D.C. Divas and Pittsburgh Passion Renew Rivalry in Playoff Showdown Neal Rozendaal

Washington, DC – The D.C. Divas will begin their championship defense by facing a team that is doing the same.

The defending WFA champion D.C. Divas (7-1) will host the two-time defending IWFL champion Pittsburgh Passion (7-2) in a women’s football playoff matchup on June 25 (Prince George’s Sports Complex in Landover, MD; 6:00 PM kickoff). The Divas and Passion are two of the sport’s top teams and will battle it out for the right to advance to the Eastern Conference championship game on July 9.

The Divas earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home field advantage throughout the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) playoffs with a convincing 55-7 victory over the Boston Renegades on June 4. Boston was hampered by the absence of their star quarterback, Allison Cahill, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury two weeks earlier. Nevertheless, Divas head coach Alison Fischer was pleased with the Divas’ performance that clinched the top seed for D.C.

“That was a big win, because it sealed home field advantage for us and the top seed in the conference,” Fischer confirmed. “Boston obviously is a different team without Cahill, but I still thought we played pretty well in all phases. We finished the year strong, which is what you want to do at the end of the season going into the playoffs.”

The Divas concluded the year with the top seed in the East and a 7-1 overall record. After a season-opening loss to the top-ranked and undefeated Dallas Elite, the D.C. Divas have won seven in a row against a schedule ranked as the toughest in women’s football.

“We got off to a sluggish start in our first game [against Dallas], but we’ve grown and gotten better each game since then,” Coach Fischer said. “We’re playing our best football of the year, which is what you want to do at this point in the season. Our coaching staff preaches to the team that we need to get better every week, and for the most part I think we’ve done that.”

The Divas – the defending WFA national champions – will need to continue to improve as they prepare for a conference semifinal matchup against the Pittsburgh Passion. The Passion left the WFA in 2014 and joined the smaller Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL); Pittsburgh dominated that league for two seasons, winning back-to-back titles before rejoining the WFA this season. Because of their two-season absence, the Divas have not faced their old Pittsburgh rivals since 2013, and although some of the younger players are unfamiliar with what the Passion bring to the table, Coach Fischer knows what a difficult challenge they pose.

“They’re a very, very good squad,” Fischer remarked. “We have a lot of young folks who haven’t been around long enough to play them, so this will be new territory for them. Pittsburgh will give us some different looks than most of the other teams we’ve played this season. We will definitely have our hands full. It should be a great game between two really good teams.”

Two of the top quarterbacks in women’s football will face off in the Passion’s Lisa Horton and the Divas’ Allyson Hamlin. Coach Fischer praised the leadership Horton brings to the opposing sidelines.

“Similar to us, Pittsburgh has a veteran quarterback who is really an outstanding leader on that team,” Fischer said. “[Horton] is given a lot of freedom to call the plays and make adjustments on the field. When you have that in a veteran quarterback, it’s a huge benefit to your team. She’s a smart quarterback who reads defenses very well; she’ll find your weaknesses and exploit them. She’s a terrific competitor, and we expect a great game from her and the rest of their offense. Our defense will have their hands full, for sure.”

Both teams are also powered by outstanding running backs. In the Divas’ last game against Boston, Kenyetta Grigsby became the first player in franchise history to score 100 touchdowns with the team. Pittsburgh will counter with Tara Catone, who has impressed Coach Fischer on film.

“Catone is a very good running back. She runs low, she’s strong, and she’s quick. She has all the skills you need for a great running back,” Coach Fischer observed. “She has definitely done some damage throughout the season. It will be a very big challenge trying to stop that offense, which runs through Lisa [Horton] and the passing game but which is complemented by a pretty solid running game as well.”

The Pittsburgh Passion also feature a smart, hard-hitting defense. “What impresses me about Pittsburgh’s defense is that they are very disciplined,” Fischer said. “They play together as a team and everyone does their job. They’re always hustling and always seem to end up where they need to be. We’re going to be challenged on offense to execute in order to be effective.”

The D.C. Divas will be making their 13th playoff appearance this year, a women’s football record. In the “win or go home” setting of the playoffs, Coach Fischer believes that a tough regular season schedule and the presence of several veteran leaders has prepared the team for this moment.

“We’ve treated several games on our schedule this year like playoff games,” Fischer noted. “Having been through this process last year, we have a lot of veteran players who are familiar with the playoff atmosphere and who know what needs to be done. Our veterans know that we can’t leave anything on the field and that we have to play our best. The players are aware of the stakes. It definitely gets cranked up a notch from here on out.”

Like last year, when the Divas stormed their way to the national championship, the Divas have been rewarded for an outstanding regular season with home field advantage throughout the playoffs. “We’re looking forward to playing at home and being in front of our fans,” Coach Fischer declared. “It looks like we’ll finally get a good weather day, so hopefully people come out to see a great football game. There will be two great women’s football teams battling it out in a playoff matchup, and we’re just thankful to be in front of our home crowd for this one.”

Tickets are on sale now for the D.C. Divas’ conference semifinal playoff game against the Pittsburgh Passion. Visithttp://dcdivas.com/tickets/pittsburgh-2016/ for more information and to reserve your tickets today.

What: D.C. Divas vs. Pittsburgh Passion

When: Saturday, June 25 – Kickoff at 6:00 PM

Where: Prince George’s Sports Complex, across from FedEx Field

Address: 8100 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785

For tickets and more information: http://dcdivas.com/tickets/pittsburgh-2016/

Series Notes

This will be the 15th all-time meeting between the D.C. Divas and the Pittsburgh Passion...the Divas hold a 10-4 advantage in the overall series, but the Passion have won four of the last seven regular season meetings between the two teams dating back to 2006...the Divas have a 2-0 record all-time against the Passion in the playoffs: a 27-17 victory in the conference semifinals in 2009, and a 45-30 win in the conference quarterfinals in 2012...the Divas (117) and Passion (103) are two of only seven active teams with over 100 victories all-time in women’s football.

Allyson Hamlin (1,436) and Lisa Horton (1,418) rank third and fourth in the WFA, respectively, in passing yards...Divas running back Kenyetta Grigsby (825) and Passion running back Tara Catone (812) each rank in the top ten in the league in rushing yards...Angela Baker leads the Pittsburgh receiving corps with 724 yards, good for second in the league, while the Divas’ Ashley Whisonant ranks fifth in the league with 600 receiving yards of her own...Whisonant led the WFA in the regular season with 12 receiving touchdowns, while Baker was right behind with 11...defensively, Pittsburgh linebacker Hannah Daman (73) and D.C. linebacker Tia Watkins (62.5) each rank in the top ten in the league in tackles for two of the best defenses in the sport.

D.C. Divas Win Conference Championship with 43-24 Win Over Chicago Force

Recap vs. Chicago Force – July 25, 2015

DC 43, Chicago 24
By Neal Rozendaal

Springfield, VA – All season long, the D.C. Divas have been trailed by a production crew who plan to make a major documentary film about women’s football, highlighting the Divas’ 2015 season.

Now the Divas will have a chance to give them a Hollywood ending.

Kenyetta Grigsby shattered the franchise record with 324 rushing yards, the defense held Chicago’s explosive offense to a season-low scoring output, and the D.C. Divas clinched their third conference title in team history with a 43-24 victory over the Chicago Force. With the win, the Divas (11-0) advance to the 2015 Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) national championship game in Los Angeles, where they will face the Dallas Elite on August 8 for the national title.

The Force (9-2) entered the game averaging a remarkable 59.8 points per game, and they lived up to their advanced billing on their first drive of the game. Chicago quarterback Rachel Gore and wide receiver Jamie Fornal, who were teammates with the Seattle Majestics before joining the Force this season, showed the strong connection they have developed over the years. Fornal caught three passes on the drive, and Gore then surprised the Divas defense by tossing a four-yard touchdown pass to Kim Marks. Marks’ first reception of the entire season handed Chicago an early 6-0 lead.

The Divas’ offense had an immediate response. Three runs by Grigsby advanced the ball to midfield, and despite an offensive pass interference penalty that put the Divas in a hole facing first and 25, the Divas climbed their way out. Wide receiver Ashley Whisonant caught an 18-yard pass to make for a manageable second down play, and Grigsby then rushed eight yards to move the chains. Grigsby finished the drive off with four straight runs, powering over the goal line from two yards away to put the Divas on top, 7-6.

The D.C. defense made their first stand of the game, forcing three incomplete passes to bring up a Chicago punt. The Divas got right back to work on offense, capping an impressive 74-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Allyson Hamlin to wide receiver Kentrina Wilson. Hamlin would finish the game with six completions on just 11 attempts for 73 yards and one touchdown. Whisonant caught four passes for 45 yards, and Wilson snagged the other two for 28 yards and a touchdown. The Divas’ only passing touchdown of the game put them ahead, 14-6.

The Divas forced another three and out from Chicago and were on the move with an eight-point lead as the first quarter concluded. Early in the second quarter, Grigsby scored her second touchdown of the game on the ground, running eight yards for a score and a 21-6 Divas lead.

The D.C. defense allowed one first down before forcing the powerful Chicago offense to punt the ball away for the third straight possession. The Divas were in position to potentially grab a commanding lead, but the Force defense stopped the Divas in their tracks, forcing the first D.C. punt of the contest.

After three straight failed offensive possessions, the Chicago Force put together a much-needed offensive strike midway through the second quarter. Aided by two 15-yard personal foul penalties on the Divas, the Force drove down the field. Gore and Fornal illustrated their special connection once again, as Gore hit Fornal for a 26-yard touchdown pass to pull the Force within 21-12.

With time running down in the first half, the Divas’ offense hurried to add some more points to the scoreboard. D.C. advanced the ball to the Chicago 21-yard line, where they faced fourth and one. Hamlin took the ball on a quarterback sneak and easily made the first down, rushing for six yards, but a Chicago defender drilled Hamlin at the end of her run and forced a fumble. The Force recovered to stave off the Divas’ scoring threat and went to the halftime locker room trailing by nine points, 21-12.

The D.C. Divas came out of intermission determined to put the game out of reach. Callie Brownson returned the second half kickoff well into Chicago territory, and Grigsby followed that up with a 25-yard sprint into the end zone for her third touchdown of the game. Ashley Branch entered the game at fullback and bulled her way into the end zone for a two-point conversion, and the Divas led, 29-12, less than a minute into the second half.

The Divas defense then rose to the occasion with another terrific stop. The Force encountered a fourth and two situation at midfield, and Chicago decided to go for it. 17-year veteran linebacker Trigger McNair stoned Gore for no gain on a run, and the Divas took over possession at the 50-yard line.

The Divas began to push the Chicago defense down the field, in possession of a 17-point lead. For the second time in the contest, the Divas had an opportunity to take a commanding lead that might have broken Chicago’s spirit. But once again, the Force defense made the big play. The Divas were stopped for no gain on fourth and two at the Chicago 12-yard line, and the Divas turned the ball over on downs without adding to the lead.

Chicago made the Divas pay. Cassey Brick, the former San Diego Surge standout who was the MVP of the 2012 national championship game, came into the game as the most explosive scoring threat for the Force. The D.C. defense did a terrific job of keeping her in check for most of the contest, but Brick finally broke free for a 47-yard touchdown to slice the Divas’ lead to 29-18.

D.C. tried to respond on offense, but a 15-yard personal foul penalty stalled a promising Divas drive. Chicago then stuffed a fake punt by the Divas and took over possession at their own 33-yard line. With momentum on their side, the Force cranked up their vaunted offense and pushed the ball all the way down to the Divas’ five-yard line as the third quarter ended.

Chicago finished off the drive in style, as Marks caught her second pass of the season. Her second reception of the year was her second touchdown of the game against the Divas, and with 13:48 remaining in the contest, the Force had pulled within 29-24.

The Divas were reeling. On their first offensive play of the ensuing drive, a botched handoff resulted in a fumble and a recovery by Chicago at the D.C. 25-yard line. The Force had the ball deep in Divas territory, trailing by just five points and with a chance to take their first lead since scoring the game’s opening touchdown.

Then came the biggest play of the game for the Divas. Gore turned and swung a pass out toward Brick, but the lateral fell to the turf. Several Divas defenders converged on the ball just before it rolled out of bounds, and because it was a backwards pass, it was a live ball and a fumble recovery for the Divas.

Given a reprieve, the Divas were met with their most critical offensive drive of the entire season, and they put their fate in the hands of Grigsby. The Divas handed the ball to Grigsby on seven straight plays, and she followed some outstanding blocking for consistently long gains. The offensive line of Ashley Branch, Jen Gray, Rachel Huhn, Missy Bedwell, Ashley Rozendaal, and Becky Worsham carved out huge holes for Grigsby, and Okiima Pickett threw several tremendous blocks to help spring her teammate for outstanding carries.

Kenyetta Grigsby picked up 65 yards on seven carries on that drive alone, culminating in a six-yard touchdown run. For the game, Grigsby carried the ball a staggering 41 times for a franchise-record 324 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Her fourth and final touchdown of the evening gave the Divas some much-needed breathing room and a 36-24 advantage with 9:51 left in the game.

Trailing by two scores, the Chicago offense needed a quick answer. They picked up two first downs, but their drive stalled at midfield. Three stops by the D.C. defense brought up fourth and ten from the 50-yard line. Linebacker Tia Watkins then delivered one of the most punishing hits of the game, knocking Gore out of bounds after a three-yard gain for a turnover on downs with 6:43 left to play in the contest.

The Divas then put together the decisive offensive drive of the game. Although they failed to score, the Divas kept the ball on the ground and bled more than five minutes off of the clock. By the time the Divas turned the ball over on downs at the 23-yard line, only 1:37 remained in the game, and the Divas still held a 36-24 lead.

The Force took over, needing two touchdowns for a dramatic comeback victory. Forced to press the issue, Gore threw her only interception of the night, and Divas linebacker Cherre Marshall iced the game by picking off the pass and returning it 25 yards for the game-clinching score. Marshall and McNair led the Divas with seven tackles each, while Whisonant added five on defense and Watkins chipped in with four.

The Divas led, 43-24, with a minute and a half remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, the Force tried multiple laterals and reverses in an attempt to break free for a quick score. But one of their laterals fell to the ground, and Lillian Cherry pounced on it for the Divas. The Divas proceeded to run out the clock on one of their most memorable victories in franchise history.

The D.C. Divas are now 11-0 for the second time in team history, joining the 2006 Divas who finished their season 11-0 after winning the team’s only national championship. The Divas claimed their third conference championship with the win, and they will make their third appearance in a national title game on August 8, when they face the Dallas Elite in Los Angeles, CA, for the 2015 WFA national championship.

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.