Fifteen teams entered the Classic
City Center of Arts and Athletics on January 7 2006
with expectations of making the Championship round.
Slowly but surely through out the day and evening of
Saturday the 7th and in the early morning hours of
Sunday the 8th there began to be a picture of who
would be playing for trophies.
By 9:00am on Sunday a clear picture
of six teams remained. The South Central Broncos and
the Columbus Generals made up the finals in the
winners bracket, and in the unfortunate bracket (named
so for its unfortunate game times) there were the
Kosciusko County Mustangs, Motor City Warthogs, Lima
Warriors and the Darke County Warriors.
Due to injury and fatigue of
playing and co-hosting the Mustangs forfeited the
round to the Motor City Warthogs. The Lima Warriors
once again faced the Darke County Warriors. On the
previous day in the early afternoon the Darke County
squad had defeated the Lima team in the most exciting
game of the day. The outcome would be different on
this early Sunday morning in Waterloo. After having
played two games already in the early am hours of this
Sunday the Lima Warriors managed enough to get by the
very physical
Darke County team to eliminate them
from contention.
The 2006 Interstate Football League
(IFL) Champions South Central Broncos were faced with
the challenge of the day in the Columbus Generals in
the winner’s bracket semi final. With virtually no
scoring against the Generals defense in the previous
three games the Broncos suffered a similar fate. The
Generals moved on with a tremendous defensive
performance. This would prove to be a successful
formula for the Generals on the weekend.
The Motor City Warthogs now faced
the Lima Warriors. The Warthogs were left in the
unfortunate bracket by some questionable officiating
and some untimely injuries. However, determined to
make the best of their situation set out to face the
Broncos and unseat the Warriors. This however, was not
to be the case. The Warthogs with one of the most
depleted benches was not able to get the victory and
fell to the Lima Warriors.
The Warriors, now in their 7th
game, were to face the 2006 IFL Champion Broncos who
were playing in their 5th game. This battle proved to
be a war of attrition. Both teams showing no fatigue
or remorse on the field battled relentlessly in the
most physical showing of the tournament. Those who
were fortunate enough to witness this display of
courage know the neither team withheld one ounce of
energy. This was, never the less not the day for the
Broncos to reach pay dirt. Once again Lima proved more
than could be handled on this day.
The stage was now set for the
physically dominant and stingy defense of the Columbus
Generals to face the determined men from Lima Ohio.
Both teams struggled to move the ball, and as one
would gain momentum the other would make an
astonishing play to prevent. This game accordingly
came down to 12 seconds and a defensive score by the
Generals on a Lima turnover on the 4 yard line. Both
teams played an excellent game, the Generals, much in
tune with the weekend, scored with their defense to
end a spectacular first year event.
Congratulations to the Columbus
Generals in their excellence and perseverance in
winning the 2006 Crushstang Open.
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