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Reserve White pummels Reserve Gold

  • Published
  • By John Stuart
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  It was a battle of white and gold Tuesday night. Reserve Gold's furnace was lit -- with the right formations and personnel, the squad had several early chances at victory. But, clutch execution was the dross for Gold and Reserve White hammered home the 25-6 route in early season flag football play.

Reserve White took the early lead and wouldn't give it up. They went up by six in the first quarter on a touchdown pass from the venerable Ralph Hawkins to the Reserve White receiver in the end zone.

But Reserve Gold leapt back with a handy drive of their own, pushing to the Reserve White 25 before quarterback Mario "Mouse" Cruz gave up an interception to the hands of bean-stalkish Brandon Thompson. Then only eight plays later, in the second quarter, Reserve White was knocking at the door again.

Hawkins went over the top with a high, 15 yard pass to Jim Gasaway in the end zone on fourth down. Thanks to close defense by Cruz, Gasaway came down sans football to stave the touchdown. And Reserve Gold stoked the furnace. Taking over at their opponents' 25, it only took five plays for them to put six on the board as Cruz connected with TJ Milliken in the end zone on a 15 yard pass. A botched conversion tied it up at six all.

But Reserve White wouldn't be thwarted. On the final play of the half, Hawkins connected with a scampering Thompson at the three for a 20 yard completion into the end zone.

In contrast to the impressively hydrated football pitch, Reserve Gold came out with a parched offense in the second half.

Reserve White's Brian VanCuren picked off Reserve Gold in their opening drive of the half, setting the stage for a 75-yard touchdown drive. A 65-yard pass to Thompson on White's first play from scrimmage set up the easy touchdown to Gasaway and subsequent extra point.

Reserve Gold's fires had gone cold, as evidenced by another interception the following drive. It was Thompson again, this time picking off stand-in quarterback Milliken. Reserve White capitalized on the turnover, with a five-yard touchdown reception to VanCuren's expectant hands to end the game at 25-6, showing they'll yet again be a league contender. Gold dropped the game but will be back in what's shaping up to be a salty fall football season.
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Reserve White's Brandon Thompson goes up for an interception against a Reserve Gold opponent July 27. Thompson had two picks for the day, helping Reserve White to a handy 25-6 route of their rivals in flag football fall league play. (Air Force photo by John Stuart)