Eagles down Chiefs in annual football brawl

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Eagles flew away with a decisive 35-13 win at the annual Chiefs vs. Eagles flag football game, here Nov. 22.

The final score was a reversal of the 34-13 thumping the Chiefs put on the Eagles in last year's matchup. This time, it was the Eagles, with some new players on the roster, who showcased the better offensive and defensive skills.

Tony Douglas, the Eagles quarterback, created a double threat to the Chiefs' defense with precision passing and a blistering running game. Douglas gained significant yardage for the Eagles throughout the game when he pump-faked and sprinted out of the pocket.

The Chiefs struck first, taking a 7-0 lead in three plays on their opening drive, which began with a long pass from quarterback and team captain Donnie Morris to Rob Daniels.

The Eagles answered on their first possession as well, scoring on a 10-yard pass from Douglas to Sal Nodjomian. The Eagles failed to convert the extra point, leaving the Chiefs in front, 7-6.

The Chiefs' offense was no match for the Eagles' defense throughout the game. Short yardage completions, many to Ricky Brown, never led to any more significant downfield charges in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Eagles continuously put together effective offensive drives, one ending with another touchdown strike to Nodjomian, followed by a two-point conversion for a 14-7 lead.

An Eagles interception by Andrew Toth with one minute left in the half led to the most exciting touchdown drive of the game.

Two plays after the pickoff, Douglas, from inside his own 20-yard line, threw a short pass to Bob Capozzella, who then lateraled to Mike Contratto down the sideline. The shocked Chiefs defense could only watch as Contratto shot into the end zone, untouched.

"Just like we drew it up," joked Nodjomian, as the one-point conversion widened the Eagles' lead to 21-7 at halftime.

Morris knew his team had their work cut out for them going into the second half.

"We've got to complete passes and stay with our assigned men on defense," he said.

Contratto, the Eagles coach, looked to negate the Chiefs' passing game.

"We want to keep a rusher in Morris' face, so he has to get rid of the ball quickly, and limit their chance of burning us again with the deep ball," he said.

Douglas used three of the Eagles' first seven second-half plays to run the ball from midfield to the two-yard line.  A short flip to Contratto and a one-point conversion pushed the Eagles' lead to 28-7.

Consistent defense from the Eagles held the Chiefs to one second-half touchdown. At the 6:20 mark, Morris capped a six-play drive with a touchdown pass to Brown, which narrowed the gap for the Chiefs to 28-13.

After a quick breather from the QB spot, Douglas returned to throw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Toth with less than a minute to go to seal the victory, 35-13.

Nodjomian was as gracious in victory as he had been in defeat a year ago.

"It was fun to be out here and compete with the Chiefs," he said. "This is what we love - the competitive spirit out here. It was nice to come away with the win."