61st AMU defeats CE in championship

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit won the 2009 Intramural Flag Football Championship, toppling the previously undefeated 56th Civil Engineer Squadron team in a double-elimination tournament April 28. 

"The 61st AMU team did very well," said Brent Cornett, 56th Force Support Squadron Fitness Center assistant sports director. "CE is a hard team to beat, and they pulled it off." 

The first half of game one went quickly, with the 61st AMU taking an early lead. By half time they led the game 21-7. 

In the second half, the 61st AMU used a tight, short pass game to overcome the CE defenses. With 13 minutes left in the half, CE quarterback, Richard Janzer, went for a breakaway run and injured his leg in the process. While Janzer was out of the action for only one play, the 61st AMU took advantage of the injury and scored 10 points. The first game ended with the 61st AMU winning 31-7. 

"I think our team played extremely tough in all areas during the first game," said Dennis Bettcher, 61st AMU coach. "We knew going into the second game CE was going to come back strong." 

And come back strong they did. CE dominated the first half of the second game with a powerful offense and a strong defense. By the half they had succeeded in shutting down the AMU offense with a score of 21-7. 

The second half tested the skills of both teams. The 61st AMU's defense stepped up to the challenge and began to slow CE's streak. 

"CE's defense began to break down in the second half," said Kevin Bruaw, 56th FSS fitness center sports director. "They allowed the 61st AMU offense to get through on some key plays, turning the game for the 61st AMU." 

With two minutes left in the game, CE had a chance to add to their seven point lead but the 61st AMU defense was able to turn the ball over, gaining a last chance to tie the game. 

Treston Keneao, 61st AMU quarterback, threw a deep pass to the end zone and into the hands of Bettcher, tying the game 21-21 with 40 seconds left. 

The game continued into overtime with both teams getting four plays to score. The 61st AMU went first and scored in three plays. During CE's turn to score, their quarterback, Janzer, reinjured himself ending the game for CE. 

"Being down 21-7 at halftime, our defense stepped up and shut down the best offense in the league," Bettcher said. "Overall I was really proud of our guys for sticking together and fighting back to win it in overtime 27-21."