East Plains Sectional Championships - Day 1

Is there a College Ultimate weekend more exciting than Sectionals? I submit that there is not!

OK, there might be, but there's just something so beautiful about the kick-off to the College Series that's hard to articulate in words. But there's just something about it for a team like Ghetto Force, where in 2006, the program (playing mixed) managed just one win, against Ohio State-B, on Universe point. The very next year, the team showed up to the most miserable conditions in Versailles, OH, only to take the 5th of 6 bids to the Great Lakes Regional Championships. This year, of all things, Dayton came into the Sectional Championships as the 3rd overall seed (of 25...the nation's largest sectional) and the number 1 seed in Pool C. To many people's surprise, it seemed as though Ghetto Force sort of came out of no where....how all of a sudden had this team become the 3rd seed in this sectional? And did they really deserve it?? Many voiced opinions that clearly stated that Dayton's 3rd seeding, all though currently well coached and hosting a crop of young talent, would quickly be dethroned by the Ohio U or the like.

Nonetheless, there were a plethora of enthralling story lines all unfolding this weekend. From one of the Region's best handlers, Miami's Matt Mastrantuono, playing in his last college series, to the amazing uprise of a youthful Xavier program, looking to making Regionals, the East Plains provided a host of fun, strong, and intense matchups.

Dayton, holding the #3 seed overall, quickly looked at the 7 bids the Sectional would be getting, and firmly decided that holding or beating the seed were the only options. Slipping further down the list and succumbing to a lower finish (but still squeaking into Regionals) would not suffice. Last year was the time for thinking like that. Ghetto last year was just happy to get to Regionals. This year, Ghetto wanted to go and make an impact. And in order to do so, Dayton would have to finish as high as possible, in order to aptly establish a positive seed heading into Detroit. Many doubted, Ghetto believed. It could be done, it would be done.

Round 1, Dayton v. West Virginia - Wearing their sharp yellow jerseys, the Pool C 3rd seed of West Virginia unknowingly stepping into an early morning bear trap. Dayton-X, who had played WV at Romp in the Swamp, fell upon an untimely Sunday loss to WV to end their tourny weekend. Can anyone say revenge? No losses would be taken today. Ghetto awoke with an intense passion to gorge on the Pittsnogle Groupies (not the real team name) and to make an early Saturday point - Ghetto was here, and was here to give the business. Utilizing some much needed Foor family resting, Butters and The Haymaker arose with the intention of inflicting pain. With that intention, Butters dropped a sick 4 D's, 2 scores, and 1 assist in his first outing of the day. Mr Snuff, not to be outdone, decided to run around a little bit, and go ahead and score 4 goals and chip in a D of his own. Riding the back of a full team showing, Ghetto indulged in a freshly cooked early morning breakfast of champions, romping WV 15-3.

Round 2, Dayton v. Walsh - I love this crew. The Walsh guys, in their first ever semester of play, are rocking. Sure, they're still learning, a bit rough around the edges no doubt, but the passion and enjoyment is definitely there. Their attitudes are great, and they're out on the field looking to learn, compete, and have fun. Can you ask for more? Not only do they play tough, but they have team matching shorts....they're all set for National Championship dress regulations! It was a pretty straightforward game. Dayton brought a rough Man-D, and took full advantage of miscues and poorly placed hucks. Those turns turned quickly into scores and Dayton rolled swiftly to a full team decisive 15-3 win. It is worthwhile to note, that the boys of Walsh have obviously been raised well. At one point, The Show took an inadvertent pivoting elbow to the nose. With blood anxiously scurrying from his model-esque nostrils, Anderson had to leave the field, pissed about the elbow to the face, and pissed that his beautiful looks could be tainted. Who comes over to Mark in his time of need? None other than the Walsh-elbow-throwing-player's mother, with ice and cotton puffs in hand. Does it get any better?

Round 3, Dayton v. Denison - As a constant rival of years past, Denison has been known to give UD good games. One in particular was in the Spring of 2006, when the two teams went head-to-head for some Wright State tournament title. The game was close the whole way and ended up being won by Dayton, by a mere two points. Denison is fronted by strong handler/cutter Cory Hylton, and in general seems to have strong teams and a growing program. We'd roughly been aware of Denison at the OWU EMR Memorial tournament, unfortunately, our paths had not crossed, and Dayton would not see Denison in the Spring of 2008 till Sectionals. As the 1:30 start time commenced, it quickly became apparent that Ghetto was in complete control. Starting the game with a massive ankle-breaking fake out to simple swinging up wind score, the first point showcased Dayton's ability to quickly work over the Denison defense. The rest of the game would follow suit. Denison gave up 3 caught D's to FoorMoney, which helped translate into 3 caught scores from the K-State Killer. However, their strong showings were quickly overshadowed as the unveiling of The Family Connection was issued. Baybay and cousin (first year player) Pegasaurus connected for the assist and score on 4 separate occasions in this game. The Family Connection, coupled with a wealth of d's and Denison turnovers, helped fuel a 2nd half OATBAG and sound beating of 15-1. It's hard to say what's happened to former rival Denison. It wasn't long ago that these two teams had close games and a tight rivalry. Has the Denison program gone downward? Some may argue so. However, DFUC managed to pull a winning record of 3-2 in pool play....so it's hard to say if that's really the case. Perhaps the elevated Dayton program is really what it all comes down to.

Round 4, Dayton v. Bowling Green - BGSU, like Denison, has been a consistent program over recent years, of which Dayton has managed to butt heads with on numerous occasions. All though there seemed to be players in attendance for BG that may or may not have been eligible, bottom line was clear, Dayton was just one win shy from a perfect first day. To secure a spot in the Championship Bracket, Ghetto Force would need to play hard and fight well against the Pool C 2nd seed. BG, looking to make a fierce run to Regionals, obviously, would provide the stiffest and most competitive competition of the first day.

With things running smoothly for the first three games of the day, Ghetto surely knew the last Saturday game would be filled with excitement (new team motto - keep it exciting). However, none of the players, fans, or onlooking teams could have imagined what would ensue.

Dayton started out on top, initially taking the lead at 6-3. However, as if catching Dayton off guard, BG began to hit on consistent deep throws, confusing the Ghetto D. Moreover, relying on the strength of their predominant handlers, BG managed to continually run efficient offensive points and regularly convert on poor Dayton turnovers (the full team combined for an atrocious 18 this game). With half coming and going, it suddenly appeared as though Ghetto had lost control of the game, without knowing it! With Miami, the B-pool winners, finishing early and coming over to watch, it was to their surprise that upon arrival, they found their expected future opponent, in the University of Dayton, losing. Not just losing, but down by multiple scores, and seemingly out of gas.

Ghetto Force's sidelines were in shock. The on-field Ghetto players were in shock. And lastly, everyone watching quickly began to feel the presence of an astonishing upset quickly coming. With the Ghetto players already sweating blood, the far off sound of an air horn quickly signified a new dimension of pressure - the cap had sounded. As opposed to 15, the game had quickly added 2, and would be promptly finished at 13. Current score, BG 11, Ghetto 9.

Ghetto, receiving the pull, focused on getting one point at a time. The game, still faintly in reach, would have to start with a straight forward offensive possession. With some meticulous swinging and fierce in-cutting, Ghetto managed to punch in the offensive point, bringing the game to 11-10. Captain Corcoran, emphasizing focus and all out defense, rallied the troops to bring the pain on D. It would be an absolutely crucial moment, Ghetto HAD to get a D.

It didn't happen. As they had throughout the whole game, BG kept it's composure and punched in another score to bring it to game point. Ghetto was quickly seeing it's Top 3 finish at Sectionals being dashed. At 12-10, the insurmountable task of rattling off 3 scores in a row seemed to be too much.

With palms sweating and family members turning red in the face (literally), the pressure had amounted to heights unknown. In front of absolutely shocked players (namely the Miami crew that stayed around), Dayton received the pull, taking offense. Somehow, with tension building, Ghetto managed to get a timely score, keeping the hopes of a comeback still faintly alive.

At 12-11, Ghetto was completely at do-or-die. The D-line would have to make it happen, otherwise, the day would be done. With such promise at the start of the day, Ghetto was quickly beginning to envision the awful nature the rest of the day/night/weekend would take. This wasn't how things were supposed to play out, and the D-line committed to not giving up.

Pulling to BG, the D established. As the BG offense swung and moved the disc, everyone focused on what seemed to be an eternity of a point....when all of a sudden, the disc was on the ground. Either from a tough mark, or tough man D, a turn had been forced. Ghetto would establish the key handlers and, as talked about on the line, patiently work the in cuts and punch a score in the endzone. The first part of this plan seemed to be fulfilled aptly, as the disc was worked downfield with little hesitation. As Ghetto approached the endzone, it seemed like every player was holding their breath....with so many turns throughout the game, many on the endzone, would Ghetto stab themselves in the foot again? Yes! Everyone knows how Ghetto loves to keep things exciting, and exciting is an understatement. As an outside-in flick down the sideline missed the target, it seemed as though Ghetto had again foolishly missed the mark. That was until Brendan Corboy, the consummate professional of oral skills, called for the man, the legend Travis Knight. Mr. T, who had been looked off, was clearing out, when, by some source of wizardry, the disc was making a b-line for his, and his defender's, backs. Travis, reacting to the plea for help, turned to find the forehand approaching his unknowing defender. T, as the hardest worker in show biz, decided to give the people what they came for. Unleashing all fury, Travis lit fireworks for the onlookers, making a u-turn on a dime, and somehow managing to dive over his defender to save the disc, the score, and the game. As the sidelines rushed the field, it again was Mr. T, who, like a semi-truck driver, used the clutch and came through huge. The high fives were aplenty, and the emotions were flowing.

But the job wasn't done.

Dayton, through tenacity, some luck, and sheer will, was somehow still in the game. With things all tied at 12-12, Dayton again would be forced to bring the Universe D-line (for the 4th Universe point in just 7 days). The guys standing on the endzone line, prepared to attempt the unthinkable, seemed like old pros at the universe point thing...something like 4 of the guys, had been on every single Universe line to that point, and up till Saturday the 5th, were batting a thousand and had taken down and won the first 3 universe point games.

This was different though. BG would be pulled to, with the opportunity to control the disc and have the chance to immediately put it away. Furthermore, it seemed as though BG surely wouldn't let another opportunity slip away. And as the point began, it seemed as though BG would have it that way. They marched, and marched, and marched. Within 10 yards of the Dayton endzone, again, as if by some good karma, a turn was forced by shutting down the in-cuts and strengthening the marks. Dayton, with the disc lying on the ground, knew what it was about to do. All Dayton needed was to swing, hit the in-cuts, swing some more, and repeat, until the opposing endzone was reached. With two swings completed, the disc was found on the flick side, where as if by some horrendous karma, it was turfed badly. The players and onlookers all felt the tension increase. Unbelievably, Dayton had somehow come back from 12-10, and made it 12-12, then forced a turnover to get the disc on universe point - and given it right back.

With BG threatening, the look on every Dayton player's face was disbelief. How had they come so far, and managed to give the disc to BG with no more than 20 yards to get to the endzone?!? The O and D set up and BG began to work the disc again, determined not to slip up. As the in-cuts again were shut down, the primary BG handler made eye contact with a cutter, and they both immediately knew it was time to punch it in. As the outside in backhand was released, it was a footrace. The disc, passing the endzone line, was being quickly attacked by the BG offensive player, and his defender, Mark Anderson. Mark, taking the more direct line, went down the sideline, while the BG player came from over his right. As everyone stood and watched, everyone knew the game was about to be decided. As both players left their feet, The Show, as always, lived up to his name and put one of the most tremendous layout d's of the tournament on the disc. Smacking the disc past the BG player, Mark Anderson had successfully saved the game and made one of the most outstanding Ultimate plays most Dayton players have ever seen. Oh wait, a detail has been left out.....FOUL! It was like nails on a chalk board. Boos ensued, a captain's hat was thrown, and furious players everyone were dumbfounded.

HOW COULD THIS BG PLAYER CALL A FOUL!?!?!?

Mark Anderson, to everyone watching, clearly had position on the disc, and if there was ever a foul based on contact, it would have been the misplaced BG player colliding with Mark. The Foul heard 'round Granville had been committed. Anderson was in shock. Ghetto Force was in shock. Most of the BG players were in shock. It just seemed fake....but in some regards, that's how a lot of the calls had been made over the course of the whole game.

Mark, knowing full well that it was clean, immediately began to contest and plead his case. This call could not stand, it was highway robbery. Knowing all that rode on the call, the two hottest negotiators not in mergers and acquisitions, rose to the occasion. Corboy and Hoover, stepping up to the plate, began to break down the play, and using rational, positive discussion techniques to approach the situation. Lines like "you have a valid point" and "lets discuss how you both approached the disc" were used. Everyone knew that all the stops had been pulled when Hoover, from over 20 yards away, decided to unveil his voodoo powers embodied in the dual timed, double three-finger O-hands. Between the magic hands and Corboy's unusually calm tone of voice, every approach had been used, and the negotiators had nothing left to give. It was universe point, and the disc would be contested, and BG would regain possession. That was, until the BG-foul caller, somehow (we'll never know), understood everything with a new found clarity. Karma, perhaps. Voodoo hands, maybe. Positive Corbizzle body language, couldn't have hurt. Honestly, who knows what happened, other than this guy turned to the field, stood upright, and in succinct phrasing, simply said, "No call".

It was as though the heavens had opened. Dayton didn't even know how to react.....did Ghetto just get the disc? Did Mark's amazing D count? Did he just give up the call on universe point?!?! Yes, yes, and yes. It was so amazing, a Miami Captain, who was watching, may or may not have lost control of his bodily functions.

The new life was awarded, and Ghetto would not waste it. Picking up the disc, Papa Corc, with Corboy and Hoover as wingmen, hit every in-cut and marched the Burma Road of Ultimate, all the way to the endzone line. But of course, theatrics and excitement, up to this point, had not reached maximum levels. Ghetto, wanting to set the amps to 11, had to make this (if it's even possible) more heart pounding. As Ghetto swung the disc, no more than 5 yards from the BG endzone, everything collapsed. Corboy, being the flick handler, had been left for dead, and stranded on the right sideline. The count, like the tap of a slow drum beat, escalated slowly but surely. Before an open swing could save the day, Corboy's mark had reached 8, and everything was riding on it. Corboy, having flash backs to a week before, knew the disc must be thrown to the endzone and simultaneously, he'd have to somehow work in a quick Hail Mary. With unparalleled field vision, Corboy somehow saw the Gieseanator amidst all the endzone traffic, and at stall 9, released a OI bladey flick. The Geezer, who's as clutch as they come, kept his left eye on the line, and his right eye on the man (if that's possible). Somehow making the endzone bigger with each step, he took to the back of the endzone, and pancaked the final score just his defender gave everything to stop it. How it got there, how he reeled it in, how Ghetto didn't give it up, are all hard to comprehend. However, in that moment, it all had worked. The game, somehow, had been saved and won by Ghetto.

It was one for the ages, and in all honesty, it probably was one of the most gut-wrenching sporting events most Ghetto players have ever witnessed or participated in.

Somehow, through the roller coaster finish, Ghetto had completed the job, and wrapped up Day 1 with a 4-0 record. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't how it was supposed to be done. But the job got done, and Ghetto could breathe again.

Sunday would be a new day, and Ghetto somehow was in the right position to take on the rest of the tournament. It was an amazing end to an amazing first day. However, for Ghetto, it was just the beginning......