D.C. Divas Soar Past Columbus Comets, 60-0

Landover, MD – The D.C. Divas had waited this long to make their home debut.

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A little rain wasn't going to slow them down.

Facing slippery conditions, the Divas kept the ball on the ground – rushing for seven touchdowns – and capitalized on five lost fumbles by the Columbus Comets to win their home opener, 60-0.

The Divas (5-0) got on the board first with a 39-yard touchdown run by Kenyetta Grigsby. Grigsby finished the game with 88 rushing yards on just seven carries. Less than five minutes into the game, the Divas led, 7-0.

Then the fumbles began. With a steady rain falling throughout the first half, both teams had difficulty hanging on to the football. Helen Deer fell on a Columbus fumble to give the Divas possession, but Divas quarterback Allyson Hamlin fumbled the ball right back to the Comets after taking a blind side hit from behind.

However, the Comets (0-5) had difficulty moving the ball on offense all game long, thanks largely to the weather conditions and key injuries to several of Columbus’ top playmakers. The Comets were forced to punt, and the Divas took advantage when Ashley Whisonant took the ball on an end-around and ran 13 yards for the Divas’ second score of the game. The Divas led, 14-0, after one quarter.

One of the biggest improvements to the D.C. Divas’ offense this season has been the addition of Callie Brownson, the Divas’ All-American defensive back, to many of the Divas’ offensive sets. Brownson was the offensive star of the game, rushing for two touchdowns in the second quarter alone from the running back position. Her second score of the game, a 49-yard run for the end zone, put the Divas on top, 27-0.

The Divas’ defense then joined the scoring parade. Alicia Hopkins snared her first of two interceptions on the evening, returning it for a touchdown and a 33-0 Divas advantage. Defensively, Tia Watkins led the Divas with eight tackles, while Paris Smith and Kamil Maclin added four apiece.

The D.C. Divas led 33-0 at halftime after a first half punctuated by seven lost fumbles – four by Columbus and three by D.C. But as the first half wound down, the rain finally cleared out and allowed for much better execution in the second half.

The Divas expanded their lead in the third quarter. First, Hamlin threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Kentrina Wilson, the only passing touchdown of the game. Wilson ended the game with two catches for 55 yards and one touchdown. Immediately after the touchdown strike, Hamlin went to the bench for the remainder of the contest.

She was replaced at quarterback by Brownson, who continued to be as dangerous a scoring threat from that position as she was at running back. After several strong runs by Okiima Pickett, Brownson scored on a one-yard sneak to put the Divas ahead, 47-0. Pickett powered the Divas’ running game in the second half, rushing for 59 yards on a team-high 14 carries.

Fifteen-year veteran Donna Wilkinson also got in the act late in the third quarter. Wilkinson, the only remaining Diva who has played in each of the team’s 15 seasons, rushed for a 13-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to make the margin 54-0. Wilkinson gained 54 yards on seven carries for the game.

Safi Mojidi recovered a fumble near the end of the third quarter, the Divas’ fifth fumble recovery of the game. Mojidi joined Cherre Marshall, Trigger McNair, and Helen Deer as Divas defenders who corralled the slippery football after it was fumbled by the Columbus backs.

The Divas substituted liberally throughout the second half, and several reserves played throughout a mostly scoreless fourth quarter. But Brownson, still in at quarterback at the end, put the final exclamation point on the game with a 32-yard touchdown run as time expired. Brownson’s team-leading 147 rushing yards included four rushing touchdowns. Callie Brownson became just the fifth Divas player ever to rush for four touchdowns in a game, joining Grigsby, Wilkinson, Rachelle Pecovsky, and Jane Reynolds.

Due to a quirky schedule brought on by multiple forfeits from the Central Maryland Seahawks, the Divas made their home debut on May 16 – the latest date in the year the Divas have ever held their home opener in 15 seasons. After such a long wait, not even a first-half rainstorm could dampen the Divas’ excitement to open their home slate.

The Divas now enjoy a bye week before three games in three weeks to close out the regular season. The Divas next return to action on May 30 in Atlanta when they face the southeastern powerhouse Atlanta Phoenix. The Divas’ next home game will take place on June 6, when they tackle the highly-rated Cleveland Fusion.

Playoff caliber football is here

D.C. Divas End Boston Curse by Defeating Renegades, 32-27 (Watch The Highlights)

Boston, MA – At long last, the muskets fell silent.

After years of coming up short against their rivals from Boston, the D.C. Divas made critical plays late in the game and finally topped their longtime Boston tormentors, sending the Boston Renegades to defeat, 32-27. The Divas are the first team to leave Boston victorious since they defeated the Boston Militia in the 2009 Eastern Conference championship game and the first team to win a regular season game in Boston in seven years.

The Boston Militia eliminated the D.C. Divas from the playoffs each of the last five seasons, winning three national championships over that span and establishing themselves as the premier dynasty in women’s football. Meanwhile, the Divas – perennially rated as one of the top teams in the sport – dominated most of the teams they played but seemed to be jinxed against the Militia. Over the past six seasons, the Divas compiled a 1-14 record against Boston, while assembling a 31-4 record against all other opponents.

For the Divas organization, those disparate records and annual playoff defeats made the Militia a constant source of frustration and angst. The Militia, on the other hand, understandably relished being their rivals’ perpetual stumbling block.

After winning the 2014 national championship, Boston Militia owner Ernie Boch discontinued the Militia this past offseason, folding his franchise and taking the Militia name with him. The talented cast of players he assembled, however, simply reorganized into a team named the Boston Renegades, adopting the mantra “New Name, Same Awesome.” While Saturday was the D.C. Divas’ first ever meeting with the Boston Renegades, it was a showdown against the same group of players that had stymied so many great Divas teams of the past.

It looked at the start as though this game might follow the same script as so many other recent Divas-Boston games. The D.C. Divas (3-0) won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, electing to kick off to the Boston Renegades (1-1). Renegades wide receiver Adrienne Smith made the Divas pay for that decision, taking the opening kickoff and racing down the home sidelines for a quick Boston touchdown. The Renegades led, 7-0, just 17 seconds into the contest.

The Divas’ offense took over for the first time and began a long, time-consuming drive down the field, which would be the story of the game. The Boston defense bent but ultimately failed to break, as a D.C. pass fell incomplete on fourth and goal from the five-yard line. A long pass to Smith got the Renegades out from the shadow of their own goalposts and placed the ball at midfield.

On the next play, the Renegades handed the ball to their all-star running back, Whitney Zelee. But four Divas converged on Zelee and made a ferocious gang tackle, and Zelee had to be carried off the field. Although she briefly tried to return to the game in the second quarter, Zelee was sidelined for the better part of the game with the injury, taking a potent weapon out of the Renegades’ hands.

Boston was then forced to punt for a touchback, and the Divas’ offense began their second long possession. Midway through their offensive charge, the first quarter ended with Boston in the lead, 7-0. But the Divas capped an 80-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Allyson Hamlin to Kentrina Wilson, tying the game at seven less than three minutes into the second quarter.

With the game back to even, the Divas’ defense made a key fourth down stop on Boston’s next possession, forcing Renegades quarterback Allison Cahill to throw incomplete on fourth and ten from the D.C. 28-yard line. The D.C. offense then put together their third straight long offensive series of the game, with Hamlin finding wide receiver Ashley Whisonant for a 44-yard touchdown reception to hand the Divas their first lead of the contest, 14-7, with 5:28 remaining in the first half.

Callie Brownson, who played a terrific game on both sides of the ball, reeled in a long Cahill pass at the D.C. six-yard line late in the half to secure the game’s first turnover. With time running down in the half and stuck deep in their own territory, the Divas ran the ball with the hopes of simply making it to halftime with a seven-point lead. The Renegades countered by burning two timeouts to bring up third down, hoping to force a D.C. punt. But when the Divas converted the third down at midfield with under a minute to play, the offense geared up to try to expand the D.C. lead.

The Divas drove down to the Renegades’ 16-yard line and called timeout with one second remaining in the first half. Hamlin threw a pass in the end zone for Wilson, but Wilson was tackled at the five-yard line by a Boston defender. The officials picked up the flag and ruled that the pass was uncatchable, allowing time to expire on the half. The Renegades raced to the locker room, relieved to be trailing at intermission by only a touchdown, while the Divas’ coaching staff remained on the field for a few minutes to discuss the call with the officiating crew.

The Divas received the ball to start the second half and once again drove deep into Boston territory. The drive stalled, however, when the Divas – facing fourth and one from the Boston 21-yard line – lost a yard to turn the ball over on downs. Cahill made the Divas pay, scoring Boston’s first offensive touchdown of the game midway through the third quarter by breaking free for a long run to the end zone that tied the game, 14-14. The Divas immediately responded with yet another long offensive drive down the field. As the third quarter ended, the Divas faced third and 13 from the Renegades’ 19-yard line.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Divas jumped back out front. Hamlin found Whisonant for their second touchdown connection of the day, a 19-yard toss that put the Divas back ahead, 20-14.

With Zelee sidelined for Boston, the Renegades once again turned to their standout receiver, Adrienne Smith. Cahill found Smith in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown pass that knotted the game for the third time, this time at 20-20. 17-year veteran linebacker Trigger McNair made her presence felt, however, blocking Boston’s extra point kick attempt to keep the game deadlocked with 10:16 showing on the clock.

The D.C. Divas’ offense had been able to chew up yards and time of possession all evening, and in the fourth quarter, the Divas’ offense once again responded to the challenge. A great kickoff return by Callie Brownson to midfield was erased by a penalty, backing the Divas up to their own 26-yard line. Undaunted, the D.C. offense methodically consumed over six minutes off the clock, and Kenyetta Grigsby finished the drive with an eight-yard run for a touchdown. The Divas’ first rushing score of the night gave the visitors a 26-20 advantage with 3:50 left to play in the game.

The Boston Militia had won 11 straight games against the Divas from 2011-2014, and four of these games were Boston victories by a touchdown or less. In one 2012 contest, the Divas led, 25-24, with under two minutes to play before a Zelee touchdown sealed a 32-25 Militia victory. In their two regular season meetings last season, the Divas held a fourth-quarter lead against Boston only to twice see it slip away in the waning minutes. The Divas led in the 2014 regular season finale, 28-21, and had the ball in Boston territory with six minutes to play. But a turnover set up a Militia touchdown and two-point conversion with under three minutes remaining in a 29-28 Divas loss. These were agonizing defeats for the Divas, having victory ripped away from them in the final minutes as Boston compiled a long winning streak in the series.

On Saturday, the Boston Renegades had the ball with under four minutes remaining and trailing by a 26-20 score. But this time, the Boston rally was finally destined to come up short. Brownson tipped a Cahill pass into the air, and it was secured by Trigger McNair to give the Divas the ball at midfield with under two minutes to play. Grigsby ripped off a long run to the Renegades’ two-yard line, and Brownson plowed into the end zone for the clinching score that put the Divas in front, 32-20, with 1:13 remaining in the game.

Cahill found Adrienne Smith in the end zone on a touchdown pass as time expired, and the successful extra point kick made the final margin 32-27. After the touchdown, the militiamen fired off their muskets, a jarring celebration that punctuates every Boston score. But in this case, their gunfire also put the exclamation point on a D.C. victory, and when the smoke cleared, the Divas had succeeded on the field where the previous 30 Boston opponents before them had failed. The Divas became the first squad to hand a Boston team a regular season home defeat since May 10, 2008, when the New York Sharks – led by Adrienne Smith – downed the Militia, 26-24.

It was a truly significant victory for the D.C. Divas franchise, yet it was one kept in context by the fact that they will encounter the Renegades again on June 13 in D.C. and, if history is any guide, potentially a third time in the WFA playoffs. For now, the Divas will enjoy a hard-earned win in what was, surprisingly, the Renegades’ regular season home finale, as they will play their final four regular season games on the road. Meanwhile, the Divas are left to prepare for their home opener which is still two weeks away – on May 16 against the Columbus Comets.

Over the past several years, the D.C. Divas have steadfastly squared off against their Boston rivals despite their long losing streak against them. Rather than try to find a way to avoid playing them, the Divas have, year after year, gone out of their way to continue a distant home-and-home series with Boston. The frequent losses to Boston have dragged down the overall record of one of the sport’s greatest franchises, yet the Divas have endured it all so that they could test themselves against the sport’s reigning dynasty. On Saturday, for one glorious evening, the Divas’ years of persistence and their ongoing refusal to back down from any challenge finally paid off with one of the biggest regular season wins in franchise history.

D.C. Divas Begin 15th Season with 40-6 Victory over Columbus DC 40, Columbus 6

By Neal Rozendaal

Columbus, OH – The D.C. Divas kicked off their historic 15th season in style. A strong first-half effort staked the Divas to an early lead, and they overcame a penalty-plagued second half to topple the Columbus Comets, 40-6.

The Divas’ offense came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. It took the Divas just over two minutes to score their first touchdown of the season. Quarterback Allyson Hamlin threw a ten-yard strike to Ashley Whisonant to give the Divas a quick 7-0 lead.

Defensive back Eleni Kotsis, one of three defensive team captains this season, helped the Divas strike again quickly. Kotsis, who has been named a first-team WFA All-American each of the past two years, picked off a Comets pass and returned it to the Columbus side of the field. That opened the door for Hamlin’s second touchdown pass of the contest, a 14-yard toss to Kentrina Wilson that put the Divas on top, 14-0.

Two fourth-down stops by the D.C. Divas defense gave the visitors control of the game. On their next possession, the Comets went for it on fourth and seven near midfield, but the Divas stopped a quarterback run for no gain. Divas running back Okiima Pickett, a 2010 IFAF gold medal winner with Team USA, starred on the ensuing offensive drive. Pickett had several strong runs, culminating in a 14-yard scamper to the end zone that gave the Divas a 20-0 lead.

At the end of the first quarter, the Comets faced fourth and two near midfield. Again, Columbus tried to get the first down, and again the Divas defense rose to the occasion. DeVon Goldsmith registered an 11-yard sack to give the Divas a turnover on downs; Goldsmith would have a second fourth-down sack later in the quarter to end another Columbus drive.

Kentrina Wilson then authored perhaps the Divas’ best offensive play of the night, reeling in a Hamlin pass and dodging multiple Columbus defenders on a 57-yard touchdown reception. Wilson’s second score of the contest put the Divas ahead, 27-0, a little over one minute into the second quarter.

The Columbus Comets battled gamely all evening long and struck back late in the first half. The Divas botched a punt attempt, giving the Comets possession deep in D.C. territory at the 13-yard line. The Divas’ defense stopped the Columbus offense on three straight plays to bring up fourth and ten, but Comets wide receiver Angela Basenback broke free for a 13-yard touchdown reception on fourth down to cut the Divas’ advantage to 27-6 with under four minutes to go in the half.

The Divas’ offense immediately responded to the challenge by repeatedly handing the ball to running back Kenyetta Grigsby on the following drive. Grigsby helped drive the Divas down the field, and with the Columbus defense focused on the run, Hamlin threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Whisonant to push the lead back out to 34-6 at halftime. Hamlin threw four touchdown passes in the contest – two to Ashley Whisonant and two to Kentrina Wilson.

The third quarter was highlighted by more outstanding play from the D.C. defense and two outstanding punt returns by D’Ajah Scott. Newcomer Tia Watkins, named a defensive captain in her first year with the team, delivered a crushing block on one of Scott’s punt returns that gave the Divas great field position.

Defensive back Callie Brownson displayed her versatility by trying her hand at running back and helped the Divas capitalize on Scott’s second long punt return. Brownson rushed for a three-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to put the Divas on top, 40-6. Grigsby then barreled into the end zone for an apparent two-point conversion, but the officials ruled that Grigsby’s forward progress had been stopped short of the goal line and waved off the two points, keeping the score at 40-6 after three quarters.

The final period was characterized by penalties and missed opportunities. The Divas had two potential fourth-quarter touchdowns – a 70-yard punt return by Scott and a 100-yard interception return by rookie Quiana Ford – negated by penalties. Despite those miscues, the Divas were able to notch an important division win on the road over a relentless opponent.

The D.C. Divas have now won 99 games in franchise history. They will have a shot next weekend to become the fourth women’s football team with 100 wins when they visit their historic rivals, the Baltimore Burn.

D.C. DIVAS begin their historic 15th season on 4/11

D.C. Divas Open Historic 15th Season in Columbus

Washington, DC – The D.C. Divas will kick off their 15th season of women’s football and attempt to win their 99th game in franchise history Saturday night when they go on the road to meet the Columbus Comets.

As is the case every year, the new season brings both new and familiar faces to the Divas sideline. Perhaps the most notable arrival for the Divas in 2015 is a coach who is both new and familiar. Eric Evans, the Divas’ offensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013, returns to the team as the co-offensive coordinator alongside Greg Gaskins, the Divas’ former offensive line coach. D.C. Divas head coach Alison Fischer isn’t worried about having two coaches jointly guiding the Divas’ offense.

“It’s good to have Coach Evans back,” Coach Fischer said. “[Coach] Greg Gaskins will primarily handle the running game, while Eric will handle more of the passing game. The two of them have a really good relationship and work very well together. Having co-coordinators is sometimes hard to do with coaches, but they mesh so well together that they really complement each other.”

The past few years, the Divas have had one of the most explosive yet balanced offenses in women’s football, one that is equally comfortable passing or running the football. This year looks to be no different. Coach Evans’ work in the passing game will be made easier by quarterback Allyson Hamlin, the nine-time all-pro who has amassed over 10,000 career passing yards and 184 career passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, Coach Gaskins can rely on Kenyetta Grigsby, who has racked up over 5,000 rushing yards and 75 rushing touchdowns with the Divas the past five seasons.

“We expect to still have a balanced offense, a good mix of run and pass,” Fischer noted. “We did lose a couple of outstanding players, but we’re definitely more veteran on offense with most of our key players coming back this season. We have a little more depth now at both wide receiver and running back – Kentrina [Wilson] and Ashley [Whisonant] are outstanding players, and Lillian Cherry was really coming along last year as a rookie, so we’re excited for her second season. We have a few other receivers coming back, too, and we have a little more depth at running back as well. I think that’s going to help us quite a bit over the course of a long season.”

Defensively, Coach Fischer is hoping that a young unit will make great strides under second-year defensive coordinator Willie Bennett. “The veterans are still getting used to his schemes and his defenses. There was kind of a growing process last year where it took some time for them to learn it, but they really settled in with it toward the end of last year,” Coach Fischer explained.

“Our goal is to be faster and more aggressive on defense this year,” she continued. “We have a lot of rookies and first-year Divas on defense this season, and we’re going to ask several of them to do a lot and contribute right away. But the vets are doing a great job of helping them get up to speed.”

The Divas will be tested in their season opener by the Columbus Comets, one of the most storied teams in women’s football. The Comets are entering their 13th season of play this year and are aiming to make their tenth playoff appearance in 2015. With 79 victories, the Columbus Comets are one of the winningest teams in the sport.

There’s a reason why the Comets have had so much success over the years, as Coach Fischer explained. “They always play hard. We know what to expect from them – they’re going to come out and come after us and be very physical. We have to set the tone and match their intensity, and hopefully that will dictate how the game is going to go,” Fischer said.

Offensively, the Comets are led by quarterback Amanda Herbst, who was a second-team WFA All-American selection as a rookie. Herbst took over the Comets’ starting quarterback job midway through last season from Comets great Crystal Davis, and Herbst finished just outside the top ten in the WFA in passing as a rookie.

“We saw a little bit of Amanda Herbst in our playoff game last year,” Fischer observed. “She’s very mobile, and that gives their offense a little bit of a different dimension with a mobile quarterback.”

The newcomer Herbst is surrounded by several terrific, veteran playmakers. Columbus' Shelly Gates is one of the top running backs in women’s football history, having totaled 6,339 rushing yards and 73 rushing touchdowns in her storied career. Standout wide receiver Deasha Talley ranked second in the WFA in receptions and third in receiving yards last season, and she was named a league All-American as both a wide receiver and a punt returner.

On the other side of the ball, safety Dietra Sherwin stands out for the Columbus defense. Sherwin earned first-team WFA All-American honors last season after finishing in the top 15 in the league in tackles, and she returns for her 13th year with the Comets organization this season. Linebacker Lindsay Rice was also named a first-team All-American for the Comets defense last year after she placed in the top five in the league in pass deflections and in the top ten in interceptions.

“They have some very good veterans on their team. They definitely have some athletes,” Coach Fischer acknowledged. “As I said before, the Columbus Comets play hard, they don’t quit, and they never give up. They’ll just throw everything they have at you all the time.”

Because of Columbus’ talent and experience, Coach Fischer will use the Comets as a measuring stick to see how the 2015 D.C. Divas stack up against elite opponents. “We’re looking forward to it,” Fischer said. “This should be a great year for us. We have a very good mix of vets and rookies and first-year players, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do on Saturday. This game will really show us where we are as a team.”

The Divas play their first two games this season on the road before their home opener on April 25 against the Central Maryland Seahawks. Get your season or single-game tickets today athttp://dcdivas.com/gameday/tickets/.

D.C. Divas Come Up Short in Record Playoff Shootout, 72-56

Neal Rozendaal
Boston, MA – Recent games between the D.C. Divas and the Boston Militia have shattered offensive records in women’s football. The Divas only wish they could wind up on the right side of history once in a while.
One year after the Divas lost to Boston in the highest scoring game in women’s football history (81-54), the Boston Militia eliminated the Divas from the 2014 WFA playoffs Saturday in the highest scoring postseason game in the history of the sport, 72-56.
The 128 combined points set a record for the most points scored by two women’s football teams in a single playoff game. It broke the previous record of 116, set last weekend in a smaller league when the Houston Energy topped the Phoenix Phantomz, 90-26.
This game was slightly more competitive than that one.
The Boston Militia (9-0) received the opening kickoff and immediately flexed their offensive muscles, with running back Stacey Tiamfook racing for a long touchdown and a 7-0 lead less than a minute into the game. The D.C. Divas (5-4) responded just 72 seconds later. Allyson Hamlin fired a 62-yard touchdown pass to Kentrina Wilson, and the game was knotted at seven. Two touchdowns after barely two minutes had passed foreshadowed a record-shattering scoring spree.
Boston running back Whitney Zelee first made her presence felt on the Militia’s next drive, battling into the end zone on third and goal to give Boston a lead they’d never relinquish, 14-7. Although the defenses were overshadowed in this contest, defensive and special teams plays dominated the rest of the first quarter.
The Divas successfully executed a fake punt when D’Ajah Scott raced for a first down out of punt formation. Later in the quarter, the Divas came up with their first defensive stop of the game, forcing the Militia to punt the ball back to them. However, the D.C. offense struggled to find its groove, coming up empty on three straight offensive possessions.
Early in the second quarter, Emily Grossman got off a nice punt under a heavy Boston rush, and the ball settled at the Militia 27-yard line. Boston quarterback Alison Cahill got loose down the sidelines on a spectacular 73-yard run to put Boston ahead by two touchdowns. Cahill capped her athletic play by drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting as she crossed the goal line. But the penalty yardage didn’t affect the extra point attempt, and Boston took a seemingly commanding 21-7 lead.
With the offense struggling a bit, D’Ajah Scott decided to take matters into her own hands. Scott, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the Divas’ previous game in Boston, completed a hat trick this season against the Militia by returning the ensuing kickoff for a score. Scott’s electrifying run put the Divas right back in the game, 21-14.
The Divas’ defense then stepped up again. Lindsay Sollers picked off a Militia pass and gave the Divas the opportunity to potentially tie the game. However, the Divas’ offense stalled for the fourth straight time, leading to another D.C. punt.
Zelee got her second short touchdown run of the game, plowing in from a yard out to put Boston ahead, 28-14. The Divas’ offense snapped to life in the nick of time, and Grigsby countered with a short two-yard scoring run of her own to cut the deficit to seven, 28-21.
With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, the Militia faced a fourth and seven deep in D.C. territory. The Militia were able to run for a first down, and on the very next play, Cahill hit Adrienne Smith for a score and a 35-21 advantage with 1:37 showing on the scoreboard clock.
After Smith’s touchdown, the officials “corrected” the scoreboard clock to 1:10. By the time the Divas fielded the ensuing kickoff, they were left with just 59 seconds remaining before halftime.
The Divas’ two-minute offense responded to the challenge. Ashley Whisonant made a couple of terrific catches, the last being a 29-yard reception from Hamlin in the end zone with just seven seconds left before halftime. Although the Divas missed the extra point, D.C. had cut their deficit to one score at the half, 35-27.
The D.C. Divas took the second half kickoff and nearly pulled even as the third quarter began. Hamlin threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Scott, and the extra point kick pulled the Divas within a single point, 35-34.
But Whitney Zelee and the Militia then scored three successive touchdowns to seize control of the game. First, Zelee raced seven yards to put the Militia back ahead by seven, 41-34. A well-executed onside kick gave Boston possession again, and Zelee scored two touchdowns in the span of less than a minute by ripping off a 45-yard dash to the end zone. That run gave the Militia a 48-34 lead.
The Divas’ offense again stalled and was forced to punt, and a snap above the punter’s head was recovered by the Militia at the D.C. 19-yard line. Zelee ran for her third touchdown of the quarter – and her fifth of the game – from seven yards away to give the Militia an insurmountable 55-34 advantage.
The Divas refused to fold, however. Grigsby raced for her second score of the contest, and Hamlin tossed to Whisonant for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 55-42 after three quarters.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Militia booted a 23-yard field goal to extend their lead to 58-42. The Divas were still within two scores, and the offense moved the ball down the field in an attempt to cut the margin to a single score. But a pitch from Hamlin to Grigsby went astray, and the Militia recovered the fumble at the Divas’ 14-yard line to end the threat.
Boston ended an 86-yard drive with Zelee rushing for her fourth straight Militia touchdown. Zelee’s sixth score of the game followed by her two-point conversion rush put the Divas behind, 66-42, with just over six minutes remaining.
Yet the offensive fireworks were far from over. Hamlin hit Whisonant for a fifty-yard touchdown strike to push the score to 66-48. After a recovered onside kick, Boston notched their tenth touchdown of the game with a long run to take a 72-48 lead.
Grigsby finished the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run capped by a two-point conversion with two minutes left in the game. That provided the final score in a wild, record-shattering, 72-56 contest that concluded when the Militia recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.
The 56 points scored by the Divas were the most the Militia have ever surrendered in a single game, breaking the record of 54 the Divas scored against them in last season’s defeat. The Divas also became the first team to score 56 points in a losing effort in a playoff game, surpassing the 58-55 defeat suffered last season by the Kansas City Titans versus the St. Louis Slam.
The Militia’s previous season-high this year for points scored was 48. The Divas knew coming into this contest that 56 points would have been enough to defeat the Militia in any of their previous games this season.
But even that wasn’t enough on Saturday, and the Boston Militia secured the northeast championship for the fifth consecutive year.

D.C. Divas and Boston Militia Prepare for Record Sixth Straight Playoff Game

Neal Rozendaal
Watch the D.C. Divas @ Boston Militia Saturday July 5, 6pm EST

Washington, DC – You may have heard this story before. The Divas’ season, it seems, always comes down to this.

When the D.C. Divas (5-3) travel to Boston Saturday to face their archrivals, the Boston Militia (8-0), it will mark the sixth consecutive season that these two teams have faced each other in the playoffs. It will break the record for most playoff meetings between any pair of teams in women’s football history, currently shared by the Sacramento Sirens and Seattle Majestics (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2012).

What’s incredible about the Divas’ and Militia’s rivalry, however, is that these two teams have clashed in the postseason six years in a row. The D.C. Divas and Boston Militia have met in the playoffs every season since 2009. Other than the Divas and Militia, no two teams in women’s football history have ever met in the playoffs more than three seasons in a row.

The D.C. Divas qualified for the conference semifinal round with a convincing 69-8 victory over the Columbus Comets. “It was probably the best all-around performance we’ve ever had against Columbus,” Divas head coach Alison Fischer remarked. “We have a lot of respect for the Comets. They have some great athletes and they’re very physical, so to have that kind of performance against a team like Columbus feels pretty good.”

In their regular season finale, the Divas fell behind against the Boston Militia, 21-0, a deficit that largely contributed to the Divas’ 29-28 defeat. Fischer was particularly pleased with how the Divas were ready to play from the opening whistle against Columbus.

“We challenged the team to get off to a faster start, and I think they did that on both sides of the ball. That was very good to see,” Fischer said. “You like to see the offense and the defense clicking at the right time and building as the season goes on, and I think we definitely responded and rebounded against Columbus.”

Now the Divas must hit the road to face a team that has beaten them twice this season by a combined five points. Both regular season contests against Boston came down to the final minute, and while the Divas have improved enough to challenge the Militia until the final whistle, they know that the final step – actually triumphing over Boston – is the most difficult one.

“Both of our games against Boston were really close and tough losses,” Coach Fischer confirmed. “They’ve beaten us several years in a row, and we’re still continuing our climb. But our players are excited to get one more shot to try to beat them, so we’re looking forward to it.”

The winner of the Divas-Militia contest advances to the Eastern Conference championship game. The Divas have never made it to the conference title game since joining the WFA in 2011, because they have bumped heads against the Militia before reaching the conference championship each time. Although it’s just a conference semifinal matchup, playoff games between the Militia and Divas have so much intensity and high-quality play that they take on the feel of championship-level contests.

Fischer feels that the Divas’ tough schedule has prepared them for this moment. “Even our regular season meetings with Boston feel like playoff games,” Fischer said. “Whenever we play Boston, there’s a lot riding on the outcome because of the quality of the two teams and the nature of our rivalry.”

Most Playoff Meetings in Women’s Football – All-Time
6 – D.C. DIVAS & BOSTON MILITIA (2009-2014)
5 – Sacramento Sirens & Seattle Majestics (2003-2005, 2007, 2012)
3 – D.C. DIVAS & COLUMBUS COMETS (2006, 2013, 2014)
3 – Boston Militia & Chicago Force (2011-2013)
3 – Chicago Force & Dallas Diamonds (2008, 2010, 2013)
3 – Columbus Comets & West Michigan Mayhem (2005, 2006, 2009)
3 – New York Sharks & Atlanta Xplosion (2005-2007)
3 – Oklahoma City Lightning & Pensacola Power (2003-2005)
3 – Detroit Demolition & Pensacola Power (2002, 2003, 2005)

Around the WFA – The winner of the Divas-Militia game will advance to the National Conference championship game against the winner of the Chicago Force and Miami Fury. The reigning WFA champion Chicago Force (7-1) began their title defense with a dominating 66-0 victory over the West Michigan Mayhem. The Force are making their 11th playoff appearance, tied with the Divas for the most playoff appearances in women’s football history…The Miami Fury (7-2), on the other hand, won the southeast region championship by going on the road and upsetting the reigning southeast champion Atlanta Phoenix, 9-7. It was the first non-forfeit playoff victory in the Fury’s franchise history, which dates back to 2000.

In the Midwest Region championship, the Austin Outlaws will travel to take on the Kansas City Titans. The Austin Outlaws (8-1) narrowly held off the Minnesota Machine in the previous round, 14-3. The Outlaws are one win away from qualifying for their first conference championship game since 2002, when they advanced to their only national championship game in team history…Standing in their way are the Kansas City Titans (9-0), who easily handled the WFA’s other Texas team, the Houston Power, in the previous round. It was the first official playoff victory for the Titans, a team that was formed in 2013 from a merger of the Kansas City Spartans and Kansas City Tribe. The Titans hope to be the first Kansas City team to advance to a conference championship game since the Tribe captured the national title in 2009.

In the Pacific region, the Seattle Majestics (8-1) pulled off the upset of the conference quarterfinal round, traveling to Fresno and toppling the Central Cal War Angels, 13-12. Seattle is attempting to move on to the conference championship game for the first time since 2008, when they fell to the eventual national champion Dallas Diamonds…Seattle will host the San Diego Surge (9-0), who advanced to the conference semifinals by downing a stubborn Las Vegas Showgirlz squad, 48-16. The Surge, who have a 41-3 record since 2011, are looking to get back to the national title game for the third time in four years and add another trophy to the national championship they won in 2012.

D.C. Divas advance

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D.C. Divas Advance to Conference Semifinals with 69-8 Victory
Neal Rozendaal

Falls Church, VA – The D.C. Divas invaded Northern Virginia and celebrated their record-setting 11th playoff berth with one of the most commanding victories in franchise history.

The Divas exploded for ten touchdowns and opened their 2014 playoff journey with a 69-8 victory over the visiting Columbus Comets. It was the Divas’ most lopsided win since defeating the Northeastern Nitro in 2011 by a 77-0 score.

The D.C. Divas (5-3) seized control of the game early. Ashley Whisonant reeled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Allyson Hamlin to give the Divas a 6-0 advantage less than two minutes into the game.

The Columbus Comets (5-5) drove deep into D.C. territory on their first offensive possession until a pass was deflected into the hands of Cherre Marshall, who returned the interception to midfield. Moments later, Kenyetta Grigsby ran 31 yards for a touchdown, and Callie Brownson passed to Kentrina Wilson for a two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.

The Divas took an insurmountable lead late in the first quarter with two touchdowns in a thirty-second span. Whisonant eluded several defenders for her second touchdown reception of the game, a 58-yard scamper that gave the Divas a 21-0 margin. After a kickoff out of bounds, Columbus took over at their own 35-yard line. On the very next play, D.C. defensive back Lindsay Sollers intercepted a Columbus pass and returned it to the Comets’ ten-yard line.

Kenyetta Grigsby then immediately rushed the remaining ten yards for a Divas touchdown, her second of the game. The ball seemed to bounce the Divas’ way all game long, a fact made most evident on the extra point attempt following Grigsby’s second score. Kicker Molly Redmond found the ball in her hands after a botched kick attempt, but she sped to the edge of the field and ran the ball over the goal line for a two-point conversion and a 29-0 lead after one quarter.

The second quarter was more of the same for the D.C. Divas’ unstoppable offense. Wide receiver Kentrina Wilson, who leads the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) with nine touchdown receptions on the season, added to that tally with a five-yard touchdown catch from Hamlin and put the Divas ahead, 36-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, defensive back Eleni Kotsis recovered the football to give possession right back to D.C. It didn’t take the offense long to cash in, as Kenyetta Grigsby soon rushed five yards for her third touchdown of the contest. Grigsby finished the game with six carries for 76 yards and three touchdowns, and her last score gave the Divas a 43-0 lead.

The potent D.C. offense added one more touchdown before halftime. With just 23 seconds left in the first half, Whisonant took a short pass, got loose down the sidelines, and sprinted 59 yards for a touchdown. Ashley Whisonant ended the game with 160 yards and three touchdowns on just four receptions. Her final touchdown handed the Divas a 49-0 halftime advantage.

The Columbus Comets came into the game ranked #12 in the WFA, but they were hampered all game long by the absences of several key players. Multiple Columbus players, including star back Shelley Gates, missed the game after being injured in the Comets’ regular season finale against the Chicago Force.

In spite of those injuries, Columbus battled gamely all evening, and they finally got on the scoreboard early in the second half with a long touchdown pass. A successful two-point conversion made the score 49-8 with just over two minutes gone in the third quarter.

Divas quarterback Allyson Hamlin had her best statistical game of the season, completing 12-22 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns. Her final touchdown toss of the evening went to Kentrina Wilson and gave the Divas a 56-8 lead. Wilson, meanwhile, continued to stamp herself as a women’s football superstar with five receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

The Divas’ offensive headliners retired to the bench midway through the third quarter, but the D.C. defense continued to play stellar football, forcing several turnovers. Denee Walker recovered a Columbus fumble, and Lindsay Sollers registered an interception and a fumble recovery.

But the defensive standout of the game was linebacker Alicia Hopkins, who led the team with eight tackles and a quarterback sack. In addition, Hopkins intercepted two Comets passes. Her second interception came with 14 minutes remaining in the game, and she returned that interception to the end zone for a Divas touchdown. Hopkins’ defensive score handed the Divas a 63-8 lead.

With four minutes left in the contest, D.C. scored their tenth and final touchdown of the game. Running back Okiima Pickett raced to the end zone for her first touchdown since suffering a severe leg injury against the Boston Militia in 2012. Pickett finished the game with 63 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries, and her lone score capped off the Divas’ 69-8 victory.

The D.C. Divas and Columbus Comets squared off at Falls Church High School, and the Divas celebrated their first ever appearance in Northern Virginia with the 12th playoff win in franchise history. The Divas’ 69-8 triumph was their most lopsided postseason win since 2003, when they defeated the Connecticut Crush, 76-0, for their first playoff victory.

By defeating the Comets, the Divas advance to the WFA conference semifinals against the top-ranked Boston Militia. On July 5, the Divas will travel to Boston, where they will face the Militia in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

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Boston Militia Survive Furious Divas Rally to Win, 29-28
Neal Rozendaal

Landover, MD – Ultimately, it proved to be too big of a hole to overcome.

The D.C. Divas fell behind in the first half, 21-0, and despite 28 unanswered points that gave the Divas a late lead, the Boston Militia scored the game-winning touchdown with three minutes remaining to triumph by the narrowest of margins, 29-28.

The D.C. Divas (4-3) had a chance to get on the scoreboard first midway through the first quarter, but a bad snap on a field goal attempt kept the game scoreless. The Boston Militia (7-0) then went on to dominate most of the first half, sprinting out to a 21-0 lead. In the absence of their star running back Whitney Zelee, Boston relied largely on an open passing attack to notch the first three touchdowns of the game.

The Divas’ offense finally got on track late in the first half. Kenyetta Grigsby scored the Divas’ first points of the game on a seven-yard run with 4:33 left in the first half. Grigsby had another masterful performance against an elite opponent, rushing for 248 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Her lone touchdown cut the Divas’ deficit to 21-6 at halftime.

On the Divas’ first possession of the second half, they faced fourth and 18 when Grigsby came up inches short of a first down on a surprise run. When the Divas got the ball back, Grigsby ripped off a 45-yard run to set up Allyson Hamlin’s first touchdown pass of the game. Hamlin’s 20-yard scoring toss went to coach-turned-quarterback-turned-wide-receiver Nikki Williams. Grigsby ran for the two-point conversion, and the Divas trailed Boston after three quarters, 21-14.

Led by Trigger McNair and Alicia Hopkins – who each paced the team with six tackles – the D.C. defense played excellently for most of the second half. Early in the fourth quarter, they stopped Boston for a three-yard gain on fourth and four, and the Divas took possession at their own six-yard line.

The Divas offense then drove 94 yards to tie the game, with Ashley Whisonant carrying the ball 31 yards to the end zone. After a successful extra point kick, the game was tied, 21-21, with 11:40 remaining in the contest.

Tasha Lemke kept the Divas’ momentum going, forcing a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that Emily Grossman recovered. Whisonant scored the Divas’ fourth straight unanswered touchdown, making a tough catch in the end zone for a 14-yard score. The Divas took their first lead of the game, 28-21, with 8:09 left. Whisonant finished the game with 56 yards receiving and a receiving touchdown to go along with her 31-yard touchdown run.

On the Militia’s next possession, Callie Brownson intercepted a Boston pass at midfield, giving the Divas the ball and a seven-point lead with under seven minutes remaining in the game. But the Divas then committed a rare miscue, fumbling the ball a minute later.

Given another opportunity, the Militia put together the offensive drive they needed. Stacey Tiamfook rushed for a one-yard touchdown, and Asia Landrum rushed for the two-point conversion to swing the score back in favor of Boston, 29-28.

With three minutes remaining in the game, the Divas had time for one final drive. The Divas advanced to the Boston 27-yard line, where they faced fourth and one with under a minute to play. But the Divas were stopped for no gain on a running attempt, and the Militia escaped with their closest victory in team history.

The Militia now have a record of 50-1 over their last 51 regular season contests. Only two of those 50 victories have been by less than a touchdown, and both were their 2014 victories over the Divas. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Divas, who were agonizingly close to finally getting a win over their chief rivals. Instead, as a result of the loss, the Divas will have to travel to Boston should they encounter the Militia in the playoffs.

All season long, the Divas have dedicated their 2014 season to the memory of their late coach, Ezra Cooper, one of the sport’s greatest advocates who passed away this offseason. After the game, the Militia players and coaches huddled on their side of the field and mocked Cooper’s signature team cheer, chanting, “Whose house? Our house!” at the Divas’ players in celebration of their hard-fought road victory. It was the slimmest of victories, but it was enough for Boston to keep the upper hand in this rivalry.

After a bye week, the D.C. Divas will next return to action on June 21 for their playoff opener. The Divas will play a conference quarterfinal game at home against an opponent still to be determined.

D.C. Divas Tackle Top-Ranked Boston Militia in Regular Season Finale

Militia @ Divas Live On US Sports Radio Saturday 5:15pm EST
Neal Rozendaal

Washington, DC – In a game with major playoff implications on the line, the D.C. Divas host their archrivals, the undefeated Boston Militia, Saturday. The contest pits two of the very best teams in the sport against one another and renews a rivalry that ranks as one of the best in all of women’s football.

The D.C. Divas (4-2) will come into the game riding a four-game winning streak after two losses to start the 2014 season. The Divas most recently took the field against the Atlanta Phoenix and captured a 44-0 victory in the first ever meeting between the two teams.

“It was really good to play them,” Divas head coach Alison Fischer remarked. “It’s not a team that we had played before. It was good to see a different offense and defense and to see a team that plays at a very fast speed. I thought our team responded well to the challenge.”

In particular, the defense pitched its third consecutive shutout victory and has played 13 consecutive quarters without surrendering a point. The Divas haven’t allowed an opponent to score since the Chicago Force notched a touchdown in the third quarter when the two teams met on April 19.

“The defense is coming around and getting better each and every week,” Fischer said. “They continue to improve and gel and get more confidence in the scheme. They’ve been playing with more confidence as the season has gone on. That’s what’s really important for us – that we get better every single week. I think we did against Atlanta, so I was pleased with that.”

Offensively, the Divas were sparked by the return of quarterback Allyson Hamlin, who had missed the previous three games with an injury. Hamlin threw three touchdowns in half of one quarter to ignite the Divas’ passing attack.

“It was good to get her in the Atlanta game. We didn’t want to push her too much because she’s just getting back, but she came in and set the tone. Ally really got things going for our offense. It was good to see her get back in the saddle, so to speak,” Coach Fischer observed.

The Divas close up the 2014 regular season with their biggest test of the year – a visit from the undefeated Boston Militia (6-0). The Militia come into the game sporting a #1 ranking in the WFA, while the Divas are ranked fourth in the league. The Divas lost to Boston in the teams’ season opener, 36-32, and every time these two teams collide, it showcases women’s football at its highest level.

“I expect another great game,” Fischer remarked. “It’s one of the best rivalries – if not the best – in women’s football. They’re a great team; we’re a great team. I expect another hard-fought, good, solid football game from both sides.”

The Boston Militia have a record of 49-1 over their last fifty regular season contests. Their only regular season defeat over the past six years was a 35-20 setback to the Divas on April 2, 2011.

Yet the Divas fell to the Militia by just four points earlier this season, which gives Saturday’s contest enormous importance in the playoff race. If the Divas can hand Boston a rare defeat – and beat the Militia by five points or more in the process – the Divas would secure home field against Boston should the two teams meet in the WFA playoffs. Otherwise, the Militia will have effectively clinched home field advantage all the way through the National Conference playoffs.

To secure a home field advantage against Boston in the WFA playoffs, the Divas will need to pull the upset in their final regular season game of the year. That means relying on the home crowd Saturday as well.

“It’s good that we have this game at home,” Coach Fischer declared. “We love to play in front of our home crowd; they’re a tremendous help to us. This game does have some big playoff implications, but we’re going to concentrate solely on this game and try to play our best football. We’ll wait and see what happens after that.”

Get your tickets today for the D.C. Divas’ final regular season home game of the 2014 season on Saturday, June 7, against the undefeated Boston Militia by visiting http://dcdivas.com/gameday/tickets/. Kickoff for Saturday’s game is at 6 PM at Prince George’s Sports Complex in Landover.

Around the WFA

The D.C. Divas-Boston Militia game is one of several contests being held Saturday that could have an impact on the WFA playoffs. Eight teams – the Chicago Force, Boston Militia, D.C. Divas, Toledo Reign, Atlanta Phoenix, San Diego Surge, Central Cal War Angels, and Seattle Majestics – have clinched division championships and automatic playoff berths. The other four division championships will be decided in games Saturday.

The only division championship still up for grabs in the National Conference is in the South Atlantic, where the Tampa Bay Inferno (7-0) will try to close out an undefeated regular season by holding off the Miami Fury (5-2). The Fury can squash those dreams and capture the South Atlantic Division championship by erasing a 14-13 defeat they suffered against Tampa Bay two weeks ago.

In the Midwest region, none of the three divisions have been conclusively decided. Like Tampa Bay, the Kansas City Titans (7-0) are chasing an undefeated regular season record. To do it, they will need to hold off the Nebraska Stampede (6-1) Saturday. The Stampede can claim a Midwest Division championship by winning by 20 or more points to overcome their only loss, a 33-14 setback to the Titans on May 10.

The Austin Outlaws (6-1) are in the driver’s seat in the Southwest Division, thanks to a 17-8 victory over the Houston Power (5-2) in the first game of the season. But Houston can snatch the division title away with a victory of at least ten points when the Power travel to Austin Saturday.

Finally, the Tulsa Threat (3-4) hold an edge over the Acadiana Zydeco (2-5) on the basis of a 30-8 victory earlier this season. The Zydeco will need at least a 22-point win Saturday when they host the Threat to capture the Gulf Coast Division crown.

In addition to their six division champions, both conferences will have six wild card teams that qualify for the WFA playoffs. Several teams have effectively clinched a wild card playoff berth, while the final spots will be determined by the outcomes of this weekend’s contests.

In the National Conference, the Cleveland Fusion (5-2), Indy Crash (4-3), and Columbus Comets (4-3) have all secured their places in the WFA playoffs. The runner-up in the South Atlantic Division, either the Tampa Bay Inferno or the Miami Fury, will also qualify as a wild card team. The final two National Conference playoff spots are currently held by the Detroit Dark Angels and West Michigan Mayhem, but the Jacksonville Dixie Blues and Derby City Dynamite are still in contention as well.

Out west, the Las Vegas Showgirlz (5-2) and Portland Shockwave (5-2) have secured two of the American Conference’s six wild card entries. The two teams that fall short in the Kansas City Titans-Nebraska Stampede and the Austin Outlaws-Houston Power matchups Saturday will still claim wild card spots as well. The final two playoff spots in the American Conference are currently held by the Everett Reign and Minnesota Machine, but the Portland Fighting Fillies, Utah Blitz, and Tulsa-Acadiana loser this weekend could all find their way into the playoffs as well, depending on the outcomes of contestsSaturday.