08.07.22 - Teams
Austin Gamblers mount late-game surge, win first PBR Outlaw Days game against rival Ariat Texas Rattlers
No. 1 overall draft pick Leme rides Norse God for an event-high score as Gamblers improve to 2-3.
By Kacie Albert
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – At the first three-day, team-hosted homestand in PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition, the Arizona Ridge Riders went an undefeated 3-0 to win PBR Outlaw Days in Kansas City, Missouri.
During the opening day of competition of five-on-five bull riding games Friday night inside T-Mobile Center, the Ridge Riders defeated the host Kansas City Outlaws by one ride score, 170.5-80.25, to collect their first game win in the Show Me State.
The Ridge Riders earned their second win of the event by one qualified ride Saturday evening as they bested the Oklahoma Freedom 168.25-87.25.
As Sunday’s competition got underway, the Ridge Riders had the chance to clinch the event win early when they squared off against the Nashville Stampede. Going a torrid 4-for-5 (80%), the Ridge Riders dominated the Stampede, remaining perfect with a 311-87 victory.
Despite Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) bucking off in the Bonus Round in 4.84 seconds aboard Manaba (Joe & Nina Webb/Julian/D&H Cattle Co.), earning the squad just 3 bonus points, his team’s efforts in game play clinched the victory.
The Ridge Riders (4-1) also overtook the Missouri Thunder (4-1) for the No. 1 rank in the early 2022 PBR Team Series season standings. While each team holds a 4-1 record, the Ridge Riders surpassed the Thunder via their 9 collective bonus points, while the Thunder have just 8.
The PBR Team Series will next travel to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, for the second of two neutral-site events scheduled during the 2022 regular season. The event will be on Friday, August 12 at 7:45 p.m. PT and Saturday, August 13 at 6:45 p.m. PT.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition in California on August 12 are:
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Kansas City. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.
Austin Gamblers: 261.75
Ariat Texas Rattlers: 86
In the battle for Texas Sunday afternoon during PBR Outlaw Days, the Austin Gamblers mounted a late-game surge to capture the team’s first game win inside T-Mobile Center, beating their Lone Star State rival Ariat Texas Rattlers 261.75-86.
In the opening frame, the Gamblers were awarded a re-ride after Dakota Louis (Browning, Montana) couldn’t get out of the chutes against I’m No Angel (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls).
Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) then gave the Rattlers an early lead, converting in the team’s first out of the game when he covered Lone Survivor (Whitman Bucking Bulls/Jenkins Cattle Co.) for 86 points.
With the second frame ending in a buckoff for the Gamblers’ Alex Marcilio (Macaubal, Brazil) and the Rattlers’ Rafael Jose de Brito (Potirendaba, Brazil), the game’s momentum shifted in favor of the Gamblers in the third frame.
After Conner Halverson (Gordon, Nebraska) was awarded a re-ride for his trip with Nomad Max (Crooked Crown Bucking Bulls/Braswell Bucking Bulls), the Gamblers’ Louis reached the 8 on Safety Meeting (Hruby/Kainz/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 84.5 points to position the Gamblers within a mere 1.5 points of the lead.
With three consecutive buckoffs registered in the bottom of the third and throughout the fourth, the game came down to the final round of riders, with the Gamblers having two attempts due to Halverson’s re-ride, which would be attempted by Austin Richardson (Dallas, Texas).
First up in the frame was two-time PBR World Champion and No. 1 overall draft pick Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), who faced a rematch in Canadian-raised Norse God (Jane Clark/Gene Owen), the very bull he rode for 92.5 points to win Round 5 of the 2022 PBR World Finals.
Leme put the Gamblers in the lead for the first time by covering Norse God for a game-best 89.25 points. Richardson then had the chance to clinch the game win as he faced Cold Shot (Jeb Fredericks/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger).
Stepping up for his team, Richardson delivered the game-winning score as he converted for 88 points. With JC Mortensen (Chino Valley, Arizona) bucking off in a close 7.21 seconds in the final out, the Gamblers (2-3) won their first game of PBR Outlaw Days, 261.75-86, against their in-state rival Ariat Texas Rattlers (1-4).
Photo Courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media