The game with Purple against Carolina started out slow for purple as our interesting combination of seasoned talent met with fresh athleticism. Everyone remained positive through the first half of the game, even as Carolina broke several times in a row and took half 8-4. After reviewing some team defense strategies during half, things really started to come together for Purple. After trading a few points back and forth, it was expressed to the captains that the score which both teams had written on their stat sheets (10-7 Carolina) was wrong. While play continued, the captains agreed that Purple’s stat sheet was probably incorrect due to being passed to so many different hands on the sideline. The mistake on Carolina’s stat sheet was located and the captains agreed that the score was indeed 11-7. Play continued and Purple continued to really mesh on the field, but not without Carolina really making us work for it. The game became close, as Purple and Carolina were tied 13-13. Purple scored making it 14-13 and somebody called for both teams to line up. At this point, I am still unclear as to how it happened, but I want to make it very clear that neither of Purple’s captains called the game. We thought that Carolina had called it since we didn’t, however it is possible that someone else on Purple called the game after it was obviously not made clear enough to the rest of the players that the score had been changed. Regardless, both teams played really hard (especially for the first game of the season) and aside from an isolated incident, both teams had great spirit and resolved calls calmly and efficiently.
So many players deserve shout-outs for a well-fought first match, but I think the person most deserving of recognition on Purple is Alex Hood. This dude spent more time on the ground than he did standing up, as he bid again and again for the disc, and a few times for the score! He wasn’t the only one with a face full of dirt though. Carolina’s Jared Futral took to the ground several times throughout the game and ended up with more dirt in his teeth than any player had in their cleats. He didn’t even wipe it off either. Mad respect man. While some players were diving for the disc, others were taking to the sky. Carolina’s Trey Milne was pulling all of the discs down in the end zone, and doing so with a smile on his face (seriously, he’s like the nicest person ever). However, my mvp pick for Carolina is definitely Manuel Mendez. He roasted us deep for the score time and time again. Lesson learned, don’t sleep on Manny. The second half of the game was where everyone really stepped up. Ben really crushed it as a mark, getting real low to challenge Jared’s insides throws (not easy considering Ben is FREAKING HUGE). And don’t think we didn’t notice how much better we started doing once Will Byrd made an appearance on the field to throw those juicy hucks later in the game. All in all, it was a very fun game and a very promising start to the season!