The Barton Community College eSports program reached the tops of all tops Saturday evening as the Cougars Rainbow 6 Siege squad secured the program’s first ever NJCAAE National Championship with a 2-0 sweep over Rockland Community College (New York). Sophomore Davon Morris from Lyons delivered the second title on the night and the program’s first individual NJCAAE National Championship hours later claiming, the Madden title in a thrilling 3-2 (21-20, 24-30 OT, 14-10, 29-30 and 19-13) victory over Carl Albert State College (Oklahoma).
Barton will look for its third National Championship at 1 p.m. Monday as undefeated Call of Duty Cold War Gunfight gamers Adam Hardin, Wakefield sophomore, and Kindric Castro, Larned sophomore, battle against Navarro College (Texas).
Game recaps
Morris faced his first halftime deficit of the season as a 78-yard touchdown pass with one second remaining in the opening half-had Carl Albert State on top 14-11. Morris and the Green Bay Packers remained trailing 20-14 with 4:23 left in the third quarter until a 5-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 to play in the fourth followed by a clean PAT proved to be the difference maker as Morris took an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
In the second game, Morris maintained the lead throughout the opening half taking an 11-7 lead into the locker rooms thanks in large portion to a pivotal defensive stop at the one-yard line as the opening half expired keeping Carl Albert State and the Arizona Cardinals out of the endzone. Stretching the lead to 17-7 with a five-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the third quarter, things looked to be in favor of Morris, but a trio of interceptions including a pair of pick-six’s flipped the script with the sophomore finding himself down 21-17 with 58 seconds left. Facing a 4th and 10 situation, Morris dialed up a wheel route down the sideline connecting for a go-ahead 72-yard touchdown with 33 seconds remaining. Quickly driving down the field, Carl Albert State settled for overtime, connecting on a 32-yard field goal with two seconds left. In overtime, Morris would not touch the ball as Carl Albert State won the decisive coin toss driving the length of the field scoring the game winning touchdown handing the sophomore his first loss of the season 30-24.
Turning into a best of three series, Morris grasped a slim 11-10 halftime lead succeeding a 20-yard field goal with a tick left in the second stanza. Morris grew his lead to 14-10 blasting a 52-yard field goal as time expired in the third. Riding his stout defense over the final five minutes the sophomore chalked up a second half shutout forcing a late Carl Albert State turnover taking a 2-1 series lead.
Looking to secure the title, Morris seemed to be in control in game four following a forced fumble and quick strike 31-yard touchdown and successful two-point conversion leading 29-21 with 3:07 remaining in the third. A Carl Albert State touchdown trimmed the lead to 29-27 but the stout defense of Morris denied the two-point conversion keeping the sophomore in the driver’s seat. Morris appeared to have the game sealed converting on a fourth down conversion eventually leading to prime field goal opportunity with under a minute to play however the sophomore had other plans looking to throw off Carl Albert State with fake field goal turning into a costly mistake as an interception and long return put Carl Albert State in prime scoring position. Holding Carl Albert to a field goal Morris found himself trailing 30-29 with 37-seconds left but the comeback attempt fell short as an interception sent the NJCAAE Championship into a fifth and decisive game.
Seeming to have lost all momentum, Morris overcame a 3-0 deficit with a 54-yard touchdown run up the middle taking a 6-3 advantage while failing on the two-point conversion. A late first half turnover by Morris helped set up a tying field goal attempt as the two teams entered the locker rooms. Controlling the clock with the opening possession of the third quarter, Morris delivered the eventual go-ahead touchdown with a 17-yard pass taking a 13-6 lead. Forcing a Carl Albert State interception, the sophomore converted the turnover into six points taking a 19-6 lead with 4:17 to play. Carl Albert State would provide one last fight connecting on an 81-yard touchdown pass before Morris clinched the game and title running the final four-minutes out completing the 12-0 perfect season and concluding with a 25-2 record in games throughout the fall campaign.
GAME RESULTS
GM 1: 21-20
GM 2: 24-30 OT
GM 3: 14-10
GM 4: 29-30
GM 5: 19-13
