HomeNewsArticle Display

Reserve Gold grabs SFFL crown

  • Published
  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Reserve Gold trounced three-time spring defending champion Med Group 28-9 to claim the Spring Flag Football League championship May 24.

The No. 4 playoff seed's defense struck fast with back-to-back interceptions on Med Group's first two possessions. Both led to touchdowns. Reserve Gold pulled down another two INTs in the second half.

Due to a loss earlier in the playoffs, Med Group played longtime rival Reserve White on the championship night before playing a fresh Reserve Gold in the second game. Med Group beat White 17-14. 

"We played to the best of our abilities after just finishing a gritty game against White," Med Group co-captain Tre Williams said. "Gold is a great team, and congrats to them on winning!"

Reserve Gold quarterback Jeffrey Inferrere said the team got an infusion this season of some new faces and younger players.

"It definitely helped our stamina and speed," he said. "These guys are real quick, but really it's about everybody playing their position. Nobody gets a big head. Everybody does their job and that's how we win."

The victory was Gold's first SFFL championship in the decade-old league. They were undefeated in the playoffs.

Gold's Ryan Barnes halted Med Group on their first third down of the game, intercepting at the Med Group 35 and running it to the 22 yard line. QB Inferrere took only one play to strike Gregory Shepherd for six points. Kicker Ryan Clary nailed his first of four extra points in the game.

Reserve Gold's Jacob Bacon snagged the ball back only two plays later with a pick on Med Group's 20 yard line. An Adam Hawkins reception got the team to the three yard line. Inferrere found a wide-open Brett Nims for the TD and a 14-0 lead.

Med Group, led by quarterback Zhamar McAdory, got back in the game with a commanding 80-yard touchdown drive. Starting at the 20, McAdory connected with Kelton Eddins on back-to-back big receptions - 19 and 27 yards, respectively.

On a fourth-down try, a Tre Williams reception got Med Group to the three. McAdory later scrambled for six points. 

Still close at 14-6, Med Group forced a three and out, taking over from a punt at their own 35. McAdory twice went long to Hunter Hessong for 21- and 24-yard receptions. The clock forced a final play and Hessong nailed a 20-yard field goal. The half ended 14-9.

 After both teams stalled and punted, Reserve Gold mounted a seven-play scoring drive from their 31 yard line. On the way to seven points, Inferrere struck Nims for a 22-yard gain. Juston Curry scored the TD on a 28-yard grab.

Med Group's response fizzled on first down as Inferrere nabbed the third Gold interception at the Med Group 35 yard line, dashing to the 11. He hit Nims next at the five and Nims ran it in for six. The kick made it 28-9.

Med Group's last drive ended in their own territory when Ryan Clary's hands deflected a pass upward and Reggie Davis clutched it on the way down.

SFFL Commissioner Ralph Hawkins said the "2016 spring season was by far the best in the 10-year history of the SFFL. Thanks to all of the coaches, players, referees, sports reporters, families and fans that made it happen."