Guard wins on final play

Photo by Chris Walz D.C. National Guard quarterback Rodney Butler scores on a one-yard run to give his team the lead with less than a minute remaining in the game.

by Chris Walz
Pentagram staff writer

There were some terrific finishes in college and pro football last weekend and the Fort Myer company level flag football had its share of last minute heroics as well.

The D.C. National Guard (8-1) stopped Hotel Company (6-2) on the game's final play and gained sole possession of first place in the division, 36-25.

Hotel Company, trailing 30 to 25, marched downfield to the 2-yardline with only nine seconds to play. Quarterback Eric Garcia threw into double coverage and was picked off by Guard defensive back Rodney Butler, who returned the ball 80-yards for the exclamation point.

"I knew they would try to force the ball to their center," said Butler, referring to the flag football rule allowing linemen to catch passes. "I just grabbed it and kept going."

The Guard and Hotel Company traded blows in the first half. Butler, who also played quarterback for the Guard, threw touchdown passes to Anthony McKinney and Bernard Napier. Hotel Company counterpart Garcia completed touchdown passes to Jamal Coker and James Mounts leaving both teams tied at 12.

"We knew before the game this would be a very important win for us," said Butler. "They fought hard but we came through. They're a really good team. We fought each step of the way and it felt good to pull this one out."

"Now we have a good shot at the top seed [in the playoffs]," said running back Robert Miles. "Even if we end [the regular season] tied, this win gives us the tie breaker."

The Guard jumped back on top when Butler found Key Rashad-Ali for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Garcia was picked off by Donnell Smith on Hotel Company's next possession to give the Guard momentum. But, Kameron Jones returned the favor by picking off Butler's pass two-yards deep in the endzone and returned all the way to tie the score at 18.

"We never really stressed over the tie scores," said Butler. "We knew we could run our offense and we just had to be patient."

The Guard took the lead again on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Butler but Hotel Company answered back on its next possession.

Garcia capped the drive with a 25-yard touchdown strike to Mounts, who caught his second touchdown of the game.

Garcia broke the back and forth ties by completing a one-point conversion to Jones. The receiver made an acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone to help his team enjoy a one-point advantage.

"We knew this game would come down to the wire," said Miles. "We had to find a way to dig in and come out of this game with a win."

The Guard relied on the Butler's legs to guide them to victory. He gained 30 yards on two carries to start their drive. Butler finally capped the drive by plunging into the end zone from one-yard out to grab his second rushing touchdown of the game.

Hotel Company used the old "hook and ladder" play to begin their final possession. Garcia threw complete to Patrick Guinn to get his team down to the 2-yard line, setting up Butler's game-winning interception.

"We are really motivated now," said Miles. "We are finally playing like nobody can stop us. That's the mentality you need to have when you're trying to win a championship."

Original article can be found at: DCMilitary.com