OG skims past EMS 8-6 in flag football

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Colbert
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 56th Operations Group Wizards squared off against the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron's flag football team Jan. 28 in a heated back and forth football game. The rivalry was apparent from the beginning as EMS won the coin toss but chose to start the game off on defense rather than take the ball.

Both teams pushed hard to dominate the other. After a drive down the field, OG turned over the ball with five yards to go. EMS was not to be outdone, earning two consecutive first downs on their next plays. But the Wizards would not let EMS have an easy go of it. With great dexterity, Chris Howard, Wizards linebacker, intercepted a pass attempt, moving the ball back down the field. OG nearly earned the first touchdown of the game, but a bad pass prevented it, with 3:30 left in the first half.

EMS redoubled their efforts, intercepting the ball from OG with 1:40 left in the half. Two more first downs and EMS was once again in scoring position, but another badly placed pass made the receiver catch the ball outside the field. Determined to remain even, OG blocked another pass attempt by EMS with 17 seconds left in the first half, ending it 0-0.

EMS seemed to have caught a second wind at the start of the second half, beginning with a 65-yard pass. The OG defense stepped up to the challenge, once again preventing EMS from scoring a touchdown. OG offense took over from there with a 35-yard pass that resulted in the first touchdown of the game followed by a two-point conversion, bringing the score to 8-0.

But EMS wasn't out of the game yet. They put their heads together and pressed a 45-yard run by Alex Back, EMS running back, down the field. They were, once again, in scoring position. But this time the quarterback was able to connect with one of his receivers, earning EMS their first touchdown of the game. After a failed conversion attempt, the score settled at 8-6 in favor of OG. With only 6:46 left on the clock, OG was able to run it down and win the game.

"We weren't able to convert on fourth and goal," said Bryon Tribble, EMS quarterback. "We drove down the field every time, but were unable to score."

EMS wasn't the only team on the field to learn lessons from the game.

"We won because we played good defense," said Jason Mink, Wizards quarterback. "But we need to work on our passing game."

This game brings the OG's season record to two wins and five losses and EMS's to three wins and two losses.