12-11.
At 13-12, a bit of bad luck: Chain on offense, a long, very high pass went downfield with Greg Swanson eventually outreading two DW defenders for the catch just outside the goal. Swanson then threw the short pass to wide-open Josh Markette for the 14-12 lead in the game to 15. One thing though, Markette’s defender had called a foul (with no contest from Josh), perhaps having gotten his legs tangled - so disc back to Swanson, still in a position for an easy score. Crawford Shippey ends up with a dump pass and throws to an open Markette, only AJ Tiarsmith happened to be starting a cut right then, in front of Markette. AJ pulled his hand back from attempting a catch for the goal and in the next split-second, Markette, caught off-guard, also didn’t go for the catch, and the disc landed softly in the endzone, waiting for a relieved Doublewide to work it the other way quickly for the tying score and a 2 goal swing.
DW scored next after getting another turnover with their tight upwind zone, Texans 14-13. Chain answered on offense to tie at 14s (game now being played straight to 16), then punched in a goal on D to take a 15-14 lead. Doublewide scored upwind to tie, leading to double game point, Chain Lightning receiving. Again employing a zone, Doublewide forced a turnover on a short throw up the sideline, then flowed downfield for the score and the clutch win, 16-15.
Game for 2nd place: Chain def. Vicious Cycle 15-2
To their credit, severely disappointed Chain players set aside the emotions from losing in the finals, and this one was over as soon as it started. It’s hard to imagine a margin this big in a game to go to Nationals, but once Atlanta started strong, it was likely hard for the collegian-filled Vicious Cycle to believe the upset could happen.
