Recap vs. Atlanta Phoenix – May 30, 2015

D.C. Divas Blank Atlanta Phoenix, 54-0
DC 54, Atlanta 0
By Neal Rozendaal

Recap • Statistics

Atlanta, GA – The Divas went down to Georgia, looking for a soul to steal. What they found was a hard-fought victory that brought them one step closer to having the road to the WFA championship game run through Washington, DC.

The Divas defense forced seven turnovers, quarterback Allyson Hamlin threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers, and the D.C. Divas became the first team to shut out the Atlanta Phoenix on their field, notching a convincing 54-0 triumph. The D.C. Divas remain undefeated and stand as the last unbeaten team in the WFA’s National Conference.

The D.C. Divas (6-0) started slow on offense; their first two offensive drives ended with fumbles that were recovered by Atlanta. It was actually the Divas’ special teams that first got them on the scoreboard, and it did so in dramatic fashion. The Divas defense forced a punt on Atlanta’s first possession, and D’Ajah Scott fielded the Phoenix kick and raced to the end zone for a punt return touchdown. It was the Divas’ first punt return touchdown in over five years – the Divas’ last punt return score came against the New York Nemesis on May 22, 2010. Scott’s score put the Divas on top early, 7-0.

The Atlanta Phoenix (3-3) were unable to generate much offense all game long. Their first offensive series ended with Scott’s punt return touchdown, and the Divas stopped Atlanta on fourth down to force a turnover on downs on each of the Phoenix’s next five possessions. Trigger McNair also registered an interception in the first half for the strong Divas defense.

The Divas’ offense finally got on track in the first half when they turned to the passing game. Quarterback Allyson Hamlin threw three first half touchdowns. Her first touchdown pass of the game, a 39-yard strike to Kentrina Wilson, put the Divas ahead after one quarter of play, 14-0. The game against Atlanta that served as a homecoming of sorts for the former Georgia Tech basketball standout, and she came through with the first offensive score of the evening.

Hamlin found wide receiver Ashley Whisonant on her second touchdown pass of the game midway through the second quarter. That 31-yard scoring toss extended the Divas’ lead to 21-0.

Allyson Hamlin’s third touchdown pass of the half, a 19-yard completion to Kasee Hilliard, came with under three minutes to go before halftime. It was Hilliard’s first touchdown reception since her breakout season in 2013, and it gave the Divas a 28-0 advantage.

However, the offense struggled at times, and a third lost fumble in the first half ended another D.C. drive. With under a minute remaining in the second quarter, the Divas were forced to punt, and a bad snap led to Atlanta taking over possession at the Divas’ four-yard line.

But the Divas’ defense was terrific all game long, and never did they shine more than on a goal-line stand at the end of the first half. The D.C. defense turned the Phoenix away after facing first and goal from the four and preserved the 28-0 shutout score at halftime.

The Divas came roaring out of the halftime break and quickly put the game away by thoroughly dominating the third quarter. The Divas forced five Atlanta turnovers in the third quarter alone, four of which gave the Divas possession inside the Phoenix 30-yard line. On all four of those occasions, the Divas offense cashed in on the opportunity with a touchdown.

A fumble recovery ignited a four-yard run by Kenyetta Grigsby that put the Divas ahead, 35-0. McNair then chipped in her second turnover of the evening, a fumble recovery at the Atlanta 27-yard line. Hamlin swung a quick swing pass out to Grigsby, who raced into the end zone for, remarkably, the first receiving touchdown of her six-year career in the burgundy and gold. Grigsby’s touchdown catch gave the Divas a 41-0 advantage.

Scott, who got the Divas on the board with the game’s first touchdown, continued her playmaking ways with an interception that she returned to the Phoenix 27-yard line. With four touchdown passes to her name, Hamlin departed the game and left the quarterback position in the hands of Callie Brownson. Brownson quickly scampered 17 yards for a touchdown that made the score 48-0.

Lindsay Sollers recovered an Atlanta fumble for the fourth Divas turnover of the third quarter. Near the end of the period, Emily Grossman made it five turnovers, falling on an Atlanta fumble at the Phoenix 28-yard line. With under a minute remaining in the third quarter, Okiima Pickett scored the Divas’ fourth touchdown of the period on a two-yard run. The Divas seized an overwhelming 54-0 advantage over the Atlanta Phoenix thanks to a dominating third quarter of play.

Both teams cleared their benches for the fourth quarter of play. Whitney Simms recorded the Divas’ fifth Atlanta fumble recovery of the game in the fourth quarter. Along with two interceptions, the Divas forced a remarkable seven turnovers on their way to victory. The Divas ran out the clock on a scoreless fourth quarter to take a 54-0 win with them back north to D.C.

The D.C. Divas have now completed their 2015 regular season road slate. Only two games stand between the Divas and an undefeated regular season, and both of those games will be at home, starting this Saturday, June 6, when the Divas host the contending Cleveland Fusion.

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