49th MXS takes trophy in Flag Football Championship

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 49th Maintenance Squadron took home the Holloman Flag Football Championship trophy Dec. 19 after a 27-20 victory over the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

After five straight wins in the playoffs, the 49th MXS went head-to-head against the 49th AMXS who were seeded second out of 11 teams in the tournament, while the 49th MXS ranked ninth.

"We finished the regular season on a five-game win streak," said Abraham Santos, center for the 49th MXS. "We had the momentum going into the playoffs and it just carried on throughout the playoffs [so we expected] to do that good in the playoffs and win the championship."

The contest was close late into the second half when the 49th MXS threw an interception, nearly costing them the game. The 49th AMXS took full advantage of the opportunity and scored, tying the game at 20, but leaving the 49th MXS enough time to come back.

With less than a minute remaining, the 49th MXS completed a touchdown pass to put them up by seven and secure the win.

The 49th AMXS, although not victorious in this game, shined in the regular flag football season that began in October.

"We started out slow with two loses, but once we got it going we went on to have a 10-game winning streak and clinched first place," said John Swint, receiver and returner for the 49th AMXS. "Once we got everything going, we did expect to make it to the championship because we knew what we were capable of and we did make it."

This flag football season began with a small unit and large unit league, each with eight teams. The end of the regular season left 11 teams to assemble in the playoffs.

"This season, we had a lot of outstanding teams playing. Each and every one of them played their hardest on the football battle field for the title of base champion, but we could only have one," commented the 49th Force Support Squadron sports program staff. "We look forward to the start of the basketball and volleyball season and hope we have just as much enthusiasm from them as we did from the football players this season."

For more information on the upcoming basketball and volleyball season, contact your unit sports representative.