MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- With 8.3 seconds rapidly ticking away, 10 yards out, and down by one in the fourth quarter, Five-O quarterback James Allen made a split second decision and ran for the end zone.
As time expired, Allen lunged for the end zone and managed to break the plane after colliding with a 242 Bats defensive lineman giving Five-O the win over the 242 Bats 17-12 during an intramural flag football game at the Northside football field here Nov. 2.
The victory was no easy accomplishment for Five-O as they entered the final six minutes down 6-12.
The deficit came after the Bats quarterback managed to rescue his team with an explosive run for a first and goal.
With first and goal, the Bats easily punched the ball into the end zone and went for the extra point to put the pressure on Five-O.
A Five-O defensive lineman picked-off the pass attempt and ran it back for three points making it 9-12.
Five-O still had work to do if they were going to win, but they had about four minutes left.
Things appeared bleak for Five-O as the team struggled to get the final drive going.
With three minutes left, Five-O was deep in its own territory on third down staring at a second loss.
Like something from Lambeau, Allen and Five-O began moving the chains.
Eventually managed to get within five yards on fourth down, Allen connected a slant pass with one of his receivers, but the Bats were ready and snatched the flags off the receiver before he could stretch for the end zone.
With less than a minute remaining, Five-O was looking down the barrel of defeat. The team was down 9-12 with less than a minute and the Bats had the ball.
Backed into its end zone, the Bats needed one solid run before their quarterback could kneel the game out.
The Bats snapped the ball.
Five-O linebacker Shawn Litchfield broke through forcing the Bats quarterback to make a break for it, defensive lineman Dustin “Rubyslippers” Ruiz said.
But there was no where to go.
Diving parallel to the earth a la Superman style, Ruiz snatched the flags right off the Bats’ quarterback for a safety.
Still down 11-12, Five-O got the ball back with one time out, 41 seconds and the length of the field to get a touchdown.
Using their timeout to stop the clock, Allen and company were able to quickly get the ball within 40 yards where they began to struggle.
On third down, Allen connected a pass to the outside for a first down and a stopped clock with 15.5 seconds remaining.
The next play, Five-O receiver Ryan Casey and Allen connected for a first down five yards from the end zone.
Casey was able to step out of bounds to stop the clock at 8.3 seconds.
“I was just trying to get into an open spot and after I caught the ball just get out of bounds and stop the clock,” said Casey.
This was probably Five-O’s last chance with just enough time to execute one more play.
Once the ball was snapped and time began ticking down Allen searched the end zone for a receiver to no avail.
With space to run, Allen exploded for the end zone extending his arm as he made a final lunge for the end zone with time expired.
Allen collided with a Bats lineman but managed to get across the line.
The collision caused both teams to erupt claiming each other had committed a penalty.
The referees made the final call deeming only the contact by the defense to be illegal and therefore the touchdown was good.
The Bats players, visibly distraught from the call, quickly left the field and were unreachable for comment.
Five-O pulled off 11 unanswered points in the closing minutes to win 17-12.
The win was important for Five-O as the clear favorites having dominated in the pre-season.
Five-O had already been upset once by Crash Crew and they are determined to not let it happen again.
“That was our one bad game of the year,” said Casey. “We’re hoping to never do that again. We just want to do our best and win out.”