[NationalPbLeague]

The road to the championship game was bumpy for both teams as the Washington ‘Tri-City’ Reds earned a 7-2 regular season record, beating out 3 other teams in the Region. The Reds did not solidify a post season berth until the very last game day of the year when they beat out the Whites and left team Storm 1 game behind. Traveling south out of the Tri-City area on highway 395 below the 45th Parallel and over 600 miles away you arrive in Reno Nevada and the home of 6 teams all playing a 10 game regular season to earn the right to battle the Washington Region.

The Nevada ‘Reno’ Mustangs finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and earned their regional title in week 9 when the Bighorns fell 2 games behind and with only 1 game left in the season, were unable to catch the seemingly untamable Mustangs. However the Mustangs did not have an easy week 10 as the 5-5 Wolves pulled out a great day of paintball defeating the Mustangs and handing them their only loss; ruining their shot at a perfect record. The loss was prudent as taking a loss in the regular season is much more palatable than a first loss in the post season championship game.

Gates opened at 7am at Red Dot Paintball Park in Richland Washington. The parks Owner Tim Osborn, Field Manager Harley Grinder, and supporting staff were there to greet players, coaches, pit crews, referees, and fans alike. Within minutes the fields 37 air bunkers (15 per side and 7 on the mid-field line) were all aired up and ready to go as the referees began inspecting the field. Players were called to the chronograph station where the Ultimate Referee verified ball speed and reported the results to the scorekeepers’ tower.

The Washington ‘Tri-City’ Reds roster/chronograph: Coach J. Cavanah, #60 Captain M. Decoria (285 fps), #56 L. Beard (255), #48 J. Williams (268), #54 M. Rimpler (268), #50 J. Weaver (287), and #57 M. Dingledine (292).

The Nevada ‘Reno’ Mustangs roster/chronograph: Coach T. Lee, #40 D. Daviton (261 fps), #45 C. Morris (257), #41 L. Forgays (281), #42 W. Stephenson (293), and #46 R. Garcia (283).

As the teams and referees take positions for the playing of the National Anthem and as the music plays, players internally reflect and realize the gravity of what is before them. Teams gather for what will become the last pregame chant and rally before the opening shootout players are called to the field.

Reds player #60 Decoria and Mustangs player #41 Forgays meet at center field for a quick but respectful handshake before turning away to take their positions inside the start boxes. Both players nervous but composed as the :10 second warning buzzer sounds and our 9am game is starting on-time. Fans approach the perimeter netting posturing for optimal viewing space and yet jealous of the view from inside the sideline VIP tent.

The game starting horn sounds and sets our two shootout players on a collision course with history. Both player’s run-gun and make moves up the gut of the field to mirrored positions in their tower, each just 20 feet from the center-flag and at 281 feet per second a ball strikes the Reds player. The Mustangs defer offensive possession until the second half and with the flag in hand; the Reds rush to their start-box and ready themselves for their first offensive play.

#56 L. Beard carry’s the flag for the Reds, one of five carry’s for Beard today, his bumps advanced the flag to the Reds mid-field before the Mustangs defense locks him down and eliminates the entire offense in just 68 seconds; earning the side-out and offensive possession on the next play. The Mustangs offense was equally ineffective and the defenses were the story of the entire first half. Both defensive sides locking down the field ensuring that no points were allowed and the flag carrier was prevented from crossing mid-field. Half-time score 0-0.

With half-time adjustments implemented into each team’s playbook, the 3rd quarter is underway and for the first 4 plays everyone thought the defensive onslaught would continue. However, the 5th play of the quarter opened with the Mustangs #41 L. Forgays carrying the flag through their team’s backfield and into the mid-field before being cut down by the Reds defensive guns, but not before trading with the last Reds player. With #46 R. Garcia just steps behind him, the flag was recovered and the defense eliminated, Garcia was unopposed and able to score. For many of the fans and players, this score symbolized what could have been the only point of the game and the 3rd quarter came to a close with the Reds wondering just what it will take to penetrate the Mustangs defense to even the score.

The first Mustangs offensive play in the fourth quarter slammed against a Reds defense, but the Reds first offensive play of the quarter saw #50 J. Weaver’s 8th flag carry of the game end similarly to the previous seven with only one difference, #56 L. Beard was able to recover the flag and carry it into the defense breaking through right in front of the Mustangs sideline and the game is all tied up 1-1 with just 4:02 left in the game.

Mustangs Captain fueled by disbelief that the Reds tied the game, led the charge and carried the flag on the very next play, pulling out all the stops running a lane that the Reds defense failed to protect; Daviton eliminates 2 Reds defenders before trading with the 3rd Reds player remaining, dropping the flag for #46 R. Garcia to again perform the clean-up, carrying the flag into the end-zone for another Mustangs score. 2-1 Mustangs with just 2:47 left in the game.

We fast forward to the last play of the game where the Reds had just :45 seconds left on the game clock, but once a play starts it will run until completion even if the game clock expires as the shot-clock will still run. The Mustangs committed a penalty on the last play forcing them to play -1 player on this final play. Reds #50 J. Weaver’s 10th flag carry ends quickly with him being eliminated in the mid-field but short of the 90’ center-field line and #60 M. Decoria slides in attempting to advance the flag and is also immediately eliminated, it feels like groundhog day as #56 L. Beard briefly gets his hands on the flag and is also marked for elimination. The Reds were not done yet as #57 Dingeldein makes a move down his own sideline eliminating the last Mustangs defender, #46 R. Garcia, as he attempted to swab his barrel but broke it off inside as he is marked for elimination. Dingeldein rushed to recover the flag before a :20 flag abandonment call is made and does so with just :01 second left to recover the flag. Dingeldein turns toward the Mustangs defenseless end-zone and scores! Evening up the score at 2-2 with 00:00 left on the game clock.

This game is sent into overtime.

Teams are given just 2 minutes to turn in their overtime shootout rosters that will be called in the order listed; overtime shootouts are capture the flag and the best 2 out of 3 will win the game and subsequent Championship.

The Reds list Weaver, William, and Beard as the Mustangs list Forgays, Garcia, and Daviton.

Weaver and Forgays take the field and executing a flawless snapshot from the left side of his tower bunker position Forgays forces Weaver to take a hit to the outside of his hopper just before giving him additional hits to his goggles earning the Mustangs a 3-2 score in overtime and our second shootout just a minute away.

Williams and Garcia take the field and Williams uses his start-box time to operate his barrel cam as the score-tower announces the approaching :10 warning buzzer. As the buzzer sounds, Williams takes action and moves toward mid-field in an all-out assault on the center flag but pulls up in stride as he notices a penalty flag, signaling a false start, rising into the air before him and the Mustangs player standing steady in his start-box. The game starting horn sounds and Garcia takes possession of the center-flag and the win.

Mustangs win the Inaugural NPL Championship 4-2 in what could not have been a closer game even-though the score does not reflect the arduous battle that preceded the now ongoing post-game celebration.

Mustangs and Reds players rack their markers and begin lining up for a very professional yet emotional exchange of handshakes, hugs, and remarks before both teams clean up in their respective pit areas and head toward the post game, league catered, BBQ and awards ceremony.

Game statistics; 22 plays in 24 minutes of game time yielded an average 65 seconds per play. 4 points were scored or 18% of total plays resulted in scores. 6 penalties were committed, 4 by the Mustangs and 2 by the Reds. Mustangs had 3 power play opportunities but scored on none while the Reds had just 1 power play opportunity and scored.

Nevada Mustangs named Captain Dan Daviton as MVP for overall game play and specifically finding run lanes that broke through the Reds defense resulting in scores. Daviton was on the field for all 10 offense and 12 defensive Mustangs plays, carrying the flag just 4 times but 2 of those carries resulted in scores.

The Washington Reds named Mike Dingeldein for his overall game play and quick reaction led to the game tying score as time expired on the clock.

Congratulations to the Mustangs and Reds Coaches, Players, and Pit Crews as they stepped up and kept the action rolling throughout the game keeping the fans on the edge of their seat. Regional awards ceremonies are being scheduled and those local events will serve as the start of the off-season and give way to a hard earned 6 months off before team tryouts and spring training crank up.

[soccerguy243]

video?

[Jettyboy]

That great and all but without any media being posted it's as though this event never happend. I haven't seen so much as a picture released by the NPL this entire season to better show off what they're about

[RefRandall]

NPL facebook page has 250+ photos posted from the final game.

[MSmags011]

Still a start

[kitiper68]

Originally Posted by Jettyboy

That great and all but without any media being posted it's as though this event never happend. I haven't seen so much as a picture released by the NPL this entire season to better show off what they're about

just went up this morning...enjoy.

http://youtu.be/fd9syOCI6ns

also there are upwards of 600 photos of the final on NPL's facebook page.

GO MUSTANGS!!!

[Lane821]

Ok, so in the 2012 season of NPL, myself came up with an idea of "passing the flag" which I did in this video But I never knew if it was "legal" or would have caused a penalty. Is there any rule stating that it is possible to do this or not?

[x420psykoticx]

Originally Posted by Lane821

Ok, so in the 2012 season of NPL, myself came up with an idea of "passing the flag" which I did in this video But I never knew if it was "legal" or would have caused a penalty. Is there any rule stating that it is possible to do this or not?

Really, you're reviving this old thread just to say that?

[RIP2010]

Howdy Lane, The Flag may be passed between players and the video example provided is both legal and a good way of doing it. I have seen a few players try and pass it between bunkers and that ended badly as the flag unfolded and fell into a lane where the players then were eliminated attempting to recover it or time expired before they could.

Bottom line, we could not reference a rule that says you can not pass the flag.

x420psykoticx - it is a free forum and unless your the forum 'hall monitor' leave Lane821 alone to ask their questions.

[Mikey B]

Unfortunately my schedule has me working Sundays again but this is a really fun format to play and watch. For anybody who is in an area where it's being played and able to watch it I would really recommend it.

[Lane821]

Originally Posted by RIP2010

Howdy Lane, The Flag may be passed between players and the video example provided is both legal and a good way of doing it. I have seen a few players try and pass it between bunkers and that ended badly as the flag unfolded and fell into a lane where the players then were eliminated attempting to recover it or time expired before they could.

Bottom line, we could not reference a rule that says you can not pass the flag.

x420psykoticx - it is a free forum and unless your the forum 'hall monitor' leave Lane821 alone to ask their questions.

Awesome!
Just thought I would throw this idea out there to the players who didn't think of it, could be a good play/ idea that changes games in the future.