Fort Riley reclaims trophy, 12-18

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Laura L. Valentine
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  After a year-long display in the 22nd Force Support Squadron Fitness Center, the flag football trophy was reclaimed by the Soldiers of Fort Riley, Kan., during the fourth annual flag football game Nov. 10, 2012, held at Fort Riley.

Within the first five minutes of play, the score was tied 6-6.

Army soon brought the score to 6-12 and attempted to make the extra point which was intercepted by Staff Sgt. Bronsha Smith, 931st Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms instructor. Unfortuntaely for the McConnell Tornadoes, they were able to continue their momentum as the quarter expired.

In the second quarter, the Tornadoes started with the ball on their 20-yard line and completed a long pass to Airman 1st Class Seth Corliss, 350th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, to push the team down the field to within 20 yards of goal.

With a second completed pass to Corliss, the Tornadoes scored a touchdown, but the extra point was no good and the score tied at 12-12.

Army then pushed down the field to deliver their third touchdown and failed extra point.

With the Tornadoes in their possession, the Soldiers made a big interception, however, the Tornado defense was able to stop the Army to have one last attempt to score before the half. The last 40 seconds passed and the Tornadoes were unable to put anything on the board.

The second half began with the Tornadoes in possession, but they were unable to gain yards and were forced to punt.

Army then threw an interception on the third down leaving the Tornadoes with the ball in good field position to score. 

The Tornadoes were able to get the five yard line before throwing another interception.

Army started the fourth quarter with possession and the Tornadoes held the offense from scoring, and pushed the ball downfield to within 5 yards of scoring. They were stopped at 2 yards, leaving Army with the ball.

Finding room to push down the field, Army then threw an interception to Tech. Sgt. Andre Perry, 22nd Operation Support Squadron Air Traffic Control training NCO in charge and Tornado defensive captain, leaving the score at 12-18.

The Tornadoes had a big drive to the 10-yard line with 1:58 left on the clock.  Army sacked Tornado quarterback Staff Sgt. Daniel Mills, 22nd Medical Support Squadron specimen processing NCO in charge, twice, pushing the Tornadoes ball to the 20-yard line with 1:16 left.

Gaining 18 yards with a pass and two yards short of a touchdown, the Tornadoes were left with less than a minute and only one down to attempt to score.

The pass was incomplete, leaving Army in possession with only seconds left on the clock.

The Soldiers were able to run the clock down and win the game, 12-18.

At the end of the game, Smith was recognized as the "McConnell Most Valuable Player" by the Fort Riley team.

"We all gave 100 percent," said Smith. "We prepared mentally and physically and it was a hard fought game."

While disappointed with the team's inability to overcome the home-field advantage and the loss of the trophy, the Tornadoes remain dedicated to bringing it home to McConnell again, with Smith simply stating, "we'll see them next year."