2006 NWFA National Champions
Final Record: 11-0
Final Ranking: #1
Head Coach: Ezra Cooper
| Season Recap: One of the most stifling defenses ever assembled in women’s football led the way to the first national championship in the history of the D.C. Divas. The 2006 D.C. Divas set a women’s football record by pitching eight consecutive non-forfeit shutouts in the span of three months. The Divas allowed a paltry average of 1.8 points per game to their opponents in 2006, a record in women’s football history that has never been matched. Offensively, the Divas were led by running back Rachelle Pecovsky, who shattered the franchise record with 1,432 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on the year.In six seasons of existence, the D.C. Divas had slowly grown and progressed as a franchise. The Divas had been turned back in the conference championship game in 2004 and 2005, but they took the next step in 2006, defeating the Columbus Comets to advance to their first national title game in team history. The D.C. Divas then took down the Oklahoma City Lightning in the 2006 NWFA championship game in Pittsburgh, PA, and Coach Ezra Cooper and the Divas celebrated their first national championship. |
2006 Schedule/Results
| April 22 | Baltimore | W, 13-6 |
| April 29 | Tidewater | W, 45-0 |
| May 6 | Harrisburg | W, 76-0 |
| May 20 | Connecticut | W, 40-0 |
| May 27 | Baltimore | W, 30-0 |
| June 3 | Tidewater | W, 65-0 |
| June 10 | Harrisburg | W, 61-0 |
| June 17 | Connecticut | W, 48-0 |
| July 8 | Chattanooga | W, 40-0 |
| July 22 | Columbus | W, 32-7 |
| August 5 | Oklahoma City | W, 28-7 |
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| Special Teams | |
| K | Kathryn Hemlock |
| P | Stacy Palmer |
| KR | Kathryn Hemlock |
| PR | Lilah Blackstone |
2006 Game Summaries
Game 1 – Baltimore Burn
| Game Summary: The D.C. Divas got off to an inauspicious start in 2006, as rainy conditions and a bitter rivalry led to a modest 13-6 victory over the Baltimore Burn. The Divas built a 13-0 after three quarters on the strength of two rushing touchdowns, but Baltimore running back Kenyetta Grigsby made things interesting by cutting into the lead with a fourth-quarter rushing score of her own. The Divas ultimately held on for their fourth straight victory over their Beltway rivals. | |||||
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Game 2 – Tidewater Floods
| Game Summary: Running back Rachelle Pecovsky rushed for 156 yards on just seven carries to help lead the Divas to a 45-0 win. The Divas defense held the Tidewater Floods to negative-six yards of offense for the entire game and forced five turnovers. Defensive lineman Tessa Nelson was named the team’s defensive MVP, leading the squad with five tackles on the night. | |||||
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Game 3 – Harrisburg Angels
| Game Summary: The Divas tied the largest margin of victory in franchise history with a 76-0 triumph over the Harrisburg Angels. Rachelle Pecovsky broke a franchise record by rushing for five touchdowns in a single game on only nine carries, and wide receiver Nikki Williams caught five passes for 75 yards and also threw for a touchdown pass. The Divas defense, meanwhile, held Harrisburg to negative-67 yards of total offense, their second straight dominant performance. Defensive lineman Stacey Michael recorded five tackles, a safety, and a fumble recovery on her way to being named defensive MVP of the game, while linebacker and former star running back Donna Wilkinson returned an interception for a touchdown. | |||||
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Game 4 – Connecticut Crush
| Game Summary: With the Connecticut Crush playing an inspired game in memory of former captain Carolyn Bell, the Divas relied on their defense and running game to post their fourth straight victory. Rachelle Pecovsky notched her third straight 100-yard rushing game and ran for three scores, and the Divas defense once again dominated by intercepting the Crush three times and returning two of those interceptions for touchdowns. | |||||
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Game 5 – Baltimore Burn
| Game Summary: The D.C. Divas defeated the Baltimore Burn much more comfortably in their rematch by a 30-0 count. Rachelle Pecovsky again paced the Divas with a season-high 164 rushing yards, but quarterback Allyson Hamlin also turned in a solid performance with 144 passing yards and two touchdown throws. Linebacker Drea Major stood out on defense, recovering a fumble, interception two passes, and returning one of those interceptions for a Divas touchdown. | |||||
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Game 6 – Tidewater Floods
| Game Summary: Breaking out to a 31-0 lead after one quarter of play, the D.C. Divas cruised to a 65-0 victory over the Tidewater Floods. Rachelle Pecovsky racked up her first 200-yard rushing game, garnering 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a little over one half of play. Nikki Williams had a touchdown reception and threw an 81-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as the backup quarterback. The Divas defense pitched its fifth straight shutout, with defensive lineman T.K. Washington and defensive back Alison Fischer both recovering fumbles for the Divas. | |||||
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Game 7 – Harrisburg Angels
| Game Summary: The D.C. Divas finished their road schedule with a 61-0 win over the Harrisburg Angels, outscoring their four opponents on the road by a 176-0 score. For the second straight week, Allyson Hamlin completed just four passes with three of them going for touchdowns. Wide receiver Tara Kallal scored three touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air. The Divas were led on defense by Drea Major and Trigger McNair, who recorded five tackles apiece. | |||||
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Game 8 – Connecticut Crush
| Game Summary: A 48-0 victory over the Connecticut Crush clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs for the D.C. Divas, who won their 24th straight regular season game. Fullback Claudia Hogan won offensive MVP honors, blocking the way as Divas running backs compiled 352 yards on the ground. Rachelle Pecovsky joined Donna Wilkinson as only the second Diva to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season, gaining 92 yards on 11 carries. The Divas made women’s football history, setting a record by shutting out their seventh straight opponent and topping the previous mark set by the New York Sharks in 2003. Defensive lineman Trigger McNair captured defensive MVP honors with five solo tackles. | |||||
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Game 9 – Chattanooga Locomotion
| Game Summary: The D.C. Divas advanced to their third straight conference championship game by defeating the Chattanooga Locomotion, 40-0. Allyson Hamlin had her best performance of the season, earning offensive MVP honors by passing for 152 yards and two touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown as well. Wide receiver Lilah Blackstone caught a touchdown pass and scored a second touchdown on an electrifying 74-yard punt return. The Divas defense forced four Chattanooga turnovers and once again held their opponent under 100 yards of total offense. | |||||
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Game 10 – Columbus Comets
| Game Summary: The Columbus Comets became the first team in three months to score a point against the D.C. Divas defense, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep the Divas from advancing to their first national title game in team history with a 32-7 win. Columbus running back Shelly Gates rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter, which had the Divas facing their first deficit of the year. But the Divas took control by forcing five turnovers, including two interceptions by defensive MVP Trigger McNair. Rachelle Pecovsky helped the Divas control the game and the clock on the ground, with a season-high 22 carries leading to 98 yards and a touchdown. | |||||
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Game 11 – Oklahoma City Lightning
| Game Summary: The D.C. Divas won the 2006 NWFA national championship with a 28-7 victory over the Oklahoma City Lightning. Rachelle Pecovsky was named the MVP of the national title game, rushing for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Her two touchdown runs in the first quarter gave the Divas a 12-0 lead at halftime. The Divas defense held star Oklahoma City running back Iliana Calderon to just 83 yards, despite entering the game with 28 rushing touchdowns and averaging over 200 rushing yards per contest.
Still, the Lightning scored on a Kim Mitchell quarterback sneak in the third quarter, cutting the Divas’ lead to 12-7 with one period to play. Pecovsky’s third rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave the Divas a little breathing room, and Allyson Hamlin sealed the victory with a seven-yard touchdown run with 2:28 remaining in the game as the Divas pulled away for a 28-7 triumph. |
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2006 D.C. Divas Championship Roster
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