Responders, Sharks shine in football’s first week

  • Published
  • By Johnny Bustos
  • 17th Force Support Squadron
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --  The first week of intramural football season, which began Aug. 20, saw two teams plow through their first three opponents and a couple of slower-starting squads start to pick up momentum. 

The 312th Training Squadron Fire Pups and 316th Training Squadron Sharks each reeled off three straight wins to rank as the two of base's three unbeaten teams as of Aug. 27. 

The Fire Pups kicked off the season by knocking off the 1st Responders, last season's base champions, 26-14, thanks to a late interception run back for a touchdown. The Pups next pounced on 17th Communication Squadron Bats 25-8 Aug. 25 and downed the 315th Training Squadron Sidewinders 24-12 Aug. 27 for a 3-0 record. 

The Sharks made their debut Aug. 24 with a 19-6 decision over the 17th Medical Group Cobras. The Sharks then chomped the 17th Training Squadron Tigers 13-6 the next day before nipping the Army 26-24 Aug. 26 to also notch a 3-0 first-week record. 

The loss was the first of the season for the soldiers, who recorded back-to-back shutouts in their first two contests. Army blanked the Bats 29-0 Aug. 24 and the Sidewinders 20-0 on Aug. 25.

 The 17th Mission Support Group Junk Yard Dawgs, the base's third unbeaten team after one week of play, blanked Navy/Marine team 21-0 on opening day, then skinned the 315 TRS Rattlers 37-6 a week later. 

In the final game of the opening night, the 17 TRSS Tigers pulled out a one-point squeaker over the Sidewinders, 7-6. However, the Tigers dropped their next two contests, including a 13-0 loss to the Cobras Aug. 26. 

The 1st Responders shook off their loss on opening day, pounding the Navy/Marines 27-0 on Aug. 24, then routed the 315 TRS Rattlers 48-12. The defending base champs demonstrated the league's most potent offense in the opening week by racking up an average of 29.67 points per game, slightly more than the Junk Yard Dawgs 29.33 points per contest. 

While the 1st Responders were scoring with relative ease in their early games, the combined Navy/Marine squad had trouble getting on the board. After failing to score in their first two games, the Navy/Marine offense got on track in a 22-10 victory over the Bats Aug. 27. 

The teams play Mondays through Thursdays, with games starting at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. at the Mathis Football/Soccer Field.