Ansbach's Dominique Whaley, 31, is pursued by Baumholder defenders during the Division III title game. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Ansbach's Dominique Whaley, 31, is pursued by Baumholder defenders during the Division III title game. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Ansbach's Dameon Outley is wrestled down from behind by Baumholder's Antonio Mouzon. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Ansbach's Dameon Outley breaks the tackle of Baumholder's T.J. Whatley. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Ansbach running back James Esters breaks away from Carl Roberts for a long gain. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
BAUMHOLDER, Germany — It takes more than the home field to stop the Ansbach Cougars.
Despite playing for the DODDS-Europe Division III football championship on Baumholder’s field, the relentless Cougars rolled to a 54-14 victory.
The mercy-rule victory gave Ansbach its 24th straight win and third straight Division III title.
Ansbach is only the fourth team to earn a football three-peat, and it moves closer to the longest winning streak in DODDS-Europe history — Ramstein’s 26 consecutive games.
“This feels great,” said running back James Esters, one of Ansbach’s 14 seniors.
“Having such a small school and losing 14 seniors really leaves a hole in the team,” coach Gary Feletar said. “It’s been an amazing three years, but we knew it had to come to an end.
“It’s so incredible. They’re a great group of guys. ”
Ansbach rushed 33 times for 485 yards. Six different players scored for the Cougars, demonstrating the versatility that made them so unbeatable.
Dameon Outley led Ansbach with 185 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Esters added 176 yards on 10 carries.
And although Ansbach will be losing a talented core, it has players waiting to step in. One of the Cougars’ touchdowns came from freshman Dominique Whaley (seven carries, 75 yards), and another came off a 28-yard pass from freshman John Willis-Morris to sophomore David Mason.
Baumholder finally got on the scoreboard after falling behind 36-0. Rashad Taylor scored on a 20-yard run, and added another touchdown later in the second half, but it was way too little.
Although Mike Ewing, last year’s DODDS athlete of the year, didn’t score for Ansbach, he still had plenty to say after the win.
“It’s like a dream come true,” he said. “I want to say thank you to the team and coaches for giving this to the seniors.”
Added Esters, who joined the team during the second year of the three-peat, “This is for the seniors.”
Alex Steele works as a Stars and Stripes sports clerk.
