09.28.24 - Teams
Texas Rattlers beat Nashville Stampede to complete homestand sweep, clinch postseason berth
PBR Teams: Rattler Days becomes first Camping World Team Series event to sell-out all three nights of game play.
By Kacie Albert
With one event remaining in the regular season, the Rattlers clinched a Championship Weekend berth in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas by locking into the Top 6.
PBR Rattler Days also marked the first-ever PBR Teams event in league history to sell-out all three days of game play.
The Rattlers took the game lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back. The pivotal score was an 87.5-point ride from Brady Fielder on Wingman. Fielder, who was 5-for-6 on the weekend, grew his lead in the 2024 PBR Teams MVP race to 109.5 points ahead of No. 2 John Crimber.
Texas secured the game win early after Nashville failed to make the 8 in any of their five outs. Rattlers’ Joao Ricardo Vieira then punctuated the game win with a ride to remember, dominating Haymaker for 88 points.
Texas earned their first victory against Nashville this season in three games, beating the Stampede 175.5.
The Rattlers’ perfect 3-0 weekend allowed them to improve to 15-11 this season, remaining No. 4 in the league. Nashville concluded their time in Fort Worth 0-3, falling to 11-15 this season to slide from No. 6 to No. 7 in the league, now outside the playoff cutline.
Saturday night’s event also featured two thrilling upset wins by the Austin Gamblers and Oklahoma Wildcatters.
The Austin Gamblers logged a dominant, 253.75-point upset win against the league No. 1 Carolina Cowboys, 340.25-86.5.
The Gamblers went a torrid 4-for-5 during the game, propelled to victory courtesy of scores from Kaique Pacheco, Lucas Divino, Ramon de Lima and Jose Vitor Leme. Carolina’s lone score came in the opening frame from 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis.
Austin beat Carolina for the first time this season in four games. They concluded PBR Rattler Days 1-1, now 13-13 this season, to maintain the league No. 5 rank. The Cowboys fell to 1-1 at the event and 17-7-1 across 2024, retaining the No. 1 rank in the league.
The then No. 9 Oklahoma Wildcatters knocked off the No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws by 89.25 points, 175-85.75. The win marked Oklahoma’s second of the season against Kansas City as they improved to 2-1 in the 2024 season.
Oklahoma took control of the game in the top of the first and never looked back. Courtesy of consecutive scores from Eduardo Matos and Bob Mitchell in the first two frames, coupled with Outlaw buckoffs by Sandro Batista and Maikon Calixton Rocha, the J.B. Mauney-led Wildcatters surged to a quick 175-point lead ahead of the third.
In the third, Oklahoma earned a re-ride, after Clay Guiton was unable to leave the chutes on Levy, but Kansas City continued to falter as Koltin Hevalow was bucked off by Ridin’ Salty in 3.64 seconds.
Oklahoma then suffered two buckoffs in the fourth from Wingson Henrique da Silva and closer Cort McFadden, who moved up in the order due to the re-ride. Needing a score, Julio Cesar Marques converted when Kansas City needed it most, keeping their hopes of victory alive in the bottom of the fourth as he rode Cold Creek for 85.75 points.
For the third time in the showdown, Oklahoma had the chance to clinch the win early, but Guiton could not get past re-ride draw Snuggles, hitting the ground at 7.6 seconds. Kansas City then had the chance to win the game in walk-off form, with their fate resting in the hands of their closer and 2024 PBR World Champion Cassio Dias who less than 24 hours prior made PBR history, logging the second highest-marked ride in the organization’s more than 30-year history on Man Hater for a monstrous 98.25 points.
Dias, however, was bucked off in an uncharacteristic 5.7 seconds by Lever Action, delivering Oklahoma the upset win, 175-85.75.
Oklahoma improved to 1-1 at PBR Rattler Days and 10-15-1 this season, remaining No. 8 in the league following the three nights of action. Kansas City, fell to 1-2 at the event and 17-9 this season, but they remain ranked No. 2 rank in PBR Teams.
The opening game of Saturday night’s PBR Rattler Days between the Florida Freedom and Missouri Thunder had numerous playoff implications. With a 2.75-point win against Missouri, 265.25-262.5, Florida clinched a spot inside the coveted Top 6, preventing the team from having to compete in the league’s Ride-in-Round on Oct .17 in Las Vegas at South Point Hotel and Casino. Florida’s win also gave the host Texas Rattlers a direct berth to ride at the 2024 PBR Teams Championship getting underway Oct. 18 at nearby T-Mobile Arena in Sin City.
Florida took control of the game early, jumping to an 88.5-point lead in the top of the first as Alex Cerqueira covered Always Been Crazy. Missouri, however, responded in the next out, inching within 1 point of tying the game lead as Paulo Eduardo Rossetto went the distance on Hay Ring for 87.5 points. The Freedom’s momentum continued to roll on as they grew their lead to a game-best 89.75 points in the top of the second courtesy of an 8.75-point ride from Joao Lucas Campos aboard Buckshot. Missouri then became the first team to stumble in the bottom of the second as Boudreaux Campbell was launched in 3.31 seconds by Fire Zone.
Following Florida’s first buckoff of the game in the top of the third, Missouri rebounded in the bottom of the frame, crawling within 0.75 points of tying the game as Andrew Alvidrez went the distance on Exodus for a game-best 89 points.
The Freedom responded in the top of the fourth, when Elizmar Jeremias put the team back ahead by a full ride score in making the whistle on Blue Suede Shoes for 88 points. Missouri didn’t grow their aggregate score in the bottom of the frame, but did earn a re-ride after Desert Twister fouled himself during his trip with Briggs Madsen.
Florida had the chance to amplify the pressure on Missouri in the top of the fifth, forcing the team into two must-ride situations, but their closer John Crimber uncharacteristically bucked off, tossed by Ridgeway in 3.25 seconds. Missouri then had two chances to win the game in come-from-behind form. First out was Felipe Furlan aboard Rock ‘n Roll, but he was tossed in a close 7.17 seconds. Grayson Cole then took on the team’s re-ride draw Feeds Red River, and while he didn’t make the 8, he earned the team’s second re-ride. The showdown then came down to Dawson Gleaves on Rafter P Construction’s Smooth Over It. While Gleaves made the 8, his 86-point score was not enough to walk off the win for Missouri.
Courtesy of the 265.25-262.5 victory, Florida improved to a perfect 3-0 against Missouri in 2024. They concluded PBR Rattler Days 1-1, now 15-10 this season, remaining No. 3 in the league. The Thunder went 1-1 in the Metroplex, now holding a 11-15 season record. After travelling to Texas No. 7 in PBR Teams, they rose one spot to No. 6.
Saturday night of PBR Rattler Days concluded with the Shootout Round featuring one rider from each of the evening’s winning teams. Giving the hometown fans a night to remember, the Rattlers’ Fielder won the special round with a monstrous 91.75-point ride on Magic Hunter, completing a 5-for-6 weekend. The Freedom’s Crimber finished second in the Shootout Round, covering Tulsa Time for 89.75 points. Fielder now leads No. 2 Crimber by 111.5 points in the 2024 PBR Teams MVP race.
On-demand replays of all the PBR Teams action will be available the following day on the Merit+ app. RidePass on Pluto TV will also air Teams replays five days later. Viewers can watch on the Merit+ app or go to https://www.meritstreetmedia.com/channel-finder to find the Merit Street Media cable channel in their area.
The PBR Camping World Team Series next travels to Glendale, Arizona, for Ridge Rider Days, the league’s regular-season finale. The event will begin on Friday, October 4, at 6:45 p.m. MST, Saturday, October 5 at 5:45 p.m. MST, and Sunday, October 6, at 11:45 a.m. MST.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Glendale on October 4 are:
Nashville Stampede vs. Missouri ThunderOklahoma Wildcatters vs. Austin Gamblers
Carolina Cowboys vs. Florida Freedom
New York Mavericks vs. Arizona Ridge Riders
Note: The Kansas City Outlaws and Texas Rattlers will have byes on the first night of competition in Glendale.
SCORE BULLETINS
Florida Freedom Outlast the Missouri Thunder on Final Night of PBR Teams Competition in Fort Worth, Clinching a Spot in the Top 6 for the Upcoming Championship Tournament in Las Vegas
Florida Freedom: 265.25
Missouri Thunder: 262.5
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Florida Freedom regained their winning form Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd in Fort Worth, Texas, at Dickies Arena, outlasting the Missouri Thunder by 2.75 points, 265.25-262.5, to guarantee themselves a spot to ride at the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams Championship in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena, getting underway Oct. 18. Florida, who had won 9 of their last 13 games coming into the Rattler Days finale, opened the game with their lead-off rider Alex Cerqueira tasked with Always Been Crazy by Head Coach Paulo Crimber. After being put on the chute clock, Cerqueira nodded with just 1 second remaining gritting his way to the requisite 8 to give the Freedom an early 88.5-point lead. Missouri responded in fast form.
In the bottom of the third, the Thunder inched within 1 point of tying the game when Paulo Eduardo Rossetto covered Hay Ring for 87.5 points. The riding contest continued in the top of the second. Florida’s momentum continued to flow as Joao Lucas Campos went the distance on Buckshot for 88.75 points, extending Florida’s lead to 89.75 points as Missouri took to the chutes for their second out. The Thunder then became the first team to stumble, failing to cut Florida’s lead after Boudreaux Campbell was launched after just 3.31 seconds by Fire Zone. Florida hit their first speed bump in the top of the third. Snapping his five-out ride streak, Yan Victor Cunha was upended by Black Ice at the 3.79-second mark. Missouri quickly capitalized, inching within 0.75 points of tying the game as Andrew Alvidrez dominated Exodus for 89 points.
As the penultimate round of outs got underway, Florida looked to Elizmar Jeremias to grow the team’s lead back to a full ride score. Delivering for his team, Jeremias matched Blue Suede Shoes jump-for-jump en route to the whistle, marked 88 points. Via the score, the Thunder attempted their fourth out trailing by 88.75 points. While the Thunder’s aggregate score went unchanged in the bottom of the fourth, the team was awarded a re-ride after Desert Twister fouled himself during his trip with Missouri’s Briggs Madsen. Florida then had the chance to force Missouri into a must-ride position as the final frame got underway. Should their closer, teenage phenom John Crimber ride Ridgeway, Missouri would need to convert in their final two outs to keep their hopes of victory alive.
Crimber launched from the chute but in uncharacteristic form, was whipped down in 3.25 seconds. While Freedom Head Coach Paulo Crimber challenged the call, suspecting his son should be awarded a re-ride, PBR’s officials disagreed, with the buckoff remaining and Florida losing their chance to challenge for the remainder of the game. Missouri then began their back-to-back outs withtheir fifth man Felipe Furlan on Rock n’ Roll. Furlan, however, did not have enough to get past his powerful animal athlete opponent, unseated at a close 7.17 seconds. The game then came down to Grayson Cole taking on the team’s re-ride draw Feeds Red River. After careful preparation in the chutes, Cole called for the gate. While he hit the ground prior to the 8, the bull fouled himself, earning the Thunder another re-ride. Continuing the battle for the come-from-behind win, the Thunder tapped Dawson Gleaves to take on Rafter P Construction’s Smooth Over It.
Gleaves made the requisite 8, but his 86-point score was not enough to deliver his team the win. When the dust settled, Florida won by 2.75 points, 265.25-262.5, improving to a perfect 3-0 against Missouri in 2024. The win guaranteed Florida a direct berth to ride inside T-Mobile Arena for the 2024 PBR Teams Championship, and also gave the host Texas Rattlers a spot inside the coveted Top 6 with just one regular-season league event remaining. Florida concluded PBR Rattler Days with a 1-1 record, improving to 15-10 this season, remaining No. 3 in the league. Missouri ended the event with a similar 1-1 record, now 11-15 across the 2024 season, remaining No. 6 in the league.
Austin Gamblers Go 4-for-5 to Upset League No. 1 Carolina Cowboys by a Dominant 253.75 Points During Sold-Out Saturday Night PBR Teams Event in Fort Worth, Texas
Carolina Cowboys: 86.5
Austin Gamblers: 340.25
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Austin Gamblers logged a dominant, 253.75-point upset win against the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams league No. 1 Carolina Cowboys in front of a sold-out crowd Saturday night in Fort Worth, Texas. Going 4-for-5 to beat Carolina 340.25-86.5, the win marked Austin’s first of 2024 against Carolina in four games. The showdown between Carolina and Austin began with dramatics. While the Cowboys’ leadoff rider and 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis was called for a slap atop Down Payment just past the 7-second mark, Carolina’s Head Coach Jerome Davis quickly challenged the call.
Upon close review, PBR’s officials did not see a slap, awarding Davis an 86.5-point score. In the bottom of the first, Austin’s Kaique Pacheco responded, and while he was awarded a re-ride, the Gamblers elected to keep his 81.5-point score on House Fire, moving within 5 points of tying the game lead. Carolina looked to Andrei Scoparo to grow their lead in the top of the second, but he proved no match for Benjamin Ranklin, tossed in 4.26 seconds. The Gamblers capitalized on the buckoff, overtaking the game lead by 83.5 points as Lucas Divino went the distance on Rank Frank for 88.5 points. PBR’s animal athletes then dominated the third frame, with the scoreboard remaining 170-86.5 entering the fourth.
The frame began with Carolina’s fourth man Daylon Swearingen on John 14:6, who unseated the 2022 PBR World Champion at 5.17 seconds, giving Austin the chance to clinch the game win early in the very next out. In the possible game-winning moment was Ramon de Lima on Triple Aught.After de Lima burst from the chutes, the clock stopped short of the requisite 8 for an apparent slap. Gamblers Head Coach Michael Gaffney was quick to call for a challenge, which proved fruitful. Upon close inspection, PBR’s officials found no slap, but deemed him to have made the whistle. The 83.25-point qualified ride extended Austin’s lead to 166.75 points, and clinched the upset win early against the league’s No. 1 team.
In the final frame, Carolina continued to stumble with their closer and seven-time PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) World Champion Sage Kimzey losing his rope on Mr. Right Now at the 3.58-second mark. Austin punctuated their win in the bottom of the fifth with an 87-point ride from two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme on Shameless, concluding the game 4-for-5. Courtesy of the 340.25-86.5 victory, Austin, who remained No. 5 in the league, improved to 2-1 at PBR Rattler Days and 13-13 this season. League No. 1 Carolina, however, fell to 1-1 at the event and 17-7-1 this season with one event remaining before the 2024 PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas.
Oklahoma Wildcatters Upset League No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws by One Ride Score on Final Night of PBR Teams Action in Fort Worth, Texas
Oklahoma Wildcatters: 175
Kansas City Outlaws: 85.75
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Oklahoma Wildcatters delivered a stunning, one ride score defeat of the league No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws in front of a sold-out Saturday night crowd in Fort Worth, Texas, victorious on the final night of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams competition inside Dickies Arena by 89.25 points, 175-85.75. J.B. Mauney’s Oklahoma Wildcatters began the game with a bang. Eduardo Matos gave his team a quick 88.25-point lead as he went the distance on Peterbilt. While Kansas City appeared poised to respond in the bottom of the first, Sandro Batista was whipped down in a close 7.82 seconds by Rowdy, resulting in no score for Kansas City. Oklahoma’s momentum continued to roll in the second.
They grew their lead to two ride scores and 175 points as 2022 PBR Rookie of the Year Bob Mitchell conquered Kodiac for 86.75 points. Kansas City continued to stumble. They suffered their second heartbreaking buckoff in the bottom of the frame as Maikon Calixton Rocha was launched at the 6.99-second mark by Geronimo. In the third, Oklahoma had the chance to force Kansas City into a must-ride position. Should Clay Guiton ride Levy, the Outlaws would need to be perfect through their final three outs to keep their hopes of victory alive. After difficulty in the chutes, however, Oklahoma earned a re-ride after Guiton was unable to leave the chutes on the bovine athlete.
In need of a points, Kansas City looked to Koltin Hevalow in the bottom of the third on Ridin’ Salty to give them their first ride score, but he was sent airborne in 3.64 seconds. Oklahoma then had their first chance to clinch the game win early in the top of the fourth, but Wingson Henrique da Silva proved no match for Coach, hitting the ground in a quick 2.75 seconds. Before Kansas City attempted their fourth bull, Wildcatters closer Cort McFadden moved up in the buck order given the re-ride earned earlier in the game. Oklahoma again faltered with their second chance to win the game early after McFadden was bucked off in 3.84 seconds. Kansas City then faced their first must-ride out as Julio Cesar Marques settled in atop Cold Creek. Delivering when his team needed it most, Marques made the whistle for 85.75 points, cutting Oklahoma’s lead to 89.25 points.
The fifth frame then began with Guiton attempting the team’s re-ride draw Snuggles. Despite a tenacious effort, Guiton was deemed to have bucked off at the 7.6-second mark, opening the door for Kansas City to earn the win in walk-off form. In the high-pressure situation was Kansas City closer and 2024 PBR World Champion Cassio Dias who less than 24 hours prior made PBR history, logging the second highest-marked ride in the organization’s more than 30-year history when he conquered Man Hater for a monstrous 98.25 points.
Dias, however, was unable to channel that magic Saturday night, bucked off by Lever Action in 5.7 seconds. The no-score cemented the win for Oklahoma, 175-85.75, as they improved to 2-1 against Kansas City in 2024. The Wildcatters concluded their time in Texas having gone 1-1 at the event to improve to 10-15-1 this season, rising from No. 9 to No. 8 in the league. Kansas City, went 1-2 at PBR Rattler Days, slipping to 17-9 across 2024 but remaining No. 2 in PBR Teams.
Texas Rattlers Complete Perfect Sweep of Third Annual PBR Teams Homestand, Beating the Nashville Stampede while Clinching a Berth to Championship Weekend in Las Vegas
Nashville Stampede: 0.00
Texas Rattlers: 175.5
FORT WORTH, Texas –The Texas Rattlers continued to ride red-hot in the Metroplex, improving to a perfect 9-0 at home since the launch of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams league in 2022, as they defeated the Nashville Stampede 175.5-0.00 in front of a sold-out Saturday night crowd inside Dickies Arena. With one event remaining in the regular season, the Rattlers clinched a Championship Weekend berth in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas by locking into the Top 6. Nashville began the game in rival territory with three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves paired with Cut Bait.
After being put on the chute clock, Alves nodded with 1 second remaining, bursting from the chutes inside Dickies Arena. Remaining centered aboard the wildly bucking animal athlete, Alves was marked 51.5 points and offered a re-ride. In a business decision, Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride elected to take the re-ride, wiping the points from the board. Texas, however, made their presence known in the bottom of the first. Brady Fielder propelled the 2023 PBR Teams Champion Texas Rattlers to a quick 87.5-point lead as he made the 8 on Wingman. The score also allowed Fielder to grow his lead in the race for the 2024 PBR Teams MVP title, surging to a 109.5-point lead over No. 2 John Crimber.
PBR’s animal athletes then dominated the second, with Cody Teel bested for Nashville and Daniel Keeping tossed for Texas in 4.06-seconds, ending his PBR Teams record 10-out ride streak. The third played out in similar form, with the bovine athletes showcasing their prowess. After Alan de Souza was upended in 2.37 seconds by Electric Kitty, Alves attempted the team’s re-ride draw, Ugly Kitty, but hit the ground in 3.35 seconds. While Texas challenged Claudio Montanha Jr.’s 3.53-second buckoff atop Black Tie, suspecting a chute foul, PBR’s officials discovered no foul upon review, with the no score remaining in place, and Texas losing the chance to challenge for the remainder of the game.
Following a scoreless fourth, the game then came down to the closers for Nashville and Texas. As the final frame began, Nashville faced a must-ride position as Anderson de Oliveira took on Rip. While he initially appeared centered, he was unseated at 5.09 seconds, cementing the win for Texas. The victory marked the first for the Rattlers against the Stampede in 2024 across three games. The Rattlers then punctuated their third game win of the weekend with a game-best, 88-point ride from their closer Joao Ricardo Vieira atop Haymaker. When the dust settled, Texas beat a scoreless Nashville 175.5-0. The win allowed Texas to improve to 3-0 at the 2024 edition of Rattler Days, and an unblemished 9-0 while riding at home in Fort Worth since the league’s launch in 2022.
The Texas Rattlers are the only team in the league unbeaten at home. Texas travels to the final event of the season with an improved 15-11 record across 2024, remaining No. 4 in the league. The Stampede concluded PBR Rattler Days 0-3, slipping to 11-15 this season, remaining No. 7 in the league, below the Championship Weekend cutline with one regular season event remaining.
FORT WORTH TEAM STANDINGS – SEPTEMBER 28:Here are the Team standings for the final day of competition for the PBR Camping World Team Series event in Fort Worth, Texas:
1. Texas Rattlers, 1-0-0-267.25
2. Florida Freedom, 1-0-0-355
3. Austin Gamblers, 1-0-0-340.25
4. Oklahoma Wildcatters, 1-0-0-175
5. Missouri Thunder, 0-1-0-262.5
6. Carolina Cowboys, 0-1-0-86.5
7. Kansas City Outlaws, 0-1-0-85.75
8. Nashville Stampede, 0-1-0-0.00
Note: The Arizona Ridge Riders and New York Mavericks had byes on September 28.
PBR TEAMS SEASON STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the final day of competition for PBR Rattler Days in Fort Worth, Texas:
1. Carolina Cowboys, 17-7-1-5,125.25
2. Kansas City Outlaws, 17-9-0-5,718.5
3. Florida Freedom, 15-10-0-4,967.25
4. Texas Rattlers, 15-11-0-5,207.5
5. Austin Gamblers, 13-13-0-4,356.75
6. Missouri Thunder, 11-15-0-4,006
7. Nashville Stampede, 11-15-0-3,529
8. Oklahoma Wildcatters, 10-15-1-3.750.5
9. New York Mavericks, 10-15-0-2,585.25
10. Arizona Ridge Riders, 8-17-0-4,450.5
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media