New England Intensity Home Win Streak Ended by DC
MEDWAY, MA - The New England Intensity of the Independent Women's Football League (IWFL) lost at home for the first time ever to the 2006 champion DC Divas 51-0 Saturday afternoon, June 23rd.
On a perfect football day, slight breeze, dry air, mostly sunny skies the New England Intensity took the field with the daunting, perhaps impossible, task of keeping alive their home unbeaten streak versus the 2006 NWFA Champion and currently undefeated DC Divas. Incidentally, the Divas thoroughly dismantled the Intensity in the season opener in Maryland 70-0.
Head Coach Bob Twitchell outlined a handful of goals for his team, among them were to pass for over 100 yards, gain at least 10 first downs, force DC to punt (feats not accomplished in the first meeting between the two teams), and keep mistakes to a minimum.
The good news is that many of these goals were achieved: QB Val Halesworth was 15 for 26 for 123 yards, New England gained 10 first downs, and the Divas did have to punt?on their opening drive. For the first time all season, the Intensity were not whistled for a single penalty, indicative of the players responding well to the coaching staff's insistence that they become more disciplined [and more familiar with the schemes they are running].
The not-so-good news is that, like the Montreal game two weeks ago, New England lost the battle of turnovers. Badly. The home team was -5 in the turnover margin (4 interceptions and a lost fumble compared to no turnovers by DC). And against a team that is of the caliber of DC, those turnovers will be costly . . . in fact, of the five turnovers, DC scored a touchdown on the ensuing drives of the first four (the final turnover, a Halesworth interception late in the 4th quarter and deep in DC territory, the Divas simply ran enough plays to get two first downs so that they could run the clock out).
Overall, New England played a better, more competitive game than the final score would indicate (and certainly played DC tougher than they did earlier in the season). Of particular note was the play of the offensive line, anchored by game captain Kim Patterson-Herrig, the unit, rounded out by Maia Goodall, Anita Barnes, Bettyann Perry and Maggie Koosa held up well during the 25 pass attempts, giving up only two sacks to a high-flying defense that has barely given up 30 points all season.
The game began with the Intensity attempting an onsides kick. Though DC was able to recover this attempt and begin the game with great field position (their 45 yard line), the New England defense showed it was up for the task of dealing with the vaunted Diva offense. After 5 plays (none for more than 6 yards?thanks largely to some spirited defensive play by DE/LB/FB Charlene Casey and DT Jennifer Edwards who each had two tackles on the drive), the visitors were forced to punt.
The Intensity, customarily, came out swinging on offense as Halesworth connected with WR/DB Tricia Donovan for a 20 yard strike on the first play from scrimmage. Donovan would prove to have a busy day for New England, hauling in 3 passes for a team-high 46 yards, recording 6 tackles (3 solo), and returning 4 kicks for a 63 yards. Some gamesmanship on the part of The Intensity Coaching Staff with non-traditional offensive formations was causing fits for the players and staff of the DC squad, to the point where they had to burn a timeout less than 6 minutes into the game. Two plays later, Halesworth hit TE Kate Slack for another 20 yard gain to get inside the DC 35; however, Halesworth threw a pick on the next play.
DC overcame two penalties of their own to score on a 5 yard run (after a 27 yard pass and 22 yard run on back to back plays brought them into the New England red zone). DT Torrance Brown (4 tackles) wiped out the DC's run attempt for a 2-point conversion, stopping the ball carrier dead in her tracks about 2 yards outside of the endzone. The offense was unable to capitalize on momentum generated by the defense stuffing the 2 point attempt and punted after 6 plays . . . which the Divas, capitalizing on poor coverage, promptly ran back for a touchdown. The 2 point conversion attempt was good and the score now stood at 14-0, DC.
Donovan ran the Diva kickoff 25 yards back to the 50 yard line behind solid blocking from her kickoff-return teammates and New England started the series with terrific field position. The visitor's defense was not inclined to allow New England to take advantage of the good starting position and the Intensity went 3-and-out.
In one very costly penalty, DC's next play, a 65-yard touchdown run, was called back due to holding. The Divas, in their most glaring (and perhaps only) weakness?a tendency to commit numerous penalties?were called for 13 penalties in all. An illegal block on DC later in the drive would negate a 21-yard run; but, ultimately, they visitors were able to score. This time on a 37 yard pass (for the game, they threw for 178 yards total?almost 15 yards per attempt) and a two point conversion run that was successful running the score to 22-0.
On the Intensity's next offensive series, highlighted by a long pass to Donovan and a hard run up the middle by Casey, a DC facemask on a play in which Halesworth was sacked extended the drive to the DC 39. Unfortunately another turnover (interception) would squander another potential scoring opportunity for New England . . . and provide DC with very good field position (New England's 44 yard line).
The Divas went right to work, despite the efforts of Barnes, DB Lauren Manfred, and LB Kelly Kraynak, each with two tackles on the drive. With less than 20 seconds to play in the half, DC scored on a 7 yard pass with yet another successful 2-point conversion sending both teams to the locker room with the score DC 30 - New England 0.
LB Stacey Martin handled the short kickoff from DC well and managed a 9 yard return to give the New England Offense the ball on their 49 yard line to open the 3rd quarter. Halesworth threw another 1st down interception though and The Divas offense took over on the New England 35.
The visitors, looking to go for the throat, attempted a deep pass play that was well defended, deflected actually, by DB Jojo Gauthier, who, in her first game back, had 3 tackles and a kickoff return for 16 yards. Not to be denied, DC went back to the air on the next play and scored. A substitution infraction pushed the 2 point attempt back 5 yards . . . to no avail as the attempt was good and the score now 38 -0.
On the next possession, New England would put together a good drive, with passes of 10 and 9 yards going to Manfred and Slack (4 catches for 45 yards and a whole host of other occasions where she was promptly met by at least one hard-charging Diva defender while attempting to make a catch across the middle), and solid runs by Manfred and RB Steph Samuleson. A run play for no gain, followed by an incomplete pass, a short pass play and another incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs to DC on the DC 24 yard line.
The Divas, who rushed for nearly 7 yards per carry (and 247 overall) capped off a 5-play scoring drive with a 53 yard touchdown run, followed by PAT that split the uprights, pushing the score to 44-0.
The home team offense started to build up a head of steam and were inside the DC 35 when Casey, having just caught a pass, was hit by three defenders and lost the ball. The Divas recovered the fumble and had their offense come back out on the field on their 32. Several run plays in a row, including ones for 33 and 35 yards, ate up the field in big chunks and the visitors scored what would be their final touchdown just after the start of the 4th quarter on a 1 yard run. The PAT was good and the score was now 51-0.
As if someone had pressed rewind, the New England offense demonstrated the ability to move the ball well, marching from their 40 to the DC 13 in five plays using a variety of weapons (passes to Slack and Donovan, a Samuelson run, and a DC personal foul), only to self-destruct as Halesworth's 4th interception of the game came on 3rd and 10 from the 13 as the defense picked off the attempt in the endzone. DC ultimately ran the clock out on the following drive and the game ended with the final score 51-0.
The Intensity would like to thank all of our loyal fans that have supported us in Medway this season! We wish to remind you all that the Intensity will be back in action Saturday, June 30th, for their final game of 2007 versus the Manchester Freedom in Manchester NH?a short 60 minutes away and we encourage all of our fans to make a road trip and cheer on the blue and white one last time this year.
