San Quentin’s Intramural Football red and black jersey teams tied 42-42 in a fierce battle at the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl. Neither team was willing to relent to the other.
“This game reminds me of the good times I used to have with my family out there when I was free,” said linebacker Dewayne Scott. He remembered how every Thanksgiving he and his family got out and played football.
The game also reminded Scott of when he played semi-pro and it brought him much joy. “Just because we’re in prison don’t mean that we can’t have fun and be happy,” Scott said.
League Head Coach Brian Underwood and veteran “Pookie” Sylvester put together groups of young and older guys, mixing up the teams and making it a good day for football.
“The game was equal; it was competitive and just an over-all good game,” said Sylvester.
Resident spectators on the Lower Yard were not disappointed.
It became a shootout between quarterbacks and receivers, with the running game blazing a trail. Tyler Cooper of the red team had one touchdown; John Gawron of the black team had two interceptions plus a pick six.
William Thomas scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. A teammate called him the “Cooper Cup of the game.”
Thaddeus “YG” Hatcher had three picks with one touchdown. Frank J. Ualer had four sacks and three touchdowns, while Andre White scored a single TD.
The game’s final play was a drive by the black jersey team with 21 seconds left and a chance to tie. From an I-formation quarterback “Steez” Stickland fell back out of the shotgun, ran left from the 10-yard line and into the end zone for the tie-scoring finale.
