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vs.
CHICAGO FORCE - Dallas Diamonds
[6/12/2010]
Result: 27-20 L

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Contact: George Howe,
Media Relations (773) 368-4848

Force Eliminated From Post Season Play

North Richland, Texas. The Force 2010 season came to an end last Saturday just outside of Dallas as they lost a tough first round battle 27-20 to the Diamonds. This was the first time that these two teams have met since the 2008 IWFL National Championship game, won by Dallas in overtime. Both teams had identical 7-1 conference records coming in. The game time temperature hovered in the low 90’s and everyone was aware of the importance of hydration.

The Force took the opening kickoff, and in typical Texas style QB Sami Grisafe was the gunslinger throwing the ball 6 out of the ten plays. First she found Patricia Harper for an 18 yard strike, moving the ball to the Force 39. Then a pretty slant pass to Jeanette Gray for 23 yards marked the ball at the Diamond 25. On fourth down and ten, Grisafe looked left and once again found Gray who timed her jump perfectly in the right corner of the end zone, eluding three Diamond defenders. The first of many controversial calls by the officiating crew started on the extra point attempt by Carolyn Lee. The Force was flagged for a player being in an ineligible position. The five yards cost the Force the point.

The Diamonds came right back on their first possession of the game with an impressive 13 play drive led by Jessica Springer who took it up the middle 4 yards. Force linebacker Kim Marks blocked the extra point attempt. After a 19 yard field goal attempt by Lee hit the right upright, the Diamonds took the lead on the legs of Springer who proved to be very tough to bring down all day, and had runs of 26, 3 and scored from one yard out. This time Jamie Menzyk blocked the PAT. The Force defense kept up the pressure on Diamond QB Monica Foster, flushing her out of the pocket. It paid off with just under two minutes to play until the half. Foster coughed up the ball at her own 41. Marks was in the middle of everything throughout and recovered the fumble. Grisafe threw a post pass to Harper and she did the rest running down the left sideline. Lee made the PAT and the Force took a 13-12 lead into the locker room.

A personal foul penalty on a late hit by Jamine White greeted the Force on the third quarter kickoff and gave the Diamonds good field position inside the Force 49. The Diamonds marched down the field once again mostly on the legs of Springer. Tiffany Hill caught a six yard touchdown pass. The Diamonds went for two and Springer ran it in from the left side for a 20-13 Diamond advantage. Another Diamond fumble recovered this time by Tami Engleman spotted the ball at the Diamond 32. Darcy Leslie ran 18 strong yards to the Diamond 14. A Diamond pass interference penalty brought the ball to the Diamond 5. Three plays later Grisafe in heavy pursuit, rolled right and found Marks wide open in the right corner of the end zone with 1:16 left in the third quarter. Lee tied the game with the PAT. The winning touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Springer ran 38 yards around the right side.

“This is never how you want to end the season,” said a proud but dejected Head Coach John Konecki. “We ran out of time, we came up short. However you want to look at it our season is over. “Come Monday when we would normally practice, we will all miss the void. Losing is never easy.”