Arizona Ridge Riders: 177.25 / Nashville Stampede: 177.25

OKLAHOMA CITY – In a league first, the Arizona Ridge Riders and the Nashville Stampede tied, with both teams registering 177.25 aggregate points on the final day of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition in Oklahoma City.

As the game got underway, both the Ridge Riders’ Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) and the Stampede’s Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) faced a familiar opponent. For Souza, he was eager to reverse his fortunes atop Kid Knapper (Phillips/Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls), the same bull that bested him earlier this season in Austin, Texas, in a heartbreaking 7.75 seconds when Arizona played Kansas City. Souza, however, failed to convert, bucked off again by Kid Knapper, this time in 1.99 seconds.

In the bottom of the first, 2018 PBR World Champion Pacheco was locked in a rubber match with Wicked Dreams (TNT Bucking Bulls). After he bucked off the bull in a close 7.37 seconds during the 2019 premier series event in Little Rock, Arkansas, he covered Wicked Dreams in their most recent meeting, scored 89 points during Round 6 of the 2022 PBR World Finals. Appearing centered as the chute gate burst open inside Paycom Center, the bull made a direction change near the end of the trip, upending Pacheco, who was called for a slap at 7.53 seconds. Believing the bull’s stumble caused the slap, Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride challenged the call. Upon review, the original ruling stood, with the out remaining a no score and leaving Nashville without a challenge for the remainder of the game.

In the top of the second, the Ridge Riders’ Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) was tasked with the unridden Fajita (Nothin’ But Try Ranch/’Diggers Bucking Bulls). Snapping the animal athlete’s four-out buckoff streak, Aparecido reached the requisite 8 to give his team an early 87-point lead. Joao Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil) was next out for the Stampede, but was no match for Happy Gambler (Sho-Me Rodeo/Austin), sent to the ground in 5.6 seconds. The Ridge Riders remained red hot in the third as Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) logged his career-first 90-point ride and Arizona’s third of the season when he dominated Canadian-born Norse God (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for a monstrous 90.25 points. Courtesy of Losnake’s ride and a Stampede buckoff in the bottom of the frame, the Ridge Riders began the fourth with a 177.25-point lead.

With just two attempts remaining for each team, Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil) had the chance to clinch the win early for Arizona by putting the team three bulls ahead should he reach the whistle. Eguchi readied to attempt Tested’s Viper (Hookin’ W/LeFlore Bucking Bulls), the very bull he rode Saturday evening for a commanding 91.5 points during the Ridge Riders’ victory against the Missouri Thunder. The 2018 PBR World Finals event winner was unable to repeat his success from the evening prior, bucked off in 2.75 seconds.

With a renewed shot at victory, Nashville needed to convert in their final two trips to remain in the hunt for the win. In the bottom of the fourth, 12-time PBR World Finals qualifier Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) rose to the occasion in front of his home-state crowd. Dirteater covered Leopold (Sho-Me Rodeo/Austin) for a crucial 89.25 points to inch the Stampede within 88 points of the lead.

In the top of the fifth, Arizona readied for the team’s second potentially game-winning out as first-round draft pick Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) climbed aboard Schott In The Dark (Broken Arrow S Ranch/Sutton Ranch). Castro was bested by the powerful bull, slung to the ground in 2.83 seconds, opening the door for Nashville to win the game in walk-off fashion. As the last man out, Stampede closer and three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) climbed atop Gangster Time (Classic Jack Cattle/Viducic Bucking Bulls). Remaining in perfect time with Gangster Time, Alves delivered a qualified ride as the crowd and his team erupted in celebration. Needing a score of 88.25 points or more for a Stampede victory, Alves was awarded 88 points, resulting in the first PBR Team Series tie, 177.25-177.25, in league history.

Following the game, the Ridge Riders and Stampede both concluded PBR Freedom Fest with a 1-1-1 record. Thus far in 2022, the Ridge Riders are now 11-7-1, while the Stampede are 5-13-1.

The PBR Team Series will next travel to Ridgedale, Missouri, for the sixth team-hosted homestand as the Missouri Thunder welcome the league for PBR Thunder Days. The event will be on Friday, September 23 at 7:45 p.m. CT, Saturday, September 24 at 6:45 p.m. CT and Sunday, September 25 at 1:45 p.m. CT.

The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Ridgedale on September 23 are:

              Austin Gamblers @ Kansas City Outlaws

              Nashville Stampede @ Oklahoma Freedom

              Texas Rattlers @ Arizona Ridge Riders

              Carolina Cowboys @ Missouri Thunder

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Oklahoma City. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule. For a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and launch of the new league, tune in to PBR Team Series: Getting the Job Done, presented by ZipRecruiter, Thursdays on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV at 8:30 p.m. ET. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.