Recap vs. Boston Militia – May 1, 2010

Recap vs. Boston Militia – May 1, 2010

Militia Proves Too Much for Divas in Offensive Shootout
Boston 42, DC 35
By Duke Hipp

Landover, MD – It took one long offseason and four games for the event known in IWFL circles simply as “the rematch” to take place. On Saturday night, the Boston Militia’s opportunity to avenge their stinging defeat at the hands of the D.C. Divas in the 2009 IWFL Eastern Conference championship game arrived – and Boston took full advantage of it, handing the Divas a 42-35 loss on a warm night outside the nation’s capital.

For the Divas (2-2), it was a game marked by familiar names on offense delivering big plays – particularly through the air. Divas quarterback Kathryn Hemlock threw touchdown strikes to two club veterans in tight end Donna Wilkinson and wide receiver Tara Stephenson. Donna Wilkinson hauled in the Divas’ first touchdown pass to get D.C. on the scoreboard early, and Stephenson had maybe the most electrifying play of the game midway through the second quarter. Stephenson hauled in a short screen pass from Hemlock, eluded several would-be tacklers, and turned on the afterburners for a 59-yard scamper to the end zone. Stephenson and Wilkinson would combine for four touchdown receptions on the evening.

On the ground, the Divas found success through the contrasting running styles of running backs Okiima Pickett and Kenyetta Grigsby. The Divas scored on a touchdown run on their first possession of the second half, which tied the game at that point at 21.

However, while the Divas were able to gobble up yards and light up the scoreboard, the Militia (4-0) did a little more of both. Most of Boston’s success on offense came courtesy of a physical running game that kept the Divas defense on their heels much of the night and proved to be more than the unit could handle.

The Divas will hit the road next Saturday for a contest against the Baltimore Nighthawks. Baltimore will be looking for some payback of their own, with the Divas handing the squad from Charm City a 54-6 thumping in last month’s season opener.