As the Villanova football team continues to prepare for its showdown with rival Delaware on Saturday, a different looking team emerged victorious beneath the lights of Villanova Stadium. Ryan Haskins’ All-Stars, a roster loaded with senior experience, defeated DTP, the up-and-coming team of sophomores, in the men’s intramural football championship game Tuesday night, 16-12.

Controversy ensued after DTP appeared to score the winning touchdown as time expired after a DTP defender stripped the ball from All-Stars quarterback Jack Tosi and carried it into the end zone. Officials determined Tosi was down, giving the All-Stars the win.

“Our quarterback was running out the clock,” said senior Captain Tim Richer. “There’s a no-stripping, no-fumble rule in flag football so we understood that the game was over once the clock ran out and our quarterback stopped running. We knew we won the game so I don’t know what they were complaining about.”

After upsetting two-time defending champion Snap, Crackle, Pop to advance to the title game, Ryan Haskins’ All Stars arrived determined to leave with the crown. After DTP elected to start on offense, All-Stars defensive end David Cassilo made his presence known quickly. With DTP threatening to convert for a first down, Cassilo flew past the opposing offensive line for a sack. Then on the very next play, Cassilo rushed up the middle between a double team and recorded his second sack in as many plays.

The All-Stars took over possession and scored on a 20-yard Tosi touchdown pass to Cassilo. A successful conversion for the extra point brought the score to 7-0 and gave the All-Stars the lead, a lead they would not relinquish.

DTP responded on their very next possession. After a spectacular one-handed grab over the middle that moved the chains, DTP ran the ball, forcing several missed tackles, and scored a touchdown. They would not convert the extra point and thus trailed by one.

With the first half-winding down, Ryan Haskins’ All-Stars scored on a miracle tipped pass that fell into the hands of senior Adam Fitzpatrick in the end zone to put them up 14-6 at intermission.

DTP came out in the second half looking to gain control. Threatening to close the gap, DTP failed to account for Richer. The captain found a hole in the offensive line and snatched the flag of the opposing quarterback in the end zone. The safety put the All-Stars up by two and proved to be the game-winning play. DTP would find the end zone again, but time proved to be their enemy as the All-Stars comfortably ran out the clock for the win.

Next on tap for Ryan Haskins’ All-Stars is a trip to Drexel on Saturday to participate in the City Six series, a tournament composed of the champion flag football teams from all Big 5 schools and Drexel.