KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Two Security Forces teams squared off Oct. 8, 2018, in the Kirtland intramural flag football championship game. SF Sykes defeated fellow defenders SF Stankiewicz by a score of 26-18 to take the 2018 title.
Sykes entered the playoffs on a winning streak, winning their final 10 games of the year. They overcame a slow start to the league and built momentum week-by-week, according to coach Staff Sgt. Marquis Vinson, who emphasized a focus on building chemistry, and it ultimately paid off.
“We started out with practices every Sunday and it was sometimes hard for people to come out,” Vinson said. “But we started to get familiarity with each other, knowing how everyone worked. We were coming together and enjoying football.”
Because they built strong bonds, Sykes was able to endure early season setbacks, Vinson explained.
“We started out 2-4 and a lot of people got discouraged. We had a lot of young Airmen that were used to winning,” Vinson said. “I let them know you are going to lose here and there, but since that point we won 10 straight. Every game we came out with the same enthusiasm.”
Though they had momentum, Sykes sustained key injuries in the run up to the title game. They lost key players wide receiver Tech. Sgt. Mathew Hawkins (torn anterior cruciate ligament) in an “freak” accident the day before the game and running back Airman 1st Class Krisopher Allison (sidelined by a vehicle accident) hours before game time.
“These were two of our best playmakers, and I know we were thinking ‘I don’t know if we are going to win this,’ because we were playing a very good team, but we overcame adversity and ended up winning. We finished with a 10-game winning streak, ended the season 12-4 and won the Kirtland Air Force Base flag football championship,” Vinson said.
Without Hawkins and Allison in the lineup, Sykes needed big performances from their replacements.
“Damion Johnson took Hawkins’ spot at wide receiver. We needed someone just as athletic and to bring the same intensity, and he came up big on offense as well as on defense,” Vinson said, adding that Johnson played a key role on defense at middle linebacker.
Airman 1st Class Tyquan David slotted in at running back and put in a key performance, and quarterback Staff Sgt. John Harden was just as essential, according to Vinson.
“Last but not least, our quarterback John Harden. We acquired him from the player pool and he’s been lights-out ever since,” Vinson said. “He had four TDs and did amazing last night.”
SF Stankiewicz coach and quarterback Staff Sgt. Jacob Stankiewicz said his team had hoped to go out with a bang after going 10-2 in the regular season.
“I just think we had a good year. We had a lot of talented players, and we had a lot of fun,” Stankiewicz said. “This was the last year [at Kirtland] for a lot of our guys, and we were looking to go out with a bang.”
Stankiewicz said his squad had a balance attack, led by players like Staff Sgt. Michael LeMaster on defense, and featuring great execution on offense.
“Our defense help us to stay in a lot of games and I had several good receivers that I could just throw the ball at and count on them to make a play—we had a lot of people who could make plays,” Stankiewicz said.
In the title game, Sykes came out on top.
“Some things didn’t go our way, and they ended up making a couple more big plays than we did, and that ultimately made the difference in the game,” Stankiewicz said. “I’m happy the trophy stayed with Security Forces and it was fun to play against the people that we work with.”
Vinson said he also took pride in the all-Defender championship and credited SF Stankiewicz.
“I was happy that Security Forces as a whole was in the championship,” Vinson said. “They played their hearts out last night.”
The 377th Force Support Squadron’s intramural sports staff also shared in the glory.
“It was a good season all around. The gym staff do a really good job putting on the sports,” said Stankiewicz.