OCEAN CITY- There’s a new champion in the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s Fall Flag Football League after Schell Brothers knocked off Buxy’s, 38-20, in the championship game last Monday, ending the Salty Dog’s four-year hold on the title.
Schell Brothers outlasted Buxy’s during a marathon final night last Monday, toppling the defending champions who were playing in their third game of the night. Both teams took different routes to get to the title game. Schell Brothers breezed through the early rounds, routing Crab Cake Factory, 41-6, and Kirby’s Pub, 31-13, to reach a semifinal game with Buxy’s.
The Salty Dog, meanwhile, beat Tequila Duffybird, 20-7, and Three Brothers Pizza, 14-7, to reach the semifinals against Schell Brothers. Back on November 10, Schell Brothers beat Buxy’s in the third round of the flag football championship tournament, sending the Salty Dog to the loser’s bracket.
Buxy’s fought its way back through the loser’s bracket to earn a trip back to the title game. In the first game last Monday, Buxy’s edged old rival Kirby’s, 26-13. Buxy’s had beaten Kirby’s in the championship game last year to claim its fourth straight title. Kirby’s won its opening round game, knocking off Blue Ox, 20-12, to advance, but lost to Schell Brothers in the second round to get bounced to the loser’s bracket and a date with old rival Buxy’s.
Both old established teams were looking for a shot against Schell Brothers, but it was defending champion Buxy’s prevailing, 26-13. With the win over Kirby’s, Buxy’s would then have to beat Schell Brothers two times in the same night in order to retain the title.
Buxy’s took car of business in the first game, routing Schell Brothers, 34-6, to set up the title game. The two teams met again on a windswept, frozen field at the town’s 4th Street park with the championship on the line. In the final game, Schell Brothers outlasted Buxy’s, 38-20, to take the title and unseat the four-time defending champs. Buxy’s, which was playing its third straight elimination game of the night, just ran out of gas in the end against Schell Brothers, which will hang on to bragging rights for the next year.