EMS edges out OSS in playoff

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Grace Lee
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron went against the 56th Operations Support Squadron in a flag football playoff game Oct. 1 at Luke Air Force Base. EMS won with a final score of 19-13.

It was a defensive struggle leading up to half-time with the only score occurring with four minutes left. An EMS player put on a show for the crowd by dodging four defenders to score a touchdown and give his team a 6-0 lead.

Less than three minutes later, the EMS defense quickly upped the lead by intercepting the ball for a pick-6. With a successful extra point attempt, the game went to half time with EMS leading 13-0.

EMS started the second half by completing a 35-yard pass, leading to a quick touchdown. Even with a failed extra point attempt, they held a comfortable 19-0 lead.

However, the OSS squadron wasn't ready to concede defeat. With a little over 11 minutes remaining, OSS got on the scoreboard with a touchdown.

OSS scored another touchdown after completing two 30-yard-passes and picked up the extra point.

The OSS defense successfully held EMS scoreless and their offense took over with more than three minutes left in the game.

The EMS offense took the field after a successful OSS extra point, making the game 19-13 in their favor.

The OSS defense was able to sack the EMS quarterback twice but there just wasn't enough time left on the clock to complete their comeback attempt.

EMS will move on to the league championship game and OSS will move on to the loser's bracket.

Although they lost, Benjamin Collins, OSS tight-end, is confident they'll make it to the finals.

"It was a tough loss since it was a rough game all around," Collins said. "The game was closely fought on both sides and we got outplayed. We'll see them in the finals. We are going to tighten up our defense for the next game."

For EMS the game brought them one step closer to the championship and the possibility of being the Luke Air Force Base flag football champion.

"I feel like our team has come together really well to overcome any obstacles we have endured," said Taylor Keller, EMS wide-receiver and safety. "I feel really stoked to make it to the championship game since I've been with the majority of people on this team for three years. I'm excited to be able to play in the championship game with them. We are just going to go out and play the game we know how to play."