FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- A bobbled snap in overtime handed the Showstoppers of B Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment a 30-28 win over the Warriors of A Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment Nov. 17.
While the victory didn't happen exactly how Showstoppers Coach Frank Wilson wanted it to, it was still a win, he said.
"It was kind of an ugly win, but all that matters is we got the W," he said. "It's been this way all year, we start out strong and the other teams seem to come back on us, but we still pull it off at the end."
The Showstoppers opening drive set the tone for the first half, as the team drove down the field and scored. While the Warriors were able to answer that, the Showstoppers shut down the Warrior offense in the second quarter.
Wilson, at running back, punched through the Warrior defense in the closing seconds of the first half to put the Showstoppers up, 22-7, after a successful two-point conversion.
The Warriors defense set a decidedly different tone for the second half.
Two interceptions allowed the Warriors offense to hammer the Showstopper defense, who looked tired for the majority of the second half.
A series of miscues and penalties also forced the Showstoppers into a hole and allowed the Warriors a chance to stay alive.
Keith Minter, Warrior corner, shocked the already struggling Showstopper offense by picking off a pass near the Warrior end zone late in the fourth quarter and running it back 99 yards for a TD to force the game into overtime.
Showstopper quarterback Adriane Austin managed to push the offense down field and get another TD in the opening drive of overtime. A two-point conversion put the team up 30-22.
A nearly blown, bobbled pass to Minter answered the Showstopper TD and put the Warriors in striking distance. A bad snap on the two-point conversion attempt cost the Warriors a chance to keep the game tied.
The Showstoppers closed out the overtime by running the clock down.
Warriors Coach Joshua Tyler said he was happy with the way his players' performance and said they still have other opportunities to win coming up in the playoffs.
"We had some miscues and a few bad moments, but we kept in it," he said. "Now, we're going to go enjoy Thanksgiving and come back ready to head into the playoffs."
Showstoppers went in to the Nov. 17 game ranked second in the league and are also preparing for the playoffs, which begin Monday.
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