Carolina Cowboys Defend No. 1 Rank, Defeat Hometown Thunder
By: Rachel Tighe
Carolina Cowboys: 264.5 / Missouri Thunder: 88.75
RIDGEDALE, Mo. – As the opening night of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series’ Thunder Days in Ridgedale, Missouri came to a close, the No. 1 Carolina Cowboys rode three bulls to beat the hometown Missouri Thunder 264.5-88.75.
The Carolina Cowboys led off the game with Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) first out of the chutes. As 1 of the 2 riders of the league with outs in all games, Taylor did not disappoint, putting up 88.5 points on Theodore (Lari Crane/Gene Owen) to give the Cowboys an early lead.
With first-round draft pick Colten Fritzlan (Rifle, Colorado) injured in Oklahoma City, the Thunder looked to Adriano Salgado (Batatais, Brazil) to help lead the team. Salgado, who had covered seven of his past nine bulls, knocked down a big ride on the Willis (OG Cattle Co) for 88.75 points, putting his team in the lead
In the beginning of the second frame, Cowboys’ Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) faced War Dress (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) but was quickly bucked off at 5.46 seconds. With Head Coach Jerome Davis’ approval, the challenger button was hit for an official review but it was ruled no foul and no score for Silva.
Lined up and looking for his first qualified ride this season, Leandro Machado (Nova Esperanca, Brazil) came out of the chutes aboard Chief (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd) but was no match to the bull, brought down in 4.68 seconds.
A quarter of a point behind, the Cowboys entered the third frame with Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas), covering Big Sugar (OG Cattle Co) for 88.75 points.
With pressure building for the hometown team, the Thunder put Alvaro Alvarez Aguilar (La Punta Lagos Moreno Jal, Mexico) in an important position to put his team back in the lead. Aguilar was no match to War Cry (Broken Arrow S Ranch/Sutton Ranch), who sent the cowboy to the ground in a quick 6.48 seconds.
After the cowboys of both teams were blanked in the fourth frame, Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) settled aboard Big Deal (Universal Pro Rodeo) to seal the deal for the Cowboys with an additional 87.25 points, clinching the win.
With the game decided, the Thunder’s final effort was made by Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas), but he was bucked off God Bless America (Hoefer/Berryman/Ogden) in 1.95 seconds.
The Carolina Cowboys remain No. 1 this season at 13-7 and will seek to earn their second win of the weekend when they take on the Arizona Ridge Riders (11-8).
The Missouri Thunder are now 10-10 and will play the Nashville Stampede (5-14) on the second night of PBR Team Series Thunder Days.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
© 2022 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.