Sharks clinch division
Published on May 24, 2004 under Independent Women's Football League (IWFL)
New York Sharks News Release
This was a game with playoff anticipation and then playoff intensity. This was a game that could determine both team's fate for the playoffs. If the New York Sharks won, they would clinch the Mid Atlantic division title and guarantee them home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Though they could not clinch it with this game, a victory by Chicago would give the Force a strong upper hand for the division title and relegate New York to fighting for the wild card spot.
It was a very warm and humid day in the Big Apple when the two teams took the field. Chicago was looking for revenge after their 6-2 loss to the Sharks two weeks ago in Chi-town. The Force were primed after pummeling the Detroit Predators 65-0 last weekend. But the Sharks were doing some fine tuning themselves, having beaten the Bay State Warriors 45-0 last Saturday.
It was New Mexico Day at the ballpark in which the Sharks were thanking their flagship radio station KEDU-FM by honoring their home state of New Mexico. Nationally known sculptor Candyce Garrett of New Mexico and sponsor of the Sharks' broadcasts came out to perform the coin toss. Unfortunately, Chicago won the coin toss and they elected to receive the opening kick.
Right from the start the game turned out to be another defensive battle. The Chicago Force had 5 shutouts out of 6 games to their credit and have allowed only 6 points all season. The Sharks on the other hand have 3 shutouts out of 5 games played so far this season. The first quarter was like a prize-fight with each team feeling each other out. Both teams went 3 plays and out but as the quarter went on, each team started to move the ball a little bit more with each possession. Late in the first quarter, the Sharks put together a 59-yard, 12-play drive only to stall at the Chicago 9-yard line. The Sharks had the wind to their back and might have gone for the field goal but their kicker Jenny Graf was out for the game.
New York's defense kept Chicago deep in their own territory for most of the half, but a great punt by Kat Smolarczyk turned the tide. She booted a 66-yard kick that bounced into the Sharks' endzone. It was significant because the Chicago defense came up big and forced the Sharks to punt. A short punt gave Chicago the ball on the New York 30-yard line. It was the first time in the game that the Force had the ball in New York territory and they did not waste the opportunity. Chicago stayed mostly on the ground giving the ball to Theresa Simon, Latania Logan, and Sally Beaumont. Working with the shorter field, the Force moved the ball towards the endzone with much success. Beaumont made a great run from the Sharks' 12-yard line. She was tackled almost immediately but then moved the pile of tacklers about 5 more yards to move the ball down to the 2-yard line. New York's defense wasn't going to give up easily, but after two tries, the Force got on the board. Kicker J. J. Jaffe came in and split the uprights to give Chicago the lead in the game, 7-0 with 6:46 left in the half.
Even though they were down for the first time in 18 quarters, New York was still confident in pulling this one out. It looked like they might have to wait until the second half to tie the score after the kick-off put them at the Sharks' own 31-yard line. New York put the ball in running back Monica Marsh's hand three straight times and could only get the ball to the New York 40-yard line. It was a fourth down play with about 5 minutes left in the half when Coach Sanchez went out and rolled the dice. It was only inches for a first down but the ball was in New York territory and the Force were starting to move the ball. Quarterback Val Halesworth kept the ball and gained 7-yards and more importantly a first down. From there it was the Missy and Val show. Mixing runs between Halesworth and Missy Marmorale, the Sharks put together a 12-play, 69-yard drive to get on the scoreboard with only thirty-five seconds left in the half. Halesworth ran in the 2-point conversion and New York had the lead 8-7 as the teams went to the locker room at halftime.
In the second half, New York's defense kicked it up a notch. They were able to stop Chicago's running and passing game, but a couple of turnovers by special teams almost proved costly for the New Yorkers. The half started with the Sharks getting the ball but not being able to do much. Punter Nikki Gwinnett who was having some trouble punting today, saved up a good one this time. She kicked a liner past the Chicago returner and the ball was downed by the Sharks at the Force's 6-yard line. Chicago could do very little and was forced to punt. They got a very short kick off but New York punt returner Lori DiVivio tried to pick the ball up on a short hop and fumbled it back to Chicago. The play turned out to be the equivalent of a 13-yard pass but it did give Chicago back the ball. New York's defense stopped the Force again and on the next punt the ball took a strong bounce back to the Chicago side. The ball ended up losing 3-yards from Chicago's original line of scrimmage.
Starting from the Force's 30-yard line, Halesworth made quick work of it by hitting wide receiver Karen Mulligan twice for gains of 10 and 17 yards. The last catch was in the endzone to put New York up 14-7 with 7:48 left in the third quarter. The Sharks went for the 2-point conversion, but the Force tackled Halesworth about 1 yard shy of the endzone.
Chicago almost got back into the game after another strong Sharks stop. The Force punted the ball and DeVivio fumbled the return again. Chicago recovered the ball on the Sharks 36-yard line. It was an excellent opportunity for them to get back in the game as the third quarter ended. It started to get scary as quarterback Cyndi Kemp hit Heather Tang for a quick 14-yard gain. A short pass to Stacy Paller and the Force had the ball on the New York 19-yard line, pounding pretty loudly at the door. But like all good fairy tales, the defense came to the rescue and pushed Chicago back to the 23-yard line and out of harm's way.
That was probably the turning point of the game. With the ball back in New York's hands, the Sharks put the game away on a short 5 play, 77-yard drive. Starting from their own 23-yard line, the Sharks gave the ball to Kathy Holloman who ran for a 12-yard gain. Then Marmorale put it into overdrive with a nifty 40-yard rumble. Halesworth hit Mulligan for an 18-yard gain and then Halesworth ran for 7 1/2 yards to put the ball at the foot of the Chicago Force goal line. Halesworth called her own number again and with a great surge by the Sharks' offensive line, the quarterback scored her second touchdown of the game. New York failed on the 2-point conversion, but it was now 20-7 with only 10:44 left in the game.
The Sharks put the final nail in the coffin on their next drive. It started when DeVivio returned a punt for 15-yards to put the ball at New York's 42-yard line. Trying to eat up as much of the clock as possible, New York went to their running game. Time after time, they gave the ball to Marsh who was able to move the ball. A big help was a 15-yard run by Halesworth who got tackled out of bounds for a late hit penalty and another 15 yards. New York put their final points on the board with 5:05 left in the game on a Marmorale 3-yard run. This time Sharks' owner Andra Douglas came in to try to kick the extra point and she made it. The score was now 27-7 and New York was on their way to their second straight Mid Atlantic Division title.
After the game, the offensive game ball was given to tackle Shauna Segers whose blocks gave the quarterback enough time to find her receivers. The defensive game ball was given to Veronica "Vicious" Simmons for her consistent tackling that stopped the Chicago running attack from ever really getting any kind of momentum.
With the victory, the Sharks have clinched the Mid Atlantic division and are in very good position to get the number 1 seed in the IWFL Eastern Conference playoffs. It also means that New York may face Chicago one more time this year, this time in the playoffs. Chicago is in a very good position to make it to the playoffs as the wildcard team. So while these two games have been good, hard fought, exciting games, there might be one more chapter to write.
The Sharks have next week off as they prepare for the final two regular season games. The next time New York will play will be up in Providence, Rhode Island, as they take on the Rhode Island Intensity on Saturday, June 5th at 5pm. If you can't join the team, you can hear all the exciting football action on our flagship radio station, KEDU-FM.
Independent Women's Football League Stories from May 24, 2004
- Sharks clinch division - New York Sharks
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