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On 11/5/2010 11:38:53 AM Gunnery Sergeant Dennis Dougherty wrote
This past week AFRICOM HQ won the Unit Level Regular Season and Tournament Flag Football Championship for the U.S. Army Garrison in Stuttgart, Germany.
The team finished the regular season with an 8-0 record, then rolled through the double elimination tournament with a 4-0 record claiming the regular season and tournament trophies for AFRICOM.
The season's performance was highlighted by a tremendous team defense which allowed less than 6 points per game. Compound the defense with an offense that averaged better than 21 points a game, and the outcome was often decisive, with 8 of the 12 games ending with a "mercy rule" decision, including the Championship Game.
This is not meant to say that the success of the team was easy, it was not. With temporary duty, travel, leave, and injuries there were lots of holes that needed filling before each game. However, it was a testament to the entire AFRICOM Command that so many civilians, contractors, and active duty personnel found a way to modify, improvise, adapt and overcome these difficulties and still win decisively. For example, the starting quarterback for the season SSgt Trent Hekel missed the entire tournament, but Mr."Everybody Go Long" Smith stepped up to lead the team to victory.
The defense was anchored by SFC "I got your flags right here" Maxon, who was the best rusher in the league, averaging more than two sacks per game along with Jay "Pick Six" Fields who flew around the field making interception after interception all season long including a pick for a touchdown on the very first series of the championship game. On offense SFC Telemachus "T-Mac" Harrison and LT "Get the Man a Red Cape" Dryden found ways to get open and make the tough catches all season long.
In the end, the flag football team offered a great opportunity for civilians, contractors, and military personnel to come together, work together, and achieve week after week, while overcoming all sorts of challenges. While there was certainly a tremendous amount of individual talent on the field, it was the overall teamwork and determination that led to the Championship for AFRICOM.
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