MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- With sheer determination to make playoff history, the Miramar Tackle Football Team stepped onto the gridiron Oct. 4 with an unstoppable offense and a bone-crushing defense in their 35-8 victory against 1st Marine Division.
Marines and Sailors from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar traveled to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to compete in their first playoff game of the season against Pendleton's Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
"We played them on the first game of our season," said Miramar offensive tackle and defensive end Gregory R. Corrales. "They handed us our first loss at 20-12."
With both teams entering the playoffs with a 4-4 record, some suspected the game would be close, but Miramar did their homework before the game.
"This is the first game all year that we've actually gotten to watch film on the team we are about to play," said Corrales. "It makes a world of difference going into a game knowing what to expect."
After winning the coin toss, Miramar elected to kick off to Division and let the defense test their mettle. The two teams traded back and forth with several turnovers until Miramar drew first blood. After recovering a fumble by Division's running back, Miramar full back Timothy L. Craig pounded in the end zone from 4-yards out for a 7-0 lead after the extra point.
After two more turnovers, Miramar took possession at Division's 22-yard line and a laser pass to Miramar running back Marcus A. Polk in the end zone gave Miramar their second touchdown. A solid extra point by Miramar kicker James A. Lowe gave Miramar a 14-0 lead in the beginning of the second quarter.
On 1st Marine Division's next possession, Miramar held them to another three-and-out, forcing a punt at their own 20-yard line. A high, short punt gave Miramar excellent field position at Division's 30-yard line.
Unable to move the ball, Miramar attempted a 48-yard field goal, but Lowe didn't have the distance.
With 51 seconds left in the first half, Miramar blitzed Division's quarterback causing a fumble. Miramar recovered with 14 seconds left on the clock. After a completion at the 15-yard line with only two seconds left in the half, Miramar used a time-out to set up a field goal attempt that hooked wide left.
Miramar opened the second half with a kick return to the 35-yard line by Miramar wide receiver Paul A. Williams.
With a one-two punch by Miramar's running game and aerial attack, they marched down field with each play resulting in a new first down.
On first-and-goal from the 8-yard line, a handoff to Craig, brought the score to 21-0 after the extra point.
After another Division fumble, Miramar found themselves in scoring position again with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Miramar running back Ismael G. Bamba scampered for a 25-yard touchdown run.
After another completed extra point by Lowe, Miramar contemplated a shutout victory with a score of 28-0 with less than two minutes left in the third quarter.
However, Division wouldn't go down without a fight and passed their way toward the goal line, avoiding the shut out by scoring their first touchdown of the game, which brought the score to 28-8 after a successful two-point conversion.
With less than five minutes left on the clock, Miramar received the kickoff and drove down field to a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line.
With a quick pass from Miramar quarterback Paul-Blake M. Swingle to Miramar wide receiver and back-up quarterback Fred Moore, Miramar scored once again and hammered the final nail in the coffin.
Through determination and teamwork, the Miramar Tackle Football Team defeated Division with a dominating 35-8 victory.
"The offensive line usually doesn't get a lot of credit," concluded Corrales. "If anyone deserves credit in this game, it is the offensive line. They just had the best game of the season. They intimidated and dominated. This was our highest scoring game of all season. There was no dominant player. It was a dominant unit. They were unstoppable today."