Recap vs. Asheville Assault – May 25, 2002
Allyson Hamlin Leads Divas to Victory over Asheville, 54-0
DC 54, Asheville 0
By Neal Rozendaal
Washington, DC – The Divas’ offense is firing on all cylinders and shows no signs of slowing down, even with a backup quarterback at the controls.
Rookie quarterback Allyson Hamlin earned the first start of her career, and she dazzled in the Divas’ 54-0 win over the Asheville Assault. The 54 points scored by the Divas is a new team record, topping the mark set in last week’s 53-0 victory over the Tennessee Venom. Hamlin tossed four touchdown passes, breaking the previous franchise record of three set by Deb Troell in last week’s win over Tennessee.
The Divas (5-1) snared the lead before the offense even took the field. The Divas chose to receive the opening kickoff, and Ivy Tillman returned it 66 yards for a touchdown to start the game. Armed with a 6-0 lead, the D.C. defense forced a punt, and a long punt return by Tillman set up a three-yard touchdown run by Jane Reynolds. Stacy Palmer bounced the extra point try off and over the crossbar for a 13-0 Divas lead.
The Assault (2-3) were victimized all game by long punt returns from the Divas’ special teams. A second long punt return set Hamlin up for her first touchdown pass of the contest, a 16-yard strike to Corinne Carson. Palmer’s extra point kick put the Divas ahead, 20-0.
With time running down in the first half, defensive back Luann Peterson snared an Asheville pass and returned it 23 yards to give the Divas good field position. Hamlin cashed in with her second touchdown pass to Carson on the day, this time a 30-yard score that put the Divas up, 26-0, at halftime.
Deb Troell came in at quarterback for the Divas at the start of the second half in relief of Hamlin. Lineman M’Bwende Anderson gave the Divas great field position early in the third quarter by blocking an Assault punt attempt, but Troell was intercepted in the end zone to end the threat.
Asheville’s reprieve didn’t last long. On their ensuing possession, the Divas assembled their third long punt return of the contest, this one for 35 yards. Troell took advantage, throwing a four-yard touchdown pass to Kelly Akins, and Palmer’s extra point made the score 33-0. Tatiana Savoy added to the Divas’ tally by scoring a touchdown on a 36-yard reverse run, padding the Divas’ lead to 40-0.
Hamlin came back in for the fourth quarter and picked up right where she left off. She threw her third touchdown pass of the game to Carson, a 25-yard score on a rollout that put the Divas up, 47-0. Hamlin’s fourth and final touchdown throw of the game came moments later, when she found Akins open for an eight-yard touchdown catch. Palmer’s sixth successful extra point kick of the game made the final score 54-0.
The Divas have now won five of their six games on the season. The Divas now take to the road to face the team that handed them their only loss, the Baltimore Burn. It will be the third of four meetings the Divas have scheduled against Baltimore this season.
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