Magna Carta opened the scoring with a field goal at 6:57 of the first quarter when kicker Thomas Williams kicked an 18 yard field goal.  Defensively both teams were outstanding in the first quarter with only the Williams field goal breaking the 0-0 tie.

In the second quarter things started to open up with the Eagles starting to pass the ball until quarterback Jeffrey John threw a 9 yard pass to a wide open Kyle Reval in the endzone for a 9-0 lead for the Eagles.  Williams hit the extra point for a 10-0 lead into halftime.

In the second half Pearson Cliffs came out firing.  Quarterback Paul Fallone marched his team down the field before firing a quick pass to wide receiver Keith Matthews to cut the score to 10-7.  After a Magna Carta punt, Fallone again marched his team down and from the 30 yard line threw a bullet pass to Matthews who eluded a cornerback and sprinted down the sidelines for the score which with the convert gave Pearson a 14-10 lead going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth the game was non-stop action as both teams gave it their all.  The Eagles quickly marched down the field before a quarterback sneak from John at the 2 yard line put his team back up 17-14 with 13:23 remaining.

The teams traded field goals before the Air Force started their own drive which ate away precious clock time before running back Draco Jade barreled in from the one yard line to retake the lead for his team 24-20 with 3 minutes remaining.

Not to be outdone the Extreme Eagles roared down the field before John threw a pass to fullback Larry Thompson in the endzone to retake the lead 27-24 for Magna Carta with 35 seconds remaining in the game.

The ensuing kickoff went to Pearson punt returner Henry Pringle who was able to race it back breaking numerous tackles before being stopped at the Magna Carta 31 yard line.  The Air Force tried on the ensuing play to put it into the endzone but the ball was nearly intercepted encouraging the Pearson coach to send his field goal unit onto the field to attempt the 46 yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime.  Jason Moseby made good his field goal attempt as time expired sending both teams into overtime tied 27 all.

The Air Force won the coin toss and received the ball at the start of overtime but could do nothing with it and prepared to punt it away.   After a 54 yard kick the Magna Carta Extreme Eagles took over the ball at their own 26 yard line.  They slowly marched down the field before stalling at the Pearson 33 yard line.  Williams came on to try a 48 yard field goal, his longest ever, which would win the game for Magna Carta.  The snap was clean and he hit the ball long and straight through the uprights sending the Magna Carta players and fans into bedlum as their team won the inaugural Gridiron Cup.

After the match Williams was asked if he felt like he was a hero to which he noted that, 'I just did my job', before being doused with champagne by his teammates.  In the Pearson Cliffs dressing room however it was extremely quiet as most players tried to hide their disappointment.  'It's tough', noted quarterback Jeffrey John.  'We played our hearts out and we loss in overtime, really tough but what can you do, just better luck next year I guess'.

Magna Carta kicker, Thomas Williams (11), kicks the winning field goal in overtime against the Pearson Cliffs Air Force.

SEE ALSO:

Magna Carta battles Pearson Cliffs for Gridiron Cup (PFT News; November 27, 2005)

New gridiron league launched in Workers Point (PFT News; March 26, 2005)