DYNASTY!!!
Wide Right exorcises the curse of the two seed and cements themselves as the first true CSA dynasty

The winningest team in CSA history overcomes an inspired effort by Team Guinness to win their third consecutive Men's Flag Football league championship.

Wide Right, appearing in their fourth straight Flag Bowl, got a touchdown from Mark Maclachlan with 27 seconds left in the game to give Wide Right a 13-7 lead over ninth seeded Team Guinness.

The touchdown was the capper to an intense night of flag football. With conditions very muddy, scoring was at a premium, and all three games came right down to the end

In the semi-finals, Wide Right narrowly escaped with a 7-6 win over their arch rivals, The Consortium. In the fifth installment of the WR/TC match-up, the game came down to a fourth down play at the goal line, twice.
The Consortium held a 6-0 lead at the half, and had Wide Right on the ropes. On their first possession of the second half, Wide Right was able to drive the field and put the ball in the end zone. When they converted the extra point, Wide Right had a razor thin one point lead.

The Consortium only needed a score to take the lead and put themselves in command. TC was able to move down the field and found themselves inside the 20 with goal to go. The Consortium was able to move the ball to the seven yard line, where they faced fourth down and the season on the line. An incomplete pass seemed to have ended the hopes of The Consortium, but a illegal contact penalty on the defense gave TC another chance. They were unable to take advantage, an incomplete pass in the back of the endzone sent Wide Right to their fourth consecutive Flag Bowl.

In the other semi-finals, the fourth seeded Renegades were looking to go to their second straight championship game, while the Cinderella ninth seed, Team Guinness, was looking for another upset.

In a tight game, Team Guinness was able to play with a lead the entire game. The score was 7-6 at the half in favor of Team Guinness, and in the second half, they were able to extend to a 19-6 lead. With under two minutes left, the game seemed over, but that was not the case. The Renegades marched down the field and put the ball in the endzone with 47 seconds left. With a 19-13 lead, Team Guinness was still in control, but after having the ball carrier run out of bounds on first down, the Renegades were able to save the clock and forced Team Guinness to punt with 27 seconds left.
The Renegades got the ball back at their own 36 yard line, with a chance to pull off a miracle. However, it wasn't quite midnight for Cinderella, Team Guinness intercepted a last ditch hail mary pass to secure the win and advance to CSA Flag Bowl IV.

In the championship game, it was a true matchup of David and Goliath. ON PAPER. Second seeded and two time defending champion Wide Right against ninth seeded Team Guinness.

First Half

Team Guinness owned the first half and if not for some solid defense by Wide Right, this could have been a blowout.

Al Curry returned the opening kickoff to the Team Guinness 36 yard line. Working with a short field, TG worked quickly. After two inconsequential completions, QB Dave Somerson hooked up with captain Jodda Perry for a 30 yard completion that put the ball on the Wide Right eight yard line. After an incomplete and a then a seemingly disastrous illegal forward pass penalty, Guinness was backed up to the 24 yard line.
When it seemed the early tide had swung, the magic team had some more good fortune. On a halfback option pass, Jodda Perry was able to connect with Tim Finch for a touchdown, on the play, the Wide Right defender was able to deflect the pass, but it went right to Finch, who hung on for six. Somerson then hit Curry on a crossing route for the extra point and Team Guinness led 7-0.

Wide Right got the ball for the first time with 12 minutes left in the half. And they gave it back right away. After a completion and a short run, Wide Right QB Killebrew Bailey threw a weak pass that was intercepted by Tim Finch. Finch was able to give Team Guinness possession at their own 36 yard line.

With nine minutes remaining, Team Guinness had a chance to take a stranglehold on the championship game. On the first play, Somerson found Perry for another big gain. The 32 yard completion put the ball on the 12 yard line with first and goal. After a short gain on first, two incompletions made it fourth and goal from the five. A sack by Wide Right's Gary Bossert ended the threat and turned the ball back over to Wide Right with 5:45 left in the half.

Wide Right was unable get much going on offense. Three incompletions and three runs by Bailey moved the ball out to the 31 yard line, but on fourth down, Tim Finch got his second interception of the game and Team Guinness had possession again with one minute left in the half.

In the last minute, Team Guinness was unable to move the ball and punted, but Wide Right had no success either and the half ended 7-0.

Second Half

With 20 minutes separating both teams from a title. Wide Right took the opening kickoff and started at their own 37 yard line. Wide Right ran an 11 play, nine minute drive, but they were stopped on fourth and goal from the nine. John Hollenbaugh intercepted Bailey in the end zone and returned the ball to the Team Guinness two yard line.

After a completion for no gain and an eight yard run by Somerson, it was third and 10. With eight minutes remaining, championship game MVP Wes Clarke, made a diving interception of Somerson at the Team Guinness 18 yard line and breathe new life into the dynasty.

This time, Wide Right took advantage. After an incomplete, Bailey hit Bossert for nine yards, and on third down, Bailey connected with Jim Lamorte for a nine yard touchdown. With a chance to tie on the conversion, Wide Right was stopped, and Team Guinness led 7-6 with five and a half minutes remaining.

Team Guinness took over with the lead and the ball on their own 15. A ten yard completion on first down gave TG another first, but after an incompletion on first, an illegal contact penalty on second, and an incomplete on third, Team Guinness punted from their own 24.

Gary Bossert returned the punt to Wide Right's 29 yard line and with two minutes left, Wide Right would have one last chance to three-peat.

On first down, Bailey broke off a 12 yard run to give Wide Right first and long from the TG 39. Wide Right moved the ball up the field, but faced fourth and five from the 25 yard line. With the season on the line, Bailey hit Clarke at the TG 18 yard line as Clarke was going out of bounds and WR had first and goal with one minute remaining. Two incomplete passes made it third and goal. On third down, Bailey ran the ball to the nine yard line, where WR faced fourth down with 35 seconds left.

With the season resting on one play, Bailey was able to move in the pocket without a defensive rush, and he threw a duck to the endzone. Fortunately for Bailey, it went to a wide open Mark Maclachlan for six points and a 12-7 Wide Right lead. Captain Erik Ciccarone connected with Don Hahn for the one point conversion and Wide Right led 13-7 with twenty eight seconds left.

Having to move 65 yards in a hurry, Somerson threw a long pass that was intercepted by Bailey to seal the game and give Wide Right their third consecutive championship

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