Missouri Thunder: 262.5 / Carolina Cowboys: 87.25

GLENDALE, Ariz. – With critical championship implications on the line, the No. 6 Missouri Thunder rode three bulls to overcome the No. 3 Carolina Cowboys Saturday night at the final regular-season event of the inaugural PBR Team Series season.

Missouri overcame Carolina, 262.5-87.25, to improve to 13-14 on the season.

After a scoreless first frame, Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas), who had been bucked off five straight bulls, was the first to strike in the top of the second, putting 87.25 points on the board for Carolina aboard Black Tie (Platinum Bull Company). Answering back, Missouri’s Alvaro Alvarez Aguilar (La Punta Lago Moreno, Mexico) sailed from the chutes aboard Coach K (4B Bucking Bulls) as Thunder coach Ross Coleman reached full volume cheering him on. The 86.5-point score wasn’t enough to take the lead but put Missouri even with one bull on the board.

In the top of the third, Wingson Da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) attempted Omaha Beach (Ty Rinaldo TZ Bucking Bulls) for the Cowboys to no avail. Luke Parkinson (Denman New South Wales, Australia) conquered his bovine opponent but was offered a re-ride after his 77.5-point score came back. After a hurried conversation, the Thunder coaching staff accepted the re-ride, and Parkinson was set to pair with WSM’s Nasty Wishes (WSM Auctioneers/ Clay Struve/ Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) later in the game.

Paired with the animal athlete pick of the pen, 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) hit the ground to the shock of the crowd after a mere 3.52 seconds aboard Born to Sin (Logan Clancey/ Dakota Rodeo/ Chad Berger) in the top of the fourth. Leandro Machado (Nova Esperanca, Brazil) shifted the lead back to Missouri’s favor when he bested Papercut (Mann Creek Buck N’ Bulls) for 86.75 points, sitting at a 173.25-87.25 Thunder lead.

In the top of the fifth frame, all eyes on the Carolina team turned toward 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) as he tried to put a second score on the board in a must-ride situation. He came in hot, having successfully ridden five out of his last seven bulls. However, Bullet Train (People’s Cattle) launched Swearingen before the whistle for a 45.25-point bull score. By virtue of the buckoff, Missouri clinched the game win.

Missouri’s usual closer, Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas), then climbed aboard his opponent, The Punisher, (Jeb Fredericks/ Dakota Rodeo/ Chad Berger) for the high score of the game at 89.25 points.

Despite his best try to conquer WSM’s Nasty Wishes, Parkinson’s re-ride was not successful, and he came down after just 6.64 seconds. Although he didn’t make the 8, the Thunder beat the Cowboys 262.5-87.25.

The Missouri Thunder snapped a three-game losing streak and moved to 13-14 this season. Missouri will seek its second game victory at PBR Ridge Rider Days on Sunday, Oct. 16, when it faces the Texas Rattlers (2-0 | 15-12). The Carolina Cowboys moved to 14-13 on the season and will look to rebound during the third round of games when they play the Nashville Stampede (2-0 | 7-19-1).

PBR’s Ridge Rider Days continues Sunday, October 16 at 1:45 p.m. MST. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Glendale. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.