Photo By Tech. Sgt. Curt Beach | The 2nd Maintenance Squadron poses for a photo with the intramural flag football...... read more read more
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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - With the sinking evening sun and the dropping winter temperature, two battle-tested flag football teams took the field for a championship showdown to determine the season’s best team.
The second-seed team comprised of Airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command and 8th Air Force battled against the fourth-seed team from the 2nd Maintenance Squadron.
It didn’t take long for the brawl to heat up, Brandon Davidson, 2nd MXS quarterback, connected with Chad Battle on a 66-yard touchdown strike on 3rd-and-long. Jerod Weddle brought in the conversion pass to give his team a 7-0 edge.
Wasting no time, AFGSC/8th AF countered with a 36-yard toss from Matt Wireman to Eric Hilson, knotting up the score 7-7 after a successful conversion pass to David Novak.
After driving the field, 2nd MXS’ ensuing drive stalled at the goal line, giving AFGSC/8th AF a chance to extend their lead before the half.
Wireman found Hilson in the end zone again with 0:22 remaining in the half to put AFGSC/8th AF out in front 14-7, a lead which they’d take with them into the break.
To start the second half, AFGSC/8th AF hit pay dirt again, as Wireman found Jeffrey Smart for the score. The ensuing conversion extended their lead to 21-7.
After giving up 21 unanswered points, 2nd MXS had their work cut out for them. Their defense would have to shut down consecutive drives and their offense would need to come up big if they were to have a shot at the comeback.
“The key to success for us is to step up and play defense, get some stops, and just make some plays,” said Davidson prior to the drive. “Our offense is what brought us to the championship and it’s what we need to rely on right now to get us back in the game.”
Riding the arm of Davidson, 2nd MXS retaliated with a quick score, cutting the deficit to 21-13. The extra point was no good, but now just a one-possession game, fans on the sidelines were on their feet.
The AFGSC/8th AF offense took over with the aim of burning some clock and putting the game out of reach with another score.
The 2nd MXS defense dug in its heels and shut down the drive.
Taking over on offense, Davidson connected on pass after pass until his team found themselves with a 4th-and-goal situation with 1:15 left on the clock.
Davidson dropped back to pass, but the defensive pressure forced an incomplete pass, ending the anticlimactic drive. The AFGSC/8th AF offense took over on downs.
Just when it looked like the game was over, 2nd MXS broke up a few passes, called a couple timeouts and somehow found themselves with the ball 35 seconds later.
The underdogs, who had knocked off the undefeated top seed 2nd Force Support Squadron the night before, lined up for one last charge at the end zone and a chance to force overtime.
Fans held their breath as Davidson stepped back into the pocket and launched a 51-yard Hail Mary toward the end zone with eight seconds remaining.
Defenders and receivers fought for position as the ball came down. One 2nd MXS receiver outstretched his fingertips just enough to tip the ball into the air as another MXS receiver, Joseph Passano, swooped in for the score.
Now down just two points, 21-19, 2nd MXS lined up for the two-point conversion and a chance to force overtime. But, the pass was incomplete, and AFGSC/8th AF hung on to claim the hard-fought 21-19 victory.
“Our defense was the strength of our team, and it got us through the night,” said Wireman. “The team played selflessly. Nobody was selfish, and we ended up coming up big at the end.”
The majority of the AFGSC/8th AF team will be returning next season with the intent of making another deep run into the playoffs and defending their title.
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2016 17:34 |
| Story ID: | 188259 |
| Location: | BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Battle on the Gridiron: AFGSC/8AF, 2MXS clash in championship, by TSgt Curt Beach, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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