Most Exciting Final?

[Gabe Salas Jr.]

Originally Posted by hipsterjr

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Florida. The first round of finals ended in 72 to 74!! The red alliance lost team 69 in the first thirty seconds by being tipped by 233 (no hard feelings guys). From this 233 received a 10 pt penalty. The game ended in a 72 to 72 tie, but penalties and bonuses, the blue alliance pulled through by 2pts. That was one of the most intense matches I've ever been in.

1251 moved right behind behind 179 as 179 complete the hurdle. 1251 bumped behind 179 and accidentally hit 69 as 69 was completing a hurdle. Because 1251 brushed by 69 and caused 69 to be in a vulnerable position on the overpass, the penalty was assessed to 1251. 233 approached the clearing traffic and caught 69 as they fell on top of 233.

One can view this starting at 1:10.

Without penalties the score was Red Alliance 72, and Blue Alliance 84. 10 point penalty was give to blue, and thus the 72-74 game. The trackball placed on the overpass at the end of the game made the difference. A very close match indeed.

[rsilverstein]

How does week 4 compare?
So far I haven't heard anything too exciting that can match weeks 2, 3

[Storcky]

I realize that I am claiming my own regional as the most exciting, but I would have to say that the second match of finals at Buckeye was really exciting. 1990, 1731, 94 v. 1024, 1126, 2048. 1990 was disabled for most, if not all, of the match and the underdogs still nearly won. The score was 68-64 without penalties, but the final score was 58-64 to 1024, 1126, and 2048.

Now if we go into semi-final matches, 1629, 191, 2228 v. 1024, 1126, 2048 was freaking amazing. It had to be one of the high-scoring total matches so far this season: 128-106 in the second match.

[lasereyes]

I would say the Davis Regional was the most exciting, but then again, I was in it, so that isn't really a valid point....

[Qbranch]

Originally Posted by Storcky

I realize that I am claiming my own regional as the most exciting, but I would have to say that the second match of finals at Buckeye was really exciting. 1990, 1731, 94 v. 1024, 1126, 2048. 1990 was disabled for most, if not all, of the match and the underdogs still nearly won. The score was 68-64 without penalties, but the final score was 58-64 to 1024, 1126, and 2048.

Remember to bear in mind that Sparx (1126) couldn't move either in that match due to a battery failiure.

I forgot that 1990 was out too... huh... we only had four robots running in that match. Rough finals!

-q

[EricH]

Sure wasn't L.A. That was over after the first pick, sealed after the last pick. There was only one third match, and it didn't involve the #1 seed at all. It was to determine who got finalist.

[Rick TYler]

Frankly, I've never seen a FIRST final -- FRC or FTC -- that wasn't exciting. Choosing "most" would be very difficult. Seeing two red alliance robots hurdling at exactly the same time in the first match of the Seattle final was pretty darned cool, though. The final score was 82-80.

[fluffy]

Originally Posted by rsilverstein

How does week 4 compare?
So far I haven't heard anything too exciting that can match weeks 2, 3

WMR, with all the errors with the scoring system...1st match had to be redone, 2nd match was a tie??? then the 3rd and 4th matches actually ended up with winners

[jagman2882]

Originally Posted by Storcky

Now if we go into semi-final matches, 1629, 191, 2228 v. 1024, 1126, 2048 was freaking amazing. It had to be one of the high-scoring total matches so far this season: 128-106 in the second match.

i have to agree that match was out of this world

[The Lucas]

The Philly Final of #1 103 272 834 vs. #2 341 365 84 certainly needs to be in the conversation. It is probably the most exciting final I've seen in my years in FIRST (this game produces some great elimination matches). There are some great accounts of the final in the Week 5 Look Back. Here is my own account.

As soon as 103 picked 272, I (as well mostly everyone there) was pretty sure that their alliance would be unbeatable. The way they dominated through the Quarters and the Semis only reinforced that idea. The Road to the finals for 341, 365, & 84 wasn't quite as smooth with a tie (after penalties) in the first Quarters match and some close Semis matches against 237 816 and 1370.

The first match was a blowout (128 pts) for the red alliance of 103 272 and 834 winning hybrid and never looking back. It looked like the finals would be a quick sweep (as we all expected), but the rest of the matches would be very close.

Match 2 started with blue (341 365 & 84) winning hybrid by a significant amount. Red quickly made up the deficient and it was back and forth the whole match. A key rejection by the Overpass of one of 103's shots seemed to be the turning point. In the end it was 114-114, with Daisy was going for a place but couldn't make it to the Overpass through the defense. They dropped the blue ball at the last second and they turned off the scoring display as the ball rolled across the blue finish line. The ball counted and they announced the score as 116-114 blue alliance. As far as I can tell that is the highest combined score for a finals match (tied with Detroit finals match 2). It also is probably the most exciting match I have ever witnessed.

Match 3 also started with a blue hybrid victory and 103 slamming into the wall and losing their bumper. Again it was close the entire match. In the last 20 103 broke their drive while in possession of a ball near their home stretch. Daisy placed on the Red overpass to make it 98-80 Blue (88-70 after penalties).

After matches like these you really appreciate the energy and sound of the tiny Drexel gym. I still don't know how the blue alliance of 341 365 and 84 pulled off the upset, but I'm pretty sure it took all the luck my team didn't have in the Qualification matches. Hopefully, the videos will be available online soon.

[JesseK]

I second that Philly Finals match 2 is the most exciting match I've seen this season. There wasn't a single dull instance and you saw everything from defense to offense to assists and alot of flying trackballs.

[Jared Russell]

In my 8 years, I've never seen anything like the Philly finals this year. Match 2 in particular was probably the most intense two minutes I've seen in FIRST. EVERYONE in the stands was into it, even though there were only six robots out there.

I remember SCREAMING at the top of my lungs for Daisy to drop that last ball - fortunately it fell right on our front bumper and rolled forward for the deciding two points.

Nail-biting, heart-pounding, and breathtaking.

[JesseK]

(About the Philly match) If I recall correctly there was even one point when all 4 trackballs where crossing their respective overpasses at the exact same time. Man I hope someone posts s a video of it.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I second that Philly Finals match 2 is the most exciting match I've seen this season. There wasn't a single dull instance and you saw everything from defense to offense to assists and alot of flying trackballs.

Does anyone know if Philly was recorded?

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

Does anyone know if Philly was recorded?

I don't want to speak for John, but I think he is working on it off his VCR recording. By Sunday he already had a long cut of all 3 finals matches on DVD. I saw plenty of other recording devices on the feed as well. I am also very excited to see Daisy's PBS show, since the footage they got from Philly was Pure Gold (get it? Champion and CA gold medals)