DCI's 50th anniversary season has had no shortage of jaw-dropping moments. Drum corps fans have been treated to a season full of tight races, historic seasons, and outstanding on-field pageantry, making this a season to remember for a multitude of reasons. As we head into the 2022 DCI World Championship Finals competition tonight, let's take a bit of a deep dive into some of those stand-out storylines.

Colts Make History

It's been fifteen years since a DCI crowd has seen the Colts on the field on Finals night, with their 2007 show 'Equinox' being the last time the corps has finished within the top-12. But the Dubuque-based corps didn't stop there; Semifinals night marked their highest score in the history of the corps when they earned an 87.450. Since their debut on July 1st in Muncie, the corps has consistently put up impressive scores and improved on their previous performance score at almost every competition. Their 2022 program titled, 'The Silk Road' explores "the highly lucrative trade of silk textiles that were produced almost exclusively in China and transported west to the Roman Empire." Colts take the field tonight at Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium at 6:47pm ET.

2-Way Tie For Second

The head-to-head battle between Bluecoats and the Boston Crusaders has been one of the more exciting storylines to come out of DCI's 50th anniversary season. The two corps have met on the field many times throughout the 2022 season and have consistently gone back and forth in who comes out on top. Here's a quick recap of who was victorious throughout the season during their matchups:

• DCI Tour Premiere
  • Bluecoats, 71.700
  • Boston, 69.450
• DCI Broken Arrow 
  • Bluecoats, 87.175
  • Boston, 86.800
• DCI Denton
  • Boston, 88.250
  • Bluecoats, 87.750
• DCI Southwestern Championship
  • Boston, 90.700
  • Bluecoats, 89.900
• The Masters of the Summer Music Games
  • Boston, 92.350
  • Bluecoats, 91.725
• DCI Southeastern Championship
  • Boston, 93.875
  • Bluecoats, 92.225
• NightBEAT
  • Boston, 93.550
  • Bluecoats, 92.725
• DCI Glassboro
  • Boston, 95.200
  • Bluecoats, 93.800
• DCI Eastern Classic
  • Boston, 94.500
  • Bluecoats, 94.375
• DCI World Championship Prelims
  • Boston, 96.500
  • Bluecoats, 95.700
• DCI World Championship Semifinals
  • Boston & Bluecoats tie with a 96.975

Bluecoats have been experiencing a late-season surge in scores - will it be enough to push them into 2nd place at tonight's Finals competition? Tune in at 6:30pm ET to see all the action unfold! Bluecoats take the field tonight in Finals competition at 9:23pm ET, and Boston Crusaders will go on directly after at 9:40pm ET. 

Troopers Digging In

In a similar vein to Colts, the Troopers are riding high into Finals, as it's been 13 years since the Casper-based corps has made it onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night. Their 2009 program titled 'Western Side Story' was the last time the corps broke into the top-12, and just one of a handful of times in the program's history that they made finals. Hoping to build off of their current momentum, the corps is looking to finish strong this season and achieve one of the highest scores in corps history. Their program this year titled 'VorAcious' explores the greed of money and oil through imagery reminiscent of the 2007 film 'There Will Be Blood,' meshed with classic Troopers flair. The Troopers take the field in Finals competition tonight at 6:30pm. 

We Gotta Talk About the Blue Devils

If it wasn't clear already based on their undefeated 2022 season and their caption sweep in yesterday's Semifinals competition, the Blue Devils are absolutely on fire. Most recently scoring a season-high 98.300, the Blue Devils are on their way to another historic season, as it's a possibility that the corps could seal the deal tonight at Finals and win their 20th DCI World Championship title. Their 2022 program is titled 'Tempus Blue,' and the corps takes the field tonight at 9:57pm ET.

Raising The Bar, Even Outside the Top-12

Though they just missed this year's Finals cutoff, it's worth noting that the Blue Knights and Crossmen have officially tallied the highest ever scores for a 13th and 14th place corps. These two prove that no matter the placement, at the end of the day, you can still make history and push the activity forward.

One Reason To Watch Each Finalist Corps

Troopers - 6:30pm ET

I'm just going to leave this here.

Colts - 6:47pm ET

Colts have a shot at making history for the second night in a row if the corps can improve upon last night's score. What better reason to watch than to experience history in the making?

Mandarins - 7:04pm ET

I love the use of trombones in the Mandarins show - the intro goes hard.

Phantom Regiment - 7:21pm ET

The Rockford-based corps recently put in a new ending to their show - if you haven't seen it yet, you're not going to want to miss it!

The Cavaliers - 7:38pm ET

Two chunks I love in the Cavaliers show this year: the ending segment of the show and their "time warp" section that happens in the first movement.

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Blue Stars - 7:55pm ET

You're going to want to stay for the end of the Blue Stars show because the flag feature that happens with the guard spread from endzone to endzone is absolutely bananas.

The Cadets - 8:32pm ET

Two words: Company. Front. The ending of their 2022 program titled 'Rearview Mirror' is a season favorite for me!

Santa Clara Vanguard - 8:49pm ET

Always the innovator, SCV added a new element to the end of their show that I've heard called "the floating chair." You're definitely going to want to see this effect happen in real-time!

Carolina Crown - 9:06pm ET

It may be one of my favorite musical moments of the 2022 season - Carolina Crown's ballad is absolutely beautiful.

Bluecoats - 9:23pm ET

It's the Bluecoats wheel props for me. The way they're utilized throughout the show creates such a jaw-dropping fan experience!

Boston Crusaders - 9:40pm ET

One of my favorite movements from this year's Boston show is the 'tango' movement - it's a MUST-see!

Blue Devils - 9:57pm ET

Last but certainly not least, the Blue Devils rotating line drill is NUTS.

2022 Finals Schedule - Saturday, August 13

* Note that all times are ET and subject to change