[Ed. note: These recaps come to us from DC Divas’ staff writer Neal Rozendaal, whom Backseat Coach and I got to meet in person at Saturday’s game (goofy photographic evidence of this exists and will be posted as soon as I swipe BSC’s iPhone and email the pics to myself). As ever: thanks, DC Neal!]
Photo © Chicago Force; used with permission.
Click any of the scores to expand the recap for that game:
[toggle title=”Boston 58, DC 34″]Boston, MA – The Boston Militia scored three unanswered touchdowns to break open a 36-34 game late in the third quarter and outlasted the DC Divas, 58-34. The Militia (10-0) received their toughest first-half challenge of the season, holding a slim 29-28 advantage at halftime. DC running back Kenyetta Grigsby brought the Divas (6-4) within two points at 36-34 midway through the third quarter with her fifth rushing touchdown of the game.
But Militia running back Whitney Zelee rushed for her third score of the game late in the period to put Boston ahead, 44-34. The Militia then put the contest away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to provide the final margin. Boston quarterback Alison Cahill capped off the scoring by racing to the end zone for her fourth rushing touchdown of the contest with under seven minutes remaining in the game.
Boston advances to the National Conference championship game for the fifth straight season, where they will face the Chicago Force. The Divas suffered their fourth consecutive playoff loss against Boston, a women’s professional football record. They end their season with a record of 6-4, with three of those losses at the hands of the Militia.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Chicago 84, Atlanta 0″]Chicago, IL – The Chicago Force advanced to the conference championship game by thoroughly dominating the Atlanta Phoenix and pitching an 84-0 shutout. The Force (10-0) scored their first touchdown less than a minute and a half into the game and held a 46-0 lead at halftime.
The Atlanta Phoenix (9-1) were no match for the powerful offense of the Force. Chicago and Team USA gold medal-winning quarterback Sami Grisafe threw ten touchdown passes, and Force wide receiver Jeanette Gray hauled in seven of those scoring tosses.
The Chicago Force advance to the Eastern Conference championship game, where they will face the Boston Militia in a rematch of last year’s National Conference title game. In 2012, the Force edged the Militia in a highly entertaining contest, 35-34, and the winner of this year’s matchup will once again represent the East for the WFA championship.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Dallas 35, St. Louis 20″]St. Louis, MO – The Dallas Diamonds passed their first challenge of the season with flying colors. Diamonds quarterback Odessa Jenkins rushed for four touchdowns – including two in the second half as Dallas rallied from a halftime deficit – and the Diamonds defeated the St. Louis Slam, 35-20.
The Slam (7-4), who were allowed to host the conference semifinals thanks to their road victory over the Kansas City Titans in the previous round, got off to a strong start in their friendly surroundings. St. Louis led Dallas, 17-14, at halftime, but the Diamonds (10-0) came out in the second half ready for action. Less than three minutes into the third period, Jenkins rushed for a touchdown that gave Dallas the lead for good, 22-17.
No team had stayed within five touchdowns of the Diamonds all season, but St. Louis pushed Dallas to the limit; the Slam held the Diamonds to a season-low point total and kicked a field goal with ten minutes remaining in the contest to shave the Diamonds’ lead to 28-20. But Jenkins put the game away seconds later with her fourth rushing touchdown of the contest, and Dallas’ defense kept St. Louis out of the end zone in the second half to keep the Slam at bay.
The Dallas Diamonds will host the 2013 WFA American Conference championship game, advancing to the conference title game for the fourth consecutive season. The Diamonds have lost in the conference championship round each of the last three years, but all three of those losses were on the road. For the first time since 2006, the Diamonds will host a conference title game in Dallas.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Central Cal 40, San Diego Surge 14″]Fresno, CA – The Central Cal War Angels used four second-half touchdowns to overcome a halftime deficit, and they advanced to the American Conference championship game by eliminating the defending league champion San Diego Surge, 40-14.
The Surge (9-2) traded touchdowns with Central Cal in the first half en route to a 14-13 halftime lead. With their second touchdown, San Diego became the first WFA team to score two touchdowns against the War Angels defense this season.
A strong second-half effort clinched the contest for the War Angels (11-0). Central Cal quarterback Chantel Wiggins threw four touchdown passes in the game, three to wide receiver Jamie Fornal and the other to wide receiver Lisa King; King, along with her husband Jeff, is the co-owner of the WFA. The War Angels notched two touchdowns to take a 26-14 lead after three quarters and added two more touchdowns in the final period for the 40-14 victory.
With the win, the Central Cal War Angels move on to their first conference championship game in franchise history. The War Angels will travel to Dallas to take on the Diamonds, who will be playing in their eighth conference title game.
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