Alabama Renegades Knock Out the Blaze
June 14, 2004 - National Women's Football Association (NWFA)
Alabama Renegades News Release
Alabama Renegade Katie Buckley started the game off with a 73-yard touchdown run and the Renegades never looked back as they defeated the New Orleans Blaze, 21-12.
The Renegades and Blaze were both playing for a chance to advance to the playoffs in their final game of the season. The Renegades scored three touchdowns in the first half while the Blaze only scored two, but that was all it took. In a hard-hitting, emotionally-filled game, the Renegades were able to hold on to win the game.
Katie Buckley returned the opening kickoff 73 yards for the first score of the game. Later in the second quarter the Renegades scored twice. Runningback Nicole Nall capped a 52 yard run with a touchdown and later threw a 74-yard halfback pass to Tammy Wissel for the final touchdown of the game.
Nall finished with 127 yards on 24 carries. Buckley added 81 yards on 12 carries and fullback Teresa Finley carried the call five times for nine yards. Wissel also handled the kicking duties finishing the game perfect in extra point attempts. The Renegades finished the game with 217 yards rushing and 89 yards passing.
The Renegade defense came up with some big stops at the end of the first half and in the third quarter. The Blaze threatened to score at the end of the second quarter, but cornerback Nikie Hunter knocked the pass away as time ran out.
Linebacker Vicki Kennedy finished the game with eleven total tackles including four solo tackles, five assists, and two sacks. Defensive end Jennifer Patton made four tackles with one assist and two sacks. Cornerback Katie Buckley, strong safety Bird Gholston, and linebacker Wendy Everett each recorded six total tackles. The New Orleans quarterback was intercepted twice, once by Sonya Massey and once by Ryan Williams.
With the win, the Renegades knocked the Blaze out of playoff contention but didn't score enough points to earn a wildcard bid. The Nashville Dream and Asheville Assault received the two wildcard spots in the Southern Conference. Even though the Renegades didn't make it to the playoffs, they did end their season with a win finishing with a record of 6-3.
The NWFA playoffs start June 26 with six teams competing in each conference. In the Northern Conference, the D.C. Divas, Detroit Demolition, Philadelphia Phoenix, Massachusetts Mutiny, Columbus Comets, and S.W. Michigan Jaguars are battling it out, while the Oklahoma City Lightning, Pensacola Power, Chattanooga Locomotion, Kansas City Krunch, Nashville Dream, and Asheville Assault are competing in the Southern Conference. The playoffs will end July 31st with the NWFA Chamionship Game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY.
National Women's Football Association Stories from June 14, 2004
- Alabama Renegades Knock Out the Blaze - Alabama Renegades
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