Madison hosts Pittsburgh for 3rd straight season
Madison Radicals (12-2) will host Pittsburgh Thunderbirds (9-5) in the Midwest Division title game on Saturday, August 12, 6pm CST. Madison will look to extend its seven game win-streak, but with so many of Madison’s starters sidelined, Pittsburgh is going to try its hardest to get the upset.
The offensive line has struggled in the past, but with Tom ‘Animal’ Annen (5G/11A/2D with 152 completions over 86 points) returning to Madison for his sixth game of the season, Madison’s handler core will be at its strongest. Backed up by Ben Nelson (7G/20A/3D with 245 completions over 152 points), who is having arguably his best season of his career, Madison will be able to strike at Pittsburgh’s defense with precision.
Downfield, look for Colin Camp (39G/19A/2D with 204 completions over 202 points) to draw a lot of attention from Pittsburgh. After proving himself as one of the best receivers in the Midwest, it is likely that Pittsburgh will have Camp’s defender playing ten or more yards behind him, allowing Camp to make inward cuts and reset the disc with ease. Should Pittsburgh play Camp closely, however, it is likely Madison will find its favorite target alone in the endzone repeatedly.
While the defensive line is missing some of its key man-to-man defenders, it will be not be without its big stars. Headlining the defensive effort will be Andrew Meshnick (9G/27A/28D with 127 completions over 290 points player) and Peter Graffy (26G/25A/27D with 179 completions over 285 points player), whose efforts have stifled Midwest opponents for years, whether in the air or on the mark. Reinforcing them will be a strong core of players, including Brian Hart, Kevin Pettit-Scantling and rookie Sterling Knoche, whose abilities on defense and their quick strike prowess will help propel Madison to victory.
While some of the roster is still pending, be sure that whatever 20 man roster steps onto the field at Breese Stevens field will be a strong Madison squad.
Madison Radicals active roster:
- #2 Andrew Meshnick
- #3 Seth Meyer
- #4 Pat Shriwise
- #6 Jeff Maskalunas (pending)
- #7 Tom ‘Animal’ Annen
- #9 Joshua ‘Jdub’ Wilson (pending)
- #11 Andrew Brown
- #12 Ross Barker
- #13 Brian Hart
- #14 Logan Pruess
- #16 Chris Wilen
- #17 Avery Johnson
- #18 Sterling Knoche
- #21 David Wiseman
- #26 Peter Graffy
- #32 Colin Camp
- #40 Marquis Mason (pending)
- #42 Chase Marty
- #44 Jadon Scullion
- #68 Ben Nelson
- #80 Kevin ‘KPS’ Pettit-Scantling
- #92 Kevin Brown (pending)
Pittsburgh Thunderbirds active roster:
- #2 Jon Mast
- #3 Pat Earles
- #4 David Vatz
- #6 Anson Reppermund
- #7 Mark Fedorenko
- #8 Thomas Edmonds
- #10 Max Thorne
- #13 Carl Morgenstern
- #14 Kenny Furdella
- #15 Scott Trimble
- #23 Jack Hefferon
- #24 Alex Thomas
- #28 Ethan Beardsley
- #32 Steve Mogielski
- #40 Jon DeAmicis
- #76 Dillion Tranquillo
- ##80 Xavier Maxstadt
- #82 Isaac Smith
- #90 Jimmy Towle
- #95 Sam VanDusen