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FRIDAY

PoNY: We started on D and got a quick break. That was the high point of the first half. PoNY scored on O and then reeled off three breaks in a row. Down 1-4, our offense finally got on the board. New York held serve and the half ended with PoNY up 5-8. We traded to 9-10 when Whit got a layout block and we broke to tie at 10-10. Trading again, Levy got a block and the break put us ahead 14-13. We received tied at 14-14 and worked it to the goal line, where we turned over. Beau ran down the ensuing huck but the receiver called a foul. The disc came back, and after a PoNY timeout the hard cap went on. New York scored for the win, 15-14.

Chain Lightning: This rivalry dates back to our first year as a team. Chain was missing a few of their players (Zip, Hammond(s), Dylan, etc...). We started on O and we were at last clicking. Our D followed with two breaks and we seemed to have shook off the rust. Chain got back one of the breaks before half, which we finished on O, 8-6. We traded until 10-8 when Ashlin got a D on a huck and we broke two in a row to 12-8. Chain got back a break and we pulled, up 14-11. Great dump defense by Rocky, and a strong mark by Tyler forced a turn on Chain's goalline. We punched it in for the win, 15-11.

Kie: Kie is a team from Colombia that we didn't know too much about. It turns out they like to huck and they're pretty good at it- but they use a cut that American teams avoid, straight away from the thrower down the line. We traded to 3-3 where we finally got a couple of breaks to lead 5-3. Pulling at 6-4, Reno got a layout block and we completed the break. Kie got a break back before half, 8-6. Kie got two breaks to our one in the second half, but the final was 15-13. Kie never lost energy during the game. They constantly sang, chanted and stormed the field. An inspirational opponent.

SATURDAY

Clapham United: This game had observers who also kept time. It significantly sped up the game. Clapham has Lorenz, a player from Switzerland who has played with the Condors. His lefty hucks are dangerous and he quickly got into the mix; throwing most of Clapham's first half goals. Clapham broke us at 1-1. We couldn't break back and we seemed to have caught a case of the dropsies. At 7-7 we forced several turns before we got the break for half 8-7. From the half our defense took over and added five breaks to finish the game, 15-9.

Goat: GOAT is a big team from Toronto, who loves to huck. Our offense held serve to 4-4, then we broke twice to 6-4. These two breaks were due to constant pressure from up-field defenders. When our defense turns it on it is really impressive. Once again before half the pressure increases and Martin gets a big D. Robbie hits Beau on a huck and we break to 8-5. Coming out of the half our offense is broken. Our defense is playing well and Schlag gets a big sky D between two GOAT receivers, but all half we are unable to convert. GOAT breaks four more times to force a double game point at 14-14. We pull and GOAT is able to work the disc down the field for the goal and the win, 15-14.

Kie: No time to dwell, the boys from Raleigh are up next. We break early to go up 2-1. They break back and finish the half on serve, 7-8. Our defense is having trouble forcing turns, but our offense is getting it done, carrying the team and holding out for the break. At 10-10, we finally get it to go up 11-10. We break twice more to get the win, 15-12. No notes on individuals from this game, but the constant team defense is responsible for wearing Ring down. As a side note Ken Porter, #00 for Ring, made three separate stunning plays each for goals.

SUNDAY

Quarterfinals—Johnny Bravo: This game featured our defense getting the disc. Levy gets a layout D to set up our first break to 2-1. There is a slight upwind-downwind developing. Bravo breaks back twice to lead 2-4. Birdman goes out and gets us a D, and we break back. Levy gets a footblock on the ensuing point and we've got another break, 5-4. At 7-5, TJ gets a block and we are working upwind in transition. Ryo leads Levy with a backhand from 35-yards out and we've got another break. Bravo is going upwind and Eric gets the D on a huck. Rocky sends a bomb downwind and we take half, 8-5. Bravo breaks our offense right out of half! 8-6. But the O goes back out and gets it done, using a lot of short stuff. Bravo is giving us a lot of room to come back to the disc, and we are being smart and using it. Jit gets a D on the ensuing point and we've got another break, 10-6. Wood gets a layout block but we give it back. Our offense is doing its job, they don't get broken the remainder of the game. Our defense is putting on good pressure. At 12-8, our defense creates 10 turnovers. We caused five turnovers... and gave back five turnovers. Birdman and Chapman are blowing by their men and getting layout blocks. Bravo finally gets the goal, and then we trade out, 15-11.

Semifinals—Sockeye: We start on defense and look a little tentative. Gehret takes off from the dump for the huck, and with Wood right on him, makes the tough grab. Sockeye is poaching into the middle of the field and we turn it, but get it back, but turn it again, but get it back, but we turn it again, 0-2. Our offense is a little disjointed against Sockeye's poachy defense, but our defense on the turns is strong, 1-2. The wind has picked up, it's 5-10 mph, upwind-downwind. Sockeye is going downwind and our defense is swarming. There is an in-cut to the break side and Chapman blows by for the layout block. Because there was a foul on the throw, Chappy gets to do it again. Sockeye turns it and Kim sends a big backhand upwind, it hangs up but Eric goes up big for the grab, 2-2. Sockeye gets the goal and we trade to 4-4. Our defense is everywhere and the pressure is wearing Sockeye down. We break to 5-4 and then to 7-4. At 7-5, our offense calmly scores to take half 8-5. Receiving the pull after the half, and with Robbie back, our offense defeats Sockeye's zone, 9-5. The offense goes and takes a seat while our defense rattles off five breaks. While there were many solid individual plays in that stretch (Eric gets a couple of layout D's), the pressure comes from the whole d-squad. In transition, our offense is relentless and Sockeye cannot stay with our cutters. At 14-5, Sockeye scores. Our offense calmly takes the field and ends it, 15-6.

Finals—Ironside: The finals are upwind-downwind, and we start by pulling upwind. Ironside (Boston) is new to us and our defense is a little unsure about just who they are covering. We quickly find out that one guy can throw it (Rebholz) and one guy can catch it (Graham). The teams are feeling each other out and our offense is patient with Boston's poaching defense and zones. We trade to 3-3, and Chapman gets the D on a huck to Graham. We turn it, but Beau gets another D, and we get the break 4-3. We trade again to 5-4, and Whit gets the D on an upwind huck. Boston plays a zone but we shred it for the break, 6-4. Boston gets a break to 7-7, and pulls upwind to our offense. We turn it over and Boston works it upwind, calling a timeout about 15-yards out of the endzone. After the timeout, they try to dump it, but it floats and Joel lays out past the receiver. We work it downfield and take half, 8-7.

We receive to start the second half and trade to 12-10. Mac and Wiseman are tough to stop downfield. Our pump fakes are keeping the downfield defenders off balance. Our marks are getting broken too much on defense, but Tyler gets a D and we convert the break to 13-10. Our defense is putting all kinds of pressure on Ironside, but we can't convert three turnovers. 13-11. Boston breaks our offense to 13-12. Cassidy is working downfield and finishes to Mac, 14-11. Our defense has one chance to end it, and just like the first point, Rebholz rips a backhand for the goal, 14-13. We work it downwind on offense with little pressure but turn it on the goalline, Boston converts, 14-14. The horn goes off and it's double game point. We work it upwind, and Cassidy sets up a big midfield cut. He takes the throw and sends a flick upwind to Iceman and the game is over, 15-14.

Chris McManus is coaching the 2009 Revolver campaign.