Maintainers win despite the cold

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaylee Clark
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Jack Frost was the toughest, most cold-hearted defender on the field Monday night during the 19th Security Forces Squadron and 19th Maintenance Squadron #3 flag football face-off. The temperature at kick off quickly dropped below freezing.

The referees debated on calling a forfeit with the time dwindling down before the match, but the 19th MXS team managed to gather up enough players to compete. Both teams had to peel off layers of jackets and gloves for their best chances of winning.

The 19th MXS quarterback, Master Sgt. Michael Brandon, played as if the weather was not a factor, scrambling through the defenders, picking up a large number of yards.

The maintainers managed to end the first half with seven points on the board while their defense locked up the cops, shutting them out the first half.

With neither team wanting to fight the weather any more than they needed to, they agreed to cancel halftime.

Dropped passes were to be expected when the receivers could barely feel their hands, but the 19th MXS managed to connect for a passing touchdown.

During a last ditch effort to find the endzone again, the 19th MXS defense stepped up their game and shut down the 19th SFS' opportunity.

After 19th SFS' last possession the 19th MXS opted to go into their victory formation, kneeling the ball and allowing the last few seconds to run off the clock before walking away from the Ice Bowl with a 7-6 victory.

"In spite of the cold temperature, our team really came to play. Our defense hassled their quarterback all game, keeping him under pressure," said Brandon. "It goes to show with hard work and the dedication to win, you'll pull out the close victories in the end."