Losing Never Felt So Good

And we kept our sweatshirts clean!

Minneapolis, MN. November 5, 2003 - You would think that over 16 leagues of co-rec touch football (Magically Delicious, Gang Green, Where's the D?, Pancakes), we would have seen everything. Well, we hadn't, and the emotional roller coaster that was the final night of the fall 2003 season proved it.

The Pancakes met-up with a familiar, undefeated Griswolds squad in the semi-final match-up. The Griswolds had taken the regular season contest, but everyone on the Cakes felt we were the better team heading into the game. Not sure if it was the cold (coldest ever?) or we wasted it all on the pre-game Jumpball (Bic was on fire!), but the Cakes came out with as poor a start as we have ever seen (as poor as what we have done to some of our opponents… and we have really made some of our opponents look bad). A combination of us dropping bombs, throwing first play interceptions and playing defense on our (my) ass led to a non-existent offense and the most porous defense ever. Halftime score: Griswolds 26 - Pancakes - 0.

"Cakes, it's time to wake-up!"

There was no halftime pep talk. Heck, I think most of us believed we were going to lose. But, the Cakes came out of halftime trying to at least make the game respectable (how would Mark react seeing us smoked 40-squat?). The Cakes marched on our first drive for a TD. Still, we had a long way to go. We picked them on their next series and scored again on the next drive. Still, long way to go. A Griswold punt here. Another Cakes score there. The offense was becoming efficient ("high-powered" was overheard) and the defense unbeatable. The Cakes were down 26-21 with 49 seconds left. The Griswold showed the worst time management ever as the Cake's defense again tightened with a sack and numerous defended passes. The Cakes got the ball back with two seconds remaining and 40 yards to go for a score.

What play to call? What other play could we call? The tip play, which had slowly been perfected throughout the season (although had never actually worked), was the call. Cue the slow motion and time stand still effect. Cue The Natural/Hoosiers soundtrack playing in the background. The perfect pass. The perfect tip. It just stuck. Victory. The Pancakes erupted in celebration. Some were spun around. Some rode the locomotion all the way down the field (CHOO CHOO!). Everyone else did his or her best headless chicken impersonations. It was amazing. We even did a spontaneous, huddled… 1-2-3 PANCAKES! cheer. Seven years of subdued, passive, expected, weak congratulatory "cheer" was let out in what was probably the best single moment in Pancakes history. We have never had a comeback like that. We have never had as dramatic a play as the last one. I know it is just a silly, co-rec touch football league… but it was unbelievable! By the way, 100% conversion of extra points really does pay off. Final score: Pancakes 27 - Griswolds 26.

Riding an extremely high wave of emotion, the Cake ran into an even more familiar, undefeated PMR (who also sported our favorite tall, skinny, green-pants, bird like jerk [also known as "Toastie"] and a real chunk of a gal who evidently wore her prom sweatshirt to the game [also know as "Bitch"]. Sorry, just though I'd get that stuff out of the way early). The Cakes were blown-out in the regular season match-up with PMR by 18 points.

Riding creative (never before seen) play calling and execution by Craig, Pam's "eyes burning through her" TD pass (that might have been game one), Steph's huge yardage on the crossing pattern (also game one), Bic's tough D (overcoming tummy problems and what looked like crippled fingers), Bill's "just in" TD grab to burn green pants, Keith's unbelievable one handed catch on fourth down (he re-earned the "Stretch" nickname) and a plethora of other fantastic offensive and defensive plays, the Cakes were able to stick with a PMR team loaded with male and female weapons.

With two minutes left and the Cakes down by seven, we started a drive at our own five-yard line. The Cakes, showing a newfound confidence and never say quit attitude, marched the length of the field with Craig running in a TD on the final play of regulation. Now, the call. And it was a great one. On a forced-gender extra point, the Cakes would go for two and the win. Keeping it in the family, Steph threw a high ball to brother Keith who made a spectacular juggling catch… a foot short of the goal line. Final Score: PMR 20 - Cakes 19.

We didn't win the championship. We only lost by one point, so there's obviously a number of plays we all (or each) can point to that may have changed the outcome (trust me, I had more than anyone). If PMR would have lost, they would have thought the same way. Let's not forget… what a night! It would be great to have absolutely no regrets and have won it all (the icing on the cake), but I don't think I'd feel that different (who needs another crappy CSC sweatshirt anyway?). As Craig said, we played that final game on borrowed time. I guess you play long enough and you really do see everything. I loved it.

1-2-3 PANCAKES!

All I can say is that I was telling EVERYONE at work about it this morning. They didn't seem to understand how much FUN it was last night.
Oh well.

Here's what I saw... I saw Bic block the rusher (who, to me, went in early), a perfect spiral ball to Keith, two to three "other" team members touch the ball... after that, all I could really see was Pat catch the ball and I thought to myself, "he is out of the end zone." (sigh)

Suddenly Pat jumps in the air and runs around the field (as do others on our team) and everyone is cheering and running, and I have no idea that we've won. I'm thinking that we've simply tied the game.

Now, I'm on the field too (running and cheering (for the wrong reason)), and I see the other team line up to shake hands . . Ah-ha! Now I realize that Pat has made an unbelievable catch and we've won the game!

(All of this happened in slow motion.) I love it!

Actually, I saw very little as I was looking up at the crowd of people in front of you. I saw the ball go gliding over, looked like if went off a number of hands and then, from where I was standing, into the abyss. The next thing I saw was you shooting out from behind the pile…

What I remember is you coming flying up from behind the pack of people, screaming, with your fist clenched and raised. You and Craig were headed for each other like a couple of locomotives. I think both of you jumped towards each other and neither your or his feet touched the ground for about 10 linear feet.

PANCAKES!!!

That was INCREDIBLE fun last night. It makes me happy/energized to be around you guys in general, but last night was something else. You guys are the greatest.

Sweet, sweet recap, Pitter (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU). The cold must have woken up some gray cells....(Let's pretend it was good for something).

That was the most fun football night on record! It tops off a summer of going out and totally bonding as a group.Great job everyone.