PASSION (11 - 0) ADVANCE TO THE 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The Pittsburgh Passion defeated the Cleveland Fusion, 49-15 to advance to the 2007 NWFA World Championship Game. Pittsburgh continued their impressive playoff run with their third win of the season over the Fusion. The numerology of the date 7/7/07 was in effect Saturday night as the Passion used 7 touchdowns to advance to their first championship game appearance.
Cleveland took the opening kickoff and drove the ball 59 yards down the field to get an opening score. Erica Ward carried the ball seven times on the opening drive for 55 of the yards and the Fusion opened up the game with a 7-0 lead. Pittsburgh got the ball back, but was only able to move 7 yards down the field on three plays. Janice Masters was called on to punt the football for the first time in three games and the entire course of the game changed. Team owner and DB Teresa Conn downed the punt at the Fusion's nine yard line. The inspired defense stood tall and allowed one yard of offense on the next possession. After getting the ball back, it took the offense just four plays to get on the scoreboard. Torina Henley bowled over two would-be tacklers into the endzone for an 11 yard score. Cristy Laudadio tacked on the extra point and the score was tied 7-7. After a Cleveland possession that did not record a yard of offense, the Passion took just five plays to score again. Lyndsi Hughes spun her way through the middle for another touchdown. Lisa Horton ran around the right corner for the two point conversion and the Passion led 15-7. After holding Cleveland to - 4 yards on the next possession, Pittsburgh went to the air. On the first offensive play of the drive, Lisa Horton threw a 48 yard bomb to Wilma Walton along the right side and the Passion led 22-7. Late in the 2 nd quarter, Lisa Horton connected on a 50 yard pass to Lori Johnson and Pittsburgh took a 29-7 lead into halftime.
Pittsburgh set the tone at the start of the 3rd quarter and secured a berth to Nashville. An 11 play, 62 yard drive, that used over 8 minutes of the clock was completed on Lisa Horton's 2 nd TD pass to Wilma Walton. Torina Henley and Jenine Suprano also added a rushing touchdown in the 2nd half for the Passion. The offense was able to amass 448 yards of offense, while the defense held the Fusion to just 191 yards. Lisa Horton had another exceptional passing game going 9 for 12 with 179 yards and three touchdowns. Wilma Walton and Lori Johnson both accounted for 68 of her passing yards. Torina Henley carried the bulk of the rushing load with 19 carries for 90 yards to go along with her two touchdowns. Lyndsi Hughes also accounted for 79 yards on the ground and 30 yards in the air. Melissa Yeck once again led the defensive charge with 12 tackles. Ava Nickens accounted on six tackles and two sacks. Olivia Griswold had 9 tackles and knocked down two Fusion passes at the line of scrimmage. Sharon Vazquez had five tackles and Michelle Brevard had an interception.
Pittsburgh Passion
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