After battling to a Day 1 draw, both teams were determined to get the upper hand today. In the pre-game “psych up” meetings, Red and Gray leaders implored their guys to reach down a little deeper today and continue to give their all. Both were more than satisfied with yesterday’s efforts and confident in their team’s ability to jump out front this morning, and hopefully get control of this Color War.
And the Red Stars did just that. Their bevy of talented racket men made short work of the Gray in dominating Stars Tennis. When Nate F scored in the first 2 minutes of the first Tigers Hockey game on the way to a 4-1 win, it looked like Red was making a move. But Gray won the 2nd game 3-0 to stall any advantage and split the Tigers Hockey point. Of special note though was a Herculean effort in the cage by Wes K who made more than a few spectacular saves to keep his squad in it till the end.
The Red Freshmen are loaded with laxers, and it showed, sweeping a pair of games over at the Hejduk. In Game 1, Mason and TI each hit the net 6 times, but it was Reed S feeding them, with 8 assists to go along with a pair of his own goals. Jordan G led the way in Game 2 as Red cruised.
Gray responded in a big way, hammering the Red in Seniors Softball 11-1, displaying several outstanding web-gems in the process. Speaking of highlight-reel plays, Max B made a superlative catch in one of the Sophomores Football games which ended in a 26-all tie, leaving the whole point up for grabs on the Bunkline field contest. Back and forth they went until Bodin’s TD with less than a minute left won it 44-40, and secured Sophomores Football for Gray.
When word of Red’s first win down at Trickey Pond in Juniors Waterfront made it up the hill (Logan and Joseph made a great double kayak team), the only event left to be finished was over on the Hoops Courts.
It’s always great when our littlest guys provide the most exciting contests, and today, their trio of Basketball games just added to the lore. Gray won the Upper Court game by a deuce, holding off a furious comeback effort by Red, who then rebounded by coasting to a win at the Gym. With most of the other divisions complete, spectators from both sides engulfed the Lower Hoops Court to watch the finish of the 3rd and point-determining Cubs game. Down a point with seconds to play, the ball found its way into Tavi’s hands, who calmly turned and sank the game winner. Chants of “Tavi, Tavi” resounded among the Red faithful as they swarmed the court and hoisted him in the air, elated with the victory that put Red ahead as the morning activities closed.
After a break for lunch, the teams used rest hour to gather for the first of 6 Songs and Cheers practices in preparation for the penultimate Color War night activity (more on that coming in Day 4).
The afternoon dramatics were even better. Roars could be heard from Trickey Pond to Sky II and every place in between.
The Cubs, fresh off the excitement of this morning’s Hoops finish, split a pair of Lacrosse games. In the first, Red dominated with Chase leading the scoring attack. Then Beckett proved to quite the stopper, making several incredible saves to help Gray win the second, 5-3.
Red then swept a pair of double-header Soccer division matches with two wins each on both at Sky I and II. At the Hejduk, Alvaro and Bosco controlled the action in Game 1, then watched Tyler score 3 times in the other, combining for two dominant wins in Stars Soccer. On the Snow Field, Spencer M scored the game winner to offset a pair of tallies by Max F to win 3-2 in the first match. Then 5 different players scored second half goals in Game 2 for the Red to win Freshmen Soccer.
As dominant as Red has been in Soccer, it seems Gray loves the Waterfront! Another win, this time capturing all 3 elements as the Gray Tigers swam, paddled and skied to victory down at Trickey.
Then Gray swept all 3 Basketball games to win Juniors Hoops -- and remain within striking distance of the lead. The Sophomores had a Baseball double dip, with one game on the Freddie, and the other over at the Sky II diamond. Pitching from both squads dominated the Fred Pierce game, with Brody, Isaac C and Noah K seemingly unhittable, ending in a scoreless tie. Over at Sky 2, Ollie smashed a 2-run homer, leading the Red to an 8-4 win, and the point for Sophomores Baseball.
By this time, the crowd had ballooned around the Bunkline gridiron for an incredibly tight nip and tuck Seniors Football game. With just under a minute left, the score was tied, but Red was knocking at the door. Four tries from inside the 5-yard line were thwarted by the stout Gray D, giving them the ball back with 30 seconds left. But after a pick on 1st down, Red had the ball back at midfield, with barely enough time for just a couple of plays. After no gain on 1st down and a quick timeout, Red QB Sam heaved a “Hail Mary” pass toward the end zone. Gray’s defender tipped and batted the ball away…. before Theo came out of nowhere to make Skylemar’s version of the Immaculate Reception -- a spectacular, diving, fingertip catch with the football just inches from hitting the ground. Theo was mobbed by his teammates and the delirious Red spectators – and gave us the most amazing, gut-wrenching, wild finish we’ve seen thus far. And more importantly, another point for Red, who have now seized the lead.
Whew! Day 2 was in the books…. can’t wait for more tomorrow!
