MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, Japan -- Marines aboard the station took part in the 8th annual Turkey Bowl flag football tournament at the Northside football field here Saturday. Once again it was Five-O who came out on top with the championship trophies after a comeback finish against IYAOYAS 32-13.
A total of six teams showed up to participate in this year’s Turkey Bowl. Sasebo usually comes down every year, but was unable to show up this year to defend last year’s championship.
“Five-O took the pre-season tournament, and right now they are looking pretty good to win the Turkey Bowl,” said Andrew Porche, sports coordinator for Marine Corps Community Services, just before the semi finals.
Five-O entered the tournament as the top seed and the team to beat, as it is 6-1 in the regular season and on top of the standings.
“They won the pre-season tournament, so we expected them to play well,” said Christopher Rios, coach for IYAOYAS. “I think that during the season they underestimated us, which led to our victory.”
Five-O’s only loss during regular season was to IYAOYAS, who just happened to fight its way from the loser’s bracket into what could have been the championship game.
With Five-O undefeated going into the “championship” game, IYAOYAS had to beat them twice in order to take the title. In an improbable finish, IYAOYAS pulled off a last-minute touchdown to tie the game and send it into overtime.
In overtime each team was allowed one possession of four downs from the 20-yard line to score a touchdown and choose a one-, two- or three-point conversion for the extra point.
Five-O scored on its first play and was unable to convert an extra point attempt. IYAOYAS, however, scored in two plays and did manage to put one in the end zone for the extra point and the win, as well as forcing another game.
“We had a chance to win the first game, but mental mistakes and missed extra points caused us to lose,” said James Allen, quarterback for Five-O.
With everything on the line and no room for any mistakes, it was up to Allen and his team to prove once again they are the team to beat.
Five-O came off the bench and onto the gridiron with much more intensity than in the first game by putting six on the board, but once again unable to convert any extra points.
IYAOYAS answered right back, scoring 13 unanswered points, taking the lead and controlling the half going into halftime. The second half of the game was an all Five-O game with the players scoring 26 unanswered points of its own to take the lead and the win.
“It was a good game, and both teams left everything on the field, and that is all you can ask for,” said Allen. “I give the IYAOYAS credit for coming back and giving us one hell of a game.”
Although IYAOYAS lost the tournament championship, there is still plenty of regular season left to play, and anyone who follows knows there is a good chance these two teams may meet up again.
“Well, I think that fatigue took its toll on our team, having played 5 games (the most in the tournament), the last 3 of which were one after the other with no break,” said Rios. “I think that we should have won because we were the best, but in the end the team with the 1st place trophy deserves it.”