Officers dominate enlisted 22-6 in Eagle Bowl

Fort Belvoir officers took the win over the enlisted team 22-6 in the annual Eagle Bowl flag football game Friday at Pullen Field.

The spirit of competition and the eagerness to win came across loud and clear in the minutes leading up to the opening kickoff. Players took advantage of the possibility that this contest represented perhaps the only time all year when an enlisted man can safely direct a catcall towards a ranking officer.

"We'll beat you up!" was the assertion sent across the field towards the officers' bench.

"You forgot the 'Sir!' " was the reply from the commissioned sideline.

Good humor, a sense of friendly competition and above all, camaraderie prevailed as the Soldiers assembled for the game. But both sides had still come to win.

"This a good opportunity for the enlisted to play against the officers and to earn some bragging rights for the rest of the year," said Lt. Col. R. Dwayne Bowyer, headquarters battalion commander. "And it's a good opportunity to have some fellowship and enjoy some good food (afterwards). You see a lot of Family members out here as well."

Enlisted quarterback Jason Mesner was eager to get his team onto the field and face off against the somewhat understaffed officers.

"There is definitely a rivalry," he said. "We've been practicing all week and we've got some plays put together. We've got the numbers over the officers. They're going to have to play iron man football where we'll be able to substitute guys."

Bowyer delivered a short address to thank the participants for coming out and to remind players of the rules and the purpose of the game.

"We all have a day job to go back to, so the intent is to not get anybody hurt," he said. "We want to have a good time and some spirited competition on the field."

The game got underway at 11:30 a.m. following a prayer from the Fort Belvoir chaplain, a performance of the national anthem and the Army song.

The officers dominated the first half, keeping downfield momentum consistent and relentless. Quarterback Bowyer relied on his wide receivers, one of which was garrison commander Col. John Strycula, to make the big-gain receptions deep in enlisted territory.

In spite of the enlisted squad's personnel advantage, they struggled to maintain coverage as Bowyer sent lightning fast receivers downrange three and four at a time.

During the enlisted possessions Mesner was able to make some short gains throughout the first two quarters, connecting with receiver Kyle Walters and running backs Richard Workman and Ryan Kehling. The officers' defense, however, kept Mesner in the pressure cooker with a continual blitz, and the enlisted squad was unable to maintain any appreciable momentum towards the goal line.

By the close of the first half, the officers had put two touchdowns and two successful conversions on the scoreboard, leaving the enlisted team facing a 16-0 deficit going into the third quarter.

Second-half action began with the officers apparently on their way to shutting the enlisted out. Bowyer connected with his receiver in the end zone on the first drive and put yet another 6 points on the board.

Following the officers third TD, Mesner gathered his troops and began to put together a new strategy.

On first down, he took the ball himself on an end-around sweep and made it deep into officer territory. Keeping the momentum alive, he threw a quick pitch out to Kehling who took it across the goal line for the first enlisted score of the afternoon.

A newly invigorated enlisted defense stopped the officers in their tracks on each of their successive drives, preventing them from put another point on the board during the remainder of the contest.

The officer defense, however, returned the favor, shutting down every attempt the enlisted team made in starting an offensive rally and forcing a number of costly interceptions.

The clock finally ran out on enlisted hopes and the officers took the win 22-6.

Following the game, Bowyer said that the officers were now hoping to begin a winning tradition with the victory.

"Before last year, the noncommissioned officers had won three years in a row," Bowyer added. "We won last year, so with this win today we're hoping to start a little mini streak here."

The Eagle Bowl event came to a close with participants enjoying a cook-out style meal following the presentation of the trophy.