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Tournament Write-up: (By Peter Goss)
Saturday Round One (Pool Play): It’s a bright, sunny California morning at the fields. Outside of the top 5 or so teams, most of the rest can compete only by running hard and counting on their top 2 or 3 players to make big plays all game long, which is how it is going in Stanford vs. Whitman. Handler is sitting this round as well as the next to stay healthy for the games that matter most, and Stanford looks a little sloppy despite being up 4-3. Stanford with a floaty huck (foul on throw) – the receiver misreads it and the defender takes position – receiver comes back and fouls defender (no call) who can’t make the grab and the disc floats to a Stanford player coming late: Stanford 5-3. Next door Western WA takes a 3-2 lead on Oregon who is starting slow and looks sloppy on O. UO ties it at 3. WW is also running hard and getting big plays from #6 who has two huge layouts for scores early here. Bell for UO throws an I/O at a defender, but gets the disc back on a nice D on the first throw. Trench with the nice breakside throw puts UO up 4-3, which they quickly extend to 6-3. WW comes back looking to huck to their taller receivers over the shorter UO defenders, and this time it works: 6-4. From this point on, the UO gets comfortable in their horizontal offense and Spencer/Dusty/Wiggins make it look easy. Long point in the Stanford-Whitman game – score is 5-4 Stanford at this point (though there’s no scoreboard, and I get different score counts from everyone I ask). Stanford forces a stall on the goal line, but then quickly turns it over on the dump. Stanford ugly huck to endzone – floating and dying back away from the receiver. Defender can’t find it in the air and the Stanford player trots back for the easy score to make it 6-5. Stanford brings out the zone repeatedly. As with a lot of the other teams playing zone this weekend the cup is very tight in on the thrower, and it should be easy to go back over the top, but Whitman doesn’t do that, nor do they try to call Stanford out of their double-teams. Stanford's O appear heavily dependent on the huck at this point, even when it's not an open look. There’s one sequence where they huck successfully three times and it’s called back on travels or other violations each time, and they huck again right off the dead disc and Whitman gets the D. UO is up 8-4 until WW hucks too far. The UO defender running flat out gets overzealous and lays out to make a play on a totally uncatchable disc – the mac then floats nicely to the WW player trailing: 8-5. But the UO is starting to open it up. In the BYU-Santa Cruz game, SC is breaking the mark at will – as if BYU mostly just plays against teams who cut mostly to the liveside. BYU stays in the game with their size and hustle, as one by-stander says they are "playing above the rim." They have trouble getting the disc moving against an SC defense that is playing well at this point in the day, and twice get it started by throwing a scoober blade up high and letting one of their guys go up to get it. Still, SC is closing out here. Over at 15-11. For the UO, 5'2" Dusty goes up and over two gigantic WW defenders for the nice grab to make it 14-8, and the teams trade out to 15-9. At game point, a Whitman player drops a bladey-but-catchable score in EZ. Stanford with the disc – drop. Whitman – bad dump to no one. (bad dumps seemed to be a theme in a lot of games this weekend). Stanford with a nice break and sweet leading throw to one of their receivers near the goal – dropped. Whitman high count forces a dump 15 yards flat across the field. The Stanford defender was out of position but gets a full head of steam coming in and gets the nice layout d on the goal line. Quick score from there and game ends 15-10. Saturday Round Two (Pool Play): Cal pulls to UW who comes out in their horizontal O. Cal #2 with the D on UW huck, but UW gets it back and scores 1-0. Cal answers quickly 1-1. Davis has gone 2-1 on Gonzaga. Zags seem to be forcing themselves to complete tough dumps – not much organization or meaningful cutting up the field. They are also a team riding 2 or 3 guys, but are athletic enough to make the opposition have to work for it. Davis likes to run their dumps around the thrower to clean off the defender, but here they use a nice give and go with 14 swinging to 11 with the continue cut from 14 across the front of the stack up the live side for yards – he throws the break for the score: Davis 3-1. On the next point, Davis with the D and they run the same play, except that this time the continuation for the score is wide open up the live side. 4-1. Next door, UW gets the first break to go 3-1. Cal hucks to Boo, who catches it short of the end zone but walks it in and spikes for the score. None of the fields are lined, there are no observers for this game, and no one is in position to challenge the matter: 3-2. [Wind starts to pick up at this point enough to start affecting throws] UW hucks, short continue for score; Boo working hard, passes and wants it back, puts a nice leading floater to 26 for the score. 4-3. At this point I’ve come to the conclusion that Cal definitely has some talent, but not a very deep bench. Are they deep enough to still be on Sunday? UW in the spread still – turn by #20. Cal bad throw to a wide-open #2, but Cal D gets it back. UW #27 with the layout and emphatic smack down on the disc. UW quick huck: 5-3. Cal huck by 26 too far – UW works it down near the goal, but gets trapped on the sideline. Berkeley defender plays way off the dump for some curious reason and UW dumps easily for reset off-line, from there they move it around and score easy: 6-3. Trade to 7-4. Back to Davis-Zags, Zags #11 (who seems to be their best thrower) sends the long huck to cut their deficit to 8-3. After pull, Davis gets into what looks like a set play - #11 comes across to the dead side to get the throw and jacks it up field before coming to a stop. But…there’s no one downfield. But the Dogs don’t get down on each other and get the D on a throw up the line. Davis huck to tall 26 – solid D by Zags 83 in the end zone. Davis gets it back. Same matchup downfield and huck up again, but this time 83 is out of gas and 26 jogs onto it for the catch. Half-time: 8-3 Davis. Nearby, UO up 6-2 on BYU and the teams trade O points to end the half 8-3. UBC-B is down big to Stanford, but BC-B’s 72 goes up for a great grab over two Stanford defenders. Stanford player hustling back to try and stop the short continue for the score does an awkward half-layout that carries him into the BC-B player’s legs. Fortunately, everyone walks away. BC-B down 2-5. BC-B comes down in junk, but confusion in the back leads to Stanford #68 coming wide open deep out of the handler spot – easy huck, but short of goal. Stanford #4 running hard on the continue, #68 with a perfect leading backhand to him into a light wind for the score. Not good D, but still much better looking offense than Stanford had against Whitman. Better patience, throw choices, execution all around. Next point, Stanford with the quick D, easy break throw from 10 to 1 makes it 7-2. Point for half – BC-B player throws a desperation huck on a high stall count which blades instantly in the wind. I mercifully stop reporting on this game and make the 2 block trek over to the Stadium to catch Whitman-OSU since the games of interest on the main field all seem well in hand. This game has two of the three available observers on it by request, and it’s a good thing because OSU really likes to go offsides. But otherwise the game goes smoothly. As I arrive, OSU is scoring to end a 2-point run to start the second half, after ending the first half on a 4-0 run, to make the score 10-5. Whitman answers quickly: 6-10. I am planning at this point to just get a few tidbits and head back to the main fields. When asked what people might want to know about this game, OSU players tell me that OSU’s #30 is playing “out of his head.” On the field at this moment, #30 gets D’ed up not going to the disc. Whitman quick score to pull to 7-10. OSU responds by hucking to #30 who lays out for the long throw, but Whitman’s #10 (who played big for them all weekend) is stride for stride with his own layout for the D. Whitman works it down smoothly and #6 throws for the score: 8-10. OSU with the disc, #00 huck to 30 off target, but OSU gets it back on the footblock. An OSU player down field kicks the rolling disc forward 12 yards – no call by Whitman. The point drags long with several turns and nice D’s by Whitman #6 and OSU #00. OSU finally gets a break and scores after one of their bad throws floats high, but gets mac’ed to a second receiver coming onto the play. Continue for score: 11-8. Whitman is also mostly running their O out of a spread, and OSU is countering with the sort of strategy Gerics would approve of – dropping the weak-side handler defender back into the middle. Whitman makes no effort to make him play honest, or at least tire him out by swinging out frequently to that handler. Instead OSU cramps the middle, and while Whitman makes some nice throws, it seems they are making it harder for themselves. But it works here - #5 with the nice I/O break (and the foul) to #10 loitering in the EZ: 9-11. OSU’s James responds with a nice 35 yard hammer for the score: 12-9. On the next point, OSU travel call stops Whitman flow – contested and over-ruled by observer, but it served its purpose. On reset, Whitman is bogged down and tried to force high backhand break – stuffed. OSU break throw starting their play includes actual travel, but no call by Whitman, and OSU scores easily on the continuation: 13-9. Whitman nice layout score by #10: 13-10. OSU in a spread offense now, and Wh#20 trying to match up on OSU#20 is no match in the large space in the center of the field. But when OSU#20 gets the disc, he throws it right to Wh#6, so perhaps there was some clever plan there. Whitman huck completed but short of EZ, and a sequence of many turns ensues. Eventual OSU score called back on travel (throw from in EZ), but they score again, get the D, and a break from #30 to #8 closes out the game. The hammer and travel call seemed to combine to close the door on Whitman’s attempt for a comeback. Back to the main fields: UCSC and W.Wa tied at 13s. WW took first half 8-7 after being down early. Reported that the game had had few turnovers, but that will be belied by the next sequence. SC huck to back of EZ d’ed by tall #21. WW scoober on high count bobbled – dropped. SC bad throw. WW with disc – can’t seem to move it off their line. Huck/punt brought back on foul. Another long huck to EZ out of bounds. SC hucks to #23 short of EZ, takes time-out. On reset, double-move gets receiver open in live side, easy score 14-13. Next point, WW high count punt again - turn. SC deep throw upwind blades – turn. WW throw to EZ, layout grab by #22, and his knees come down in bounds just before the softcap horn. Game to 17, or 16 win by 2. Next point, SC 03 huck for score brought back on travel. Restart, 2nd pass dropped by #03. WW quick huck to #11 to go up 15-14. SC huck to #12 streaking wide open floats OB. WW huck to #8 who is in position to grab for the win – #9 helping from back side catches up, with a great layout D to keep SC alive. Foul on the throw so WW keeps, hucks again, but D’ed in air by SC#4. SC hucks – sky D by WW#6. WW forces throw into double-team, and SC 10 throws to 8 for the score and tie: 15-15. WW still having trouble getting started – turns it. SC throw turfs – SC receiver calls it up, but WW goes to observer who rules it was down. Which it was. WW turfs it right back, and SC#9 throws an easy break to #03: 16-15. WW lines up to receive, only to find out that the hard cap had gone on – though perhaps inaudibly, and that the game was over. SC wins, 16-15. Saturday Round Three (Pool Play): UW pulls to the Zags, qets quick D and score out of the gates. Two more breaks puts them up 3-0. Zags score next O point, and then get a quick break back. UW 3-2. Next point, UW #2 bad throw up-line. Zags nice put to open receiver in EZ and the Zags have two of the breaks back. On the next point,nice layout bid by Zags #6 – he can’t quite get there and hurts his shoulder, though he would come back in later. UW reels it in for 4-3 lead. Zags #3 throws hospital pass up-line to #11 cutting across into coverage – makes grab in tight space and avoids getting killed. 4-4. On the next point, UW catches a break – huck to #20 too high – receiver and defender go up for it, but it sails overhead to UW player coming late: 5-4. On the next point, UW gets the D, nice fake creates the easy live side score and they’re back up two breaks 6-4. In the Davis-Cal game, hard foul by Davis #27. Cal turns it over, Davis throws high floater on the dump which Boo skies for the D. No one seems to know the score, and I roll along. In the UO-UCSC game, UO is up 4-2. Lots of long points, lots of sloppy play – with SC scoring on hucks and fast breaks, and causing turns with a chaotic, poachy D. On that note, SC hucks for the score and it’s 4-3. UO still in their horizontal set – works it slowly downfield with several calls by both teams. Works it in for 5-3 lead. SC misreads subsequent pull, lands halfway deep in EZ along sideline. UO gets pressure on and SC player panics, forces a quick swing which SC player gets his hand on but can’t quite catch. UO rookie has shot to layout for Callahan, but doesn’t. Could have been crucial in a tougher game. UO timeout on goal line – Cruz forces 10-12 dump/swings all within 8 yards of line, but UO finally gets open dead-side look to Trench: 6-3. Next point, UO D and good looking blade huck by Parrell: 7-3. SC huck to 23 – nice D downfield by Eric – 23 comes up holding his shoulder but stays in. UO #5 swilly break through kept alive on sweet layout by #18 – fake creates open live side throw for score and UO takes half 8-3. In Chico-LPC, Chico plays a lot of zone. Cup is sufficiently tight that the word double-team springs to mind. LPC hammers over the top to an open player across the field whose attention strays, and he drops it. Chico short-field – quick score to make the score something like 6-3 in their favor. No one seems to know for certain. Over at UBC-PLU, Oscar throws for a score to make it 11-5. I move on. Back at Davis-Cal, Davis took the first half 8-7. Cal with the disc in their own EZ and can’t seem to get on the move against an aggressive Dog D. Stall called – contested. Not sure which player sends it to the observer, but the stall is upheld. Davis disc on the line and the quick score makes it 9-7. Next point, Cal #8 goes down for a low throw – can’t make the grab. Davis w/ disc, #11 lays out for a low throw and makes the nice grab, gets up and throws the score for a 10-7 lead. UBC comes down in their zone on PLU, and PLU can’t hit the open swing. UBC takes advantage in a single throw. Score is reported to officially be a lot to a little. UBC comes down in zone again – PLU has no popping, to the point that I wonder if they have poppers at all. Lots of swinging, and even long skip swings don’t lead to open looks up field. Bad dump by 98 is dropped. UBC tries the quick score again but throw is a little too wide – receiver drops disc trying to toe the sideline. Cal-Davis in a long point – Davis finally puts it in upwind for an 11-7 lead. All games on the main fields are still going at this point. Sweet layout bid for Callahan by Davis #4, but he can’t hold on when he hits the ground. He picks it up, walks to the line, and makes an odd throw choice (what it was specifically, I didn’t note) – turn. Cal #21 with beautiful long throw over the Davis defender to Boo downfield (UBC has just finished off PLU across the way) – Cal patiently works it in to cut it to 8-11. Cal comes down in zone – Davis with the hammer upwind to two receivers who rosham on who gets to make the catch. Catch is made, but hangtime gives Cal zone time to catch back up. Popper cut for catch – hard collision from cup stepping into receiver. Davis tries another upwind hammer, and this one is, well, not so good. Call works it down-wind and puts it in 11-9. Next door, UW up something like 14-8 with the disc. #30 tries a break and turfs it. Zags feel left out and turf it right back. But Zags get quick handblock and #11 puts a high throw towards 1 receiver with two defenders on him. Zags #6 (impressive – could possibly be a top-tier player if he had come up in a better program) comes across the front of the crowd late for a sky and the score, and avoids causing the foul. Sweet. 9-14. The Zags begin the next point with the worst pull of the weekend. It barely rolls past the defensive brick. UW works the short field and scores to end it. UO-SC ongoing, but ugly. UO still playing sloppy, but playing enough D to stay up 13-7. Huck to Wiggins is off target and while he hustles he can’t quite get there. SC gives it up quickly on their own goal line, and the quick break throw makes it 14-7. UO pull goes OB. UO comes down in zone and transitions to man after a few throws. SC comes upwind and throws a score to #9. UO comes out on offense and Parrell sends a nice upwind huck to a wide-open Wiggins for the win: 15-8. Cal is still in it, but Davis scores downwind for a 13-12 lead. Cal #74 tries to force a break throw to Boo – it’s behind him and gets D’ed. Davis timeout at O brick. Come out and throw 2 throws – 2nd is from 27 to 26 for the score and the two point lead: 14-12. Call upwind huck for Boo, but Davis #4 has position and gets the D. Cal gets it back, #21 break throw to #1 and continue throw to 26 for easy score going out. Davis 14-13. Davis another bad upwind hammer, this one by #11 gets D’ed. Cal 1st throw long – gets D’ed by Davis #7. Davis works it up near the goal line, and runs another give-go, 0-24-0 up the line for the win, 15-13. Saturday Round Four (Pool Play): Zags-Cal. Zags go up 1-0. Cal huck to Boo, continue throw into EZ D’ed by Zag#6. Zags work it to half-field, then force long throw into coverage – turn. Cal comes back upwind for 1-1. Next point begins with three quick turns and I look for a different game. UW-Davis. UW up 2-1, comes down in zone. Davis nice upwind hammer mis-read by receiver, turn. UW works it back down for 3-1 lead. Next point opens with three turns, UW has disc. Several short swings into deep look completed upwind for 4-1 lead. Davis time-out. UW pulls downwind, Davis with the quick turn. Davis defender hard foul on catch leads to play stop – when it resumes UW scores again for 5-1. As that score is happening, behind me Cal throws it away near their own end zone. Zags swing a few times and throw a bladey-forehand over the top for 4-1 lead. Cal answers quickly for 4-2. Davis can’t get open looks downfield, but handlers work it down to make it 2-5. UW quick answer 6-2. Cal keeps the pressure on Gonzaga and runs off several straight to go up 5-4. Cal starting to move the disc at will; Zags look deflated and can’t make plays even when in position to make them. Cal comes down in zone, and Zags 6 & 11 work it, until 83 turfs it at midfield. Cal easy score: 6-4. Meanwhile, Davis turns it on for two in a row to pull to 4-6. Over to Stanford-OSU. Out of half, Stanford gets D at goal line, dump to Handler – drop. Stanford gets it back by the brick mark. Work it around, until Handler turfs 5 yard throw to end zone. OSU #30 huck carried away by wind and disc is never seen again. Stanford with the disc – bad dump throw floats too high. OSU defender goes up all alone for the D and bats it straight back to the surprised, but grateful dump handler. Stanford huck to Handler, who calls timeout. Which is a good fantasy move on the heels of his two turns. Out of the time-out Stanford scores to make it an exciting 9-0. OSU #30 throws upfield to Stanford’s #10, but OSU gets it back on the layout D by OSU #10. One more turn each way, and then Stanford #10 gets nice D on OSU in cut, Stanford works it down and 10 throws to 21 to make it 10-0. Two long points in a row. Stanford rolls the next point out more quickly to go 11-0, and then OSU finally ends the shuout upwind to #12 to make it 11-1, giving PW who is observing the game the chance to complain for the rest of the weekend that OSU ruined his great RSD post. If you ask him about it, he’ll tell you. In other, closer, games: Dubious stall call by Cal #74 contested, but Cal has chance to set their D, and Zags quickly turn it on resumption of play. The teams trade turns until Cal #21 ends the point with a high release lefty backhand for the score. Next point Cal comes down in zone. Bad drop by Zags, nice D by Zags #6, who then throws it away. Cal gets the D on the throw and an easy score. The game feels like it should be long over, but apparently those two points stretched the lead to just 12-8. Zags with a high gloating huck to EZ, 2nd receiver coming late behind D cleans it up as it floats over the top to cut it to 9-12. Next point Cal gives it up, but Zags aren’t sure they want it and give it back. Cal scores for 13-9. Intrigue pretty much gone here. Back at the game of the round, Davis hucks to #4 for the score and cuts deficit to 13-11. UW works it down to goal line next point, goes into squirrelly handler set and can’t finish. Davis long throw too high, contested by defender and receiver can’t come down with it. UW long put to 27 with wheels for the 14-11 lead. On game point, the teams trade huck-turnovers. Davis handler cut near own goal contested by defender – no catch. UW 42 tries to force it into endzone, Davis defender lays out and gets to claim the shadow D. Davis huck D’ed, but foul on throw brings it back. Davis works it downwind and scores: 14-12. UW coming downwind, turn on bad dump. Davis returns the favor on their own bad dump, and UW hucks to 24 just short of EZ, one throw from the line for the win, 15-12. Saturday Round Five (Crossovers): BYU’s win over Western Washington the previous round is cause for some concern. BYU doesn’t play Sunday games, and a win over OSU in the crossover would put them into Sunday play. In theory, it is better to force a team to beat OSU to advance rather than advancing on a forfeit. Though perhaps Stanford would claim the two are more or less equivalent. But really, most eyes this round are on UBC-UW and Stanford-UO. The latter game is over at the stadium, alas, so I can’t keep an eye on both games at once. At the Stadium, the UO receives at the back line of the EZ, works it to half-field before a turn by Wiggins. Stanford long throw to EZ – receiver can’t catch up. Seth nice layout grab on bad dump. Parrell throw caught, but OB. Stanford huck caught just short of EZ despite layout bid by Dusty. Stanford player runs it in for the score. As with the Cal game earlier, no observers on this game, and no defender in position to note that receiver was not in. Score counts - Stanford with the break 1-0. UO in the spread, works it down all the way, Dusty to Wiggins 1-1. UO D comes down in junk, Stanford patiently works it down, hammers for score: 2-1. UO back quickly – Wiggins blade to Dusty: 2-2. Next point sees 6 turns, including Stanford throw to no one, Wiggins throw for score dropped by receiver in endzone. Point ends when Stanford gets the point block on Wiggins, and comes down for 3-2 lead. UO back in their spread, get Dusty-Spencer-Wiggins working in space, and it looks easy: 3-3. Stanford one possession score makes it 4-3. Next possession sees six turns, and ends when UO player D’s a Stanford huck, then goes the other way to catch the goal from Dusty. 4-4. Stanford huck to Handler: 5-4. Dusty long huck on a rope – sweet layout grab by Wiggins: 5-5. UO D still coming down in junk, and Stanford not having much trouble with it. Easily works it in for 6-5. Parrell throw too far – Wiggins with huge layout fingertip grab, then high release score to Dusty. Nice spike makes it 6-6. Stanford efficient score to #21 makes it 7-6. Wiggins breaks the mark to a nice sliding catch by #4 to make it 7-7. Point for half – Stanford works it around, then dropped by Handler. Parrell with high release break to Bell open in endzone. Dusty comes across with huge layout grab, but holds on and UO gets the break back: 8-7. Whitman-SC. Whitman took half 8-1, and now leads 10-3. Whitman players report that SC struggled against the Whitman zone. While we talk, Whitman gets the disc, and 20 throws to 10 for the 11-3 lead. In the Intrigue game, OSU points to their fatigue and injuries. BYU is reportedly playing with solid fundamentals and chilly O, and holds the 9-8 lead. Here, BYU breaks out of OSU’s zone trap to go up 10-8. OSU answers quickly off the pull to cut it back to 9-10. Over at the UBC-UW game, UW holds the 10-9 lead. UBC drop on the dump in their own EZ. UW quickly scores to go up 11-9. (Cal is up 11-8 on Chico at this point, and then scores a marathon point to go up 12-8). BC #8 huck to Oscar too hard – UW with the bad air bounce turns it over in their own end. UBC goes to Oscar again, and this time hits him to make it 10-11. UW throw to 44 off target – he can’t pull in tough catch. UBC huck turns over in wind – easy for defender to make the play. UW throw to EZ by #20 to no one. UBC drops short throw. UW 99 calls foul on makr as he throws it away – contested bu comes back. 99 then scoobers for the turn against a tough mark. UBC first throw too high, UW #4 with the quick score off the turn for 12-10. Next point, UBC turns it over, then gets it back when #18 gets a D on the dump. UBC with the disc on the sideline, count gets high, dump handler burns defender up line but thrower doesn’t see the cut, looks back and throws it right to the defender still standing there without his shorts. UW comes back with a 30 yard hammer upwind to the endzone, which, while kinda swilly, still counts for a point when caught.UW 13-10. After 6 turnovers, UBC keeps possession despite a UW pointblock on Oscar when the disc floats across the field and was caught. But BC then turfs it. Oscar gets it back for them on a poach D up the line. Oscar has the disc at midfield on the line and there isn’t a single in cut. Count gets high and he puts a sweet throw to 5 going out across the field and all the way to the EZ: 11-13. Next point, UBC pull goes OB. UBC gets the disc on a layout D in the EZ and play works down to the other end. Suspect foul call by BC receiver on UW D allows BC to keep possession at goal line. Time out called. BC scores on 2nd chance: 12-13. UW is stranding its throwers at times here, leads to bad throw by #14. Quick D by UW #27 gets it back, and both teams look to turn it over repeatedly here. (insert several turns here) Soft cap horn blows as Oscar throws a huck to EZ off-target. UW huck to 99 too far. UBC with the drop. UW works it down, and 99 throws to 3 for the score: 14-12. UBC with a low huck to #8, and with the magic of his Quebec Nordiques hat he makes a sweet grab short of end zone. Disc turns on continuation – UW huck upwind blades in wind. UBC tries to huck over stack, but throw is too low and D’ed with ease. UW turn. Oscar with the nice layout grab, but throw too endzone for #8 too hard downwind. UW with a bad swing throw turns it at midfield. UBC works it around until Oscar throw a break to #7 to cut UW lead to 14-13. UW receiving for game point, works it down. #4 throws to EZ too high for #27. UBC player with drop at own goal line, UW 20 picks it up and scoobers over the top to 99 for the easy grab and the win: 15-13. Some good D on both sides, but definitely a number of unforced offensive errors as well. Round ends with UO pulling away from Stanford with several early breaks, but UW’s upset here throws Sunday’s bracket into a little mess. Stanford with the lower seed and the loss actually gets a slightly easier draw than the UO did by winning. In other news, Cal and Davis advance as expected, OSU rallies on BYU averting the secret "Plan B," and Whitman finishes off SC without too much trouble. While Saturday was sunny and fair, if somewhat windy, Sunday is wet and the rain is coming down steadily before play starts. Not a lot of intrigue is expected out of Stanford-Cal, BC-OSU, or UW-Whitman, but the UO despite going 4-0 on Saturday draws the dangerous home squad Davis Dogs who went 3-1 and lost by just 3 to Saturday’s other 4-0 team. The UO’s problems are compounded by some misplaced van keys, and the 2nd shuttle of UO players doesn’t arrive at the fields until game time. Davis is fired up and ready to come out hard. The Ducks look disorganized and didn’t even warm up. Davis receives the pull to start and walks it down easily for 1-0. Two quick breaks make it 3-0 and some harsh words come from certain UO captains, fair or unfair, and from the talk you’d think they’d forgotten somebody will qualify for nationals through the backdoor. One UO handler starts the game with three turns on the first few points, and the defense isn’t getting any pressure on Davis to get the disc back when they turn it. Still, the UO manages to staunch the bleeding and pull to 3-1, then the teams trade O points to 6-3, despite sloppy O here by both teams. The wet fields and footing, and the wind are an extra challenge here. Still, Oregon has managed to get itself out of panic mode and into a better head space. The UO defense picks it up – Davis is now looking to huck more and more on all the available height mismatches, as the UO clamps down on Davis’ handler cuts and in cuts up the field. When the UO does get the disc, Bell helps them move it around, though on two successive possessions he tries to force the harder to hit I/O break instead of breaking around to space, and receivers can’t make the tough catch with the wet disc. UO breaks it back to 7-7, and gets the D ten yards out. Quick time-out to set up to try to take half. UO tries to work it through their handlers, but Davis handlers play some solid D here, one of the UO handlers slips in the mud, and the UO forces the throw as the count gets high – turn. Davis hucks from line just short of EZ, 1 dump and continue for the score. Davis holds serve 8-7. Instead of being pumped that they’re back in the game, Ducks hang their heads a bit. They’re either tired already or feeling too much pressure to be the best. Just being back in the game and turning the momentum isn’t good enough, apparently. While the score reporter claims Stanford beat Cal 15-8, that game is already over at this point, with Stanford reportedly winning 15-3 and both teams having long ago put in their sub lines to run it out and save their top players for later in the day. UBC is also just finishing off OSU by a similar score, in part behind some textbook pulls by UBC’s #2 who is consistently spotting them deep in the OSU endzone and giving UBC a chance to put the pressure on all the way down the field. UW holds a big lead on Whitman, and will quickly close that game out as Davis-UO is just about to begin the second half. UO scores the O point out of the half to tie it, and on the next possession Davis throws the disc right to UO’s #18. The UO works down with a long, controlled possession and puts it in for the break: 9-8. Next point, point block by UO’s Jeremy Forrest. UO swings and forces a huck for Trench in the endzone, but he is and was well-covered. Across the way, UW finishes off Whitman. All three games except this one are done, and there’s still a lot of game left here. Davis works back with a long possession, but their throw the EZ gets D’ed. The teams then trade turns on the dump – the UO with a bad throw, and Davis with the wet disc slipping out of the thrower’s hand. UO with the short field – Bell again tries to force the I/O instead of the around and again it turns. Bell gets the disc back and goes around this time and gets the score: UO 10-8. Davis time-out. Davis receives, and has a good, long possession as the rain continues, heavily at times. Davis turns it on a dropped disc. UO comes back with their own long possession, but bad throw to EZ. Davis hucks quickly, caught 5 yards out, tries to throw up line to open receiver for the score, but UO’s Jeremy Forrest catches up on a full-out sprint and gets the D on a sweet layout. UO works it up, turns it. Davis quick huck too long. Teams each turn again. UO works it up the live side and Bell and Wiggins combine for the score: UO 11-8. Next point each team has 1 turn, and Davis scores to cut it to 9-11 on subsequent break-mark throws. UO possession – Parrell long huck upfield but all the way across from where Wiggins is cutting – defender is already on that side of the field, but Wiggins cuts all the way across as throw floats and goes up for the grab. There is a contested call on the continuation, but it turns over. Davis turn on bad I/O throw, UO works it back and tries to force it in again. Davis quick huck just past fingers of receiver laying out. UO #17 turns it over on a bad throw at MF – but he gets it back on a nice D. UO breaks out quickly and scores: 12-9. Soft cap is now on. Long point – UO with disk 15 yards out. UO throw hits cone instead of receiver, but cone was wearing UO jersey and was calling for the disk. Davis works it down smoothly and cuts lead to 10-12. The UO is receiving here, and Wiggins goes offsides forcing a repull. Davis team lawyers request special BALCO investigation into whether it was deliberate or just a lack of attention on his part. Regardless, re-pull takes off probably most of remaining time before hardcap. UO few throws, then Davis gets pointblock on UO’s Dusty. Davis 25 yards out - one or two throws and then a layout pointblock by Dusty on the attempted break to get the disc back. UO marches down for the win 13-10 as the cap did indeed go on. Next round is already beginning on other fields. Rain lightens up a bit, but it’s still good and wet and unpredictable winds still a factor. Stanford and UW trade O points to 1-1. UW 20 slightly bladey huck to 27 in the EZ, on the money, but is dropped. Stanford bad throw behind receiver. UW #2 throws disc at defender who accepts it from him. UW #27 gets a nice layout upfield on an in cut, but the disc wobbles and floats back where the dump catches it going away toward the sidelines – Stanford keeps it, but hucks it away too long. UW throw up the line too long (play goes on)…finally Stanford gets the break: 2-1. In the UO-UBC game, Dusty has 3 turns just on the first point. Finally UBC gets layout D, and with the short field scores with one throw to #9. 1-0. UW has answered to 2-2, but still down the break. When I said Saturday that the 20 yard rolling pull was the worst pull, I hadn’t foreseen this UBC pull which goes OB 10 yards upfield and never makes it back. Still, the Saturday pull was uglier. Anyway, with the short field, UO scores up the line on a high count. UW comes down in zone – and unlike the teams whose cups were too tight, UW’s is way too loose – the phrase “big enough to drive a truck through” comes to mind. I look around for the trainer’s golf cart to test it out, but there’s no cart. Stanford moves the disc at will, and creates huge seams in the zone with one or two quick fakes. Stanford 3-2. UBC with the disc on the goal line off a stop in play. Oscar throws a high release break on a high count for the 2-1 lead over UO. Stanford comes down in zone with a quick transition to man. Can’t stop UW: 3-3. UBC comes down in zone-to-man as well. Each team turns it twice. Wiggins with the disc just outside the EZ throws a break to Spencer wide open – as in the Stanford game Dusty comes across with a huge layout, but this time can’t hang on. Nice break for UBC, bad break for UO. On the other field, UW gets the D and gets the break point back: 4-3. Here, UBC hucks out the side of the EZ, sets up their zone again. UO swing pass caught by Wiggins – signalled OB on the far side by the observer. Wiggins passes it quickly back, unaware. Unclear from my side whether any players on the field acknowledged the call or just the UBC coach and players on that sideline (who seemed to be making all the noise). Either way, Seth sends the disc back to that spot and gives it up. UBC with the short field scores to make it 3-1. Next door, Stanford with a bad throw to the the EZ too high for receiver jumping for it. But it’s his lucky day, and Stanford’s, and the disc hangs long enough for him to walk back under it. 4-4. After the pull, UW forces a throw upfield into coverage and it’s D’ed. Stanford’s swing throw gets D’ed right back. UW huck dies in wind, and Stanford comes back down to steal the break again, 5-4. UO scores to pull to 3-2. UBC huck too far, D’ed by UO #18 helping back. Bell with the disc – sequential stall calls contested. In second case it was clearly out while mark said “Stalling” in stalling ten, but neither party opts to go to observer. Still, Bell gets it off again, but Wiggins turns it on a bad I/O forehand. UBC with the short field scores, but it comes back on a travel. They do it again (score, not travel) and it’s 4-2. UO huck to Seth – can’t bring it down. Little bit of contact on the play, but no call, other than a general exhortation about intercourse. UBC throws it into a crowd, D’ed by UO#17, but UBC #14 loses part of his tooth coming into the bunch. He spits it out, and game stops while long search ensues. Meanwhile, UW and Stanford have traded scores to 6-5. UW tries high release I/O in the wind. Throw has a hankering to go O/I instead to no one. Turn. Stanford high throw too high, but carries in wind to 2nd receiver to bail out the thrower. Still, Stanford turns it on continuation. UW with a short field scores to pull to 6-6. While watching this, I miss Wiggins pull off the greatest behind me to keep possession, and on continuation UO scores to pull to 3-4. UO comes down with an FM force, but UBC just works it down: 5-3. Stanford with the O team score keeps the break at 7-6. UBC with a great pull comes down in zone. UO works it down then turns it on a bad swing. UBC with a long throw to a covered receiver. Defender slips and falls on the wet ground – receiver bobbles but hangs on for another break and a 6-3 lead. Stanford with the disc takes a time out near the O brick. On restart, low throw across is caught on the sliding grab for another break and Stanford takes half up 8-6. UBC comes down in zone again. Wiggins with the cross-field hammer for yards prompts UBC to switch quickly to man, but UO is on the run and scores on the continuation to pull to 4-6. Next point, UO#21 with layout poach D. UO break throw to #4 caught – hard collision with UBC#8. Play resumes, disc to Wiggins, blade to EZ caught by #4 laying out. Nice grab. Lead cut to 5-6. Play resumes in the other game. UW high break backhand hangs in wind, caught by UW player who gets smacked by teammate coming late – hangs on. Long point ensues…UBC scores the O point for a 7-5 lead. Finally Stanford scores the long point on a scoober for a 9-6 lead, immediately followed by UO hammer for a score to make it 6-7 on the other field. UBC comes out quickly and throws deep, over the shorter UO defender to take half 8-6. Stanford gets D in the endzone, but goes back to UW on a call. UW turns it. Stanford bad throw on the swing – receiver reaches back for it but can’t reel it in. UW hucks, turns it. From own EZ, Stanford 68 long throw to 21 at half-field. Stanford works it around back to 68 near the goal line and he finds 21 again break-side for the 10-6 lead. Nice possession. UW #14 throws high to EZ - #99 skies 2 defenders for catch, score. 10-7. UBC receives out of half and tries to start the way they ended the last one. This huck is lower, and while it’s on target, UO#18 with a sweet layout reaching around the receiver knocks it away. Oregon works it down and scores on a nice break-side throw from Bell to Wiggins. 7-8. UW bad throw gives the disc to Stanford – completed huck 10 yds short of EZ. Stop for call. Throw to Handler for the score on the continuation: 11-7. UW definitely looking like they are trying to force their offense now instead of trying to work back into the game patiently. UBC with the huck and the score: 9-7 in that game. UO next possession, point block by #3 on Wiggins – foul called/contested. Sent to observe who overturns call. Disc to UBC. UBC #3 sends it quickly up the line for the score: 10-7. This was definitely the point in this game, where UBC looked like they would be a step ahead to the end. Still, instead of pulling its starters and preparing for the back door, Oregon kept its starters in until the end and stubbornly refused to change its mindset of fighting to win every game. On the next possession, UO works it up and Wiggins with the nice crossfield hammer to Dusty: 8-10. Stanford starting to get some separation. Score in that game now 12-7. UW 99 poach causes Stanford player to panic, forces bad swing despite open look. UW quick score pulls to 8-12. UO comes down in junk needing a break. UBC sends line drive up the sideline – Oscar with a nice layout, and throws a little continuation blade up the sideline for make it 11-8. UO receives – huck to Wiggins for score: 11-9. Stanford-UW still on same point – lots of turns, calls. Stanford with the disc 10 yards out uses their final timeout. On the other field, Oscar’s huck is just a tad too far looking for #8. UO works it up, calls foul on break-mark throw. Contested and sent to the observer who again rules ‘no foul.’ Disc back to UBC. #7 picks it up and sends it up the line - initially looks too far but Oscar catches up with a nice layout for the score 12-9. Stanford-UW still at 12-8. Stanford turns it on a huck into EZ, UW turns it right back. Stanford finally scores with the short field to make it 13-8. UW works it down to goal line, 44 tries high release but takes too long getting it off – D’ed by Stanford defender coming over late. On the other field, 3 turns results in UBC with the disc. They huck for the score 13-9. Stanford huck too high – great bid by #12. UW gets on the run, but 99 and 27 mis-communicate and it gets thrown away. Stanford comes down, and this time #21 hits #12 for the score and the 14-9 lead. UO last gasp – sweet layout grab by Wiggins. UO throw to EZ dropped by wide open receiver. Ouch. Oscar huck to #9 too far, but UO turns it back quickly. Stanford finishes off UW. UO/UBC trade turns then UBC hucks for score here to go up 14-9. UO still with its starters still in the game (minus a few scratched for the rest of the weekend due to injuries) – unclear what their energy and head space will be going into the backdoor semis. On the next possession, UBC player risky lay out into UO player, still caught, play on. UO huck gets D’ed, then UBC huck D’ed by help defender. UO works it down more patiently this time and Bell throws for the score 10-14. UBC huck to #8 on a line with no float, but too high. UO break mark throw floats, contested by defender, results in turn. Oscar picks it up – throws a blade to 7 for the score and the game: 15-10. I missed the beginning of the round to eat lunch. Rain has lightened a bit for the moment, but will continue off and on the rest of the afternoon. When I come back, UO scores to tie it 4-4 in their game. Cal answers quickly to go up 5-4. In the other, Davis went up two breaks early, but UW has worked back to 5-5. UO #4 with a great layout grab at goal line, but UO can’t get it in. Cal throws up the line, dropped by receiver. UO throw up the line too hard - #4 lays out but can’t catch up. Thrower and receiver exchange frustrated words, and as before appears UO may not be happy to be here. Teams trade quick turns – 2 more for Cal and 1 for UO leaves UO with possession and they persevere and get it in to tie 5-5. On the other field, UW hammer to endzone a little high but seems catchable - but the wet disc slides right through the receivers grip. Davis huck to #4 who makes a nice grab in traffic – comes down in the EZ for a 6-5 Davis lead. UO comes down in junk, but Cal is patient and works it up and in. 6-5. The rain at this point is coming down harder and I can’t take decent notes for a while as the notepad is soaked as soon as I pull it out. Cal breaks to 7-5, and UO fights through the next long O point to hang close at 6-7, but Cal comes down easily and takes half 8-6. Next door, UW takes their half 8-7. Davis receives to open the 2nd half, gets it down and calls time-out on the goal line to set up the tying score: 8-8. UW wastes no time and hits a quick strike to take the lead back. 9-8. Cal pulls to open their 2nd half and comes down in a zone. UO Dusty bad dump gives Cal the disc. Quick huck to Boo and Cal grabs another break: 9-6. UW gets a D in good position to go up a break but can’t capitalize – Davis takes advantage and ties it up again at 9-9. [More rain – sketchy notes]. Cal is up 11-7 with possession 5 yards out of the EZ – disc in the hands of a more inexperienced thrower and UO battles hard to keep all the looks cut off. He puts up a floater across the end zone at stall 9, which 74 goes up to pull down over the shorter defenders around him. Cal is pumped and feeling it at this point: 12-7. The UO keeps sending out their top line, but most of their fight seems gone. Cal is the team with the confidence and sense of purpose here. Cal pulls away big, UW pulls away small, but enough to close out Davis for the second time in the weekend. Setting up UW can Cal again for the game to go. Sunday Backdoor Finals (Game-to-go): Rain has lightened up a touch. Several spectators speculate that Cal is just happy to be here and will fold if UW asserts their will early. That theory could be tested as UW receives and scores quickly. Cal first possession starts with a bad throw that floats past the receiver up the line. The UW defender could hustle to make an easy play on the disc but assumes it’s coming down for a turn regardless – unfortunate as it hangs long enough for a 2nd Cal receiver hustling all the way over from the center of the field to clean it up. Cal keeps the disc and works it up for the answer 1-1. One chance to dominate early goes by the boards. UW huck – foul on reception sends it back. UW works it up and Cal#2 gets the D. UW’s #27 answers with a layout D on a Cal in cut. UW quickly picks it up and goes over the top to 99: 2-1. Next possession, bad dump by Cal #26. UW picks it up and executes a smooth dump & swing to an easy up the line throw for the score: 3-1. Checking in at the front-door finals, Stanford is up a break 4-2. UBC bad throw gets D’ed by Stanford#3. 10 to 4 for another break and a 5-2 lead. But qualifying is more interesting than seeding, so it’s back to the backdoor game where a long point is ongoing. I hear several fans note that Cal seems to be “starting to drag.” But Cal’s #21 hustles for a nice layout D in the EZ. On Cal’s possession, Boo doesn’t go to on his in cut and 99 lays out past him for the D. But Cal isn’t getting down on each other on the field - Boo admits his bad and the team plays on together, though UW finally ends the point: 4-1. The O teams trade points to 5-2, UW scoring on a huck from 4 to 27. Cal huck to EZ – 26 makes a great grab in traffic and hangs on despite getting clobbered. He stays down a while still holding the disc for a few minutes in the endzone, and then is helped off to the side where he lays for a bit longer without the disc. It’s now 5-3. Cal point-block creates the turn. Cal 23 long throw backhand down the right sideline to 7, prompting PW to break down the guy’s throwing mechanics, and PW also says the kid had a story written about him. It’s a good book – I’ve read it, but really, it’s mostly about his brother. Ogden Nash wrote a poem about my grandfather, but yeah, it’s not as good as that book and you’ve probably never heard of the poem. And I didn’t throw that score, 23 did. Cal pulls within one: 5-4. On the next possession, UW 20 throws it to Boo, who, not seeing any open looks from his cutters, draws a reset on the count. That guy is wily. Cal comes up the line and in to tie it at 5s. UW 20 long throw to 99 on the run: UW back in front 6-5. O teams trade to 7-6. UW tries to mix things up and comes down in a zone. Nice 18 yard scoober zipped by 21 over the cup opens things up. Cal works it back around to 21 who throws a little pass up the line to Boo for the score: 7-7. UW wastes little time on O – quick throw up the line to 20 who hucks to 3 for the score and the half. But Cal is still rallying – there talk is audible as they huddle for the half, and they’re staying positive and while they ARE happy to be here, they’re working hard and seem happy to be battling as well. 2nd half. Cal turns it over with a quick throw to defender. UW takes advantage of the short field – 4 to 99: 9-7. Next point, Cal with the high count punt. Boo D gets it back for Cal at half-field. Cal bad swing – nice layout bid by #2 but it goes off his outstretched fingers. UW huck to EZ too far. Teams trade turns. UW with the disc again – huck to 27 caught 10 yards out of EZ maybe 10 yards off of sideline – time out called. Set play, from stack UW #4 burns defender to live side, poach can’t get that far wide to help in time – easy throw and score. 10-7. Boo gives an instructional session on fast count violations, gets his count reset here as he seems to often with regularity. All markers are reminded that it’s not just dropping the count, but you have to restart with the word stalling, otherwise it’s a violation and count drops to zero. Wiggins (Ben, helping to coach Stanford) is suitably impressed - wouldn’t be surprising to see UW bone up on their rules the next few weeks to gain similar advantages. Play continues – UW with a bad defensive matchup on Boo in space in the middle of a spread O – you can see the gleam in his eye from the sideline. Cal recognizes it too- they wait for him to make a few jukes and he goes wide open down the dead side to pull to 8-10. UW 99 huck to 27 8 yards short of EZ – foul on continuation. Play restarts and UW with the quick score: 11-8. Cal 74 huck to 21 on goal line, swing to Boo who makes a questionable throw over the top, but UW can’t get there and 74 cleans it up for the score. 11-9. Cal in zone again. 20 nice forehand down the side to 44. 12-9 just like that. Cal hucks to UW #4 who makes the easy catch. UW works it around and hucks to #4 going the other way – he lays out going full speed but it’s off his hands. Cal huck to endzone too low/hard. UW 42 nice high backhand floater to 4 going out: 13-9. Cal time-out before pull. 74 with an early I/O throw to a UW defender. UW comes down quick – 44 has possession 2 yards out. Throw back to the middle after a stop in play – score. 14-9. Game point in the game to go for UW. Cal 10 with an early huck to 26 for the score: 14-10. Now UW’s O team has a chance to clinch it. Cal still in the zone. UW works it up to about the O brick, and the cup goes to a jumpy trap mark. UW’s zone handlers and poppers don’t come in to help out the thrower, and he gets it off after the T in ten. Cal disc. They work it back - long throw to 23 open in EZ: 14-11. UW still loose, but will they still be loose if the game goes to 14-14? Wiggins is working the sidelines trying to keep the players up – just fixing little things and trying to avert panic. I hear him talking to them and them to him more than I hear them talking to each other. Cal down in zone again, gets it on quickly. UW had been completing aggressive forehands through the cup early in the game and they try it again here without getting the cup moving side to side first. Bad idea. Defender in middle of cup short reach for an easy D. The Cal possession is slowed by lots of calls – finally Boo to 23 who gets his second straight score – 14-12. UW calls timeout. Cal down in zone again, UW turns it over. Cal turns it right back over, and rather impressively transitions from their offensive set into a zone on the fly. While it’s not in my notes, UW must have turned it over somewhere again, because Cal has it again. More fast count calls by Cal. Cal huck too high – and doesn’t hang long enough coming east as the wind is mostly behind the throw. UW hucks – complete but comes back on a travel. UW finds its groove and works it back up for the score, and a ticket to beautiful Corvallis. Congratulations to UBC, UW, and that other team! When you come to Corvallis, remember that you can get burritos at La Conga 24 hours a day. Oh, and Stanford wins the championship, as a side note. If anyone besides Halverson reads all this, I’ll be impressed.
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