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White makes late stop, bests Sailors

  • Published
  • By John Stuart
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The CSD Navy team would've won it Tuesday night. But Reserve White's red zone defense had other plans. It came down to a final drive in the closing plays of the evening row. Despite the scant four yards separating CSD from victory, Reserve White just wouldn't give in and bagged a 21-16 win for the record books.

Trouble brewed for CSD in the second quarter. The dark clouds that were building off the field were ominously similar to what would be the Sailors' impending demise. With Jim Gasaway's interception in the CSD red zone it easily setup the score by Jeremy Allen. Ralph Hawkins booted in the PAT to make it 7-0. The reservists liked what they were seeing. But CSD was anything but done.

It was the very next drive that the Sailors dialed in their offensive scheme. It took just three plays to put them at the Reserve White 25 yard line. Then just two plays later an 18-yard scamper by Kyle Coe put six on the board. Allon Floyd hauled in the two-point conversion pass and CSD went up by one.

With the final plays before the half winding down, Reserve White summoned the offensive genie. They knew just what to wish for, as Jim Gasaway busted open a 45-yard touchdown run setup by a pitch from Brandon Thompson. Hawkins' PAT sailed wide left, debatably pushed there by the wind, but Reserve White closed the half in the lead.

CSD didn't make it easy, though. On their opening drive in the third quarter they worked down to Reserve White's 20 in only four plays. Five plays later Kyle Portney punched it in from the five yard line and Ed McCabe grabbed the two point conversion pass to make it 16-13. The Sailors were riding high.

But Reserve White wasn't speechless. The next drive showed as much. After five plays they were lining up at CSD's 10 yard line and were hungry for points. On fourth down Hawkins pump-faked right and threw deep left into the end zone to a mostly wide open Gasaway. The two-point conversion pass to Joe Huizar cemented the deal and Reserve White took the lead. They wouldn't give it up.

CSD had a valiant last drive in the final two-minute warning. A timely flag pull by Thompson stopped CSD at the Reserve White four yard line. The Sailors had four plays to attempt a touchdown, but each time came up short, stymied by Reserve White. The foreboding clouds proved too much for the Sailors and Reserve White claimed the skirmish 21-16.

This week closes down regular season play in lieu of the playoffs, which begin next week.

Below are the final regular season standings (excluding week of Aug. 23). Monday night teams: Gym Rats 5-1; Security Forces 5-1; 31st CBCS 4-2; 72nd Med Group 3-3; 552nd MXS 3-3; 34th CBCS 2-4; Panthers 1-4; 552nd AMXS 0-5. Tuesday night teams: VQ-7 5-0; Reserve White 5-1; Reserve Gold 4-2; 72nd OSS 2-2; CSD-Navy 2-2; SCW-1 2-4; ANG 2-4; 552nd OSS 0-6.