Ridge Riders Retake No. 2 Spot, Defeat Top-Ranked Carolina Cowboys
By: Rachel Tighe
Arizona Ridge Riders: 265 / Carolina Cowboys: 0
RIDGEDALE, Mo. – As the games concluded Saturday night at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Thunder Days in Ridgedale, Missouri, the Arizona Ridge Riders rode three bulls to beat the scoreless Carolina Cowboys 265-0, avenging two previous losses this season to the Cowboys.
As the final game of the night got underway, Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) led off for the Cowboys, but was bucked off Contusion (Sho-Me Rodeo) in 4.49 seconds.
In the Ridge Riders’ first out, Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil) gave it his all, but the Brazilian was no match to the bull power of Malaki (Jenkins Cattle Co/CIL Cattle), brought down in 3.42 seconds.
Matched with Wolf Pack (New Frontier Rodeo), Wingson Henrique Da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) looked to show up for the Cowboys. With a lot of movement inside the chute and eyes on the chute clock, Silva gave the nod, but was bucked off in 5.42 seconds.
At the bottom of the second frame, Ridge Riders’ Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) seized the opportunity to get the first ride of the game, putting his team on the board with an 89-point ride on Black As Coal (K-C Bucking Bulls/Bull Creek Bucking Bulls).
Entering the third frame, the Cowboys could feel the pressure as Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas) was flipped off Hostage (Hale/Wood/Ogden) in 4.45 seconds.
With the Ridge Riders already in the lead and the game meeting the halfway point, recent addition Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) rode for a perfect 91 points with bovine athlete Next Strand (Young Cattle/Jack and Dot Verbois/D&H Cattle Co.), putting Arizona up 180-0.
Up next for the Cowboys in the fourth was Lane Nobles (West, Texas), in a must-ride situation. Nobles was unable to convert, bucked off Hog Wild (Ogden Ranch) in 2.4 seconds, and the Ridge Riders clinched the win with two qualified rides.
Ridge Riders’ Chase Dougherty (Decatur, Texas) found himself in a position to earn additional points, but was not able to reach the 8.
As the last out for the Cowboys, Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) attempted to get one ride on the board but found to be unsuccessful.
Taylor noticed that the bull may have hipped himself, and was quick to press the challenge button for his teammate for official review. After careful inspection, it was ruled a re-ride.
Meanwhile, Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) furthered the Ridge Riders’ lead by 85 points on Sicker Sam (New Frontier Rodeo). The Cowboys’ Davis decided to pass on the opportunity to ride Big Black (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb) to Leonardo Lima (Vale do Paraiso, Brazil), but he was unable to get one ride for the team, bucked off in 2.76 seconds.
With the game decided, the Ridge Riders reclaimed the No. 2 spot following the Oklahoma Freedom’s loss and their victory over the Carolina Cowboys.
The Carolina Cowboys remain No. 1 this season at 13-8 and will play the Austin Gamblers (11-10) Sunday.
The Arizona Ridge Riders are now 12-8-1 and will play the Kansas City Outlaws (8-13) on the third night of PBR Team Series Thunder Days.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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