Photos by Lance Cpl. Jahn R. Kuiper Marines at Barracks 2003 got rowdy after Colt’s quarterback, Peyton Manning, completed a touchdown pass to his receiver, Pierre Garcon. After being snowed in, many Marines watched Super Bowl XLIV in the barracks.

The first quarter was all going the Colts way. Peyton Manning, the Colt’s quarterback, was reading the defense perfectly and calling audibles to exploit holes that the Saints showed. On the other side of the ball, the Saints’ offense couldn’t string together enough plays to move down the field. By the end of the first quarters the Colts were up 10–0.

‘‘We are going to take this game easily,” said Lance Cpl. Tus Sligar, a Colts supporter. ‘‘Peyton is unstoppable.”

In the second quarter the Saints found some rhythm on offense with their running game. They looked like they were on their way to score when the Colts’ Dwight Freeney got a sack on third down that forced the Saints to kick a field goal.

‘‘Alright, we’re coming back,” said Pvt. Justin Chandler, a Saints’ supporter. ‘‘We’re the comeback kids. We’re going to take this game.”

Freeney’s ankle was the top story coming into the game after a ligament was partially torn in the previous playoff game.

After the Saints forced the Colts to a three and out, the Saints rushed down the field with time winding down and kicked a field goal to end the half down 10–6.

Between laughing at the Doritos commercials and The Who’s halftime performance, the Marines were talking about the game.

‘‘Peyton has been pretty slick so far, but our receivers have been screwing up,” Sligar said. ‘‘He’s been managing the game and calling good audibles. Overall, I like how the game is going so far.”

‘‘They’re playing horrible, but it’s OK,” Chandler said. ‘‘We are going to get rolling and start putting up points. Never count out the underdogs.”

It seemed everyone but the Saints were surprised when the New Orleans team started the second half with an onside kick and recovery.

‘‘That was really smart call,” Chandler said. ‘‘It’s going to go down as one of the best Super Bowl plays in history.”

The Saints took the momentum from the kick off and moved down the field with ease. Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, came out of the halftime break more focused, which lead to a passing touchdown on their first drive. The Saints now had their first lead, 13–10.

The Colts seemed unfazed and answered with their own touchdown. This time it was a power run up the gut that put the Colts ahead 17–13.

The Saints stayed persistent and answered with a field goal.

The Saints were given a short field after the Colts missed a 51-yard-field goal. Brees made every pass and led his team to a touchdown.

The Saints went for a two-point conversion. After the receiver caught the ball and stretched it over the goal line it was ruled an incompletion because he didn’t have control.

But after the Saints’ challenge, the referees overturned the call. Now the Saints were up seven points, 24–17.

‘‘Oh, that was a close one,” Chandler said. ‘‘We’re not giving up the lead now.”

‘‘There’s no way he had possession,” Sligar said. ‘‘We got a lot of work to do.”

The Colts tried at one final charge, but Manning threw an interception and the Colts were laid to rest.

The game ended 31– 17. The Saints were the National Football League champions for the first time.

‘‘That was a very nice present from Peyton,” Chandler said. ‘‘He lost the whole game for them. The guy who carried the Colts throughout the season gave away the win for the Colts.”

-- Correspondent: jahn.kuiper@usmc.mil