Gameday Recap

Force Fall Short in Conference Championship 33-47

REVERE, MA: The opening kickoff was delayed due to heavy rain, and the downpour would continue throughout, at times making it dangerous to punt and almost impossible to execute PAT’s. This felt reminiscent of the Chicago’s only loss of the regular season, in which Boston pulled out a 24-25 win in 4 th quarter that featured a ridiculous rainstorm. Sadly the rain failed to rouse Chicago who appeared to be sleep-walking through the first quarter of the WFA Conference Championship, falling into a three score deficit that they could not overcome despite a furious comeback effort.

After a three week break between the 2nd and 3rd round of playoffs to accommodate the Women’s World Championship in Canada, the Force seemed flat and out of sync. The hiatus was necessary to allow the top players nation-wide to compete in the international championship. Chicago was especially impacted, as 12 of their players and their head coach were in Vancouver for the competition – and thus not able to practice with their Force teammates in preparation for the conference finals. The Renegades had just three players in Vancouver and were clearly able to exploit that disparity to their advantage.

Boston began the game on fire and scored on their first three possessions. Meanwhile, the Force couldn’t get anything going with 2 three and outs and a fumble on their first three possessions. On their initial possession of the second quarter, and facing a 0-21 deficit, Chicago put together their first drive culminating in a 10 yard TD pass from Sami Grisafe to Tamika Robinson. Jules Harshbarger kicked the PAT and Chicago was finally on the board at 7-21.

Chicago began their last drive of the first half at their own 46 yard line and 1:36 left on the clock. Grisafe completed two 20 yard passes to Jeanette Gray and Cassey Brick and suddenly the Force were in the red zone. With the clock winding down Grisafe found Gray in the back of the end zone for another TD completion. The successful PAT narrowed the deficit to 14-21 and provided some momentum to Chicago going into the halftime intermission.

The second half began with the Chicago offense again looking sluggish, failing to score or sustain any drives in the 3rd quarter. Meanwhile, Boston again came out of the locker room like gangbusters and put up two quick scores to extend their lead to 14-33 by the end of the 3rd quarter. On the opening play of the 4th quarter, Grisafe connected again with Robinson who has track star speed and went 65 yards for the touchdown to close the gap to 20-33. Both teams extra point attempts in the 3rd quarter fail due to the torrential downpour.

On Boston’s next possession Force defensive star Angel Smith burst into the backfield and caused a fumble, which she then scooped up and scored on. Though the PAT again failed, Chicago had pulled to 26-33. Boston went right to work and scored on a long pass down the left sideline. The PAT was blocked but Boston had extended their lead to 26-39 with 8 minutes left in the game. On first down, Chicago RB Aleksandra Lukasiewicz ripped off a 30 yard run to reignite the Force offense. Grisafe then completed a 26 yard pass to Robinson, followed by a 16 yard completion to Brick. Grisafe then scored on a keeper, and the successful PAT made it a one score game at 33-39 with four minutes remaining.

For Chicago to have a chance, their defense had to get a stop or a turnover. But Boston running back Whitney Zelee ripped off another huge run down to the Chicago 2 yard line and then punched it in on the next play to put the game out of reach. The Force finished the year at 8-2, as division champions and conference finalists. It is the final game of the Force franchise as the organization is shutting down operations.