FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky — Six hours of game time in the hot sun may have played a key role in the flag football champ’s crushing 29-point-victory during 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), also known as the Legion, during the unit's 58th Anniversary events this week.
Soldiers, friends and family members from 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 5th SFG(A), faced off in the championship game after eliminating opposing teams throughout the day in a single-elimination tournament on Wednesday.
Players from the 3rd Bn., 5th SFG(A), flag football team took up the field early in the afternoon and fought their way though two other teams before making it to the final matchup.
Luckily, the human resources professionals representing 2nd Bn., had 15 minutes to warm up before the final game while the sun burnt and tired team from 3rd Bn., enjoyed a much needed rest in the shade.
The quarterback from 3rd Bn., used his cannon arm to throw a deep pass into the paper cut hardened hands of the defense in the first seconds of the game.
The defensive squad from 2nd Bn., managed to snatch five footballs out of the air which led their team to establish a big cushion with end zone drives.
Despite getting beaten down by the blazing sun and constant scores by the opposing team, 3rd Bn., used their last ounces grit to prevent a total shutout with a late-game touchdown.
A crushing defeat may have bruised egos from 3rd Bn., but it did not overthrow their sense of camaraderie and they lined up and congratulated their fellow Legionnaires after the game.
The trophy may have been small, but the victory brought big smiles on the faces of everyone who witnessed the clash of two great teams within the Legion family.
U.S. Army Story by Sgt. Christopher Roberts