A bit of early AM cloud cover cleared beautifully into a spectacular Maine day. Both teams seemed fresh and confident as they took to the fields and courts, determined to grab the lead and take control of this War.
And Gray did just that when Zane R went deep on the 2nd pitch of the game (his first ever!) to get his Seniors off to a quick lead in Softball, which they held until the game’s very last batter. With two on and two out, Malibu smoked a game-tying double to knot the score and split the Seniors Softball point.
Over at the Hejduk, the teams split two Freshmen Lax games. Red was led by Will A, Jamie and Brody while Boden and Bode were Gray standouts.
In Tigers Hockey, stout defense with great play by all 4 netminders in both games defined the play, especially Myer, and both Thomas’s (L and T) who were superb – so much so that neither team could find the net, and both ended in scoreless ties… and again splitting the Hockey point.
We thought Gray would finally surge ahead with a dominating win in Stars Tennis. But the lead was short-lived as the Red Cubs won 2 of 3 Hoops contests to again draw even with most of the morning complete.
The Sophomores couldn’t break the tie either. In Football action on the Rec Hall field, Henry H was terrific for Red, but Will D’s all-around play on both sides of the ball led Gray to the 47-38 win, On the Bunkline field, opposing twin QBs Harry and Will provided the wildest “2-minute drill” finish seen in years as they dueled to the final whistle in the most exciting contest so far. Down by 2 scores late in the 4th quarter, Will scored to bring Gray a bit closer. Then Carson, who caught balls all over the field in building their lead, was caught himself by Joel on 4th down (a fantastic lunging flag grab) just before gaining a new set of game-clinching downs for Red, giving the ball back to Gray with 1:20 left. When Will crossed the goal line just a few plays later, Gray had completed an improbable comeback to surge ahead, 70-64, with still under a minute to go. Not to be outdone, Harry then led Red on a 70-yard drive, ending in a spectacular TD run with :11 seconds left to tie it… the 2-point conversion that followed gave Red a most incredible 72-70 win in one of the greatest offensive shows ever seen, as the field swarmed with enthusiastic spectators from both sides. What a finish, and we’re still tied.
Then, news of the Gray Juniors triumph at the Waterfront finally broke the deadlock and all headed to lunch with Gray just a point ahead.
After the meal, the teams gathered to begin practice for the Color War Songs and Cheers competition to be held in the evening of Day 4 (more on that when we get there), before once again heading out to venues at both Sky I and II for this afternoon’s events. Gray had finally edged ahead, but Red remained confident, upbeat and ready to respond.
And that they did indeed, but not before the Gray Tigers won both the Swim and Kayak segments down at Trickey to win the afternoon Waterfront.
In Stars Soccer over at Sky II, Charlie saved everything that came his way in Red’s 2-0 shutout in Game 1, then watched his fellow Redmen win by the same score in Game 2, securing the point for Red. Rex scored the game winner before Sam M punched in a PK for insurance.
The Juniors played a pair of games on the Hoops courts. Red won a very tight one on the lower court, while Michael H led Gray to a hard fought victory on the upper court, splitting the Basketball point.
In Freshmen Soccer on the Snow Field, Nolan C impressed with great play all over the field in a dominant win in Game 1 for Gray. Again, Red bounced right back to split the Soccer point with a convincing 4-1 Game 2 win.
Red was clearly out to make a statement, and when Coop R dazzled the crowd with a 50-yard TD scamper, Red was off and running, leading wire-to-wire in a 62-48 Seniors Football victory. They followed that up with a last inning, come-from-behind 8-7 win in Sophomores Baseball on the Freddie Pierce, and awaited the fate of Cubs Lacrosse to determine whether they had in fact turned the momentum their way.
It was worth the wait. Once again, our littlest guys entertained all with the Game of the Day. After 3+ quarters of back-and-forth action, including a couple of lead changes in the 4th quarter alone, Red held a slim 1-goal lead. With only 10 seconds left, Nolan B scooped up a loose ball behind the cage, dodged and circled the net, and with the final second ticking off the clock (and nearly out of breath), he shot and scored at the horn to tie the game 7-7. It was a fitting finish to the most thrilling, competitive Cubs Lax game in recent memory. That left it up to Game 2, where Asher was the clear MVP for Red in a 7-4 win, taking the Cubs Lacrosse point and sending the ecstatic Red Team to the lead for the first time – one they can sleep on as Day 2 is history.
Just a couple of days in, and the boys have already given us a snapshot of what’s still yet to come. More great action and excitement, more displays of strength, speed, power, agility, teamwork and sportsmanship, and of course, the “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat”. Stay tuned… this one’s really heating up!
