MEDIA CONTEST: 7th CMS QB leads team in come-from-behind victory over 317th AMXS, squeaking by 13-12

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ACC MEDIA CONTEST --  The 7th Component Maintenance Squadron squeaked by in intramural flag football Tuesday with a 13-12 victory over the 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron after a last-minute drive.

The 7th CMS is now 3-0 and the 317th AMXS now stands at 1-2 for the season.

"Last year, we were the runners-up for the championships, and this year we want to go to the play-offs and win," said Paul Johnson, 7th CMS coach. The 7th CMS didn't successfully score on their first drive, but did gain a good field position after pinning the 317th AMXS inside the 20-yard line after punting the football. The 317th AMXS responded on a third and long with a 28-yard scramble by Clark to earn a first down.

However, on the ensuing play, 7th CMS' Charles Sam intercepted a pass by quarterback Mercutio Clark. The 317th AMXS regained possession of the ball after intercepting Sam but turned the ball over on downs.

In the last few minutes of the first half, the 7th CMS had an opportunity to score after Jack Ruen pulled in a 30-yard catch to put the 7th CMS in the red zone, but failed after losing nine yards on a bad snap. A quarterback sack took them back to the 28-yard line.

Starting in the second half, 7th CMS returned the kickoff to the 50-yard line and got an additional 15 yards after a penalty, putting them on the 35-yard line. After completing a pass and an additional penalty, 7th CMS found themselves on the five-yard line with a scoring opportunity.

Sam completed a touchdown pass to 7th CMS's wide receiver Ruen to put the 7th CMS up 7-0. 317th AMXS quickly responded with a touchdown of their own. The 317th AMXS set up their drive with a reverse, run by Wilson D'Angelo.

That took them to the 50-yard line and set up their quarterback with a 50-yard touchdown pass to 317th AMXS' Darryl Stevenson. 317th AMXS went for a twopoint conversion that failed, possibly costing them the game and leaving the score at 7-6. After returning the kickoff to the 43-yard line, 7th CMS scrambled for roughly 23 yards but threw an interception to 317th AMXS' Jonathan Willis on the next play. 317th AMXS took advantage of the turnover with an 80-yard touchdown bomb by quarterback Michael Stephens.

The 317th AMXS failed again on their two-point conversion attempt, leaving the game open for the 7th CMS to win if they could score a touchdown.

With only a few minutes left, new 7th CMS quarterback Jere Holder engineered a come-from-behind victory by completing a touchdown pass to 7th CMS Dennis Hargreaves in a crowded end zone. Their two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score 13-12, 7th CMS.

The 317th AMXS had one last opportunity to score, but their Hail Mary went incomplete.

"The (7th CMS) team played exceptionally," said Senior Master Sgt. William Yarbrough, 7th CMS first sergeant. "They knew it was a tough game coming in, but they came together and pulled through in the end."

The players were also surprised and elated by the way the game ended.

"I was in good hands," Holder said. "My receiver is the best in the league."

"I saw the ball roll off his back, so I just caught it and made the play," Hargreaves said. "We have a good defensive team. We don't give up. If we've got time, and we've got the ball, we've got a chance. But as far as the game was concerned, this was a total team win."