The 59th Dental Group flag football team defeated the 531st Intelligence Squadron Nov. 12, 2015, at the Warhawk Field here to seal the JBSA-Lackland Intramural Flag Football Championship and a 14-0 perfect season.
Quarterback Ricky Guajardo, 59th DG threw four touchdowns, including two to Senior Airman Cory Kawesa, 59th DG dental tech, en route to a 25-0 victory.
This was their second base title and fourth overall JBSA flag football championship since 2011. The 59th DG also won the JBSA Intramural Flag Football Championship in 2012 and 2014.
The 59th DG, who went 11-0 in the regular season, thwarted the 688th Cyberspace Wing’s attempts for a second consecutive base intramural flag football title by defeating them in the semifinals on their way back to the base championship game.
The two teams met last year during the championship game, where the 688th CW upended the new champions for their first base title, inspiriting the 59th DG to enter the season with a purpose.
"Our goal was to go undefeated and win the base championship," said Kawesa. "It took a lot of focus to get this point. Rick told us not to take any opponent lightly and to play hard every single down."
From the onset of the finale, the 59th DG put in work to achieve their mission. Guajardo discovered Kawesa in the end zone during the team’s opening drive for his first of two receiving touchdowns. Staff Sgt. Johnnie Creecy, 59th DG dental technician, later intercepted a pass from Staff Sgt. Brandon Hawkins, 531st IS IT project manager, to set up a two-play touchdown drive from Guajardo to Staff Sgt. Brett Manz, 59th Dental Training Squadron NCO in charge of the Endodontics Flight, for a 12-0 score.
"We play for each other and for the entire 59th DG," Manz said. "When you play with a purpose, you are going to play harder."
The team opened the second half with an 11-play drive that culminated with Kawesa’s second touchdown grab for an 18-0 score.
"Our job was to go out and contribute in anyway possible," Kawesa said. "We met our goal, whether it was with touchdowns, interceptions or pulling flags."
Guajardo struck pay dirt with Staff Sgt. Eric Ivey, 59th DG dental processing technician, for the team’s final score during the team’s final drive.
Ivey stated the base title victory was dedicated to his teammates who are scheduled to move to other instillations next year.
"I told some of these guys to give me one more season and I promised we would go undefeated and we kept it true," he said.