Divas headed to conference final
Women's football team rolls past Atlanta in IWFL playoff game
The Divas (6-3) will visit the Boston Militia (9-0) on July 10 after a strong running game and stingy defense upended Atlanta on Saturday. The Divas will be seeking to avenge two previous setbacks to the Militia this season, losing at home 42-35 on May 1 and then dropping a 52-36 decision at Boston last weekend. Boston, which defeated the New York Sharks, 26-6, on Saturday in the other Eastern Conference semifinal, will be looking to avenge a 27-21 setback to the Divas in last year's Eastern Conference final.
"We're looking forward to going back up there," said Divas' veteran tight end Donna Wilkinson. "I think they might be heading into the game a little too confident. Our defense made a lot of good plays [against Atlanta]. We made some adjustments during the week and they paid off. We only had one week to get ready for this game, so with a few more weeks to get ready for Boston I think they'll see a whole different team when we go up there."
The Divas wasted little time asserting their superiority against the Xplosion. On their second possession, the Divas went 85 yards in 11 plays, with Tiffany Matthews getting five carries for 57 yards and Okiima Pickett getting three carries for 17 yards. Matthews capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
The Divas then forced the Xplosion into its third three-and-out of the quarter and marched 45 yards on nine plays for another touchdown on a 6-yard run by Kenyetta Grigsby on the first play of the second period. Divas' defensive back/quarterback Kathryn Hemlock intercepted an Atlanta pass later in the second quarter and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown to give D.C. a 21-0 halftime lead.
Through much of Saturday's contest the Xplosion were outclassed by the Divas, trailing by three touchdowns at the intermission despite four first-half turnovers by Hemlock.
"They really did a better job on both sides of the ball," said Atlanta eighth-year linebacker Carla Odom, one of only two original members remaining on the team. The other, offensive lineman Cassandra Strachan, did not make the trip. "They did a lot of things well. We had a young team this year. We lost a lot of our older players who didn't return this year. We played with a new offensive line. This was like a rebuilding year for us. But I'm confident that we'll be back next year."
Atlanta crossed midfield for the first time on its first possession of the third quarter, but a bad snap on a fourth down play enabled the Divas to take over in Xplosion territory. That drive went nowhere, but Tara Stephenson intercepted a pass in Atlanta territory and the Divas needed only five plays to go 33 yards, with Pickett scoring on a 4-yard run to make it 28-0.
Atlanta scored its only touchdown two plays after Stephenson fumbled a punt return at her 21-yard line. A 25-yard touchdown run by Lee Cannon cut Atlanta's deficit to 28-7. The Xplosion crossed midfield on their next possession, but a botched flea flicker on fourth down ended that drive.
The Divas then went 37 yards in four plays. Reserve quarterback Callie Brownson connected with Stephenson on a 25-yard touchdown pass for the final points of the night.
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