MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- The 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment Savages reclaimed their championship title against the 3rd Marine Regiment Wolf Pack during the championship football game at Riseley Field, Dec. 9, 2013.
The first quarter was filled with three and outs. Both teams had trouble moving the ball down field and finishing inside the end zone. The football switched between the Savages’ and the Wolf Pack’s possession five times in the first quarter.
“We have played the Wolf Pack twice and knew we had to bring our best game,” said Jeremy Fowler, the Savages’ quarterback. “It was going to be a good game no matter the outcome.”
At the end of the first quarter, the score remained a tie at 0-0.
The second quarter started with an unexpected twist. The Savages started their drive on their own 22-yard line. During that drive, a bad snap sent the ball rolling back into their end zone. When a Savages’ player tried to pick it up and run, a Wolf Pack’s player tackled him inside the Savages’ end zone for a safety. Instead of the offense scoring first, the defense showed their dominance buy putting points on the board.
“We had a good season and I’ll take any opportunity to play with this team again,” said Larry Mcneil, a Wolf Pack’s running back.
Much like the first quarter, neither teams’ offense could score. Although both sides were producing more first downs and longer drives, neither team could find the end zone for the rest of the half.
The second half resulted in a 2-0 Wolf Pack lead.
The third quarter began with the Savages starting on their 15-yard line. The Savages’ quarterback ran all the way down the Wolf Pack’s 15-yard line. The next play, the quarterback ran it to the 5-yard line and had a first and goal opportunity. A couple plays later, the Savages threw and interception on the 1-yard line. The Wolf Pack’s corner weaved in and out of Savages’ players for a pick-six touchdown. Due to a block in the back penalty, the Wolf Pack’s touchdown is taken away and brought back to their 20-yard line.
The Wolf Pack punted the ball back to the Savages after not being able to get a first down.
The Savages ended the third quarter with a first down up to their 26-yard line. The third quarter score remained at 2-0 with the Wolf Pack on top.
The first play of the fourth quarter started when the Savages’ quarterback hurled the football 50-yards into the end zone, which was caught by the tight end for a touchdown. The Savages couldn’t covert for any extra points.
Riseley Field doesn’t have field goal posts, so after each touchdown, players had to choose whether to go for a two or three-point conversion. In order to get a three-point conversion, a team had one play to reach the end zone from the 5-yard line. If a team reached the end zone from the 3-yard line, they received two points. Those were the only two options offered to replace an extra point kick.
The Wolf Pack went three and out on their next possession, tried a fake punt but couldn’t convert for a first down.
The Savages fumbled the football and gave the right back to the Wolf Pack, who then went three and out and had to punt it back to the Savages.
The Savages made the most of their possession and ran the football several times all the way down the field for a touchdown with two minutes left in the game. They didn’t convert for any extra points.
The Wolf Pack searched for a miracle comeback but couldn’t come back from the Savages’ lead.
The game ended with the Savages on top 2-12.
“The first half we had a lot of missed opportunities but we made some adjustments to put points on the board,” said Chris Luckenbach, the Savages’ tight end. “Our defense definitely gave us the momentum to win the game. We had a great season and team. I’m looking forward to next season with the Savages.”