WAIKIKI, Hawaii -- Six Marines from the Kaneohe Bay All-Star football team, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, disposed of teams from the Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and Army to win the 4th Annual NFL Military Challenge at Kapiolani Park Feb. 6.
The competition, a highlight of the Pro Bowl weekend festivities on Oahu, featured teams from Oahu-based military installations squaring off in five football-based events.
The first event was the field goal contest, and the Marines started their domination early. Kicker Tim Legros, an air framer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, blasted a near-perfect nine of 10 field goals to put the Marines in first place.
After Legros' outstanding performance, with assistance from Chris Watkins as holder, it was time for the rest of the team to spring into action in the training camp obstacle course.
Three members of each team ran through the course, consisting of tackling dummies, a foot-speed drill and hanging dummies. Raymond Bell, a motor transport technician with Combat Service Support Group 3 and a first-year base all star, led the way, followed by Shama Hernandez, a statistics chief, and Julio Pena, an assault man with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
After the fast-paced event saw the Marines' first-place edge slipping to strong performances by the Coast Guard and Navy, the Marines knew they needed to step it up a notch in the long-snapping competition.
"We're going to bring it home this year," said Bell. "We're a very well-rounded team, and while the other teams are also really good, we think we've got the edge."
Nick Chapman, an embarker with CSSG-3, showed Bell's confidence to be well placed, easily clearing five of nine targets with his long-snapping skills.
The Army team, arriving late, managed six of nine, but was considered ineligible after missing two events.
The Marines held a formidable lead over the field going in to the 40-yard dash, but the Army and Navy proved a touch faster, just edging the Marines by a few tenths of a second.
Punting and passing competitions rounded out the day's events, designed to challenge all the skills required for gridiron success.
Watkins took his turn at center stage for the Marines, sending booming punts downrange like so many 155mm shells. The punting competition was based on accuracy and distance, with penalty yards assessed to off-center kicks.
Finally, with the title on the line after another strong showing in the punt competition from the other services, the other five Marines hit the field to receive passes from quarterback Bell. Receivers could not move their feet in any way to assist in catching the ball.
After a questionable call against the Marines - who tied the Army with eight of 10 receptions - officials held a tie-breaking throw-off. Showing a "never-say-die" spirit, the Marines won the throw-off and took the win.
After celebrating died down, the Marines accepted a trophy from the NFL, commemorating their first NFL Military Challenge victory.
"It's been a lot of fun," said Kristin Taft, a consolidated memorandum receipt clerk with Headquarters Bn., MCB Hawaii, who came to Kapiolani Park to support the Marines. "It's also a great feeling to dominate like we did today."
The Marines went home, happy with their victory and said they look forward to competing again next year.