Both championship games in the second-annual Pride Bowl gay flag football tournament held June 26-27 came down to the final plays of the game, and neither offense was able to capitalize.
The Phoenix Hellraisers 1 defeated BET, a co-op team of players from Los Angeles and Chicago, 14-12 in a defensive battle to win the top-tiered A-Division. BET's pass into the endzone on the last play of the game was incomplete.
BET's Chicago contingent includes Brian Walker, Brian Wilbur, Ty Law, James Platt, Mike Cunningham and Shon Anderson.
Meanwhile, the Washington Metros defeated the Michigan Panthers 35-30 for the B-Division championship after the Panthers were sacked at the 3-yard-line on their final play.
Michigan's championship game featured an 80-yard interception on a point-after-touchdown attempt, one of the two-day tournament's most exciting plays.
The tournament was, though, played with heavy hearts after a Michigan player, Jorge Lopez, died Friday, June 26. He passed out on the sidelines during a game against the New York Pieces Bulldogs and was taken from the field in an ambulance.
Lopez died of cardiac arrest leading to a massive heart failure, caused by coronary heart disease, according to the coroner, said Pride Bowl Tournament Director Chipp Collins of Chicago.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to Jorge's family, friends and teammates," Collins said. "It was a bittersweet tournament."
Still, the event featured 17 teams from 12 cities.
Phoenix quarterback Joey Jacinto was named the Pride Bowl MVP.
"Even with the tragedy, the tournament was a huge success," Collins said. "The weather was beautiful and the event was just a great way to celebrate the pride and diversity of our community."
Pride Bowl was sponsored by the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) , and officials did not discuss canceling the remaining games after Lopez' death, Collins said. "We don't think Jorge would have wanted that."
Collins confirmed that CMSA will be making a financial donation to the Lopez family and the post-event party, held at Hydrate Nightclub, featured a fundraiser for Lopez.