Pirates win Elite Bowl IV championship game in thriller over Bruins

LAKELAND- It's been 14 years in the making and the Tarpon Springs Pirates were not going to let the opportunity of winning a title slip away. 

Trailing 21-7 at halftime, the Pirates mounted a second-half comeback en route to upend the Cherokee County Bruins (Georgia), 27-21, in this past Saturday's Elite Bowl IV championship game at Bryant Stadium. 

For the first time in team history, the Pirates have captured a league crown. 

Tarpon Springs (11-2) started off the scoring on a fourth down conversion in the second quarter when quarterback Zay McIntyre, who was named the game's Offensive MVP by EAFL commissioner Michael Torres, found an open Jocquan James for the game's opening score. 

Cherokee County (12-1) proceeded to go on a 21-0 run from there as they took advantage of multiple Pirates' miscues which led directly to touchdowns. Trailing 21-7 at halftime, Tarpon Springs regrouped and made a comeback for the ages. 

The first touchdown coming out of intermission was a long pass from McIntyre to a wide open Kai Washington, who took it the rest of the way to put the Pirates down 21-14. 

In the final period of play, McIntyre would begin to find his groove and connected on a scoring pass to Javonte 'Waffle House' Sneed, tying the game up at 21-all. 

The game's go-ahead touchdown would be scored with less than three minutes left in the contest when McIntyre would find a lane and take it in himself, putting Tarpon Springs ahead 27-21. This time, it would be up to the defense to make a stop and close out the game. 

On a last gasp drive, the Bruins reached Pirates' territory but that would be as far as they get, with defensive end Jordan Wiggins notching the game-sealing sack. Tarpon Springs' defensive tackle Tim Williams, a Clearwater High graduate, was named the game's Defensive MVP.