‘Fire Dawgs’ capture first-ever Dakota Bowl Published Nov. 19, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Tom Anderson 5th Civil Engineer Squadron GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The 5th Civil Engineer Squadron's fire department intramural flag football team, which cruised through the regular season with only one loss and won the Minot AFB championship, competed in the first-ever Dakota Bowl held here Nov. 15. The 2008 Dakota Bowl pitted the 5th CES team, known as the 'Fire Dawgs,' against the Grand Forks AFB champions: the 319th CES. Overall, the game featured four 15-minute quarters in blustery November weather. The 319th started the scoring off with a touchdown early in the first quarter. Just as quickly, the Fire Dawgs marched down the field and tied the game. Both defenses stiffened, and the 319th held a slim 14-13 lead going into halftime. The 319th again found the end zone in the third quarter and made the score 21-13. With momentum and home-field advantage strongly on Grand Forks ' side, the outlook seemed grim for the Minot team. The Fire Dawgs needed a spark. Thanks to Lt. Col. Monte Harner, 5th CES commander; Chief Master Sgt. Mark Clark, 5th Bomb Wing command chief master sergeant; and Chief Master Sgt. Robert Ward, Minot AFB fire chief, cheering them on, they got just that! Down eight points with the 319th in possession of the ball and needing a mere two yards for a first down, the 5th CES defense came up huge and stopped the 319th short. With only 58 seconds remaining in the game, the Fire Dawgs marched down the field and scored a touchdown. Needing only two points to force the game into overtime, they came through with a clutch completion in the back of the end zone that tied the game and forced a do-or-die overtime period to crown the champion. The Fire Dawgs got the ball first and quickly scored but missed the extra point. They now led the game 27-21, leaving the fate of the season on the shoulders of the defense. In the end, the Fire Dawgs defense held their ground and won the Dakota Bowl championship game 27-21. When asked about the team's performance during the season, head coach Matt Kahai said, "These guys came in on their off-days for numerous practices that all paid off in the end with the base championship and also the Dakota cup." The Airmen who helped bring the championship home to Minot AFB include: Thomas Anderson; John Muldoon; Darnell Dobson; Daniel Payne; Phillip Haffner; Nicholas Fox; Seth Maher; Matthew Kahai; Bao Hoang; Derrick Wagner; Joshua Grimsley; Matthew Cervantes; Justin Rhine; and Jelani Brooks. "The importance of a full team effort and the heart many of these guys showed playing offense and defense on a frozen field goes without saying," added assistant coach Tom Anderson, thanking the 5th CES commander and chiefs for their support throughout the season. The idea of the Dakota Bowl/Cup came from the sports directors at both bases. They wanted to get the best teams in each intramural sport to have a one-game playoff to decide the best in North Dakota. Football was the first sport and played here; the next sport will be played at Minot AFB. The bases will rotate the location to increase attendance and popularity. For more information about base intramural sports, contact the base fitness center at 723-2145.