MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 football team, the Ultimate Warriors, dominated Bloodbath and Beyond 26 to 14 during a 2010 Intramural Flag Football season game at the Penny Lake field here Oct. 20.
“I think we had better athletes on our side and better experience for the most part,” said Rajiv Douglas, Ultimate Warriors cornerback and wide receiver. “Coach put us in positions to make plays, and I think that’s what gave us the biggest advantage.”
The games were divided into two halves. Each half was a total of 20 minutes, and each team was given two timeouts per half.
Ultimate Warriors took charge offensively from 16 minutes on the clock in the first half; however, the Ultimate Warriors showed complacency in their defensive line.
“Some miscommunications on defense left us wide open for huge plays on the other end, so that’s what kind of caught us off guard,” said Douglas.
With 4:32 on the clock in the first half, Ultimate Warriors defensive laxness came back to bite them when a Bloodbath and Beyond player was left wide open for an easy touchdown pass, leveling the score 6 - 6.
“Our safety wasn’t paying attention. He let the man beat him out on the run and just gave him open field instead of keeping (the player) in front of him,” said Raymond Sawejko, Ultimate Warriors coach.
The Ultimate Warriors realized they needed to change up their defensive strategy, and after the adjustment they took back the advantage.
“Our coach put some faster athletes on the field and clamped down in the middle so that way we forced them to run,” said Douglas. “We knew (their quarterback) didn’t have an arm. All he had was his legs, so we forced him to use something that he didn’t have.” Ultimate Warriors stuck to their game plan and successfully completed a run, made a touchdown by the end of the first half and brought the score 6 - 13.
The first seven minutes of the second half both teams went back and forth getting possession but not completing scores.
With about 9:00 on the clock, Ultimate Warriors quarterback Steve Debruyn finally saw an opening and threw a successful long pass, which gave them a 1st and goal and eventually led to a touchdown, bringing the score 6 - 20.
Bloodbath and Beyond knew they needed to start scoring if they were to have a fighting chance in the game.
Bloodbath and Beyond decided to allow their quarterback Jose Rodriguez to use his speed to gain yards, which ultimately landed them with a touchdown and a successful twopoint attempt bringing the score 14 - 20 with 6:05 on the clock.
“They had a fast quarterback, but once we made adjustments we put that to a halt,” said Douglas.
The Ultimate Warriors started playing lockdown defense, and with 2:13 on the clock they made another touchdown, bringing the score 14 - 26.
The Ultimate Warriors maintained lockdown defense and prevented Bloodbath and Beyond from scoring the rest of the game, leaving a game score of 14 - 26.
“I think that right now we have all the best players in the league for MALS,” said Sawejko. “I think that we will go undefeated. I foresee that.”
The Ultimate Warriors are currently undefeated in the Intramural Flag Football season, and according to Sawejko, the main advantage that will sustain his team’s performance throughout the season is “Mo’ Cow bell.”