Mixed Division Coverage - Day Five

By Neva Cherniavsky

Finals: The teams trade up to 4s. Hang Time makes some execution errors, but there are turnovers by both teams. The points are pretty long. Donner plays a straight up mark to midfield then switches to middle. Hang Time is still able to huck over it.

Hang Time's man defense is okay, except they get broken, and then Donner flows up the break side for the score. With a 5-4 lead, Hang Time takes a timeout and goes zone. Donner is not swinging well and Hang Time traps on the downwind sideline. A dangerous swing pass leads to a defense by #14 Lenny Correll, who then sprints away to catch the goal.

The couple of points are a turnover fest. Donner wins the first by working it up with a couple of swilly throws that float over to the break side. On the next point there are hucks out of bounds by both teams. Eventually Hang Time has couple successful long throws to #32 Tom Etchison, who isn't particularly open, but is so much taller that he can bring the disc down. 7-5 Hang Time.

Donner makes quick work of the man defense next point, working the in cuts to midfield, then hucking to a woman who has totally faked out her D.

#99 John Brokaw pulls poorly and it's out of bounds about 30 yds from the endzone. But Donner poaches well off the Hang Time women, blocking the downfield lanes. Correll throws away a swing pass to #7 Lisa Etchinson. Donner fast breaks and the D has trouble catching up. They then make an ill-advised huck in the endzone. Hang Time picks it up and it's #34 Scott Buchanan to Lisa Etchison long bomb for the score.

Donner again works it to about midfield then hucks it away. There's lots of tall Hang Time D in the endzone. Hang Time hucks and it's incomplete. Donner works the dump swing, gets some in cuts down the line, and throws a long pass to a woman that should have been defended. 8-7 Hang Time.

The Hang Time offense is looking stagnant. The in cuts are just not happening. They still manage to work it to midfield, but huck it away to Tom Etchison (#32), who should've had it. Donner moves it to midfield and #59 hucks it downfield. It's misread by the defense for an easy score.

On the ensuing pull, Hang Time works it, with a nice pass to Tom Etchison who drops it in endzone. Donner is looking good at times with lots of swings and movement; other times, they are very stagnant, with no cuts. From about 30 yards out, #28 Frankus Flores makes a big breakmark pass to #14 Gina Montesano for the score, and Donner takes half 9-8.

After halftime, Hang Time looks nice working it, especially to the women. A long throw is just out of reach of #22 Diana O'Quinn. Donner works it downfield, with lots of questionable choices and some lay out catches. The turn it over near their scoring endzone. Hang Time gives it right back. Long throw to #77 Toby Johnson, and it's D'd but he catches the mac.

There's another Hang Time long throwaway. Donner uses long swings, and wide open in cuts to move the disc. Brokaw turns it on a swing. From midfield, it's Buchanan to Tom Etchison for the score. Donner Party 10, Hang Time 9.

Donner receives and Flores throws a long bomb, helped by a good read by the receiver. After an easy couple of passes later, Donner scores.

Hang Time is making lots of little passes in tight spots. From midfield, they huck it away. The calls start to increase on both sides of the disc. Donner has a dump turnover on their own endline. Hang Time makes an easy throw for the score. Donner Party 11, Hang Time 10.

Hang Time puts on the zone again. Donner uses long swing passes that are high and floaty. Hang Time gets the D on one of them and immediately hammers it away. Then Flores hucks it away. Etchison has a beautiful high huck catch from #26 Johnny Thompson.

Donner throws lots of swings and occasional zingers through the zone. The offense turns it within 25 yards of the scoring endzone. A couple of throws later, it's a huck from Thompson to Lisa Etchinson, and Hang Time takes the lead at 12-11.

On the next possession, Donner's Topher Manahan (#33) hucks to #2 Tim Peterson, who makes a nice grab over the D. Lisa Etchison has a layout D and Hang Time works it down the field for the score.

Hang Time comes back with the zone again. Donner Party is not working it well. Finally a midrange high backhand over the cup breaks the zone. A few passes later, it's an easy score.

Hang Time works it down and across the field. A long inside out flick turns over in endzone. Donner works it down, making a questionable crossfield throw that #17 Dana Green saves with a great lay out catch. But Donner turns it over, Hang Time gives it back, Donner turns it again on a long huck that Scott Conway (#39) drops, and Hang Time gives it back again. Donner has an easy walk in for the score.

Hang Time completes a long throw to Tom Etchison, then tries again, but it's a turn. Donner moves well upfield on in cuts, then drops. Tom Etchison throws a midrange to Correll for the score, and it's tied 14-14.

Hang Time comes out again with the zone. Donner's throws are swilly but they keep coming down with them. Eventually, Donner works it in for the score.

Hang Time has trouble on the next possession with tight Donner defense. There are lots of short passes and a turnover at midfield. Burke on Donner has very nice breakmark backhands. She works it up the field, then throws one over the head of Peterson. Peterson runs it down and makes a nice layout for the score.

16-14, game point Donner. The pull takes a Donner Party bounce and is deep within the endzone. Multiple short passes later, Hang Time turns it over not far outside their own endzone. Donner throws for the score, a pass that a Hang Time woman lays out for and macs. The offense makes the grab anyway; controversy ensues but the observer calls him in.

Hang Time has a great tournament, with dominating wins over everyone, including Donner. But the Party strikes again, winning when it matters, and Donner Party repeats as Mixed champions with the 17-14 victory.

All ideas expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the UPA