It was truly an unpredictable season in intramural football. In all four divisions, every no. 1 seed fell to lower seeded teams when the mud settled.
Beginning in the women’s lower division, five teams fought for the overall crown, but in the end, Francie’s Favs were too much for the rest of the division. In the title game, Chick-A-Lacka Chicks entered the title game via the combination of Rebecca Atkinson to Lauren Jackson and with solid defensive play.
If we’re being honest, I liked their odds, but after Francie’s Fav’s Hannah Penny scored three touchdowns, including an interception return for a score, Taihlor Treat added the final score for the victory, 26-6. Katy Stone provided the only points for the Chicks.
No one could have predicted the women’s upper division finals matchup between Freshman 15 and EEE.
After both defeated dominate teams in CAUTION, Lady Playmakers and En Fuego, it was supposed to be a battle between the last two teams standing. It just didn’t happen that way.
Freshman 15 entered the season as the defending lower division champion, but the addition of Sarah Glenn cemented a solid team that scored early and often, winning 31-0 to win the upper finals. Glenn ran for a touchdown and scored on an interception return, while Jenna Lindsey and Emily Jackson each caught a touchdown pass for Freshman 15.
Perhaps the most intriguing division lied in the men’s lower division, where No. 3 True Breed met No. 5 Young and the Restless.
The road to the finals went through Team Fear for True Breed, while the staff-laden Young and the Restless team defeated No. 1 seed The Justice League late in the matchup to advance to the big dance.
True Breed used a strong core of athleticism in overpowering Young and the Restless in the title game, winning 25-6. True Breed’s Kyle Sullivan and Paden Fontenot both scored a pair of touchdowns, while Colby Petty provided the only touchdown strike for Young and the Restless.
For the first time in a long time, it truly felt like the men’s upper division was up for grabs, as four teams had a legitimate shot at winning the title.
While Rex Horne and Kappa Phat earned the trip, the Benchwarmers and the Bankwalkers played solid throughout league and tournament play, as both barely missed making the finals berth.
Team Rex Horne again proved to be the dominant squad, winning 31-14 over Kappa Phat. Rex Horne used a balanced attack, as Brandon Rossi scored twice, while Nolan West, Tyler Burleson and Ryan “Rev” Armstrong added the finishing touches on a third-straight upper division title for Rex Horne.
Kappa Phat’s Beau Landers ran for both of the squad’s touchdowns.
Team Rex Horne also recently made the annual trip to the Arkansas Intramural Flag Football State Championships at Arkansas Tech.
Team Rex Horne began play with a 21-20 loss in pool play to UCA’s CWAY Swag, followed by a 53-0 win over UR Welcome of U-of-A and a 27-6 victory over ATU’s Golden Stallions to reach the single-elimination bracket portion of the tournament.
Rex Horne continued their dominance with a 37-0 win over UCA’s Too Legit in the quarterfinals on Saturday night, followed by a 22-20 win in the semifinals over two-time defending state champion OutKast of UCA.
In the semis, Rex Horne held their opponent four-straight plays on the 1-yardline to win an emotional victory to reach the state championship game.
In the state finals matchup, Rex Horne faced a familiar opponent in Arkansas Tech’s En Fuego, a team Rex Horne lost to in the Missouri regional finals last season.
En Fuego again proved to be too much in the matchup, winning 26-14 to win the Arkansas state intramural football title.
Ouachita’s Brandon Rossi was named the tournament All-Offensive MVP for his spectacular play in the tournament.
Team Rex Horne now is qualified to play in the Oklahoma State Regional Tournament in Stillwater, Okla. on Nov. 7.
