Ryan Baker
The final week of the season is upon us. It’s been a grueling past couple months for the Madison Radicals, looking at their worst season in program’s history.
However, they have a chance to end it on a high note with a doubleheader coming off of a bye week. The first of two games begins in Chicago for a game against the Union, a team they have yet to beat this year. The second game concludes their season for a final home game at Breese Stevens Field against Detroit.
Chicago currently sits at 6-5 and has control of the third playoff spot in the Central. Due to them being guaranteed a playoff spot, the only thing that they can carry out of this game is some momentum. Big names for the Union such as Paul Arters, Nate Goff and Ross Barker all will be sitting out for this matchup.
Similarly on the other side, Madison doesn’t have much to fight for other than some momentum heading into next year and an attempt at saving themselves from major criticism in the offseason. The squad that head coach Tim DeByl will be sending to Chicago doesn’t include Sterling Knoche, Thomas Coolidge, Pat Shriwise and Sam Stark.
This will be the second matchup between the two, and the first time they went head-to-head, Chicago spoiled the home opener for the Radicals winning 20-18. It was a close one that came down to the inexperience of Madison in crunch time catching up to them. It wasn’t until a three goal run by Chicago with under six minutes left in the game that the game was decided.
There isn’t much buzz going around about these two games to conclude the season for the Radicals, however there has potential to be some after the weekend. Currently, rookie Anthony “Gumby” Gutowsky currently sits at 34 goals throughout ten games. In sight for him is breaking the single season goal record in Radicals history.
Throughout the ten years of being a program and being on the Mount Rushmore of the AUDL for teams, the record currently sits at 39 held by Colin Camp back in 2017. Gumby is in need of six goals in two games to etch his name in the history books in just his first season.
Back in his first games against the Union and Detroit, Gutowsky saw two and four goals land in his hands for each game, respectively. He also has scored three or more times in six games so far. While this record is within reach, he’s looking more at the games as a whole.
“These next two games are really important. I mean, obviously we aren’t fighting for a playoff spot, but it’s about getting a little bit of a momentum boost going into next year,” said Gutowsky.
After the short road trip to Chicago, the Radicals come back up the Breese Stevens to finish their season against the still defeated Mechanix. A game that will hopefully tie the season up nicely with a win and small confidence boost going into the offseason.
The night will also feature the theme of fan appreciation to show how much the Radicals love their hometown support.
On July 21, Madison heads down to play the Union for a 7 p.m. CDT start time. The very next day, on Saturday the Radicals host Detroit for the season finale at 6 p.m. CDT.
