May 25, 2024
By, Quincey McKeen
Thunderbolts and lightening was the name of the game this past Saturday as the Salt Lake Shred took on the San Diego Growlers at Zions Bank Stadium. The first pull had just gone up from the Shred to the Growlers when lightning was sighted and a weather delay announced. The forecast had predicted some rain at 7 pm, but the stadium was blasted by rain, wind, and hail. There was an impressive double rainbow and several massive lightning bolts before things calmed down enough to resume play, an hour later.
The Shred fans proved their mettle yet again, with many taking shelter in their cars and then returning despite the delayed start. They were a big part of the Shred's success, staying involved and cheering their team on throughout the game.
The players had just 15 minutes to warm up again before the game resumed, not the start they anticipated or wanted. The crazy weather conditions and the restarted game played to the Growler’s favor and the Shred started the game down 0-2, after a San Diego hold and a break. The Shred got back on serve when Tony Mounga had an impressive run-through D and then reeled in a hammer from Grant Lindsley. #strikeapose But San Diego got their lead back after Travis Dunn reeled in a big throw over two Shred defenders for a break. The Growlers led 7-5 after the first quarter, the biggest and longest-held lead between the Shred and an opponent so far this season.
The Shred got back on serve in the second quarter, which was fairly clean except for two Shred breaks. Ben Ashton had a run-through D right outside the Shred’s end zone and Matt Russnogle aka Snog snagged the score. For the second break, Snog got the run-through D and then laid out to make sure there was no second attempt to catch the frisbee. San Diego showed off their hucks, scoring four times either with a big throw or off the back of a big throw. The quarter ended with the Growlers still in the lead, 12-11.
The Shred came out of half fired up and ready to make some moves. Chad Yorgason got the break train going with a huge layout D on a San Diego swing pass. Oscar Brown hit Kyle Weinberg with a nice find in the back of the end zone for break #1. For break #2, Mounga threw a big one to Jonny Hoffman, who had a quick dish to Snog for the score. With that, the Shred took their first lead of the game. For break #3, three Shred defenders blocked a San Diego huck attempt and Lindsley connected with Weinberg for the score. Tight defensive pressure in the next point led to a Growler misthrow and Hoffman scored for break #4. San Diego did connect on a Dunn huck after break #5, bringing the score to 17-14. But the Shred had one more break in them. Simon Dastrup picked off a pass in the San Diego end zone and Lindsley lasered it down the field with just seconds remaining, hitting Weinberg for break #6. The third quarter ended 18-14 for the Shred.
The final quarter opened with a dicey Shred hold with several turns. Luke Yorgason got a layout D to seal the hold, with Jordan Kerr passing to Grayson Rettberg, for the second of his three goals in this game. This was rookie Rettberg’s first game of the season, filling in for Will Selfridge as he rests his knee. Rettberg slotted in seamlessly with the Shred offense and received a lot of encouragement from his teammates on the sideline. The Shred and the Growlers cleaned it up in the final quarter, with a single break from San Diego after a nice Growler pull had the Shred way back in their end zone. The Shred played catch for the final minute of the game, which ended 23-20 for the Shred.
It was a dramatic game, from the weather delay, to the Shred starting behind, to their six-break third quarter. But the Shred maintain their run of wins and are now 6-0 this season. The Shred’s next game is a rematch with the Colorado Summit and will take place June 8th at 7 pm at Zions Bank Stadium.
