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INSIDE SPORTS
BY
Bill McCaffrey
One of the best kept secrets in the B-W area is the National Women's Football Association that has the DC Divas and the Baltimore Burn that play in the Mid-Atlantic Division.
This coming Saturday the DC Divas will be playing their final regular season home game against the Columbus Flames at Eastern High School in DC at 7 p.m. A special promotion is on with a purchase of a DC Divas ticket getting you a free ticket to Sundays game with Mia Hamm’s Washington Freedom taking on the Boston Breakers.
Three of the top DC Divas players live in Prince George's County, quarterback Allyson Hamlin is a former Eleanor Roosevelt All-County Athletic who helped start the Maryland University varsity softball team. She is the general on the offense and hits her receivers with pin point accuracy.
Donna Wilkinson is the leagues top running back with 884 yards rushing and eleven TD's helping her team to a 6-0 record. She is one tough player who runs over defenders.
Another standout is Gayle "GoGo" Dilla who lives with her husband Jamie in Upper Marlboro. Besides football she plays USA Volleyball for USAV and went to the Olympic trials in Judo.
Head coach of the team is Ezra Cooper and his staff includes: Jamie Dilla, Burnell Brown, Sidney Campbell, Jim Tench, Brian West, Bryan Williams, Ed Smith, and Barb Cohen. Bowie State's trainer Angela Jones is also the Divas trainer. Rochelle Nolte is the team doctor.
The co-owners are Kelly George and Leah Fahringer. Rich Daniel their PR Director gave us this report on the teams come from behind victory over Pittsburgh. Take it away Rich.....
"The D.C. DIVAS met their toughest test of the season to date and responded with an impressive 30-25 come from behind victory of the Pittsburgh Passion. The DIVAS trailed 25-22 with 3:57 left to play when their offensive line decided to take control. The DIVAS rushed for 340 yards on the day, but it was the last four that really mattered.With just :17 seconds left on the clock Donna Wilkinson's 4 yard touchdown run and 2pt conversion sealed the victory for the DIVAS. Wilkinson carried 33 times for 150 yards and 3 td's. Her running mate Lashawn Foust had another strong game with 20 carries for 101 yards and 1 touchdown. The offensive line of Michelle Riddle-Gayle Dilla-Nancy Buermyer-Renee Roach-Patrice Bowman-Jayme Morrison-Carrie Pecover and Alison Marshal were voted the offensive MVP's "our line has to be the best in the league" said the league's leading rusher Donna Wilkinson (884 yds in 6 games) "they are big-agile and have excellent football minds and they're very tough. We (running backs) give them all the credit in the world. Coach Tench has done a great job." The defense has been tested on the road in their last two outings. Prior to the game the DIVAS leading tackler linebacker Tessa Nelson went down with a sprained knee. Her replacement Sharina Western recorded 10 tackles and 8 assists and was named the defensive MVP. "I was very excited, but didn't want to get my chance that way. We all saw Tessa go down and you could feel the worry. I made alot of mistakes, but my team supported me very strongly. For never having played inside linebacker, I think I did okay in the end."
The DIVAS are 6-0 and in first place in the Mid Atlantic Division of the NWFA (National Women's Football Association)
Go to WWW.DCDIVAS.COM for more information on the WASHINGTON WOMEN'S WEEKEND OF FOOTBALL. See how you can be part of the DC DIVAS and the Washington Freedom's exciting weekend of football action.
For information on the Divas go to www.DCDIVAS.com. |
Football