The Bluecoats ended a historic season by seizing their first Drum Corps International World Championship on Saturday.

INDIANAPOLIS The Bluecoats ended a historic season by seizing their first Drum Corps International World Championship on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Canton-based corps scored a 97.65 with their innovative "Down Side Up" show. They also won for best general effect.

More than 22,000 people filled one side of Lucas Oil Stadium, with some extending into end zone seating, and gave cheers of "Bloo" before the final performance. Thunderous applause interrupted the Bluecoats' show when the trumpet soloist winked and when lines of marchers careened up and down red, prop slides.

Close behind the Bluecoats were the Blue Devils, the defending World Champions, with a score of 97.250 and the Carolina Crown with a score of 97.088.

As the highest-scoring corps during the first two days of competition, the Bluecoats were the last of the top 12 corps to take the field Saturday. They blasted through the preliminary and semifinal rounds, besting 37 corps in Thursday's preliminary round with their highest-ever score of 97.225. They then topped that and 24 other groups in Friday's semifinals with a score of 97.263.

The California-based Blue Devils, scoring 96.988, and the South Carolina-based Carolina Crown, scoring 96.925, were close behind in the semifinals. The two corps regularly scored along with the Bluecoats in the top three places during the summer tour season.

Saturday's performances featured a medely of backwards marching, one-handed summersaults and big brass sounds. The Boston Crusaders kicked off the event at 7 p.m. with "Quixotic." Their marching forms often matched the abstract windmills that dotted the field.

First-time World Class finalists The Academy followed along with the Crossmen, Blue Stars, Phantom Regiment and Blue Knights.

The Cadets, of Allentown, Pa., kicked off the second half with a riveting performance and nearly continuous movement in "The Awakening." Next up came The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, Carolina Crown and Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils' "As Dreams Are Made On" began with a large piece of blue fabric covering the field, which later waved as a prop ship sailed upon it. An electronic dance break and movable background pieces accented a performance that brought many to their feet.

But it wasn't enough to beat the Bluecoats' ingenuity.

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