By Philip Hadley
University News Service
January 16, 2008

The Texas State women's intramural flag football team.

Some of the nation's best collegiate flag football teams made their way to Dallas for the NIRSA competition that was part of the National Campus Championship Series (NCCS). The Texas State Blazers competed against 19 teams winning a spot in the final four championships.

The Blazer’s first game in the final four was against Sam Houston State University, last year’s national champion. Victoria Dominguez, nutrition and foods junior and quarterback, said for the last two years Texas State has been defeated by Sam Houston. This year was a different story: the Blazers won 7-6.

“When we beat Sam Houston it was amazing,” said Dominguez, a Mercedes native. “We really blew them out and our confidence went way up. Everyone was pumped after that. Everyone played really well, nobody was nervous.”

The team advanced to the next bracket and faced off with Florida A&M. The Blazer’s defense was strong in a nail-bitter that lasted until the last 40 seconds of the game when Florida would make the first score of the game. Texas State was defeated 6-0. Florida A&M would later claim the championship trophy against West Florida in the final round.

The loss against Florida led to a tie between Texas State and Old Dominion for third place. Texas State was the only team from Texas to make it to the final four.

“The whole experience was awesome,” Dominguez said. “I knew we were going to do well, but I didn’t know how well.”

Dominguez and Samantha Hanie, advertising junior and receiver, were selected for the all-tournament team award.

“People who are named to the all-tournament team are basically the MVP’s of the tournament,” Hanie, Forney native, said.  “There were 19 teams and about 190 girls and only seven players got picked for all-tournament. We were also the only Texas players to get onto the women’s all-tournament team. That was really exciting for both of us.”

Hanie and Dominguez thank their coaches and sponsors for their effort and support. Fernando Labra is one of those coaches. He said defensively the team was flawless.

“We won four games and only lost one,” Labra said. “Our defense was amazing, we only allowed 12 points scored on us. It was really great, I’m very proud of them.”

Larry Farris, offensive coach, said the Blazer’s winning trait is their ability to work together as a team.

“The Blazers are a disciplined team and they believe in each other,” Farris, a 1981 Texas State alumnus, said. They work together seamlessly and I’m confident they will win the championship next year.”

The Blazers are currently looking for new members to join their team. For more information contact Fernando Labra at rhoknight@hotmail.com or Larry Farris at saoutlaw@mindspring.com.