Recap vs. Pittsburgh Passion – April 23, 2005

Recap vs. Pittsburgh Passion – April 23, 2005

D.C. Divas Up Their Record to 2-0 With Victory Over Pittsburgh
DC 24, Pittsburgh 0
By Rich Daniel

Recap • Statistics

Pittsburgh, PA – A wintry night in April provided a backdrop for an evening full of rain, sleet, and finally snow. The D.C. Divas heated up a cold night in the Steel City with a 24-0 win over their conference rivals, the Pittsburgh Passion.

Special teams provided the initial spark for the Divas (2-0). Lilah Blackstone took the opening kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown. “The hole was big enough that I think our owner could have run through it,” said Blackstone, a speedy return artist nicknamed “L-Boogie.” Blackstone’s return gave the Divas an early 8-0 lead.

The D.C. offense took over with a ten-play, 47-yard drive on their first possession. Playing without five-year veteran center Nancy Buermeyer (who is out with a knee injury), the Divas’ offensive line – led by veteran Patrice Bowman – helped pave the way for a 227-yard rushing performance. With 110 yards and one touchdown, Donna Wilkinson paced the Divas’ ground game. But LaShawn Foust (35 yards), Claudia Hogan (eight yards), and Monica Livingston (23 yards) all contributed to a D.C. rushing backfield that has nicknamed itself “Groundforce.”

The offensive line lived up to its billing in a setting suited to the D.C. Divas’ style of smash-mouth football. Rookie offensive linemen Allysea Marfull, Jessica Poawui, and Asia Hardy helped solidify an offensive line that kept quarterback Amy Britton virtually untouched. The offensive line helped give Britton the time to earn her second MVP effort in only her second career start.

Defensively, the D.C. Divas recorded their seventh shutout in their last 12 games, limiting the high-powered offense of the Passion (1-1) to just 124 yards. After scoring 54 points last week in their season opener, the Passion turned the ball over three times. One turnover, a 79-yard interception return by linebacker Vickie Lucas, resulted in a touchdown. Defensive back Kathryn Hemlock was named the defensive MVP of the game with an interception, a fumble recovery, and a bone-jarring hit to save a touchdown late in the game. Linebacker Mozette Timmons added a sack and a big hit on a fourth-and-one to preserve the Divas’ early lead.

The D.C. Divas will take the field again on May 14 when they host the Tidewater Floods at Largo High School. Game time is 6 PM, and tickets are available for online purchase.