RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Intramural football teams from the 12th Security Forces Squadron and a combined team featuring members of other units and the 12th Contracting Squadron fought a hard game on a cold evening Dec. 2 at Grater Field.
That evening, the few spectators braving chilly weather saw good passing, running and blocking in a contest which ended in a 12-12 tie.
The 12th SFS started the game with quarterback Jeremy Cross throwing a 50-yard pass on a quick out play, which was quickly followed by a 10 yard run and a 10 yard throw. His next pass was intercepted.
The "cons" came back following an interception, with quarterback Cal Hero, who threw for a 20-yard gain on an in-pattern, followed by an interception.
That brought the cops back, ably led by Cross, who threw for successive gains of 20, 10 and 12 yards. Later, the 12th SFS were almost at the goal line when Cross hit Tyron Williams on a screen pass. Williams dove over the goal line but the ball didn't break the plane; no score.
The cons came back with Hero, who threw a 10-yard pass to sure-handed receiver Lamont Hicks. Hero's next two passes weren't caught and the team was forced to punt. The cops caught it on their 40 yard line and ran it up field for a 20-yard gain.
The previous play brought the quick-footed Cross back. As field general, he engineered a 15-yard touchdown run and the extra point attempt ended in a pick-off.
The cons energetically drove against the cops with a 75-yard pass, then a Hero-thrown 10-yarder to Rick Langlois. Hero's two successive passes were dropped and the cops took over possession.
After the half, the Cons emerged fired up when Hero threw to Langlois for 10 yards. Subsequent plays saw Hicks garnering 20 yards on a screen and 10 yards on a flare pass.
The cops took possession and Cross threw an interception, which put the "cons" back in control of the ball. Hero threw a 20-yard pass to Hicks, then a 20-yarder to Steve Smith and another 40-yard bullet to Hicks.
Hero and the Cons regained possession, and he threw a 20 yarder to Langlois on a slant pattern,an out pattern to Steve Smith then a short pass to Ron Meadows, who zipped across pay dirt to score.
The score was now tied 6-6. The cops got the ball and failed to convert a first down, punted and their own Eric Hayes caught the kick and ran it 70 yards for a touchdown, giving the 12th SFS a 12-6 lead. The rallied, and scored a touchdown with a 40-yard pass to Hicks, tying the game once more at 12-12. The score was now 12-12 at the end of the regular game's allotted time.
The game went into over time, and each team had four plays to convert, but neither team scored.
"It was a hard-fought game," Cross admitted, "and there were a lot of missed opportunities."
Cons player-coach Steve Smith took the tie in stride and said, "They scored, we scored; they scored again, we scored again. The season is still young, the chemistry is developing and we hope to be a force in the playoffs."