Ryan Baker, Journalist
Radicals fans will remember July 28th, 2024, as an instant classic and one of the wildest UFA games in the league’s history. The Madison Radicals took down the Chicago Union in sudden death to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
“That was probably the best game I've ever been involved in,” said head coach Tim DeByl.
This game had everything that an ultimate frisbee fan could ask for. From comebacks to overtime to a torrential downpour, to rainbows, this one will surely go down as one of the best games ever played at the iconic Breese Stevens Field.
The Radicals began the game the way they have been playing for the last three weeks, firing on all cylinders. They went up 5-2 in the first quarter, but saw one of their offensive cornerstones, Pat Shriwise, go down with an injury midway through the quarter. Shriwise was unable to get back in the game.
The second quarter was a rather slow one with three points lasting more than two and a half minutes apiece. Chicago changed their defensive set to a zone in an attempt to slow down the Radicals offense, leading Madison to struggle early in the point. These struggles may have played a part in some execution errors, as Madison dropped two goals that allowed the Union to get back within one going into half.
The third quarter was even slower, and the Radicals saw a scary scene when a jump ball at the end of quarter resulted in Victor Luo hurting his shoulder and Max Sample coming down with a bloody nose. Both returned to the game, but Chicago managed to take advantage of some mistakes and took a one-point lead heading into the final quarter.
“There was a moment there where we just lost the energy game. Then something happened and the energy switched. The coaching staff did a great job of just pulling together what we could, and we just kept fighting and fighting and fighting. I’m super proud of that. We worked our way through that mess, and it’s awesome that we get another game,” said DeByl.
This is where the drama begins. With about seven minutes left in the game, it seemed as if the life went out of the Radicals. Leading goal scorer Anthony Gutowksy went down with an injury, and Madison saw themselves down three. An efficient O-line point ended with a Joshua Wilson to Pieran Robert score, and life began to come back into the home squad.
A Mitchell McCarthy hand block on a double team led to a McCarthy to Luke Marks break score. A miscue the next point from Chicago gave Madison a chance to tie the game up, and they cashed in with a big Joe Leibforth sky in the endzone from Mac Weber. Chicago then punched in a score of their own, but Madison answered right back when Gutowsky returned and threw a huck to Jack Nelson that ended up in a score due to a foul call in the endzone.
The drama continued as a block from Robert on the hail mary in the final seconds from Chicago sent the game into overtime. The Radicals lost the flip and sent their D-line out for the first point of overtime. Gutowsky went down on the first Madison offensive point in the extra period, and didn’t return for the rest of the game. Sterling Knoche stepped up, and no one knew how crucial that decision to put Knoche in would be.
“I really appreciate that Tim trusts me in those situations. I’ve been on the team for a while and have played in the playoffs, so I think that played into why he selected me there. Tim decided when the whole O-line went down to scrape the bottom of the barrel and he picked me,” said Knoche.
This is where the rain started to come in. Out of nowhere, a torrential downpour started that created even more of an intense environment for a playoff game.
“We've been practicing in the rain a lot, and a lot of our games were in the rain this year. We actually felt pretty prepared when that started coming down, and that it can help us more than them,” said McCarthy.
With two minutes left, Madison received the disc. After trying to move it up the field, a Sample turn past the diving Marcus gave Chicago control of the game. This is where the Knoche substitution came into effect. A floaty throw gave Knoche just enough time to come down with an enormous block that turned the tides.
Nine throws later, a foul on the mark by Chicago and a high stall count on Marcus gave Knoche bookends on the point, corralling in the tying score with 23 seconds left.
“They floated an around that hung and I was able to get the one-two step in. The offensive player just got stuck two-footed, and I was able to get it. Honestly, on offense, I was just trying to get out of the way, hide, and let the offense work. It was just me, and I made a quick jump cut to the right back to the left and Kai Marcus through a laser in there. Luckily, I hung on in the pouring rain there,” said Knoche.
Another jump ball from Chicago at the end of period hit the ground, and all of a sudden this playoff game was going into the golden goal period, otherwise known as sudden death. Due to Chicago winning the flip at the beginning of overtime, Madison received the disc for the golden goal point.
The rain had disappeared, and the sun returned, almost giving a tell for what was about to happen for the home crowd. An offsides call on Chicago during the pull allowed for Marcus to start with the disc at midfield. Eleven throws later, Sample had the disc in the middle of the field and released a flick into space. Rookie Gabe Vordick, streaking across the middle of the endzone with multiple steps on his defender, jumped up and snatched the game-winning goal.
“Chicago was telling me I couldn't throw a flick, and Gabe was really open, so I threw a flick. It was that easy,” said Sample.
“Max was cold blooded on that throw. As soon as it went up, I was like, this is good. Then you have this moment where we also dropped about six of these today. Then, boom, catch. It was amazing. That was one of the most fun games I've ever been a part of,” said DeByl.
Despite all the dramatics, it was a rather sloppy game from both sides. Madison had multiple drops that would’ve been scores, they saw multiple injuries hit their offensive squad, and their defense was unable to convert on multiple opportunities.
Nelson and Robert walked out with four goals apiece, and Vordick added three to the total in all of their playoff debuts. Jake Carrico and McCarthy had three blocks each, with Wilson and Gutowsky having two each. Meanwhile, Luo led the team with four assists on the night.
The Sample to Vordick score has now set up a first-time ever playoff matchup between the Radicals and the Minnesota Wind Chill. The Radicals will get two weeks to heal up after taking a beating in a physical game against Chicago.
“It feels so good to be able to get one more shot at them this year. Both our games against them, we didn't play great. I just can't wait to get up there and show them what we got, now that we're firing on all cylinders,” said McCarthy.
The season continues for Madison, and the playoff success drought has ended. However, Madison will need to clean up play and get healthier if they want to represent the Central Division at championship weekend.
