Horsecows End Fall Season in Tenn.

Heads Up: First-years Robin Walker (left) and Steve Weintraub (right) battle for the disc in practice. (photo by Alyssa Tomasi)

Once every year, on the first weekend in November, an intrepid band numbering nearly two dozen floods the highways south of Oberlin on a pilgrimage to a very special city in Tennesse. It was with great anticipation, then, that those travelers, the Oberlin Flying Horsecows, set forth on their journey to Knoxville and the annual University of Tennessee Ultimate Tournament Nov. 4 and 5. According to senior Jamie Merchant, "It's like going to Graceland, only with less hair."

After a scattered departure from Oberlin, all the 'Cows miraculously arrived in plenty of time for the first game of the day on Saturday, against the University of Arkansas. The skirt-wearing rascals from the hills proved a tougher challenge than expected, working the disc through Oberlin's zone defense and at one point pulling to within 6-4. However, Oberlin then took half and did not allow a single score in the second half, prevailing 13-4.

On a low note, junior Adam Marvel aggravated an already-sore ankle. Marvel missed all of the following game and played only part-time in the weekend's other two contests. Marvel was rather circumspect when asked about the injury, saying only, "Stay away from my wife," before staggering off into the nearby woods for several minutes.

The 'Cows' next opponent was a team of athletic unknowns, Virginia Tech. With almost no wind, Oberlin came out and threw zone to start - and Tech shredded it, to take a 1-0 lead. The Horsecows made some dumb turnovers, and Tech capitalized, and suddenly, it was 4-1 Tech. The Horsecows brought it back to a tie at four, but Tech came right back for the score and held the lead into half, 7-6, after some much-increased intensity on the last point.

Following halftime, the Horsecows tied the game at seven, Tech took the lead again, Oberlin tied it up again, and Tech rattled off two straight to make it 10-8. It was at this point, on a hot layout D in the end zone, that the 'Cows lost senior co-captain Nick Dent to injury. Fired up and determined not to let the D be in vain, Oberlin marched down the field and capitalized on the forced turnover, scoring to bring the count to 10-9. Oberlin was once again able to force a turn and capitalize, bringing the count even at 10. Tech was able to convert on the next series to take the lead again at 11-10, and were able to capitalize on the next point following another Oberlin mistake, making the score 12-10 in favor of Tech.

The 'Cows worked it down the field on the next point for the score following a layout D in the endzone from junior Isaac "Inky" Deter-Wolf, making it 12-11 and necessitating a defensive stop by the Horsecows. Sadly, they were unable to muster the stop, and Tech put it across for the score and the 13-11 victory.

It was in the Tech game that the 'Cows lost the services of sophomore Aaron "Barbie" Webber for much of the weekend, as his nose absorbed the momentum of a Tech player's arm. Though Webber was in pain, his nose remained unbroken - more than could be said for the Techster's arm. Ouch.

The loss to Virginia Tech, seeded third in the 'Cows' pool, also necessitated an Oberlin victory over tournament hosts and pool first-seeds the University of Tennessee. The intensity present only at times against Tech was present against UT from the start.

Oberlin pulled even on the second point, fell behind by one again, and the Horsecows were tied on and off through the first half. The deep Oberlin team cycled entire lines in and out while the UT squad tired visibly in only their second contest of the day. Even when tied at six, the teams played an intense point for half, eventually taken by Tennessee. The 'Cows dropped three straight points to put themselves in a 10-6 hole.

Down by four and now playing without the services of either Dent or senior co-captain Kristian Whitsett, who had gone down earlier in the UT game with a bruised heel, and without Marvel, who had earlier in the UT game popped a bursa, the Horsecows did not panic. Rather, they played their game, walking it down the field for a score: 10-7. They then came out for the D, and scored: 10-8. The cap went on, meaning a game to 12, hard cap. No matter. The Horsecows, anchored by the rock-solid play of seniors Adam Zucker and Merchant and juniors Deter-Wolf and Nate Marsh, Oberlin kept rolling, egged on by an intense sideline that erupted with greater volume with each successive hot score, D or catch.

The wind picked up, and it started raining. No matter. Oberlin again clamped on the D, and again converted for the score: 10-9. With each point, the inevitability gathered, Tennessee grew more nervous, and more intense, but intensity was matched and exceeded every step along the way by the 'Cows. Another D, and, eventually, another score: game tied at 10. Wash, rinse, repeat: another score, 11-10 Horsecows.

On game point the 'Cows, for the first time in five points, failed to get the stop and score, and so it was tied again, at 11, game point for both teams, Oberlin receiving the pull. After a near-miss huck to Zucker in the end zone, Oberlin worked it back down to the end zone, and after what seemed an eternity of dumps and swings, it was this time Zucker to Deter-Wolf for the score: game to the Horsecows, 12-11.

The Horsecows were aware of their first-round bye on Sunday, and arrived well-rested before game time to prepare for the quarterfinals against, the bracket indicatedŠ Michigan. That's right, the Horsecows had driven eight hours and hundreds of miles just to play their regional archrivals.

The 'Cows elected to start on defense, and their zone quickly flustered the Magnum, leading to a turnover and an easy Oberlin score. Magnum came back for four straight scores, flustering the Horsecows - but no matter. Oberlin recomposed themselves, and tied the game back up at four. Michigan promptly put two more in, making it 6-4 - a score that Oberlin was on one side or the other of in every contest. The 'Cows, in a long and tense point, were able to finally put in the score to make it 6-5. Michigan, on the following point marched down the field, but Oberlin refused the boys from Ann Arbor and brought their own offensive march down the field. Sadly, a turnover ended Oberlin's possession and Magnum quickly worked the disc up the field to take half, 7-5.

Oberlin received the pull out of half, but was unable to convert on offense as Michigan took an 8-5 lead. The teams then proceded to roughly trade points, with Michigan cruising into an 11-8 lead. The 'Cows were unable to hold off another score, and Michigan took the lead, 12-8, game to 13.

Calmly, with no sense of urgency, Oberlin worked up the field for the score; 12-9. The Horsecows pulled, forced a turnover, turned it over, forced another, and kept doing the same until they stuffed it in for the score - 12-10. And, again, but more easily this time: 12-11. A victory was just not meant to be, as Michigan received the disc on the goal line following an uncontested foul in the end zone, and were able to put the game away, 13-11.

And suddenly, that was it. As they packed into their cars, the Horsecows looked over their collective shoulders at the fall season, ever so briefly, and smiled - ever so briefly.

They then looked forward to the months ahead of sprinting, swimming, lifting and jumping. They took a deep breath, buckled their safety belts and headed home.