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Reserve White crushes Med Group

  • Published
  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLA. --  What should have been a close battle between juggernauts ended up in a blowout 24-0 win Tuesday for Reserve White.

Reserve White and Med Group, both undefeated, met for the first and only time in their last regular-season game in spring intramural flag football. Both teams are the top two seeds in the four-team championship games next Tuesday.

The perennial powerhouses have battled each other for season crowns in recent years. Reserve White is the defending fall season champion, twice defeating Med Group in the finals to block their shot at a "threepeat" of season victories. Last spring, Med Group beat Reserve White twice in the playoffs to claim that season.

Reserve White took possession first and scored on their third play. Scrambling from the team's own 21, quarterback James Gasaway's pass hit Gregory Shepherd at mid-field and he ran it in for 6 points. An extra point kick missed.

From the 20, Med Group QB Marquis Mitchell and receivers connected on six passes and Mitchell scrambled for 11 yards to reach Reserve White's 20. Then Reserve White's Brian VanCuren shut down the drive at the 7 with an interception.

On first down, VanCuren shot to the 24 with a 17-yard run off a right-side handoff. Two plays later, he pulled down a 10-yard pass up the middle and ran 38 yards to Med Group's 20.

Later facing fourth and goal at the half-yard line, Gasaway zipped a center-zone pass to Adam Hawkins, turning the game to 12-0. A 2-point conversion attempt failed with an incomplete pass.

Med Group's turn ended quickly. Reserve White's Larry Mansell stripped the ball back from Med group on the next play with an interception, returned to the 4-yard line. 
Reserve White creeped to fourth and goal again at the 1. Gasaway hit Mansell with a short up-the-middle strike for the score. A Med Group defender knocked down a passing attempt for 2 points. 

Med Group couldn't score before halftime, which ended 18-0, but got the ball first in the third quarter. A steady drive brought the team to Reserve White's 46 before they lost possession on downs following two incompletions.

Three plays later, Med Group's Constant Charlot intercepted Gasaway, landing the team at the 50. Med Group drove to the 9, before defenders sacked the QB at the 15. Reserve White regained the ball there on downs after incomplete passes.

White punted from their own 33 after four downs, but another Mansell interception quickly shut down Med Group's scoring chance. Reserve White drove forward, only to find themselves in another fourth-down fix that turned their way.

From his own 47, Gasaway connected with Brett Nims for a 53-yard reception, run and touchdown. Referees ruled the game over at 24-0 because Reserve White was up by three scores when the 2-minute warning hit. 

Med Group co-captain Zhamar McAdory said his team "beat ourselves."
"We knew we had to attack fast, and we just couldn't capitalize," he said. "We will regroup and come back more prepared and ready for them. Our main goal is to beat our playoff game against MXS1 (552nd MXS Team 1) and hopefully get another chance with Reserve White."

Gasaway said the "game played out better than we could have ever expected."
"The biggest reason for the win was our defensive effort. The front rush created a ton of pressure, which in turn led to several turnovers. Turnovers, of course, is what kills a team. Offensively we did what we always do. We made a couple of adjustments, which in turn opened up the downfield throws."

Football championship Tuesday

One evening. One chance. One championship.

This season's top four flag football teams will face that ultimate challenge Tuesday to determine the spring intramural champion. The seeded teams will face off in a three-game, single elimination playoff at the athletic field north of the dorms.

Undefeated top seed Reserve White, 9-0, will shoot to repeat their fall championship, starting the first game at 5 p.m. against No. 4 Reserve Gold, 5-4.

No. 2 Med Group, 8-1, and No. 3 552nd MXS Team 1, 5-4, will kick off at 6 p.m., with the victor playing the winner of game 1 at 7:15 p.m. for the championship.