Flag football playoffs charge ahead Published Dec. 10, 2009 By John Stuart Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Rats tarnish Reserve White record In a matchup of unbeatens the stakes are always high. And the Gym Rats and Reserve White squads were faced with just such a situation Tuesday night. With a league championship on the line it was a test of who wanted it more. And it was clear both teams were hungry for the win. Late in the fourth quarter it was still only a one score game. Stymied by stout defensive play on both sides, the teams struggled to gain offensive yards. The Gym Rats had gotten on the scoreboard early in the first half with a touchdown by Bryan Armstrong. The good PAT put the Rats up 7-0. But with a flourish of execution and solid athleticism, Gym Rats quarterback Tony Salafia found Armstrong for a touchdown with only minutes left in the game. The missed PAT left the score at 13-0, but that proved more than enough to cinch the win. "We just played as a team and fought as one unit," said Gym Rats player Elbert Craig. Craig commented on his team's winning streak as they improved to 10-0 on the season and became the only unbeaten squad. "We're just taking it game by game," he said. "Records don't really matter. It's the playoffs and anything can happen." Up next, the Gym Rats will play the winner of the 32nd CCS versus Med Group game that was played Dec. 9. Results were not available at press time. Medics stick it to 552nd ACG, earn place in semi-final Even if their jerseys weren't embossed with the word MEDICS, you could tell this squad knew how to thread a needle. They proved that much in their first two quarters of play. It was 17-0 at the half, as a powerful and substitution-happy Med Group team led the 552nd ACG. And they weren't through. The medics tacked on another six points from an 80-yard play as quarterback Curtis Storm connected with Leon Pennyfeather over the middle. With only one play gone in the third quarter the medics led 24-0, bolstered by the PAT from kicker Michael McCabe. But the 552nd ACG wouldn't go down so easily. With time left in the third, quarterback Nate Dash found receiver John Byrd for a breakaway touchdown. The missed two-point conversion made it 24-6. Then it was the 552nd ACG in the fourth quarter, as a quarterback scramble by Dash tacked on another touchdown. Receiver Darryl Powell hauled in the two-point conversion pass on the next play. It was 24-14 and the 552nd ACG was on a roll. But the clock proved their ultimate foe, and the Med Group claimed the win as time expired. The Med Group played the 32nd CCS in the semi-final game Dec. 9. The game decided who would play in the Dec. 15 championship game. Results were not available at press time. 32nd CCS bests 552nd MXS for semi-final bid It was anybody's game for the taking Monday night, which made it all the more disappointing for the 552nd MXS. In the end it was the 32nd CCS who claimed the Dec. 7 win and with it earned their place in the flag football semi-finals. "It helps when you have a team of winners," said 32nd CCS player Zach Couch following his team's 18-14 win. "We're out here to have fun and now we're out here to win championships." The teams traded hits as they each scored in the first quarter. But at the half it was only 12-8 in favor of the 32nd CCS and still too close to call. The 32nd CCS had trailed all through the first half, but quarterback Ryan Velarde connected with Andrew Brower for a touchdown to put their team on top going into the third. Eric Cormier picked off 552nd MXS quarterback Will Grigsby on the first drive of the third quarter and picked up 30 yards on the reverse. The 32nd CCS capitalized on the interception as Velarde found Cormier several plays later for a 50-yard touchdown. After a missed two-point conversion, the 32nd CCS led 18-8. Despite a late fourth quarter touchdown, the 552nd MXS came up short and fell to their opponents 18-14. The 32nd CCS played the Med Group Dec. 9 to decide who would play in the championship game Dec. 15. Game results were not available at press time.