Final Game of the Season for the SunFire
October 16, 2003 - Women's Professional Football League (WPFL)
San Diego Sunfire News Release
SAN DIEGO âThe San Diego SunFire will try to even the season series against the Arizona Caliente and pick up its fifth straight win in the season finale at home on Saturday, October 18th, 7:05 p.m. PT. Check below for the complete game schedule.
Last Saturday in Phoenix, the SunFire took on the Arizona Knighthawks and escaped with a 20-14 overtime win in the club's first extra period contest this season. Check below for the complete Conference standings.
San Diego is above .500 for the first time during the 2003 campaign. The SunFire is out of the playoff race but after finishing the first half of the season at 1-4, has an opportunity to go 6-4 by winning on Saturday.
San Diego won its first-ever game in a contest against the Caliente back in 2001. The Caliente, one of the league's powerhouses, was one win away from advancing to the WPFL playoffs this year. San Diego and Arizona met in week five of the season with the Caliente defeating San Diego, 38-20, in Arizona. In what is surely to be the game of the season for San Diego â the SunFire will take on the Arizona Caliente in the league's season finale Saturday night at La Jolla High School Stadium.
SUPER GIRL RAI TO THE RESCUE! - #20 Railene Ritzberg â Last weekend, "Rai" forced the fumble on the opening kickoff of overtime to put the SunFire on the Knighthawks 18-yard line. She ran all four plays including the five-yard touchdown to win the game. Ritzberg finished with 17 carries for 141 yards rushing, 1 touchdown and a two-point conversion.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - #34 Jaz Sveum - "Jaz" stepped in as Punter/Kicker/Fullback last weekend. As a fullback she had seven carries for 43 yards and two touchdowns to lead the team in scoring.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE GAME - Defensive stars #52 Marissa Wilson, #57 Latashia McKinney, #50 Wendy Hanlon, #56 Rose Centeno, #75 Lesley Fisher, and 3-yr vets #27 Faith Nealy and #69 Laquetta Benjamin - kept a determined Arizona offense in check by controlling the run, forcing and recovering fumbles. DB Angie Corrine netted an interception, Hanlon picked off her first pass of the season and Centeno recovered the forced fumble in overtime to set up the win.
The San Diego SunFire is a member of the 17-team Women's Professional Football League. The SunFire's 2003 regular season consists of a 10-game schedule with San Diego playing its home games at La Jolla High School. Last season, the SunFire finished its second professional campaign at 9-1, the best regular season record in the disbanded American Football Women's League and Silver Cup Winners of the AFWL. For scores and updates call 619-200-2555. For media information, please call 619-295-8649, or email info@sandiegosunfire.com. Please visit us on the web at sandiegosunfire.com or womensprofootball.com.
2003 San Diego SunFire Schedule
Week 1 Sun. Aug 3 - @ Long Beach, L/18 - 6
Week 2 - Sat. Aug 9 - BYE
Week 3 - Sat Aug 16 - Long Beach, L/34 -13
Week 4 - Sat. Aug 23 - LA Amazons, W/20-12
Week 5 - Sat. Aug 30 - @ AZ Caliente, L/38-20
Week 6 - Sat. Sep 6 - @ Houston Energy, L/62-22
Week 7 - Sat. Sep 13 - Scorpions W/36-14
Week 8 - Sat. Sep 20 - BYE
Week 9 - Sat. Sept 27 - AZ Knighthawks W/50-0
Week 10 - Sat. Oct 4 - @ LA Amazons W/58-14
Week 11 - Sat. Oct 11 - @ AZ Knighthawks W/20-14 (ot)
Week 12 - Sat. Oct 18 - AZ Caliente
Women's Professional Football League Stories from October 16, 2003
- Final Game of the Season for the SunFire - San Diego Sunfire
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