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Rats scamper to victory, claim consecutive base titles

  • Published
  • By John Stuart
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  It wasn't looking good for the league-champion Gym Rats. They were only up 7-6 against a capable 72nd Security Forces team and the Gym Rats offense was in distress.

The Gym Rats had managed an early score in the first quarter, driving downfield to setup a short yardage scrambling touchdown by quarterback Tony Salafia. Mike "The Experience" Dominey booted in the PAT and it was 7-0. They would never set foot in the end zone again, as the Rats struggled to ignite their offense again.

The Rats weren't up by much, or for very long. 72nd SFS came right back and put a touchdown on the board on the next drive. It was an eight-play drive that setup the score, boosted by the scrambling fortitude of security forces quarterback Marques Mitchell. Receiver Willy Hart snagged the 10-yard pass for the touchdown reception. But the next play would ultimately seal the fate of the game, as the Gym Rats came up with a crucial PAT block. It would be a one-point haunting the cops just couldn't exorcise back from.

As the Gym Rats offense went into an early hibernation, their defense was in stellar form. Two times the cops were within yards of scoring and the Rats turned them away. In the second quarter Brian Armstrong made two crucial saves. He picked off a security forces pass in his own end zone, stymieing the cops' drive and turning the momentum. Then his literal game-winning flag pull just before the half held 72nd SFS at one-yard line, staving what would've been a game-winning touchdown.

A controversial call in the fourth quarter over an alleged pass interference incident led to a do-over. Security Forces had the ball at the 50, with three plays left in the game. But harkening back to last fall's championship play, the Rats' Cody Brooks picked off a pass intended for Charles Shumpert. It was Gym Rats' ball and their championship for the taking.

"Defense definitely stepped up today and executed like always," Brooks said. "I'm just glad nothing crazy happened on that redo and we still got the win."