The Florida Freedom stumbled in their home debut of the PBR Camping World Team Series at Amerant Bank Arena on Friday night, succumbing to the New York Mavericks by a narrow margin of less than one ride score.
Guided by head coach Paulo Crimber, Florida managed to keep pace early, with Caden Bunch scoring in the first round to trail the Mavericks by just 3.5 points after Mauricio Moreira put New York on the board. However, neither team made significant progress in the second or third rounds. The turning point came when Braidy Randolph secured what would become the game-winning ride for New York with an 88.75-point score in the fourth round.
Despite Joao Lucas Campos’s efforts to close the gap with a 71-point ride for Florida, the team found themselves trailing by 17.75 points heading into the final round. The Mavericks’ closer, Leandro Machado, bucked off his bull, giving Florida a chance for a comeback. However, teenage sensation John Crimber, who had been undefeated prior to this match, failed to secure the necessary score, bucking off Kodiac in 7.24 seconds, sealing the victory for New York at 174.5 to 156.75. This loss left Florida with a 0-1 record at home and 1-4 overall this season.
Meanwhile, the league-leading Carolina Cowboys maintained their perfect 6-0 season record with an impressive victory over the Missouri Thunder, winning by 83 points, 262-179. Early rides from PBR World Champion Cooper Davis, Adriano Salgado, and Daylon Swearingen ensured that Carolina stayed ahead throughout the match. The Thunder’s Grayson Cole and Paulo Eduardo Rossetto put forth valiant performances but were unable to overcome the Cowboys’ dominance. Missouri fell to 2-4 on the season.
The Oklahoma Wildcatters also celebrated a significant victory, defeating the Kansas City Outlaws by 90.25 points, 264.75-174.5. Despite an early lead from the Outlaws, the Wildcatters regained control thanks to crucial rides from Eduardo Matos and Josh Frost. Oklahoma improved to 4-2, rising to No. 2 in the league standings.
Additionally, the Austin Gamblers triumphed over the Arizona Ridge Riders by 88.25 points, moving from No. 9 to No. 6 in the standings. Highlights included notable contributions from Kaique Pacheco, Callum Miller, and Jose Vitor Leme.
PBR Freedom Days continues Saturday, Aug. 3, at 7:45 p.m. ET, with tickets available online or at the Amerant Bank Arena Box Office. The event will be broadcast live via Merit Street Media and is accessible through the Merit+ app.