Northern Ice to Play for WPFL Title
October 26, 2003 - Women's Professional Football League (WPFL)
Northern Ice News Release
KENOSHA, Wis. -- With the game on the line, Northern Ice ironwoman Brenda VanCuick stepped up on both sides of the ball to lead the Ice into the WPFL Championship game with a 37-30 win over the Long Beach Aftershock.
With 40 seconds left in the game, the Aftershock was down to its last gasp -- 4th and goal from the 9-yard line. QB Mary Margaret Montgomery found WR Emily Delilio open on an out pattern just inside the goal line and drilled the ball.
But VanCuick, playing CB, closed quickly and knocked the ball out of Delilio's hand to preserve the win for the Ice.
Four minutes earlier, on offense, VanCuick had put the Ice ahead for good with a 13-yard touchdown toss to WB Cindy Herr on a halfback option pass.
VanCuick and Herr were the difference in the game, played on a chilly 48-degree night with the wind blowing in from Lake Michigan.
The Aftershock was unable to stop VanCuick on the sweep or Herr on the counter as the Ice executed its double-wing offense to near perfection. The Ice offensive line -- solid as a block of, well, ice - - won the battle in the trenches. The slippery Ice wingbacks slipped through the arms of Aftershock defenders. And the Ice defense was able to come up with key stops at critical moments.
Early in the game, however, it looked as if the Ice might be outmatched by the explosive Aftershock offense.
Much has been made about the caliber of opposition the Ice faced this season in posting a 10-regular season record. Midway into the second quarter it looked like the Ice might well be outshone by the West Coast offensive capabilities of the Aftershock.
Montgomery hit a WR on an 80-yard bomb and minutes later, HB Tiffany Maxwell, one of the Aftershocks' super twins, broke loose on a run off-tackle. She tiptoed 25 yards down the sideline for a score that put the Aftershock up 22-10, with six minutes left in the first half. It looked like the rout was on.
But the Ice kept grinding and twice drove for scores, the last with less than a minute to go in the half, that gave them a 23-22 edge.
Long Beach opened the second half with an impressive, clock-eating drive that began from the Aftershock's own 10-yard line. The two-point conversion put the Aftershock ahead 30-23. It was the last time the Shock would score.
The Northern Ice answered, to even the game 30-30, and the Aftershock again drove down the field.
It was near the end of the third quarter, with the Aftershock again threatening on the Ice 10 yard line, that things fell apart. A holding call pushed the Aftershock back to the 20. A running play went nowhere and a tackle for a loss on a broken play moved the Aftershock back six more yards.
With fourth and goal from the 26th, and no kicker to put up a credible effort at a field goal, Montgomery dropped back to pass. Under pressure from the Ice defensive line, she threw the ball up and VanCuick picked it off, returning it to the 30.
From there the Ice machine rolled down the field, setting up VanCuick's nifty half-back option pass that proved to be the game winner.
The WPFL announced today that the Championship game between the Northern Ice (AFC Champs) vs The Florida Stingrays (NFC Champs) will be played in Kenosha, WI on November 8. Place and time have yet to be determined.
The Northern Ice practices at Anderson Field Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays from 7-10pm.
Women's Professional Football League Stories from October 26, 2003
- Northern Ice to Play for WPFL Title - Northern Ice
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