LAS VEGAS – The opening night of competition for the 2023 PBR (Professional Bul Riders) Camping World Teams Championship kept fans on the edge of their seats inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, as the No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders and No. 4 Oklahoma Freedom rode to walk-off wins, advancing to the second round of the tournament outright alongside the No. 3 Texas Rattlers, while the No. 8 Missouri Thunder stunned in the first Last Chance Game to keep their title hopes alive.

The second iteration of the league’s progressive elimination tournament began with back-to-back games won in walk-off fashion.

Competition inside T-Mobile Arena began with a showdown between the regular-season No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders and No. 6 Carolina Cowboys.

The game began in electric fashion as both teams converted in the first, with 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis successful for Carolina and Chase Dougherty making the whistle for Arizona, giving the Cowboys a slim 5.75-point lead entering the second. Arizona took the lead in the bottom of the second by 79.75 points as Eduardo Aparecido logged his fifth qualified ride in as many attempts in the postseason on the spurs of a Josh Frost buckoff for Carolina.

In the third, 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen made a triumphant return, posting a game-best 88.75-point ride to give Carolina back the lead by 9 points. Their lead, however, was erased in the bottom of the fourth by Luciano de Castro, setting up a must-ride situation for Carolina in the top of the fifth. Seven-time PRCA champion Sage Steele Kimzey delivered under pressure for the Cowboys, making the 8 aboard Black Ice to give his team back a 10-point lead and force Arizona into a must-ride position. Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, Ridge Riders closer Keyshawn Whitehorse delivered his team the walk-off win by 78.5 points as he dominated Twisted Feather, with the final scoreboard reading an Arizona win, 344-265.5.

“The team put all of us in a position to win, and my job was to finish it,” Whitehorse said.

Via the win the Ridge Riders advanced to the second round of the tournament on Saturday, Oct. 22 where they will play the No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws, while the Carolina Cowboys took the first slot in the night’s last chance game.

The thrilling competition then continued in the second game as the No. 4 Oklahoma Freedom faced off against the No. 7 and league’s reigning Champion Nashville Stampede in a familiar post season showdown. The two teams had also squared off in the opening round of the 2022 PBR Teams Championship. In the most hotly contested game of the night, with the lead changing six times, the Freedom won the game in walk-off form by a slim 0.5 points with the final scoreboard reading 262-261.5.

After Alan de Souza gave Nashville an 85.75-point lead in the top of the first, Oklahoma overtook the lead by 2.5 points in the bottom of the frame as Elizmar Jeremias covered Fierce’s Dirt Nap for 88.25 points. Following a scoreless second, Ednelio Almeida returned Nashville to the top of the leaderboard by 85 points as he teamed with Midnight Magic for an 87.5-point ride. The game lead then changed hands for the fourth time in the bottom of the fourth, as Salgado put Oklahoma out front by 2.5 points compliments of an 87.5-point ride aboard July.

The score then forced a must-ride situation for Nashville in the top of the fifth. In the high-pressure situation was three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves tasked with Falcon Eddie by Nashville’s Head Coach Justin McBride.  A poised Alves reached the 8 with ease, awarded 88.25 points to give Nashville an 85.75-point lead.

The game then came down to Oklahoma’s closer Caden Bunch atop Spooky. Unphased, Bunch nodded with confidence, converting for his team when it mattered most. Marked a crucial 86.25 points, Bunch’s 8-second effort was enough to deliver Oklahoma the walk-off win.

Oklahoma advanced to the second night of the tournament, while the Nashville Stampede turned to the first last chance game to keep their hopes of a back-to-back championship alive.

The final head-to-head game featured the No. 3 Texas Rattlers against the No. 8 Missouri Thunder. Riding to the game lead in the bottom of the first courtesy of a game-best score from Joao Ricardo Viera, Texas never looked back, clinching the game win early, and ultimately defeating Missouri by one ride score, 174-84.5.

The victory, Texas’ fourth consecutive in league play, punched their ticket to the next round of the Teams Championship, where they will play the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom, while the loss sent Missouri to the first Last Chance Game.

With just a short window to reset, the Missouri Thunder quickly returned to the arena as they faced off against the No. 6 Carolina Cowboys and No. 7 Nashville Stampede in the tournament’s first Last Chance Game.

While the three-way showdown came down to the final outs, it was early scores from Missouri’s Furlan and Kade Madsen which proved enough to carry them to victory, ultimately upsetting both Carolina and Nashville by one ride score and eliminating them from the season-ending event.

Courtesy of the crucial win, the No. 8 Missouri Thunder kept their title hopes alive, next set to take on the No. 1 Austin Gamblers in a David vs. Goliath showdown.

The 2022 PBR Team Series Championship continues Saturday, October 21 at 7:45 p.m. PT when the following teams will face off:

No. 1 Austin Gamblers vs. No. 8 Missouri Thunder No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws vs. No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders No. 3 Texas Rattlers vs. No. 4 Oklahoma Freedom Second Last Chance Game (Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser vs. Game 3 Loser)

SCORE BULLETINS

Arizona Ridge Riders Defeat Carolina Cowboys in Walk-Off Form to Advance to the Second Round of the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship

Arizona Ridge Riders: 344 Carolina Cowboys: 265.5

As the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Championship got underway Friday night in Las Vegas, the regular-season No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders delivered a thrilling walk-off win against the No. 6 Carolina Cowboys, defeating them by 78.5 points to advance to the second round of the progressive elimination tournament.

The Carolina Cowboys began the game in commanding form. Opener Cooper Davis (Buna, Texas) remained in perfect time with Caesar (Jenkins Cattle Co.) matching him jump-for-jump, including a mid-out direction change, en route to the requisite 8 to give Carolina an early 88.5-point lead.

In the bottom of the frame, the Arizona Ridge Riders turned to Chase Dougherty (Decatur, Texas) atop Bandito Bug (Chris Utz/Carey Brothers/Mike Chaney/Blake Sharp) to put them on the board in the first. While Dougherty delivered a score, his 82.75-point effort was not enough to put Arizona out front, with Carolina carrying a 5.75-point lead into the second.

In the top of the second, Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah) initially appeared centered atop Nefarious (Viducic Bucking Bulls/Jess Lockwood), but was unable to extend Carolina’s lead, sent airborne in a close 7.2 seconds. The buckoff opened the door for Arizona to overtake the lead in the bottom of the second.

After a brief struggle in the chutes, Eduardo Aparecido (Itatinga, Brazil) nodded with confidence atop JAG Metals Hard Way (Paige Stout Bucking Bulls/Philip Elkins), making the 8 with ease and snapping the bull’s 18-0 unridden streak. Awarded 85.5 points, Arizona surged to a 79.75-point lead ahead of the third frame. The ride was the fifth for Aparecido in as many attempts at all iterations of the PBR Teams Championship, as he continues to be one of the team’s top performers in the postseason.

In the top of the third, 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) looked to reverse Carolina’s momentum, matched with Lights Out (Hawkins Bucking Bulls/Premier Ag) by Carolina’s Head Coach Jerome Davis. The out marked Swearingen’s return to the lineup having been plagued with injury during the regular season which sidelined him for 20 games. Dialed in, Swearingen dominated his animal athlete opponent, marked 88.785 points.

The qualified ride put Carolina back ahead by 9 points as Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) settled in atop the unridden Mahan (Jane Clark/Gene Owen). Losnake, however, was unable to snap the bull’s buckoff streak, brought down in 5.77 seconds. In the top of the fourth, Carolina’s Head Coach Davis used his challenge after Trevor Kastner (Ardmore, Oklahoma) was called for a buckoff aboard UTZ BesTex Smokestack (Blake Sharp/Chris Utz/Carey Brothers) believing the bull fouled himself. Upon review by PBR’s officials, they discovered no foul, keeping the no score in place and leaving Carolina without a challenge for the remainder of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) rose to the occasion for Arizona, in his rematch with Bubba G (Dakota Rodeo/Brian & Ashley Pintar/Clay Struve/Chad Berger). Castro may have bucked off the bull at the season-launch event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, but on Friday night inside T-Mobile Arena he reached the whistle, scored 87.25 points to give Arizona back the lead by 78.25 points.

In the top of the fifth, seven-time PRCA champion Sage Steele Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma) was in a must-ride situation for Carolina as the team’s final rider to nod his head. Delivering under the bright lights in Sin City, Kimzey delivered a near picture-perfect ride aboard Black Ice (BMC Bucking Bulls/Jenkins Cattle Co.), awarded 88.25 points to put Carolina back in the lead by 10 points.

The game then came down to Arizona’s closer Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) tasked with Twisted Feather (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd/Cain Kobert). Erupting from the chutes, Whitehorse appeared to have reached the requisite 8 as his team celebrated atop the bucking chutes, however the team’s challenge flag quickly was thrown with the in-arena clock having stopped prior to 8 seconds for an apparent slap. Upon review, PBR’s officials found no slap, awarding Whitehorse an 88.5-point score and delivering Arizona the walk-off win in the first round of the post season tournament.

When the dust settled the final scoreboard read a 78.5-point Ridge Rider victory, 344-265.5. Via the win, the Arizona Ridge Riders will take on the No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws when the PBR Teams Championship continues Saturday, October 21, while the loss sent the Carolina Cowboys to the first last chance game to keep their hopes of a team title alive.

Oklahoma Freedom Narrowly Beat the League’s Reigning Champion Nashville Stampede by 0.5 Points in Walk-Off Fashion to Remain in the Hunt for the 2023 PBR Teams Championship

Oklahoma Freedom: 262 Nashville Stampede: 261.5

The regular-season No. 4 Oklahoma Freedom avenged a post-season loss from 2022 season Friday night in Las Vegas, defeating the reigning PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams Champion and No. 7 Nashville Stampede by a slim 0.5 points in walk-off fashion to punch their ticket to the second round of the Camping World Teams Championship.

In one of the night’s most fiercely contended games, the lead changed six times before Oklahoma walked away the victor. Less than 24 hours after being crowned the 2023 PBR Challenger Series Champion, Alan de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) continued his momentum in the leadoff role for the league’s reigning Champions. After being put on the clock, Souza nodded, and despite several direction changes by Sneaky Situation (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Lacey Scott/Lucky Blue Crab Bucking Bulls), he gritted to the whistle, putting the Stampede out front by 85.75 points.

Oklahoma, however, was quick to respond. In the bottom of the first, Elizmar Jeremias (Anapu, Brazil) gave the Freedom a 2.5-point lead as he converted aboard Fierce’s Dirt Nap (Blake Sharp/UB Bucking Co./Fierce Firearms) for 88.25 points.

As the second got underway, Nashville was unable to continue the team’s Las Vegas magic as young gun Kaiden Loud (Kaufman, Texas) was hurtled to the ground in 3.77 seconds by Washita Red (Eldred Cattle). Oklahoma also stumbled in the second frame as Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil) proved no match for Bootlegger (Flinn Cattle Co.), whipped down in 2.24 seconds.

Nashville then righted their momentum in the top of the third. Ednelio Almeida (Cacoal, Brazil) covered Midnight Magic (Richard & Teri Braun/Jenkins Cattle) for 87.5 points to put Nashville back out front by 85 points. Oklahoma failed to respond in the bottom of the third as Trevor Reiste (Linden, Iowa) was sent airborne in 3.17 seconds by YETI World Champion Bull contender Man Hater (Jane Clark/Gene Owen).

In the fourth, Adilson Junior (Salto de Pirapora, Brazil) prepared for just his second out on American soil as the fourth man out in Nashville’s line-up, but the promising Brazilian didn’t deliver for his team as he was bucked off in 2 seconds by Preachers Kid (K-C Bucking Bulls/RD Cattle).

The lead then changed for the fourth time in the bottom of the penultimate round of outs. Riding against his former team, Thiago Salgado (Naviraí, Brazil) converted when it mattered most for Oklahoma. Riding July (Leffew Bucking Bulls) for 87.5 points, Salgado put Oklahoma back out front by 2.5 points.

In the top of the fifth, Stampede closer and three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) faced a must-ride position aboard Falcon Eddie (Lari Crane/Gene Owen). Nodding with confidence, Alves erupted into the arena as the electric crowd supported him with boisterous cheer. Reaching the whistle, Alves kept his team’s hopes of a game win alive, marked a game-best 88.25 points to give Nashville back an 85.75-point lead.

The five-on-five showdown then came down to Oklahoma’s closer Caden Bunch (Tahlequah, Oklahoma) aboard Spooky (Blake Sharp). Undeterred by the bright lights of Las Vegas, 20-year-old Bunch matched the bovine athlete jump-for-jump en route to the 8-second whistle.

Needing a score of 86 points or more, Bunch delivered his team the walk-off win by 0.5 points, marked 86.25 points by PBR’s officials, as the final scoreboard read 262-261.5.

Via the win, Oklahoma advanced to the second round of the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship on Saturday, Oct. 21 when they will play the No. 3 Texas Rattlers, while the reigning Champion Nashville Stampede readied to play in their first last chance game.

Texas Rattlers Defeat the Missouri Thunder by One Ride Score to Advance to the Second Round of the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship in Las Vegas

Texas Rattlers: 174 Missouri Thunder: 84.5

The regular-season No. 3 Texas Rattlers continued to ride red-hot Friday evening in Las Vegas, recording their fourth consecutive game win and advancing to the second round of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Championship when they beat the No. 8 Missouri Thunder by one ride score, 174-84.5.

As the game got underway, young gun Kade Madsen (Honeyville, Utah) was in the lead-off role for Missouri, while veteran Joao Ricardo Viera (Itatinga, Brazil) was out first for Texas. Madsen stumbled in the Thunder’s first out, tossed in 2.5 seconds by powerhouse bovine Buckeye Nation (K-C Bucking Bulls/TCB Ranch). Meantime, Texas began their outing in Las Vegas with a bang. Vieira proved to be a perfect match with Mr. Excavator (Cornwell Bucking Bulls/PCP Bucking Bulls), reaching the requisite 8 with ease to give the Rattlers an early 89.5-point lead.

Missouri continued to struggle in the top of the second as Eduardo Matos (Emilianópolis, Brazil) was routed in 4.86 seconds by Jasper (Hawkins Bucking Bulls). The Rattlers continued to ride red hot in the bottom of the frame. Brady Oleson (Blackfoot, Idaho) recorded his fourth consecutive qualified ride in league competition, marked 84.5 points atop Taylor’s Cowtown Throwdown (Farris Cattle/Big Schott Rodeo/Triple T Livestock) to grow Texas’ lead to 174 points.

Missouri remained scoreless in the third as Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) was sent airborne in 5.19 seconds by I’m Your Daddy (Cooper/ Scruggs Bucking Bulls). With Missouri having just two outs remaining, Texas had the chance to clinch the game win early in the bottom of the third should they convert and pull ahead by three ride scores. In the potentially game-winning out was Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) atop Knucklehead (K-C Bucking Bulls/TCB Ranch).

Jesus, however, was brought down in an uncharacteristic 3.85 seconds, keeping the Thunder’s hopes of victory alive. In the very next out, Missouri faced a must-ride position as Aussie Qynn Andersen (Koumala, Queensland, Australia) settled in atop Carlos Danger (Farris Cattle/Big Schott Rodeo). After being put on the clock, Andersen nodded with just 3 seconds remaining, but he proved no match for his bovine counterpart throttled to the ground in 4.42 seconds.

The buckoff cemented the game win for Texas, punching their ticket to the second round of the PBR Camping World Teams Championship. With the game win in hand, Braidy Randolph (Stephenville, Texas) failed to add to Texas’ lead after bucking off the unridden Younts Brody’s Pet (Farris Cattle/Big Schott Rodeo) in 4.33 seconds, stepped on in the process.

In the fifth, Missouri subbed out Briggs Madsen (Tremonton, Utah) for Felipe Furlan (Sales Oliveira, Brazil) as they looked to avoid a shutout. After struggling in the chutes with Rank Frank (Jenkins Cattle Co.), Furlan called for the gate. Remaining in perfect time with his bovine athlete counterpart, Furlan made the needed 8 for 84.5 points.

While the score lessened Texas’ lead to 89.5 points it was not enough to undo Missouri’s loss. The game then concluded with the Rattlers’ Daniel Keeping (Montague, Texas) called for a slap at the 2.04-second mark atop No Doubt (Richard & Teri Braun/Jenkins Cattle).

At game’s end, the Rattlers beat the Thunder by 89.5 points, 174-84.5. They advance to the second round of the PBR Teams Championship when they will take on the No. 4 Oklahoma Freedom. Via the loss, the Missouri Thunder quickly looked to reverse their momentum as they concluded the night in the first last chance game.

No. 8 Missouri Thunder Upset No. 6 Carolina Cowboys and No. 7 Nashville Stampede in Last Chance Game to Remain in the Hunt for the 2023 PBR Teams Championship

Carolina Cowboys: 89 Nashville Stampede: 89.75 Missouri Thunder: 171.25

In the first Last Chance Game of the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Championship, the league’s regular-season No. 8 Missouri Thunder rode to a stunning win, knocking off the No. 6 Carolina Cowboys and No. 7 Nashville Stampede to remain in the hunt for the season’s championship.

The opening Last Chance Game featured the losing teams from the three prior games. As the top scoring team in the aggregate, Carolina earned the first pick of the pens, followed by Nashville earning the second selection and Missouri the third.

Via their game performances, Missouri would lead-off each frame, followed by Nashville then Carolina. The scoreboard went unchanged through the first frame of the three-way game as Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) was unable to convert for Missouri, Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) was upended for Nashville and Sage Steel Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma) stumbled for Carolina.

While no team may have scored, Nashville lost their challenge. Head Coach McBride used his challenge to send Alves’ out to review, but the no call score remained in place. In the second Missouri became the first team to put points on the board as Felipe Furlan (Sales Oliveira, Brazil) topped Fastfire (Glover Cattle/D&H Cattle Co.) for 84.5 points. While Nashville was unable to match the score, with Alan de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) tossed in 6.85 seconds by Ridin’ Salty (Drink LMNT/McCoy Rodeo), Carolina was awarded a re-ride when Sonny B (Less than 8 Cattle/Jane Clark/Riley Samford) fouled himself during his trip with Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York).

In the top of the third, Missouri’s momentum continued to roll despite a dramatic review. As the middle round of outs began Thunder coaches Ross Coleman and Luke Snyder tasked Kade Madsen (Honeyville, Utah) with Chiseled (Flinn/D&H Cattle Co.). While Madsen was initially called for a slap just past 3 seconds, the Thunder quickly threw the team’s challenge flag. Upon review, Madsen was deemed to have not slapped his bovine athlete opponent, awarded a crucial 84.5 points to increase Missouri’s lead to 171.25 points. In the very next out, Nashville made their presence known, inching within 81.5 points of Missouri as young gun Kaiden Loud (Kaufman, Texas) rode Ivy League (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for 89.75 points.

The round of outs concluded with Carolina earning their second consecutive re-ride as HomeBru (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) fouled himself during his trip with Cooper Davis (Buna, Texas). Via the results of the first three frames, the buck order shifted, with Carolina moving into the lead-off position. Undeterred by being bumped up in the order, Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah) delivered Carolina the team’s first score, covering I’m Him (Leffew Bucking Bulls/Meza) for 89 points.

The 8-second effort pulled Carolina within 0.75 points of Nashville, and 82.25 points of game leader Missouri. Following the Carolina conversion, the scoreboard went unchanged throughout the remainder of the fourth, as Qynn Andersen (Koumala, Queensland, Australia) was bucked off for Missouri, and Ednelio Almedia (Cacoal, Brazil) was tossed for Nashville.

Before the fifth got underway, Carolina attempted their first of two re-rides, with Swearingen climbing aboard Whiplash (Blake Sharp/Floyd Lowry/CB & Traci Lee). The 2022 World Champion, however, couldn’t get past his animal athlete counterpart, tossed in 3.23 seconds, failing to extend Carolina’s lead. Carolina then attempted their second consecutive out as the fifth began as Cladson Rodolfo (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) settled in aboard Shivers (D&H Cattle Co./Flinn).

While Rodlofo was tossed past the 7-second mark, Carolina Head Coach Jerome Davis threw the challenge flag. However, upon review, the no-score call remained in place, with Rodolfo deemed to have bucked off at the 7.42-second mark.

Following the out, each team had one out remaining, setting up the chance for Missouri to clinch the Last Chance Game win early. In the potential victory-cementing out was Briggs Madsen (Tremonton, Utah) on Whiskey Trip (Lari Crane/Gene Owen). Madsen erupted from the chutes, and while he initially appeared centered, was upended in 4.99 seconds keeping both Nashville’s and Carolina’s hopes of victory alive.

Nashville’s final out of the game featured Mason Moody (Letcher, South Dakota) atop Canadian-born Norse God (Jane Clark/Gene Owen). Moody, however, couldn’t get by the fast-spinning animal athlete, hitting the ground in 4.52 seconds, eliminating the Stampede from the tournament and dashing their hopes of a second come-from-behind Championship.

The game then came down to Carolina’s second re-ride, with Trey Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma) called up from the bench to attempt Manaba (Joe & Nina Webb/Julian/D&H Cattle Co.). Despite being fresh, Kimzey could not get past the bull, bested in 4.74 seconds, cementing the win for Missouri and eliminating Carolina from the tournament.

The final scoreboard read a Missouri win, 171.25-89.75-89. The No. 8 Thunder advanced to the second round of the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship when they will take on the No. 1 Austin Gamblers, while the Carolina Cowboys and Nashville Stampede had their season come to an end.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media