9th AS finishes perfect season with its first flag football championship

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 9th Airlift Squadron rose to the occasion in a hard-fought rematch with the 436th Force Support Squadron/Comptroller Squadron defeating them 28-20 to win their first flag football championship title.

The 9th AS used an explosive offense and key defensive stops to win the game and finish off a perfect season, 11-0.

Cid Fernandez, 9th AS quarterback, threw four touchdown passes and had a key fourth-down defensive stop at the end of the game to lead the 9th AS to the victory.

"Honestly, it's no surprise to me that the game would end this close with FSS," said Fernandez. "Every game has ended within one touchdown, so I expected nothing less between the two teams."

After the 9th AS jumped out to a 20-6 lead, Christian McBeath, 436th FSS/CPTS quarterback ran for a touchdown to make the score 20-12 at halftime. McBeath, who also had a touchdown toss in the first half, said he thought his team played well.
"We started the game out with some good runs and got some good breaks," said McBeath. "Then we had to open up our passing game some to adjust to the 9th's adjustments to their run defense."

Travon Cromwell, 9th AS coach, said his team had to make some defense adjustments to slow down the run game from the 436th FSS/CPTS.

"We had to start sending our rushers a little wider and force the quarterback to run up the middle," said Cromwell. "Then we had our middle linebacker sitting over the top for him."

The championship came down to a fourth and goal from the four-yard line for the 436th FSS/CPTS with less than 30 seconds to play. On the play McBeath was flushed from the pocket and made a throw on the run which fell incomplete giving the 9th AS the championship.

Matthew McKenzie, 436th FSS/CPTS coach said it was a rough season and a rocky road to the play-offs but his team came together and played their hearts out but came up just a bit short.

"We made it tough for these guys tonight," said McKenzie. "We came out and put points on the board and made it a close one. But in the end they came up with the victory."

Fernandez attributed the perfect season and championship to his whole team and their ability to adapt in tough games.

"It is great to win the championship," said Fernandez. "We put in a lot of hard work as a team, and I think it showed in tonight's victory."