Commandos Are The 2010 CIFL Champions!

By:  Cooper Ledford and Jeff Geiser

The Cincinnati Commandos were trying to cap off a great season, as they were trying to bring championship #2 to the city of Cincinnati in 2010, but they had a tough task: beat the Wisconsin Wolfpack in the Title Game.  Wisconsin gave the Commandos their only loss of the season, coming the last week of the season, but this time, the Commandos were able to hold off the 'Pack and capture the CIFL as they won 54-40.  This is the first professional football championship that Cincinnati has had, come on Bengals, make the 2nd, next season.

Back to the Commandos game, they might say that defense wins championships, but not in this game, it was all offense.  However, the Commandos defense tied the record for most interceptions in a CIFL Title game, with three.  

Ben Mauk, Cincinnati's QB,  went 18-29 passing with 195 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions, he easily capture the 2010 CIFL Title Game MVP Award.

Both teams scored on their first drives, but on the Commandos second drive, the ball was spotted on the 1 yard line, and it was 4th and goal, Cincy chose to go for it, but the Wolfpack's front 4 was able to stop Greg Moore.

Cincinnati's defense would take their anger out on Wisconsin when their was a fumble on 1st and 10 from the Wolfpacks goal line, it was recovered in the endzone by Cornett, it was 14-7 with the Commandos on top.

It appeared the Commandos were going to pull away in the second quarter when WR Brandon Boehm snatched the football out of the air between two defenders for a touchdown, increasing Cincinnati’s lead to 20-7.


But Wisconsin quarterback Matt Schabert had other plans. He led the Wolfpack to a six play, 45-yard scoring drive just before halftime, capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Lewis as time expired and putting Wisconsin right back in the game, with Cincinnati leading 20-14 at halftime.

The third quarter started off on a frenetic pace, with both teams putting together scoring drives in each of its first two possessions, highlighted by RB Ray Jackson’s 48-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Mauk threw two touchdown passes in the third period: a 27-yard laser to WR Robert Redd on a fly pattern and a 29-yard strike to Boehm to give Cincinnati a 40-26 lead heading into the fourth.

Wisconsin simply would not give up without a fight. After Schabert and Mauk exchanged touchdown passes to make the score 47-33, Wolfpack WR Brandon Wogoman, who broke the CIFL title game record with 14 receptions, returned the ensuing kickoff all the way down to the Cincinnati 5-yard line.

With Wisconsin on the brink of pulling to within one score, DE James Frazier came up with the play of the game when he swiped the football out of Schabert’s hand and Wilson recovered with 7:03 left in the game.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CINCINNATI COMMANDOS ON A GREAT 1ST SEASON.

This will not be the Commandos final season, as some thought it would be a one-and-done deal, but no way, the Commandos will pursue another CIFL Title in 2011.  The Commandos will try and get more publicity, and get better media relations, as they could be on a better radio station, and perhaps even TV.  The Commandos are also trying to get more fans to come to the games (at the Cincinnati Gardens) and might get new logos.