Rugby: AF wins fifth Armed Forces Championship Published Dec. 4, 2008 FORT BENNING, Ga. -- It's been five years now and the All-Air Force team has won five straight Armed Forces Championships. It's getting a little monotonous, at least for the opposing teams. But Air Force keeps getting it done, and the Air Force way is quickly becoming a tradition. Head coach Dan Lockert said those who came before him have set the platform. "I have a great mentor in Ken 'Doc' Holliday," said Lockert. "[I was left] with a very solid program to continue building upon." For Lockert, the key is depth and flexibility. In a series that requires five intense, physical games four days you need both. "We've got multi-faceted players who can play any number of positions when needed," said Lockert. From the opening kickoff against the Army to the final whistle in the championships against the Navy, Air Force was active and tough. They scored within the first two minutes and didn't stop playing until the competition was over. Eric Walton did the honors for that first try against Army and he was followed by No. 8 Josh Dean, flyhalf John Feely, Michael Hancock at inside center, John Lockard at wing, fullback Tony Ewers, and centers Brice Collier and Chris Valine. Feely was man of the match in the 44-3 route as he opened up the highways for the centers to cruise through. Against the Marines Air Force started briskly again. Bryan Pemberton crossed over within the first four minutes and 11 others scored: Joe Riedesel (prop), Dean (# 8), Jeremy Allen, hooker, Wayne Kinsel, lock, Andy McQuade, scrumhalf, and Hancock and Collier at center. Wing Eric Walton and lock Ty Terrazone both scored twice and Walton added two conversions while Marc Ward added six. 76-0 Air Force. Kinsel was named player of the game. Now up 2-0 and having won in dominant fashion Air Force faced their toughest opponents, Navy, two days later. Neither side gave up much and this became a defensive game. Ryan Dombrock opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a magnificent break and just before halftime, Navy intercepted an Air Force to make it 7-5. Air Force got that one back, though, as Walton scored just before the whistle. In the second half, the gamebreakers made their presence felt once more. Dean, who got a USA callup earlier this year and played for the USA 7s team in 2005, scored to break the game open, and Collier added another. With Lt Mike Hobson converting on three Air Force pulled away 26-5, with Dean being named player of the game. The final match of pool play was against a Coast Guard team not expected to challenge the Airmen. And in fact it was another blowout, 66-3 with RJ Rademacher, Lockard, Hobson, Walton, McQuade, Ty Terrazone all touching down. Collier and Ward scored twice and Ward added eight conversions. In the championship match, it was Air Force against Navy in a grueling, 80-minute contest. The Navy jumped out to a quick lead when ATC Pat Wallace blocked a kick and his teammates swarmed in to score. The Air Force regrouped and leveled the score with a try by flyhalf John Feely five minutes into the match. Feely scored both tries in the first half and fullback Marc Ward made both conversions. Ward also converted on 2 penalty kicks in the first half bringing the hafltime score to Air Force 20 Navy 5. In the second half it was more of the same - hard tackling and incredible defensive stands. Eric Walton was able to break through and make two magnificent runs, dashing in and out of the Navy's would-be tacklers arms to score twice. The Navy was able to capitalize on an Air Force penalty to make it 32-8, and then Lockard scored once more to seal it 37-8. Man of the match honors went to both SSgt Eric Walton and Travis Meidinger. Air Force was virtually untouchable, scoring 249 points in five matches on 39 tries, and allowed only 19 points. Navy was the only team to score tries on them. "It was truly a fantastic tournament," enthused a proud Lockert, who praised team captain Travis Meidinger for his leadership. Not surprisingly, the U.S. Air Force dominated the all-tournament team, as well, with seven players making the starting XV. Air Force members named to the Armed Forces All Tournament team: Jeremy Allen Brice Collier Josh Dean John Feely Travis Meidinger Joe Riedesel Eric Walton