Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
(BELLEVILLE, IL) The St. Louis SLAM women’s tackle football franchise picked up a 53-0 victory over Houston Power in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) Tier II quarterfinals Saturday night at Lindenwood University and now advances to the governing body’s Final Four within the tier.
St. Louis (5-2) notched a trifecta of scores in the first quarter that set the tone and, with the win, secures a WFA Tier II semifinal meeting with the Sin City Trojans (5-4) at home on July 9 with ambitions of reaching the championship game held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 22.
Technically, St. Louis notched its winning points on the opening drive. Thirty seconds deep, SLAM quarterback Jamie Gaal connected with receiver Keyonna Smith for a 16-yard touchdown strike that resulted in St. Louis’ 7-0 lead following the successful kick.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
Four minutes later, SLAM running back Taylor Hay galloped a 13-yard end zone run to push the locals’ lead to 13-0.
The opening stanza’s surge continued with Candice Watkins’ touchdown scamper with 5:05 left in the first quarter that extended St. Louis’ lead to 19-0.
In the second quarter, the SLAM continued their dominance as Gaal hit Kim Kinsella for a 15-yard touchdown pass at the 11:00 mark and then pushed the score to 25-0 following a successful two-point conversion.
Gaal’s third six-pointer thrown in the half, an 11-yarder caught by Heather Rhodes with 5:55 left in the second, widened the score to 32-0.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
The SLAM entered intermission sporting a 39-0 lead after Watkins’ second score of the night, a 42-yard touchdown rush with 1:33 left in the half. She added a 22-yarder at the 9:25 mark of the third quarter as St. Louis’ lead blossomed to 46-0.
As dominant and multi-layered as the offensive was, the same could be said of the SLAM’s defense, anchored by Raven Williams, Kaylee Neutzling, Alana Fields, Robyn Morrow, Pamela Green, Brooklyn Bastain and a host of others, who preserved the shutout.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
St. Louis put the exclamation point on the quarterfinal win with Chelsea Clay’s five-yard touchdown run with ten minutes left in the game.
St. Louis’ semifinal opponent, Sin City, topped the Mile High Blaze last weekend, 28-24, to advance.
For more information on SLAM Football and future playoff announcements, go to its official Facebook page.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
