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The Hustle even the division race with late game magic
Although the venue changed, in that we played in Atlanta Silverbacks Stadium instead of Grady Stadium, our fans proved that as long as we were in Atlanta, they would ensure home field advantage. The atmosphere was electric: fans filled the home-sided seats, actively heckling, donning their purple for our “purple out” and holding homemade signs.
With this being Raleigh’s first away game, the game started out all Hustle! Our first drive involved a few easy open side throws down the entire field for the score, without a single pressured look. Raleigh immediately seemed nervous, forcing ill-timed blades and dropping simple looks. This led to a quick 3-0 Hustle lead, thanks for some timely scoobers by Jay Clark and athletic cutting from Matt Smith. However, Raleigh would soon find their stride and claw their way back into the game, taking advantage of specific matchups and relying very heavily on their deep game to tie the game 5-5.
Buzzer Beater: With 6 seconds left in the first quarter, Dylan Tunnell boosts a full field huck, which is tipped by a pile of receivers only to be caught for a Hustle goal to send us into the second quarter with the 6-5 lead!
The second quarter was much the same, Raleigh relying on their deep game and Atlanta running a beautifully patient offense punishing both sides of the field. As the game became more and more physical, contact calls galore, both teams became more heated and the referees seemed to take a step back from active play calls. A close game seeming inevitable, we entered the half 10 all.
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Halftime: The Atlanta Sport and Social Club put on an entertaining bubble soccer demonstration. We highly recommend you like their Facebook page and check out the events they offer.
The third quarter developed like the rest of the game, one team going up a break, the other team working to gain it back. Christian Olsen was all over the field, laying out for D’s, working his defender on O, and pushing the pace for everyone around him.
In a fourth quarter for the ages, it was clear that both teams were ready to give their all on the field in order to keep, or in Atlanta’s case, gain the South Divisional lead in the standings. It was 22-23 Flyers up, and the Hustle were working up the open side as easily as we had done all game. A Raleigh mark kicks Christian Olsen in the hand, forcing the disc to the turf. After one referee admitted to not seeing what happened, a controversial no foul call (on a clearly in pain Christian) led to a Flyers break to make the score 22-24 with 3 minutes remaining. Each team quickly scores twice, both utilizing their deep game and big athletes to make the score 24-26 with 1 and a half minutes remaining. The Hustle finally get a break, off of beautiful throw from Dylan Tunnel to Jay Clark, making the score 25-26 with less than 30 seconds on the clock.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, players were pacing the sidelines, and Raleigh was starting to feel nervous. To throw a wrench in their deep game, Coach Swanson reverted back to the timeless “Snake in the Grass" call, camouflaging an Atlanta defender deep by having him stand near the sidelines. As a result, the Flyers let loose a dime of a 70 yard huck to what they presumed was a wide open cutter. However, Trenton Spinks comes sprinting across the end zone seemingly out of nowhere to D the Raleigh huck and regain possession for Atlanta with minimal time on the clock! After dishing the disc to Kyle Stapleton, an Atlanta handler who has quietly worked his way onto the starting O-line, he lets loose a beautiful 75+ yard flick huck to a hoard of Raleigh and Atlanta players alike in the far end zone. Everyone goes up…
Disc floats over everyone’s outstretched arms except for a small tip of the disc and the game seems to be over…
Jay Clark catches the disc off of the tip to tie the game 26 all and send us into overtime!
We won the coin flip to start the 5 minute overtime on offense. Momentum tangibly shifted back our way. Tunnell fields the pull and immediately bombs a flick huck to Jay, who catches through a ridiculous amount of contact for the score and caps it off with a fiery punch spike. Raleigh seems mentally out of it, dropping a wide-open undercut gain to give possession back to the Hustle. After a multi-bid point, capped off with a Christian Olsen bid to save a Kyle Stapleton last second scoober, the Hustle punch it in to take a 28-26 lead! Both teams play possession offense, eating a chunk of overtime, and trade scores leading to a 29-28 Hustle lead with us receiving the pull. We maintain possession well, but a chest high layout D from Raleigh gets them the disc back with 12 seconds remaining in overtime and a chance to tie. The Flyers risk a cheeky blade on the goal line for the turn, giving us the disc back with 6 seconds left and a one point lead. A quick dump pass to start the timer and we were able to let the clock run out, tie Raleigh for the Divisional lead, and give our fans a night to remember. #cantstopwontstop #everygamematters
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Replay: You can relive the magic of this epic game by watching the replay on demand here for $5
Next game: This week the Hustle head southeast to Jacksonville for the 1st time.
Next Home game: After a bye week, over Memorial day, the Hustle will return to Grady Stadium for a Friday night game under the lights and Atlanta Skyline. It's an 8pm 1st pull vs the Charlotte Express May 29th.
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Hustle vs Flyers promo
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