Recap vs. Erie Illusion – April 12, 2003

Recap vs. Erie Illusion – April 12, 2003

D.C. Divas Spoil Erie’s Inaugural Game With 50-0 Win
DC 50, Erie 0
By Leah Fahringer

Erie, PA – On April 12, the D.C. Divas started their third season with an overwhelming win over a first-year team, the Erie Illusion. The Divas traveled to Erie and gave the Illusion an inaugural game much like their own two years ago – a mind-blowing shutout, which, in this case, was to the tune of 50-0. The Divas were in command the entire game – the offense rushed for 380 yards while Erie’s rushing game gained only 15 yards.

The Divas (1-0) didn’t score until the second quarter, and it was the defense that got the Divas on the scoreboard first. With 12:57 remaining in the first half, linebacker Lisa “Speedy” Gonzalez sacked Erie quarterback Julie Kemling in the end zone for a safety. The Divas took a 2-0 lead, and once they breached the scoreboard, the team’s offense was unrelenting.

Tara Kallal scored the game’s next two touchdowns. With less than five minutes left in the second quarter, Kallal completed a 14-yard run for a touchdown, breaking tackles twice before hitting the end zone. Then at the 1:57 mark, Kallal went on to catch a 58-yard pass from quarterback Allyson Hamlin for her second addition to the Divas’ mighty score. Since the team successfully made two-point conversion runs after both touchdowns, the Divas went to the half leading by a score of 18-0.

The Illusion (0-1) would fare no better in the second half. The Divas scored another two touchdowns in the third period. With four minutes left in the third quarter, fullback LaShawn Foust scored on the end of a 64-yard rushing drive. Donna Wilkinson then ran 30 yards for another DC touchdown and followed that up by running for the two-point conversion. Wilkinson was named the offensive MVP of the game after rushing for 169 yards on the evening.

The Divas remained strong in the fourth quarter, adding three more touchdowns to the scoreboard. Lisa Gonzalez, the defensive MVP of the game, returned an interception 13 yards for a score. Vickie Lucas grabbed a 25-yard touchdown pass, and Adrienne Lewis added a 27-yard scoring run.

The Divas’ defense also had a great game. As a whole, the defense was a quarterback’s nightmare – two forced fumbles, two interceptions, two sacks, and five hurries. Following this opening show of the team’s strength and skill, the 1-0 Divas now look ahead to their first home game of the season against their archrivals, the Baltimore Burn, on April 19 at 7 PM at Eastern High School.