BELTON, Mo. -- Six coaches...six teams...one trophy.

The players streaked up and down the 100-yard field – getting stuck in a jam and either being cut down for a loss or, miraculously, breaking free for a long gain. Teams found a niche to bring them touchdowns. Whether through the air or on the ground, most teams came up with a suitable attack.

The coaches yelled out encouragement from the sideline, urging their players on to the end zone and the elusive, gleaming trophy beyond. But, this wasn't the National Football League. It wasn't even a college-level tournament. This was a battle with plastic football players and vibrating boards. This was the 12th annual Electrabowl Tournament.

Six men gathered in a smoke-filled basement here Jan. 8 and 9 for all-out plastic battle. The regular season consisted of three games on a Thursday night, which determined the seeds for the Electrabowl Tournament on Friday.

The players moved back and forth on the three vibrating boards set up in the basement for game after grueling game. The only way to survive was to find a way to stop the opposition, a difficult task indeed. The cheers of coaches and the sounds of dismay emitted by others clearly demonstrated which teams were dominate -- none of which were more so then the Minnesota Vikings as coached by Ken VanPelt.

For the second straight year, VanPelt and his Vikings walked away from the Electrabowl proudly shouldering the champion's trophy. VanPelt won the Electrabowl Championship Game in convincing fashion after an undefeated season. He downed the Oakland Raiders 28-14. The Raiders were coached by VanPelt's brother, John.

None could stop the Viking's offensive or defensive attack. The Vikings had an unbeatable offensive line and VanPelt devised an unstoppable pressure defense. "We romped 'em," an ecstatic Coach Van Pelt said after his Electrabowl victory. "We pride ourselves on being very innovative in the strategy of electric football." VanPelt was especially proud of the new-fangled defense he invented -- alternatively called "The Railroad" "The Gun-al," or "The Raven." Others tried to replicate it, but proved unsuccessful at matching VanPelt's effort.

"It was killer," VanPelt said of his defensive strategy. "We were the sack leader for the entire league. We set an all-time high sack record on the back of our strong defense. You've got to play both sides of the ball."

VanPelt and his Vikings' defense proved to be overwhelming for opponents in his 5-0 run to the championship trophy. The Vikings sacked their opponents more than 10 times in those five games.

"There was nothing we could do against them," said Raiders' Coach John VanPelt, whose team also was undefeated going into the championship game. "I thought we were ready for him, but obviously not."

The Raiders got some false hope on the first play from the line of scrimmage in the championship game, when their running back broke free and flew 80 yards down the field for a touchdown. The hope quickly turned to anguish as the Vikings came out in their new defensive stance. The Raiders were helpless against it. But, the Vikings' defense was not the only problem for opponents. The defense, coupled with VanPelt's usual powerful offense, made the Vikings formidable.

"We went with our standard ice-pick," VanPelt said. "We established a strong passing game this year. We made people respect the pass, which gave our line a lot more strength." Controlling the clock was another key to the Vikings' victory, VanPelt said. On a key drive in the second quarter, the Vikings held the Raiders, who turned the ball over after a failed fourth-down pass.

The Vikings then marched down the field and scored before halftime to take a 14-7 lead into the lockerroom. The first possession of the second half went to Minnesota, and the Vikings capitalized, putting the Raiders down 21-7.

"They had a 14 point deficit to overcome," the Vikings' coach said. "That is hard to do. It's important to get a lead because then all you have to do is stand in the trenches and trade blows with your opponents."

This is the eighth consecutive year in which one of the VanPelt brothers has acquired possession of the Electrabowl trophy. Since 1991, Ken and John VanPelt have each won the trophy four times. "If I don't win it, I want my brother to come out of there with it," said John VanPelt. "That way, even if I'm not a participant in the Show, at least it is clear who I'm going to root for. Ken VanPelt concurred, saying it was great to be able to play the big game against his brother and to continue their dominance of the league. "This has been a fantastic day for the VanPelt family," he said. "There is lots of pride here on the homefront. It is a dynasty. But, VanPelt said it is time for the dynasty to come to an end. He wants change next year – with the current players' bases thrown out and new bases put into a pot and drawn during a draft to even out competition in the league. "We need to strive for parity in the league," he said. "I'd rather win knowing it was fun and fair for everybody.

"It's no fun when you know some teams, such as San Francisco, haven't got a prayer. They've become the joke of the league because of the awful bases on their players. That has to change. Everyone needs a shot," he said. Everyone else seemed to agree. Participation in the Electrobowl declined this year to only six teams and more even competition in the league would bring teams back and hold onto the ones already playing.

John Cordry, who has opened his home for the Electrobowl tournament the past several years and was the league commissioner this year, said eight is an ideal number of teams. There have been as many as 12 to as low as four in Electrobowl I. The first Electrobowl was held in 1987 with teams coached by Ken VanPelt, Daniel Reardon, Joe Tremel and Paul Licktieg.

The Electrobowl championship trophy is called the Daniel Reardon Memorial Trophy because Reardon is the one who devised the rules for the game. Dice rolls are used to determine quarterbacks' and kickers' abilities before the first game of the season. During game play, players roll percentage dice to complete a pass or make a field goal. Dice are rolled for penalties and for kickoffs. A mixture of strategy and chance combine to make for some exciting matchups in Electrobowl competition. Ken VanPelt will hold onto the trophy for one more year but, next year, it will be up for grabs again.