CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- The second seed Headquarters and Support Battalion Spartans secured their seat in the Commanding General’s Cup championship game with a hard-fought 7-0 victory in overtime against the third seed Miramar Falcons at Paige Fieldhouse, Nov. 4.
Both teams were unable to move the ball effectively until the second quarter, when the Falcons nearly made it into field-goal range, however they were a few yards short of the kicker’s range at the 35-yard line.
With three minutes to play in the first half, the Spartans attempted to mount a scoring drive, moving the ball successfully with quarterback Cody Miller connecting consistently with wide receiver Calvin Randall-Jackson down to the 25-yard line.
The Spartans left it up to the offensive line and running back Ryan Marshall to pound it in before the half, but the Falcons goal line defense got a crucial stop with a turnover on downs to go into the second half, 0-0.
The Spartans received the ball in the second half and returned it to the 25-yard line. Two penalties and an incomplete pass left the Spartans looking at third-and-15. Miller connected with Randall-Jackson again for a pickup of 20 yards to keep their drive alive.
With the fresh set of downs, running back Mycqwan Nubine picked up 60 yards up the middle on his first carry of the night, setting the Spartans up to score at the opposing 25-yard line.
Another stellar goal line stand by the Falcons stopped the Spartans on the two-yard line.
The Falcons offense moved the ball 60 yards through the air after a series of completions, only to come up short with another missed field goal.
In overtime, each team starts an offensive drive from the 50-yard line. If a team scores, the other has the chance to tie the game or take the lead. If a team scores and the other team fails to score, the team who scored is declared the victor.
The Falcons won the coin toss and deferred the ball to the Spartans. After a couple quick plays, the Falcons’ defense found themselves in another crucial goal line situation.
The Spartans were stopped on their first three attempts to pound the ball in from the three-yard line. On their final chance, Marshall bounced it to the outside and found the end zone. The Spartans led 7-0 after a successful extra point.
On the very first play of the Falcons attempt to answer the points, they fumbled the ball and the Spartans recovered, winning the game 7-0.
“This is an outstanding feeling,” said William Perry, the head coach for the Spartans. “We worked so hard for this. We lost in the semi-finals by a single point last year, and this year we are going to the championship. I couldn’t ask for more in my second year as the head coach of this team.”
The Spartans will play against the undefeated 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Highlanders at Paige Fieldhouse, Nov. 18.