In the best IM final since last spring’s basketball championship game, Sigma Nu outlasted a shorthanded Alpha Epsilon Pi team en route to its second flag football title in three years with a 14-12 victory.

A late connection from AEPi quarterback Ben Kander to Dan “The Rabbi” Szekel closed the gap to two points, but the conversion attempt went begging.

It seemed early on that Sig Nu was going to run away with the game. Two deep passes from junior quarterback Will Hanlon to sophomore sensation Zach “The Jackrabbit” Frimet put Sig Nu out to an early 14-0 lead.

“Our mission was to go out and put the game away early,” Sig Nu senior leader Adam “The Economist” Smith said. “Once we came out of the gates strong, I didn’t think they could catch us.”

This seemed even more likely when a promising AEPi drive late in the first half ended with a redzone interception. Sig Nu middle linebacker Eric Brandel grabbed a deflected pass with an impressive diving catch, securing his team’s halftime lead.

It’s the third time in four years that AEPi found itself on the losing end of the IM flag football championship. Senior IM official Mohammed Merchant told me he thinks AEPi could have a mental block to winning the title. “I’ve seen them get it done in basketball,” Merchant said, referring to last spring’s IM basketball title. “But each year in football they come up short.”

Going into halftime, AEPi looked distraught, almost defeated. But an emergency chapter meeting on the sidelines, coupled with an inspiring halftime speech from Kander, led the team into the second half with a new swagger.

“I told them simply that we needed to go out there and win one for the Juster,” Kander said referencing the team’s inspirational leader, Coach Eric Juster.

Kander nearly came through on his promise. He connected with junior Ross Godick on a deep touchdown pass over two defenders, but the team inexplicably opted to try for the more difficult two-point conversion and failed, leaving AEPi trailing 14-6. Following Szekel’s late touchdown, AEPi would not see the ball again, as Sig Nu converted a crucial third down and ran out the clock en route to victory.

Following the game, Frimet was named game MVP but had little to say, cryptically saying, “I’m sorry ’bout ya.” While his statement doesn’t really make sense, the bigger statement was made on the field as Sig Nu once again took its place atop Emory Intramurals.

— Contact Jake Wooten.