Picture perfect: Brooklyn Bolts remain undefeated

Just call them the comeback kids.

On Friday, November 7, the final regular season home game for the Bolts during the inaugural season of the Experimental Football League (FXFL) saw Brooklyn, which trailed most of the way, make a massive rally in the fourth quarter that included three touchdowns in 30 seconds, to best the Florida Blacktips, 26-13, improving the Bolts’ record to a perfect 4-0 at a frigid MCU Park.

“We’ve been down in every game, I think,” said Bolts head coach John Bock during his post-game interview. “Our team sticks together and we have found a way to come back and win.”

The trend of the Bolts putting themselves in an early hole started early, as Blacktips quarterback Casey Pachall threw a touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Kelly with 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter. After a successful field goal attempt, the Blacktips took an early 7-0 lead.

Brooklyn answered back late in the first quarter. Bolts QB Colton Browning furiously made the way into Florida territory. Browning ran in for the touchdown. However, the team missed the extra point, keeping the Blacktips on top 7-6.

In the second quarter, Florida running back and former Washington Redskin Tim Hightower displayed his impressive speed, running 30 yards for a touchdown. Another missed field goal in the game made it 13-6.

Defense and sloppy play took over in the third quarter. But once the fourth began, it was all Brooklyn on both defensive and offensive ends. It started with QB Corey Robinson’s drive and eventual 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Quentin Payton to make it 13-12 with less than six minutes to play.

The big blow came a few seconds later when Bolts linebacker Korey Williams tipped and intercepted a Pachall pass and ran the ball in for a touchdown to make it 18-13 Brooklyn.

Finally, for an encore, the Bolts recovered a Blacktips fumble and again, brought it in for the TD. Once the game concluded, fans that braved the weather cheered with the players, chanting “Undefeated!”

For Bock, the experience of coaching Brooklyn’s first professional football team since 1944 has been a new and rewarding one. “For me, it meant the world. It was my first opportunity to be a head coach. I have been a position coach in the past so to be a professional head coach was outstanding,” he said, noting Brooklyn’s energy. “I’d play at Brooklyn every time. The fans were great. They rallied behind us. They made us feel welcome here and I can’t thank them enough.”

Although Brooklyn was scheduled to finish off the season on Wednesday, November 12 at Omaha to take on the Mammoths, the team with the second best record, that game has been cancelled. Instead, the league is planning a championship game between the two teams, although the date and location has yet to be determined.