Vegas Recap (the games)

The first round started at 8am, and the illini were slated to take on Oregon. We knew this would be a tough match. All of us were ready to go. It helped that our flight got in before 6pm the previous night. The game started off with the illini going down a few breaks. We then battled back to keep it tight, but the ducks took half. The offense tightened up their game in the second half and scored on every point they played. That was all a good defense could ask for. In an eerie, déjà vu fashion, the game came down to double game point. With last year’s loss fresh in our minds, the defense relentlessly battled for that final point. Our sidelines emptied as we caught the disc in our endzone.

Colorado had fooled us twice on universal points in the fall. The illini weren’t about to let that happen again. We came out on fire. We shut down their main offensive weapons (Jolian), and our offense made them look like a high school team without a coach. Crushing the mamabirds 13-7 vaulted us to the top of our pool.

After a long bye, in which the illini snacked on popsicles, cheez-its, granola, and Gatorade, the illini got a chance to avenge their loss to black tide in Austin almost one year ago. A grudge match ensued. Hucks went up, the break-side was worked over worse than Cole’s mom, and both teams gave no quarter. In such fierce competition, only one kid played without a soul. I believe his name was Rory. Even his own teammates conceded that his arguing was unnecessary. It’s a good thing pappy wasn’t their. Blood would have been spilt. UCSB edged out the illini 13-11.

Day one ended with the illini going 2-1, and owning their pool.

Day two began with an early breakfast provided by the boys in room 2204. Scrambled eggs and sausage bring a smile to the start of any day. UCSD was waiting for us on the field, and the illini took them for all they were worth. Number six of the air squids ended up with a bloody nose in the ensuing match. They kept it close, but victory was never in doubt for the illini.

Florida came roaring out against the illini in the next game. Part intimidation, part not being ready after a bye put the illini on their heels early in this one. The offense got broke more often then they scored, and the defense couldn’t keep up. The first half was a pathetic disaster. The second half breathed new life into the illini. The offense only had one turn, and the defense brought the game back within reach. But alas, it was too little too late. We outscored them in the second half, but it takes all 13 points to win a game in Vegas.

After playing through two pools, the brackets were set, and the illini faced Harvard in pre-quarter. They’re a smart team (you have to be in order to get away with cheating on your ACTs) with smart throws. Break side hucks, inverts, and hammers were placed with near perfection. Such accuracy kept the defense on their heels. Their cup gave the offense some trouble, but the scoring stayed even til the end. The hard cap blew at the beginning of the 10-10 point. The defense had to pull another one out. Turn after turn happened, and it looked like the illini would score after miles caught a huck on the end-zone line. The illini were pretty certain that we still had a time-out since the hard-cap technically doesn’t go into effect until after the point is over, but the tournament director had bad news. The illini turned the disc and Harvard won the game on another break-side huck. Some days you’re the bug; somedays you’re the windshield. That one really hurt.

Day three ended and the illini were 3-3 looking to take ninals in Vegas for the second time.

It’s hard to believe that 9 games would only provide us with six opponents at an 80 team tournament, but that’s what happened. Oregon was first. The illini proved that day one wasn’t a fluke. We rolled them 13-9. It’s nice to see us shut the door and keep it closed.

Florida gave the illini a chance for revenge, but the game started out much the same. It was a little less pathetic than last time, but the crispness wasn’t there for the O, and the D lacked intensity. We’re a second half team against the panhandle state, but it takes two halves to win. Florida won once again.

With a flight at 6pm, and our next opponent being a team we’d already played (UCSD), the captains decided to end the tournament tied for 11^th. A good decision.

This weekend disappointed the illini, but it wasn’t a disaster. The teams we played were good, and any of our games could have gone either way (except for Colorado. They didn’t have a prayer). We’re right there boys. We just need to push through that final barrier that’s keeping us from becoming a championship team. We have the talent and the caliber. We just need to pull the trigger. The days will get warmer soon. Let’s work for it.