Carolina Cowboys Conclude Inaugural Homestand Ranked No. 1 in PBR Team Series Standings as Oklahoma Freedom go 3-0 to Win PBR Cowboy Days in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Cowboys’ closer Daylon Swearingen goes 2-for-3 inside LJVM Coliseum to inch within a mere 12.5 points of No. 1 rank in PBR Team Series MVP Race
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Competing in front of a home crowd for the first time, the Carolina Cowboys delivered a 2-1 performance in game play, while also winning the Bonus Round, at PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Cowboy Days, to conclude the Team Series event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as the No. 1-ranked team in the league.
Beginning the event No. 3 in the league standings, the Cowboys rose to No. 2 following their commanding Friday night win against the Missouri Thunder. Backed by key scores from Mason Taylor, Cooper Davis and Wingson Henrique da Silva, the Cowboys won 261.5-0.
The Cowboys then overtook the No. 1 spot with a walk-off win against the Arizona Ridge Riders Saturday night. Courtesy of an evening-best, 87.75-point score from Daylon Swearingen atop Jailhouse Cat (Clark View Farms/Phillips), the Cowboys completed the come-from-behind victory to beat the Ridge Riders 265.5-169.5.
On Championship Sunday, however, the Cowboys’ six-game win streak came to an end in a thriller, when they were narrowly beaten by the Nashville Stampede by 1.5 points, falling 257.75-259.25.
In true cowboy fashion, Carolina rebounded in the Bonus Round. For the fifth time this season, the Cowboys dominated, collecting a maximum 8 Bonus points, courtesy of Taylor’s massive 89.75-point trip atop Duke (Sho-Me Rodeo).
The Carolina Cowboys concluded their inaugural homestand second, having gone 2-1 in game play and earning 8 bonus points. They are No. 1 in the league with a 10-6 record and 46 combined bonus points and lead the No. 2 Austin Gamblers, who also hold a 10-6 record, by 9.5 bonus points.
No team in Winston-Salem, however, rivaled the Oklahoma Freedom, who went a perfect 3-0 in game play and finished second in the Bonus Round to win their first PBR Team Series event at PBR Cowboy Days.
The Oklahoma Freedom began the event with a bang, knocking off the Nashville Stampede 261-0 compliments of a lead-off 90-point ride from third-round draft pick Chase Outlaw.
In just his second event, Outlaw faced a familiar opponent in Big Black (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb). Having met five times prior, Outlaw entered the slugfest with a perfect record, marked 90 points or more in each out. Keeping the streak alive, Outlaw logged just the fifth 90-point ride in PBR Team Series history, dominating the powerful animal athlete for 90.25 points. The score is tied for third best in the league and ties the Freedom with the Carolina Cowboys for most 90-point scores by one team, each with two.
The Oklahoma Freedom remained red-hot as competition continued Saturday, upsetting the Austin Gamblers 86.75-83.25.
Keen to remain perfect in game play with their inaugural homestand just days away, the Freedom faced the Kansas City Outlaws on Championship Sunday. Both teams entered the showdown with a 2-0 record at PBR Cowboy Days.
Backed by crucial scores from both Briggs Madsen and Captain Eli Vastbinder, the Freedom defeated the Outlaws by one ride score, 170.75-87.
As the only team to go a perfect 3-0 in game play, the Freedom entered the Bonus Round with the event win already clinched. Seeking crucial bonus points, Freedom Head Coach Cord McCoy elected to have Derek Kolbaba go head-to-head with Jeremiah (Martinez Bucking Bulls, LLC).
In a decision which proved dividends, Kolbaba conquered the animal athlete for 88.75 points, the second-best score of the Bonus Round, garnering the team 7 Bonus points.
Courtesy of the 3-0 performance, and their 7 Bonus points, the Freedom rose to No. 5 in the league standings, now with an 8-8 record and a combined 22 Bonus points.
The PBR Team Series will next travel to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for the fifth team-hosted homestand as the Oklahoma Freedom welcome the league for PBR Freedom Fest. The event will be on Friday, September 16 at 7:45 p.m. CT, Saturday, September 17 at 6:45 p.m. CT and Sunday, September 18 at 1:45 p.m. CT.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Oklahoma City on September 16 are:
Nashville Stampede @ Missouri Thunder
Arizona Ridge Riders @ Carolina Cowboys
Kansas City Outlaws @ Texas Rattlers
Austin Gamblers @ Oklahoma Freedom
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.
SCORE BULLETINS
Texas Rattlers Come Back to Beat Missouri Thunder on Final Day of PBR Team Series Competition in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Texas Rattlers: 170
Missouri Thunder: 166.5
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C – After suffering two heart-breaking losses as PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition got underway in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, rebounded in resilient fashion Sunday afternoon, earning an upset, comeback victory against the Missouri Thunder. In the lead-off position for the Rattlers, Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) struck early for Texas, conquering Rock Solid (TCB Ranch/K-C Bucking Bulls) for 86 points to give the Cody Lambert-coached outfit an early lead. The Thunder, however, responded in the very next trip. Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) rode Prisoner (K-C Bucking Bulls/Daniels Cattle Co.) for 83.5 points, and Missouri inched within 2.5 points of the lead. In the second, the Rattlers were humbled as newly inked rider Junior Patrik Souza (Sonora, Brazil) was bucked off by Trinity (Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls) in a close 5.99 seconds. The Thunder’s momentum, however, rolled on. In his debut out for the team, Marcelo Procopio Pereira (Rinopolis, Brazil) outlasted Old Time Religion (Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls) for 83 points to give the Thunder their first lead, surpassing the Rattlers by 80.5 points. After neither team converted in the third, the Rattlers shifted the tide in the top of the fourth, regaining their lead when surging Aussie Brady Fielder (Clermont, Queensland, Australia) rode Smooth Kat (Cornwell Bucking Bulls) for 84 points. Compliments of the score, the Rattlers rose to a 3.5-point lead as Missouri readied to attempt their fourth bull. With the chance to give his team back the lead entering the final frame, Cody Teel (College Station, Texas) failed to capitalize, sent to the dirt in a quick 2.75 seconds by Tiger (Blake Sharp/Henry Wilson). With the game coming down to the fifth, Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) was in the closer position for the Rattlers, while first-round draft pick Colten Fritzlan (Rifle, Colorado) was out last for the Thunder. With both riders bucking off prior to the 8, the Rattlers won their first game of PBR Cowboy Days, beating the Thunder 170-166.5. As a result, the Rattlers improved to 1-2 at PBR Cowboy Days and 5-11 during the season, while the Thunder fell to 1-2 at the PBR Team Series event and 8-8 throughout 2022.
Austin Gamblers Rebound with Win Against Arizona Ridge Riders on Final Day of PBR Team Series Competition in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Austin Gamblers: 86
Arizona Ridge Riders: 0.00
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C – The Austin Gamblers recaptured their winning form Sunday afternoon during the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, beating the Arizona Ridge Riders by one ride score, 86-0. The game-deciding score was registered in the first frame. After the Ridge Riders’ Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) was awarded a re-ride, newly signed Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Acre) struck in the bottom of the first for the Gamblers. Matching Shakira (JR Phillips) jump-for-jump, Lima reached the whistle for a crucial 86 points. With neither team covering in the second, third or fourth, it all came down to the Ridge Riders’ closer Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) in the fifth. Needing to score in excess of 86 points to keep his team’s hopes of victory alive, Castro was paired with Homer (JR Phillips) for the crucial out. Despite a true cowboy effort to remain centered, Castro was bucked off in a close 5.57 seconds, handing the victory to the Gamblers. With the Gamblers unable to convert in their final out, and a re-ride awarded from the third, the final scoreboard read an 86-0 Gamblers win. Courtesy of the win, the Gamblers improved to 1-2 at PBR Cowboy Days, and 10-6 this season, while the Ridge Riders backslid to 1-2 at the event and 10-6 this season.
Oklahoma Freedom Complete Perfect 3-0 Sweep at PBR Team Series Competition Event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with Win Against Kansas City Outlaws
Oklahoma Freedom: 170.75
Kansas City Outlaws: 87
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C – The Oklahoma Freedom continued their white-hot momentum Sunday afternoon, completing their perfect 3-0 sweep of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, defeating the Kansas City Outlaws 170.75-87. Both teams began the game with a perfect 2-0 record. After a scoreless first, the game intensity ratcheted up in the second. Riding in the top of the frame, Briggs Madsen (Tremonton, Utah) put the Freedom on the board first, riding Happy Gambler (Sho-Me Rodeo) for 86.75 points. Oklahoma’s lead, however, was short lived as the Outlaws converted in the very next out. Marcus Mast (Middlebury, Indiana) conquered High Country Hitman (High Country Solutions/JR Phillips) for 87 points, to put the Outlaws ahead by a mere 0.25 points. After the scoreboard remain unchanged through the third, Freedom Captain Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina) delivered the go-ahead score in the top of the fourth. Paired with Left Eye Lopez (Dustin Denning), Vastbinder reached the requisite 8 for a crucial 84 points to put the Freedom back on top by 83.75 points. Keen to answer, the Outlaws were unable to keep pace as second-round draft pick Kyler Oliver (Roy, Utah) was brought down by The Undertaker (Cornwell Bucking Bulls/Riley Bucking Bulls/PCP Bucking Bulls) in a close 5.23 seconds. As the fifth got underway, Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) had the chance to clinch the victory early for the Freedom. Kolbaba, however, erred in his showdown with Rocky Malcoma (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls), sent to the ground in a quick 2.58 seconds. Via the buckoff, the door was opened for Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) to win the game for the Outlaws in walk-off fashion. Kasel, however, was no match for Whip (Obernagel/Sho-Me Rodeo), bested in 4.36 seconds. As a result, the Freedom won the game 170.75-87, and improved to 3-0 at PBR Cowboy Days and 8-8 throughout the 2022 PBR Team Series season. The Outlaws, however, fell to 2-1 at PBR Cowboy Days and 7-9 this season.
Nashville Stampede Knock Off League No. 1 Carolina Cowboys at Home During Final Day of PBR Team Series Competition in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Nashville Stampede: 259.25
Carolina Cowboys: 257.75
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C – The final game of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, pitted the winless league No. 8 Nashville Stampede against the No. 1, and host, Carolina Cowboys, who had yet to lose at their home event. In a David versus Goliath-style showdown, the Stampede knocked off the Cowboys at home, eking out the win by 1.5 points 259.25-257.75. The see-saw game featured both teams going a commanding 3-for-5, covering 60% of the showdown’s bovine athletes.
In the opening frame, Nashville was quick to convert, as 2018 PBR World Champion and first-round draft pick Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) covered YETI’S Big Poison (Cowtown Rodeo) for 87.75 points. While the Cowboys logged a score in the very next out, 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis’ (Jasper, Texas) 87-point ride aboard Whiplash (Blake Sharp/Floyd Lowery/CB & Traci Lee) was not enough to give his team the lead. As the second got underway, Manoelito de Souza Junior (Itamira, Brazil) stumbled for the Stampede, and Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas) was awarded a re-ride after Chief (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd) fell during his trip. As the game approached the midway point, the Stampede registered their second-consecutive buckoff when Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) was upended by Apper’s Mind Freak (Jo-Z Bucking Bulls/K-C Bucking Bulls/Spark-Lin-Acres) in a close 5.94 seconds. The Cowboys rebounded, as Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) gave Carolina its first lead in the bottom of the third. In perfect time with Siroucho (Dozier Cattle Co./Martinez Bucking Bulls), Taylor reached the requisite 8 for 86.25 points to put Carolina ahead by 85.5 points. Matt Triplett (Canton, South Dakota) then righted the tide for the Stampede in the top of the fourth, conquering Contusion (Sho-Me Rodeo) for 86.5 points to put Nashville back out front of Carolina by a slim 1-point. With both Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) failing to make the 8, and Campbell bucking off his re-ride, the game came down to the fifth.
For the second time during PBR Cowboy Days, three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) was in a must-ride position as the closer for the Stampede. After his qualified ride was not enough to push the Stampede past the Thunder Saturday evening, he was determined to settle for nothing less than a win in his crucial out Sunday afternoon. Rising to the occasion, Alves rode Prime Tested (Blake Sharp/Travis Austin/Koe Wetzel) for a critical 85 points to give his team an increased 86-point lead ahead of Carolina’s final out. Like Alves, 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) was also in a must-ride position for the second-consecutive evening. Initially paired with Cooter Brown (Lucas Manning/Waller Brothers Cattle Co.), Swearingen was awarded a re-ride when the bull fell towards the end of the out. In a manner that seemed straight from a move script, Swearingen’s re-ride partner was none other than Jailhouse Cat (Clark View Farms/Phillips), the very bull he rode Saturday evening to earn the Cowboys a walk-off win against the Arizona Ridge Riders. While Swearingen again covered the bull, the out immediately went into review. The trip was confirmed to be a qualified ride, but Swearingen was awarded just 84.5 points, not enough to clinch the victory for Carolina. When the dust settled, Nashville won its first game of PBR Cowboy Days, defeating the host Cowboys by 1.5 points, 259.25-257.75. The win snapped a six-game losing streak and improved Nashville to 1-2 at PBR Cowboy Days and 4-12 this season. Carolina concluded their homestand having gone 1-2, now with a 10-6 season record.
WINSTON-SALEM TEAM STANDINGS:
Here are the final Team standings for the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, PBR Team Series event:
- Oklahoma Freedom, 3-0-0-7
- Carolina Cowboys, 2-1-0-8
- Kansas City Outlaws, 2-1-0-3
- Texas Rattlers, 1-2-0-6
- Missouri Thunder, 1-2-0-5
- Austin Gamblers, 1-2-0-4
- Nashville Stampede, 1-2-0-2
- Arizona Ridge Riders, 1-2-0-1
PBR TEAM SERIES SEASON STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the conclusion of competition for PBR Cowboy Days in Winston-Salem, North Carolina:
- Carolina Cowboys, 10-6-0-46
- Austin Gamblers, 10-6-0-36.5
- Arizona Ridge Riders, 10-6-0-19
- Missouri Thunder, 8-8-0-27
- Oklahoma Freedom, 8-8-0-22
- Kansas City Outlaws, 7-9-0-20.5
- Texas Rattlers, 5-11-0-25
- Nashville Stampede, 4-12-0-20
About the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series:
The PBR Team Series is an elite new league that features the world’s top bull riders competing on teams in five-on-five bull riding games during an 11-event season beginning in July and culminating in a team championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas November 4-6. During the 2022 season, each of the eight teams representing teams in Austin, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Glendale, AZ; Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; Oklahoma City, OK; Ridgedale, MO; and Winston-Salem, NC will host a three-day homestand. There will also be neutral site games in Cheyenne, WY and Anaheim, CA. To determine team rosters, the league held a rider draft on May 23 prior to start of the 2022 season among any bull riders who have declared for the draft during a league eligibility window. The PBR Team Series builds on the existing structure of professional bull riding with the same basic rules for judging and scoring qualified 8-second bull rides. Events will be staged in a tournament-style format with all teams competing in head-to-head matchups against a different opponent each day. Each game will feature five riders per team squaring off against another team. Full team rosters will be comprised of seven riders on the core roster and three practice squad members. The team with the highest aggregate score of qualified rides among its riders will be declared the winner of each game. The event winner will be the team with the most game wins across an event, with a special bonus round designed as a tie-breaker to determine final event standings. All PBR Team Series events will be carried on either the CBS Television Network, streaming live on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, or RidePass on PlutoTV.
