Oklahoma Freedom: 425.25
Texas Rattlers: 178.75
LAS VEGAS – Delivering just the second perfect game in league history, the No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders walloped the No. 2 Texas Rattlers during Round 2 of the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Championship, 425.25-178.75, to advance to the Semifinals of the progressive elimination tournament. Riding in the lead-off position for Arizona, Alisson De Souza (Taubate, Brazil) put an early 70.25 points on the board when he covered Crossover (Shuler Bucking Bulls). While Souza was offered a re-ride, Technical Coach Paulo Crimber quickly declined the opportunity, opting to keep the score.
In the bottom of the frame, the Rattlers were unable to answer, with Arizona carrying a 70.25-point lead into the second. The Ridge Riders’ momentum continued to roll as Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) covered Black Tie (Platinum Bull Company) for 88.75 points. With the team’s lead swelling to 159 points, Texas looked to Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) to deliver the squad’s first points. Answering the call, Jesus matched Harold’s Genuine Risk (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) jump-for-jump en route to the whistle, awarded a crucial 88 points. Courtesy of the score, the Rattlers pulled within 71 points of the lead. Riding in seemingly unstoppable form, Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) delivered the Ridge Riders’ third consecutive score in the top of the third when he bested Mike’s Effect (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd/High Voltage Cattle) for 89.25 points, increasing his team’s lead to 160.25 points.
Determined to remain ride-for-ride with Arizona, the Rattlers’ Rafael Jose de Brito (Potirendaba, Brazil) went to work against Tested’s Viper (Hookin’ W/LeFlore Bucking Bulls). While Brito initially appeared to have made the 8, a PBR official threw a yellow flag, sending the trip into review. After careful scrutiny, Brito was deemed to have slapped the bull at a heartbreaking 7.97 seconds, resulting in no score. Up by two scores, 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) had the chance to clinch the win early for Arizona with Texas having just two outs remaining. Erupting from the chutes, Whitehorse was a near picture of perfection atop Cold Creek (Young Cattle Co./Rocking A/Crooked Crown), reaching the whistle as the raucous crowd inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas went wild.
As the Ridge Riders celebrated, Whitehorse was awarded a monstrous 90-point score, putting Arizona up by 250.25 points and clinching the team’s victory. While the Rattlers were unable to make a comeback, in the bottom of the fourth, Brady Oleson (Blackfoot, Idaho) delivered a trip to lift the mood of the Rattlers bench, scored a mammoth 90.75 points aboard Kid Knapper (Phillips/Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls). The score allowed Texas to diminish Arizona’s lead to 159.5 points.
In the top of the fifth, the Ridge Riders completed their perfect game when Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) rode War Dress (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for 87 points. After the Rattlers’ closer Daniel Keeping (Gorman, Texas) bucked off in the bottom of the frame, the Ridge Riders won the game by 246.5 points as the final scoreboard read 425.25-178.75. Courtesy of the win, the No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders earned the second berth to the Semifinals of the first-ever PBR Team Series Championship, scheduled to play the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom on Sunday, November 5, while the Texas Rattlers returned to the locker room to prepare for the Last Chance Game.