Intensity Loses to Playoff Bound Manchester
MEDWAY, MA - The New England Intensity of the Independent Women's Football League (IWFL) lost their final game of the 2007 regular season 41-12 to the Division-champion and playoff-bound Manchester Freedom on Saturday afternoon, June 30th in Manchester, NH.
Early offensive ineptitude and defensive miscues, combined with a very motivated Manchester squad that was eager to not only avenge their loss to Intensity earlier this season, but also clinch a playoff berth and, possibly, home field advantage for the first round, put New England behind big and early.
It was a lousy start for The Intensity as K Michelle Hicks, with the slight breeze at her back, boomed the opening kickoff inside the Manchester 25, only to have The Freedom rattle off a 43 yard return, with a touchdown saved by DB Jojo Gauthier (7 total tackles) and DB Stacey DeLuca (who ran from the opposite side of the field to be in on the tackle). Things didn't get better as the home team scored 36-yard TD run on the next play. The extra point attempt was good and New England was down 7-0 less than one minute into the ballgame.
New England, generally quite effective on the first series on offense, would start on their 34 after a mediocre kickoff return and hoped to score a touchdown of their own on this drive. A 9 yard run by RB/WR Lauren Manfred (45 yards rushing and 73 yards receiving on the day) and a QB sneak by Val Halesworth (16 for 29, 143 yards, 3 INT, 1 Fumble, 1 TD) gave the visitors a quick first down and some momentum. However, on 3rd and 4 from just the other side of midfield, Halesworth through the first of three 1st Quarter interceptions. This first one was particularly painful as New Hampshire ran it back for their second score of the game?with less than three minutes having expired off the game clock since the starting whistle blew. The PAT was no good and the score stood Freedom 13 - New England 0.
Another Manchester kickoff, another lackluster return and The Intensity, not looking so intense, began their second offensive possession on their 33 yard line . . . another Halesworth interception on the first play of the drive and another chance for Manchester to put more points on the scoreboard, a great opportunity in fact, with the ball spotted on the New England 31. The Intensity defense held its ground respectably, though, led by DT Taj Corvino (3 tackles on the drive and finished the game with 8 total), forcing the Freedom to settle for a failed 25 yard field goal attempt.
A couple of modest runs and a Manchester penalty had the Intensity offense on the move, however a fumble by Halesworth that Manfred was able to fortunately recover?albeit 9 yards behind scrimmage?forced New England to punt. Indolent punt return coverage resulted in a 25 yard return for the home team and 1st and 10 from the New England 35. Two plays later, now on the Intensity 11 yard line, the Freedom muscled in a touchdown run that made the deficit 19 for New England (another missed PAT for Manchester kept the score at 19-0).
WR/DB Tricia Donovan, behind solid blocking by the kickoff return team, ran the ensuing kick back 25 yards to midfield give The Intensity great field position to try and chip away at the Freedom lead. On this drive, however, the closest New England would come to the endzone would be the Manchester 49, as two plays into the drive, Halesworth was picked off for the 3rd time. The pick would again prove costly as the Freedom engineered an 11-play drive that culminated in a 10 yard touchdown run and 2 point conversion. The Intensity were now on the business end of a 27-0 drubbing barely 20 minutes into the game.
The only luck New England had had so far was bad. That trend was not about to change. Facing 4th and 3 from the NH 48, The Intensity, given the way they had not been moving the ball, elected to punt. A safe bet under most circumstances--to try and pin the home team deep and get the ball back with decent field position. A poor snap did not even allow the punt to take place as Manchester brought heavy pressure and TE/P Kate Slack was tackled for a 7 yard loss, giving the ball back to the Freedom at the New England 45.
The defense of New England was up to the task; however, with LB Kelly Kraynak (team-leading 19 total tackles) combining with DT Torrance Brown (playing with an injured left shoulder) to stuff a 3rd and short rushing attempt by Manchester. A pass play by the home squad was then promptly intercepted by CB Lizz Vogel (who also had pass defended earlier in the drive and finished the day with 3 tackles) and The Intensity offense would come back out on the field at their own 17 . . . sadly, just for another three and out.
Despite strong efforts by DT Maggie Koosa (three tackles on the drive and seven for the day), CB Bridget Cambria (season-high 4 total tackles) and LB/FB Charlene Casey (one pass defended and one tackle on the drive and seven for the game), Manchester completed a 10 yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds remaining in the half. The extra point was good and the Freedom would end up taking the 34-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The New England staff was very frank but very calm at halftime, basically stating that if the team-wide focus did not improve, than there would be no reason to expect that what they saw on the scoreboard would get any better either.
After a short kickoff by Manchester, The Intensity found themselves near midfield on their first possession of the 3rd. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty proved too heavy a handicap to overcome and Slack was again lining up to punt. Good downfield coverage by the punt team held Manchester to zero return yards on the play and the home team began their first drive of the second half from their 32.
The "D", having clearly righted the ship from earlier in the game, had the Freedom punting after 4 plays. Of particular note in this series was CB Lisa Close, defending a big 3rd and 9 pass forcing the punt, and Kraynak, who made tackles on the three other plays of the drive.
There is an old adage that says "Better late than never", and that could accurately describe the New England Offense's arrival. A marvelous 7 play drive that featured of mix of plays and involved players (including runs by Manfred and RB Steph Samuelson and pass receptions by Slack and Samuelson) was capped off by a 35 yard touchdown reception to Manfred. The 2 point conversion failed, but New England was finally on the board, 34-6, well into the 3rd quarter. Hicks uncorked her best kickoff of the season, a 55 yard moonshot that Vogel and Kraynak were quick to cover and pin the Freedom inside their 25.
The Manchester drive was victimized by a steady dose of Kraynak, Casey, and Corvino and was ultimately ended by a 7 yard sack by LB Stacey Martin on 3rd and 8 from their own 39. A short punt later and New England, finally re-discovering their swagger and ability to execute, was again on the move. A long pass to Slack and several effective runs later and the visitors were back in the Manchester red zone. Steph Samuleson punched in a 2 yard run for New England's second score shortly after the start of the 4th quarter. The 2 point conversion failed as Manfred was unable to convert on the run and the score stood at 34 -12.
With the onside kick recovered by Manchester (at the New England 49) and time now being a major factor working against the resurgent Intensity, it was paramount that the defense get the ball back quickly so that New England could continue to reel the Freedom in.
With their own playoff hopes riding on this game, and, whether they would have home field advantage then becoming a function of the point differentials, Manchester had significant motivation to play hard to the end. They consumed a lot of the remaining game clock in an 11-play scoring drive to put them ahead 41-12 with well under 5 minutes to play.
A 15 yard kickoff return by Samuelson gave the visitors the ball at the New England 37 but the 4+ touchdown hole they had dug would prove too big. A pass-heavy attack did cover some ground put came up short and The Intensity turned the ball over on downs on what would be their last offensive series of the 2007 season. Manchester ran out the clock by taking a knee twice and the 2007 book's last entry was "Manchester 41- New England 12; 3 wins, 5 losses on the season."
In spite of the unpleasant overall record and losing the last two games, the season was not without highlights and legitimate cause for optimism for next season and seasons to come. These will be the topic of discussion in an article next week that will recap this season and discuss the plans for next.
To all of our loyal fans, friends, family members, and significant others, we sincerely appreciate all of your help, support and sacrifice. Enjoy the summer, the off-season, and the holidays. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
