Sectionals Recap Saturday

 The weekend started off with a team grill out at Hatham "Seal" Shawqi's house.  Highlights included my excellent grilling skills, Jason Schmidt drinking a bottle of ranch dressing, and the Aaron "Hippo" Zigler forcing himself to throw up in an attempt to make Schmidt throwup.  Riding the momentum from a 9th place finish at Roll Call, the Burning Couch hoped to come out and take care of business on Saturday.  Especially since we found new motivation in the eye black that won us so many games at Roll Call.

Game 1  Burning Couch vs. Kalamazoo College Ultimate Buzz

     The Couch came out hot right out of the gates as we were able to break their O on the first point of the game.  Yet from then on, we traded points, hoping for Kalamazoo to cough up the disc and allow us an easy score.  Jacob "The Jeweler" Meyers was keeping his team in the game through numerous layout D's, handblocks, and skys.  The Ultimate Buzz continued to show that they were not going to fade away.  Our intensity had dropped and we were in need of a spark.  A huge handblock on The Jeweler from Ryan Heffernan was the wake up call the Couch needed.  We picked up the intensity and found ourselves up 12-11 on O.  The O line patiently worked the disc up the field until Schmidt put up a forehand huck to a streaking Heff for the game.  However, it was slightly under thrown and The Jeweler was able to come up the D.  K College was able to work the disc up the field for the break.  Universe.  Somehow we had let Kalamazoo stay in this game and now it all came down to one point.  Starting on O, Alex "Dingo" Edinger set the disc to Schmidt who hit an unstoppable Phil "Roo" Sommer with a wide open in cut.  Cutters were flowing well and Heff was able to punch in the score to Christo Ferguson who was streaking toward the back cone.  13-12 Burning Couch

Game 2  Burning Couch vs. EMU Hellfish

     This game got out of hand early as the Couch was riding momentum from their Universe point win.  Handlers were able to break mark and go up line with ease and the cutters were finding ways to get open at will.  EMU handlers and cutters were being forced to work very hard as Michigan State defenders were blanketing their handlers and cutters.  Cutters could not find anywhere to go as MSU defenders were using the famous "bump um" tactic.  Couch quickly went up 7-1 at half and never looked back.  Game point came and hailed MSU rookie Lakin "Chicken" Brown was able to pull down a huge D to set up the score.  13-2 Couch.

Game 3  Burning Couch vs. Calvin College 

      By underestimating Calvin and a lack of intensity on defense, we found ourselves down 7-6 down a break at half.  With such a young team, finding consistency and knowing when to flip the switch has proved to be our biggest problem all year.  This time was different.  Throwing the Special Sauce on Calvin, their handlers had no idea how to advance the disc.  Mike "dagger" Dagher-Margosian was able to get a HUGE handblock which set the tone for the rest of the game.  We were hungry for D's.  Paired with our new found intensity and Calvin's inability to figure out the Special Sauce, we rattled off 6 straight breaks to take the game 13-7.  D line offense was run very well this game as myself, Dagger, and Hatham were able to flow at the handles while Hippo, Pat "POC" O'Callaghan, Roo, and the Weston "Beagle" Laabs were able to cut at will and beat their men in or deep anywhere on the field.

Game 4  Burning Couch vs. MSU B 

     This game was a preview of what the Couch will look like next year.   A lot of promise was showed as players stepped into new roles and gained good playing experience.  Win for Couch 08-09.