The Chicago Force is moving on in the play offs after beating the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Passion 41-31 at Evanston Township High School Saturday evening.
The game was dominated by Force stand out running back Jessica Stringer who accounted for five of the Force six scores.
Stringer dominated at times like Bo Jackson, not the real life former running back. Instead, Springer looked more like the video game version affectionately known as Tecmo Bo. Springer ran around, over and through Passion defenders all evening long as the Passion had no answers.
Following a nice return of the opening kick off by #3 Albiona Zhubi to the Passion forty five yard like, the first drive was all Springer. She gained all forty five yards and finished off the drive by taking a direct snap out of the shot gun and powering in for a five yard touch down. A missed extra point made it 6-0.
A Sami Grisafe strike to Zhubi was all the yardage the Force mustered on their second drive was all the Force mustered besides Springer on their second drive. Springer finished off the second drive with a six yard touchdown run. Springer powered in for a two point conversion and in a blur it was 14-0 Force.
The Passion, co owned by former Steeler legend Franco Harris, only allowed thirty five points in the entire regular season, but their defense provided little resistance all day.
The game was on the verge of getting out of hand when Passion trickery put them back in the game. #80 Lyndsi Hughes took a pitch that looked like a sweep when she pulled up and threw a bomb down the side lines to #37 Desiree Sterling for a long gain. #7 Amanda Haeg, the Passion Quarterback took a bootleg into the endzone to make it 14-7 with 3:51 left in the first.
The Force answered right back. Springer finished off another drive for a three yard touchdown for her third score of the opening quarter. The drive included a nice strike from quarterback Sami Grisafe to #83 Jeannette Grey.
By the second quarter the Passion offense settled in. They were lead by their quarter back Amanda Haeg, who was reminiscent of another quarterback that wears the number seven, Michael Vick. Unfortunately for the Passion, Haeg looked more like Falcons Vick rather than last year’s Eagles Vick. She produced many exciting plays scrambling out of trouble and often gaining first downs with unscripted scrambles. On the other hand she just missed connecting on several long throws.
As such, the Passion only managed another field goal and Springer’a fourth touchdown made it 27-10 at the end of the half.
The Passion tightened things up in the second half after Haeg found #80 Hughes for a twenty five yard score on fourth down and the Passion was back in the game at 27-17.
While their offense was starting to click, the Passion continued to have no answer for Stringer on defense. She busted out for a long run and finished off the drive with a three yard score to make it 35-17.
The Passion kept it close the rest of the game but never got within one score. Springer took hand offs from Grisafe and lined up in a hybrid Wildcat, with a power eye tackle eligible. No matter the formation, Springer was counted to rack up first downs and lead the For e to scores that countered Passion scores.
The Passion scored with 3:46 left in the fourth to make it 41-31 but a failed onside attempt sealed the game.
The Force will be back in action at ETHS in two weeks as they continue their play off run against the Boston Militia.
Related posts:
