Recap vs. Boston Militia – May 19, 2012
Boston Militia Overwhelm Divas in 44-7 Victory
Boston 44, DC 7
By Neal Rozendaal
Recap • Statistics
Boston, MA – The D.C. Divas take pride in the fact that, win or lose, they almost always put up a good fight. Rarely are they as outclassed as they were on Saturday, when the two-time defending national champion Boston Militia handed the Divas one of their worst losses in their 12-year history.
The Militia scored 37 unanswered points over the final three quarters of the game and coasted to a 44-7 victory in Boston. The Divas (3-2) suffered their worst setback since dropping their very first game in 2001, a 40-0 loss to the Philadelphia Liberty Belles.
The Boston Militia (5-0) won the coin toss, took the ball, and took just over two minutes off the clock before driving to the end zone. A rushing touchdown staked Boston to a quick 7-0 lead.
The Divas promptly responded. Allyson Hamlin concluded a 13-play drive by throwing a touchdown pass, and Okiima Pickett kicked the extra point through the uprights to knot the score at 7-7. It appeared that fans might be in for a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair, as the two teams remained tied after one quarter.
But everything went the way of the reigning champion Militia over the final three quarters of the game. The Militia notched a second rushing touchdown for a 14-7 lead early in the second period, and the Divas’ offense once again drove down the field in the hopes of tying the game. But an interception deep in Boston territory ended the threat, and the Militia offense scored another rushing touchdown with under a minute to go in the first half to put the Divas behind, 21-7.
The nightmare wasn’t over for the Divas, as they fumbled the ensuing kickoff to give Boston possession at the DC 29-yard line with 45 seconds to go before halftime. On the next snap, the Militia lateralled the ball to wide receiver Adrienne Smith, who then passed to a wide open Militia receiver in the end zone. The reverse wide receiver pass netted another Boston touchdown with 37 seconds left in the first half, and it gave Boston a commanding 27-7 lead at intermission.
The two Boston touchdowns in the final minute of the first half broke the game wide open. The Divas tried to force their way back into the game by taking chances on offense, but those gambles backfired. A Divas interception and later a turnover on downs were both turned into touchdowns by the Boston offense in the third quarter, putting the Divas behind, 41-7, after three quarters. A fourth-quarter Boston field goal provided the final margin in a disappointing game for D.C.
After a bye week, the Divas will travel to Pittsburgh for a key division matchup with the Pittsburgh Passion. The Divas next return home on June 9, when they will host a rematch against the Boston Militia in DC.
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