Recap vs. Harrisburg Angels – May 6, 2006

Recap vs. Harrisburg Angels – May 6, 2006

Divas Match Record With 76-0 Victory
DC 76, Harrisburg 0
By Rich Daniel

Recap • Statistics

Landover, MD – The D.C. Divas matched their largest margin of victory in team history by beating the Harrisburg Angels Saturday, 76-0. The win equaled the 76-0 win the Divas posted in a 2003 playoff game against the Connecticut Crush, and the win over Harrisburg is the most dominant regular season victory in the six-year history of the Divas.

The Divas (3-0) ran for 219 yards on the ground with Rachelle Pecovsky rushing for five touchdowns and 121 yards on just nine carries. Pecovsky’s five rushing touchdowns in a single game broke the Divas’ franchise record of four set by Jane Reynolds against Tennessee in 2001. Pecovsky was named the team’s offensive MVP for the second week in a row.

As a whole, the Divas rushed for eight touchdowns, a franchise record, which included a 12-yard touchdown scamper by offensive lineman Jessica (Banks) Poawui on only her second career carry. Quarterback Allyson Hamlin was seven of 15 and led the offense to 24 first downs. Wide receiver Nikki Williams contributed her first career touchdown pass in a backup quarterback role with a 15-yard scoring toss.

The Angels (0-3) battled valiantly, but the first-year club was no match for the Divas’ swarming defense and high-powered offensive attack. Defensively, the Divas recorded their second shutout of the year, holding the Angels to negative-67 yards of total offense. The Divas’ defense has shut out nine of its last 11 regular season opponents.

Stacey Michael recorded a safety to go along with five tackles and a fumble recovery to punctuate her defensive MVP evening. A shock trauma nurse when she’s not on the field for the Divas, Michael said simply, “It was the game of my life.” Meanwhile, linebacker Donna Wilkinson, the Divas’ former star running back who moved to defense this season, returned an interception return for a touchdown to put an exclamation point on a 57-point first half.

The Divas have now won 19 straight regular season games and 26 of 27 over the last four seasons. The Divas will have a bye week and then travel to Connecticut to face the Crush on May 20.