Three-peat! AMXS continues flag football reign

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron has done what no NFL team has ever done!

On Nov. 13, AMXS won the Flag Football championship for the third straight year, defeating the 509th Force Support Squadron 24-16.

Both teams entered the championship match sparked with high intensity and passion. Aaron Bosley, AMXS starting quarterback, completed a short pass to running back Elijah Fleming, who broke up-field for a long gain. Bosley capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Shaun Hardy. Hardy then caught the two-point conversion, making the score 8-0.

FSS would fight back on the follow drive. FSS slowly moved the ball downfield, DeWayne Williams, FSS quarterback, hit Jesse Cooks for a 40-yard completion. With the ball in the redzone, facing a fourth and goal, Williams rolled to his left and found a wide-open Cooks in the end zone for the touchdown.

The score was tied 8-8 after FSS successfully converted their own two-point conversion.

With time running down, AMXS managed to get the ball into the redzone, but were unable to score, as FSS' "Brick Wall" defense held and denied AMXS any points as the first half came to an end.

Force Support received the opening kickoff of the second half. However, penalties and bad play management led to a three and out, forcing them to punt.

Receiving the ball inside their 10-yard line, AMXS decided to let Fleming run wild. On the first play, Fleming took a handoff and broke down the right sideline, spinning around and faking out FSS defenders on his way to a jaw-dropping 70-yard touchdown run. With that, AMXS took a 16-8 lead.

Force Support's next possession looked like it would reach pay-dirt, but a crucial quarterback mistake allowed Deonte Maxwell, AMXS free safety, to intercept a pass deep in AMXS territory.

With the lead and the ball, AMXS looked to be in a position to put the game away when Bosley connected with wide receiver Adrian Garcia for a 40-yard touchdown pass. However, the play was nullified by an illegal forward pass penalty on Bosley.

AMXS shook off the setback, stayed resilient and continued to move the ball downfield. With 3:30 left in the game, Bosley found tight end Jason Biddlecomb all by himself in the endzone for a 30-yard score.

Force Support would score another touchdown in the waning moments, but, as in so many other gridiron clashes, the clock proved an unconquerable foe and AMXS once again left the field as champions.

"It feels great to be on top again," Bosley said after the game. "We've played hard all season and all of our hard work paid off."

The team did a great job managing the game and sticking to their offensive plan, said Bosley, who finished with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. He also praised FSS for the dedication and determination to play to the final whistle.

"We faced a good team that played a great game," Bosley said. "They deserved to be here and so did we. We proved we can beat the best teams and we deserve this trophy. Now we are on a quest for a four-peat."

This year's flag football season may be over, but keep your eyes and ears open as the intense competition will continue in a few weeks with the kickoff of the Whiteman intramural basketball season.