1956 AFL Championship

Another relatively mild December day caused River Field to be the most packed it has ever been. The 29,500 seat stadium was somehow able to cram in just about 32,000, and tensions were still tense between fans after the end of last year’s championship game. Some even had to be removed from the stadium after getting into a scuffle before the game even began. The Federals were still upset about the result of the previous meeting, while the Rivermen still held the high ground and were determined to keep it.

Q1
The Rivermen would win the coin toss, and chose to receive the kickoff for the first half to get the upper hand on their rival. They would start by methodically working their way downfield, trading handoffs between RB’s Perry Ferguson and Billy Garcia. QB Lester Parker mixed in a few passes to get the drive within the twenty. Parker looked back on a first and ten and threw over the middle to hit one of his WR’s, but instead LB Howard Treadaway put himself in the way for the interception. He did not stay down, rumbling his way past the startled Rivermen and into the clear for the 83 yard return for a touchdown. The extra point from K Eugene Hickman would go just a tad left of the upright, meaning the Rivermen could get back ahead if they scored. They did get almost as far as their first drive, taking it slow to wear down the Washington defense. RB Billy Garcia took a handoff to the outside on a second down, and took to the air to avoid a tackle from LB Claude Crawford. DB Alan Small attempted to rip the ball out of Garcia’s hands. Small managed to get the ball loose, and the ball fell out of Garcia’s arms and onto the ground. The Federals would come up with the ball and continued driving into the second quarter.
CIN 0, WAS 6

Q2
Washington would also ram the ball up the middle, though with RB Rip Rooney it was significantly easier due to a weaker defensive line from Cincinnati. QB Johnnie Sellers mixed the play calling up a bit by tossing a pass to WR Darius Sanderson, threading the ball around two defenders for a catch at the 2 yard line. Rooney would walk right into the endzone on the next play, with the extra point by Hickman going through the uprights this time. Cincinnati managed to make it through a drive without committing a turnover, instead struggling to pass midfield and punting the ball back to the Federals. Washington punted the ball right back to Cincinnati, putting the Rivermen right back where they started. They put together a normal drive to start, with Parker throwing across the middle to TE Floyd Rankin for what would be a first down. That was until S Josh von Bank quite literally threw himself towards Rankin to knock the ball loose. Washington would come up with the ball at the bottom of the pile yet again. Rooney took charge of the drive yet again, plowing his way through the defensive line that eventually got the Federals within the 10.  QB Johnnie Sellers thought that he had an easy passing touchdown to TE Bill Danowski, but Cincinnati S Virgil Romano knocked him out at the last second at the 1 yard line. That didn’t seem like it was much of an issue to the Federals, as RB Rip Rooney again waltzed right in for his second touchdown of the quarter. Cincinnati would try once again to get something moving, but their luck this half didn’t do them any favors. They stalled out just outside of K Bryan Singer’s range, and punted the ball away with little time left in the half. The Federals just wound down the remaining clock by ramming it up the gut until there was no time left in the half.
CIN 0, WAS 20

Q3
Some of the Rivermen’s luck seemed to have rubbed off onto the Federals to begin the second half. QB Johnnie Sellers saw that he had WR Joseph Atkins wide open on the sideline, but did not see DB Kerry Lantz standing right beside him and intercepted the ball to give Cincy another chance to get on the board. The Rivermen moved the chains twice, but their chance would not last long, as RB Perry Ferguson lost the ball mid-carry and Washington fell on the ball for another fumble recovery. The Federals couldn’t move the ball as well through the visibly frustrated Rivermen defense, and had to kick a field goal. The field goal would have been good from a bit closer, but K Eugene Hickman didn’t have the leg to put it through. The Rivermen would punt away their next possession, giving the ball back to the Federals to end the quarter.
CIN 0, WAS 20

Q4
The Federals inched their way through the Rivermen defense, but got stopped inside the 20. There was no drama with the kick, with K Eugene Hickman putting it dead center from 18 yards out. Because Cincinnati was not doing anything on offense, Washington decided to take it slow on their next drive. They got good field position on a good return from returnman Rodney Taylor, and QB Johnnie Sellers got to show off his arm for a bit. He saw WR Darius Sanderson in a good position against his defender, and threw it up just right for a 25 yard touchdown. The Rivermen in a last-ditch effort entertained the idea of making it into scoring range. That effort had some merit, making it within the 20 yard line for the first time all day . They were not able to get any points, as QB Lester Parker tried to throw a ball to WR Alfred Dunn for a potential touchdown, but the ball was easily intercepted by DB Johnathan Moon to put the kibosh on that idea. The two teams punted back and forth for a possession each, until Washington got the ball back one last time. They were able to run out the remaining time on the clock, and their players celebrated winning their second championship for an incredible franchise turnaround.
CIN 0, WAS 30

In contrast to last year’s championship game, most of the Cincinnati fans did not stick around for the post-game ceremonies, with many leaving at halftime. Those who did stay were Washington fans who wanted it to stick it to their rival, and gathered near the Federals as they lifted the trophy for the second time. Some Federals players taunted the fans and Rivermen players leaving the fuel, only stopping after a fight nearly broke out between players. RB Rip Rooney would ultimately win most valuable player, rushing for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns.