Recap vs. Tidewater Floods – May 14, 2005

Recap vs. Tidewater Floods – May 14, 2005

D.C. Divas Withstand Lightning and Floods in 51-0 Triumph
DC 51, Tidewater 0
By Rich Daniel

Recap • Statistics

Largo, MD – The Tidewater Floods came to Largo High School and witnessed a lightning show that forced kickoff to be delayed an hour. Once the game began, the Floods were hit with a lightning show from the Divas’ offense that overwhelmed Tidewater for a 51-0 Divas victory.

Divas quarterback Allyson Hamlin, who was named offensive MVP, returned from a two-game injury absence and completed four of her first five passes on the season, three of which went for touchdowns. Nikki Williams snagged two of those touchdown scores, and Natalie Randolph went 30 yards on a touchdown catch to put the Divas up 28-0.

Just as the Divas (3-0) had seized control of the game, Mother Nature decided to let loose with a downpour. The accompanying lightning storm forced play to be suspended for a second time. After a 45-minute delay, over 500 faithful Divas fans stuck around to see the conclusion of the Divas’ shutout win.

The Floods (0-3), who are in their first season of play, finished the game with negative-three yards of total offense. The Divas’ defense recorded their eighth shutout in the last 13 games. Linebacker Vickie Lucas and defensive lineman Tessa Nelson led their respective units in holding the Floods to only two first downs, and the Divas notched ten sacks for the game. Defensive back Kathryn Hemlock was named the defensive MVP of the contest with a two-touchdown effort. Her first score came on a 53-yard punt return, and the second came when she scooped up a blocked punt by Alana Lambert and scooted four yards into the end zone for the score.

A veteran offensive line led by Gayle Dilla, Patrice Bowman, Michelle Riddle, and Renee Roach – combined with some solid rookie performances – opened up holes all night for the running game. Donna Wilkinson, who finished with 111 yards on six carries, took the first carry of the game and went 65 yards for the first touchdown. LaShawn Foust ran for another score and the running backs known as “Ground Force” (Yolanda Thomas, Monica Livingston, and Claudia Hogan) cumulatively totaled 243 yards on the ground.

The D.C. Divas are now 3-0 and head to Massachusetts to take on the undefeated Mutiny in a conference matchup. This game will have playoff implications. The contest is the second in a series of six games in six weeks by the Divas.