By Michael Eldridge/reporter
Mario Mendoza and Team Three improved to a 3-1 record through four games played so far in the five-team flag football league on South Campus.
Team Three needed to win coming into Thursday as it had a 2-1 record, trailing the undefeated Team Two by one game. The team faced off against Team One who came into the game 0-3 but only lost two out of the three by less than 10 points.
Mendoza stole the show early as he picked the other team’s pass off and ran it back for a 40-yard interception return for six points, followed shortly by a 30-yard touchdown reception when Team Three got the ball back.
One bright spot for Team One in the first half was a 40-yard quarterback sneak in the last 20 seconds of the half. However, on the next play, the quarterback threw an interception in the end zone, which cost Team One points it desperately needed. Going into halftime, Team One ran away with the match with a 28-0 lead.
Like the first half, Team Three controlled play in the second half, scoring two early touchdowns to make the score 38-0 in the first five minutes. According to the rules, once a team has scored more points than possessions will allow, the game ends.
In the second game Thursday, Team Four (1-3) took on Team Five (2-2) in a more closely played game.
Seth Tynan of Team Four opened the scoring with a miraculous 50-yard touchdown reception evading the defenders with quick feet and spin moves to get down the sidelines.
Team Five responded quickly, though, with a 15-yard touchdown on their next possession.
It appeared Team Four would take the lead on a 40-yard throw by their quarterback to Mike Haynes, but he dropped the ball with nobody on him.
Team Four jumped on this opportunity and closed the first half with two touchdowns in the final three minutes to make the score 20-8 at halftime.
Coming out in the second half, quarterback Christopher Felton completed a 40-yard touchdown pass to get Team Four back into the game at 20-16.
The game went back and forth with both teams’ defenses making big stops until a key interception by Team Four.
From the 25-yard line, Team Four completed a 30-yard touchdown completion and kept control the rest of the game, winning 42-20 to improve its record to 3-2 with two games left on its schedule.
The winner of South’s flag football competition will host the other TCC campus champions Nov. 21 for the Intramural District Championship tarting at 9:30 a.m.