Ansbach scores late to win a thriller with Alconbury

ANSBACH, Germany — The combination of junior Makai Sinclair and sophomore Elijah Thompson proved too much in the end for the Alconbury Dragons on Saturday.

The Ansbach duo combined for seven touchdowns – including the final one late in the fourth quarter – as the Cougars won 46-45 in a game where extra points after scores proved pivotal.

Thompson spent most of the game quarterbacking Ansbach (4-2 in DODEA-Europe six-man football). While Sinclair scored on multiple kickoff returns and runs.

But after a Sinclair run brought the Cougars to within a score, the two reversed roles.

Sinclair took the snap and launched the ball deep into Dragons territory, where Thompson hauled it in with one hand over his shoulder and carried it into the end zone, creating the final score.

Alconbury, which fell to 1-5 with the loss, still had one more chance. The Dragons had possession with 18 seconds on the clock and were just 25 yards from the end zone, leaving the crowd to wonder if the game might change hands one final time.

But a pass intended for a Dragons receiver instead found Thompson, who intercepted the ball with 14 seconds remaining to secure the victory.

The two squads became a yin and yang of explosive plays and scoring drives throughout the game, with each team repeatedly answering the other and both proving that every extra point truly matters.

That was clear from the opening kickoff. The Dragons started their first drive strong, leaning heavily on their rushing game before senior Andrew Barbee broke toward the outside sideline and raced in for the first touchdown of the game.

But the Cougars’ dynamic duo went to work.

Sinclair gave the Cougars prime field position with a big return on the ensuing kickoff. Thompson then tossed the ball to Sinclair, who made breaking through a wall of Dragons defenders look easy on his way to a matching touchdown.

Alconbury blocked the two-point attempt, leaving the teams tied 6-6.

Alconbury Dragons' senior Andrew Barbee rushes the ball while being chased down by Ansbach Cougars' freshman Conner Damon during a football game Saturday in Ansbach, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach's Elijah Thompson runs in for a touchdown against the Alconbury Dragons on Oct. 3, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury Dragons senior Daniel Scavola rushes against the Ansbach Cougars in a game on Oct. 3, 2026. Scavola had three touchdowns for the Dragons, but the Cougars ultimately won 46-45. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury Dragons junior Darian Payton is contested in a rush by Ansbach Cougars junior Makai Sinclair and freshman Jackson Cadle in a game on Oct. 3, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

The Ansbach Cougars hosted the Alconbury Dragons on Saturday in a six-man football matchup that had the home squad narrowly clinching the win 46-45. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

A touchdown from Dragons senior Thomas Flynn was quickly met with a kick-return touchdown by Sinclair. Dragons senior Daniel Scavola put Alconbury back in front, only for Sinclair to close the distance again with another explosive score.

Another from score Scavola was met by another from Sinclair. Flynn pushed the Dragons ahead once more, only for Thompson to step into Sinclair’s shoes and race downfield for a kickoff-return touchdown of his own.

It was finally Dragons junior Darian Payton who broke the pattern just before halftime, juking his way through the Ansbach defense for a rushing touchdown that sent Alconbury into the break with a 38-34 lead.

“So there’s this one play (the Dragons) were doing, that’s where they were getting all their points,” Thompson said. “We had to switch our focuses on stopping that play.”

And as offensively heavy as the first half had been, the second half went in the opposite direction, as both defenses tightened up.

Alconbury started to use onside kicks and effectively neutralized the speed of Thompson and Sinclair on kickoff returns.

“They switched to the onside because they just knew the back was a threat,” Sinclair said. “Every time they kicked it to the back, it was just a score.”

With the Cougars’ rushing game stunted, the Dragons built their biggest lead of the afternoon. Freshman Noah Bigby intercepted a Thompson pass to give Alconbury possession, setting up another touchdown run from Scavola that stretched the Dragons’ advantage to 45-34.

“You learn a lot in close games because you learn who’s really going to dig in,” Cougars coach Stephen Choate told his players.

And Sinclair did exactly that.

The junior found space up the middle, broke toward the sideline and raced into the end zone to pull Ansbach back within five, 45-40.

Alconbury was stopped on downs on the ensuing possession, setting up Sinclair’s pass to Thompson for the winning score.

“You have to show (Alconbury) respect,” Thompson said. “They came out here and played a really good game.”