EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force Research Lab intramural football team began the 2009 season in October with one thing in mind - to win the base championship. On Dec. 16, they reached that goal with relative ease, routing the 53rd Wing team 26-6, completing an "almost" perfect season.

"We knew we had a team that could make it all the way," said Tim Ager, team captain and wide receiver. "The hard work and dedication to the team is what got us here."
The AFRL team wasted no time moving the ball on the opening drive. In less than five plays, they were in the end zone after a long pass from quarterback Brian Nagel to Tim Ager.

The 53rd offense took the field, but was no match for the AFRL's defensive line, primarily Chris Hergenreter, who sacked the quarterback twice during the first set of downs.
The two opening drives set the tone for the entire game, with AFRL passing with ease and the 53rd struggling against the blitz.

The teams had met twice during the regular season, with AFRL winning both games. AFRL's only blemish on the season was a regular season loss to the 96th Medical Group team. The team avenged that loss, however, with a comeback victory over MDG in the first round of the playoffs.

The tension of the last game was apparent and the adrenaline was high for both teams with lots of yelling, big hits and penalty flags. No one was more vocal for his team than Lucas "Psycho" Bennett, an AFRL defender with a painted-skeleton face, who stalked the sidelines when he wasn't on the field with a continuous bellow of "Go Orange!"

The AFRL team continued to add to their lead with two more scores by Hergenreter and Brad Breaux, for a 20-0 lead, but continued with big passing plays, which ended up costing them.

On the one-yard line, trying to shut the door on the game with another TD, Nagel was intercepted by 53rd defender, Travis Hardie. Hardie would not be caught in the ensuing chase, resulting in a length-of-the-field interception return for a touchdown.

Undeterred by their mistake, the AFRL offensive machine pushed the ball down again to the one-yard-line after a dive for the end zone by Ager came up just short. QB Nagel went right back to Ager for another TD and the victory.

"This team really came together this year," said Jon Bowling, AFRL coach. "We had great participation at our practices and games and it paid off with a championship."

AFRL recently won the commander's trophy as well for best overall participation in base sporting events. With the football championship victory sealed, they are already on track for another end-of-year trophy.