OCEAN CITY- Kirby’s Pub overcame and early playoff loss, settled some old scores along the way and fought all the way back from the loser’s bracket this week to reach the championship game in the Ocean City Recreation and Parks’ Fall Flag Football League.
Eastern Shore Golf Magazine (ESGM) went unbeaten in the regular season, finishing with a perfect 8-0 record, to earn the top seed in the tournament. Buxy’s Salty Dog was second at 6-2, while Kirby’s was third at 4-4. ESGM cruised through the playoffs to earn a date in the finals, while Kirby’s took a more circuitous route back the championship game.
Kirby’s fell to Buxy’s, 14-6, in the second round to fall back to the loser’s bracket. Buxy’s then fell to ESGM in the third round to earn a trip to the loser’s bracket final. Kirby’s won two games in the loser’s bracket to set up a rematch with Buxy’s, with the winner getting another shot at ESGM for the championship, although either team would have to beat ESGM twice for a shot at the championship.
On Monday, Kirby’s beat Buxy’s, 27-20 in the loser’s bracket final. Buxy’s led 13-12 at the half, but Kirby’s rallied with two touchdowns in the second half and eliminated the Salty Dog by a final score of 27-20, setting up a championship elimination game with ESGM.
If Kirby’s lost to ESGM in the elimination game, ESGM would have claimed the 2009 title. However, Kirby’s outlasted ESGM, 38-26, to earn a rematch with the title on the line last night in a game played too late to be included in this edition. In the elimination game, both teams traded scores before Kirby’s finally got the upper hand. Talbert threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to lead Kirby’s. In the decisive play, Talbert threw a five-yard pass to Stephen Lewis, who then pitched a lateral to Ryan Murphy who took in for the score. Talbert capped the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown run.