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The D.C. Divas have had a week off since crushing the Philadelphia Firebirds, 63-0, in their regular season finale. Saturday night, the team will begin its quest for the Independent Women's Football League title with a first-round playoff game against the Pittsburgh Passion.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover.
The Divas (8-0) outscored opponents, 325-46, this season, including a 27-7 victory over the Passion on May 2. Since then, Pittsburgh (7-1) has won five consecutive games by a combined sum of 238-45. The Passion secured a playoff berth with a 34-33 overtime victory over the New York Sharks two weeks ago. Nearly two months after their regular season meeting, Divas' coach Keith Howard knows the rematch will offer few similarities.
"They're good," Howard said. "To me, they may have the best player in the league in [quarterback] Lisa Horton. We did well against her last time, but I know she's going to be ready. It's our whole team. Our special teams can put pressure on them. If our offense can keep scoring points then we can put some pressure on them. I think we've gotten better every week on defense."
After two unproductive possessions in the May 2 game, Divas' quarterback Allyson Hamlin directed an 11-play, 72-yard drive and tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Nikki Williams on fourth-and-goal. The Divas added two touchdowns before halftime on short runs from Tiffany Matthews and La Shaun Foust. The team began the second half with another scoring drive, as Hamlin connected with tight end Donna Wilkinson.
Two other undefeated teams in the IWFL will meet in the opening round as the Boston Militia (8-0) hosts the Dallas Diamonds (8-0) on Saturday. Boston and Dallas did not play any similar opponents, but the Militia did own lopsided victories over the Baltimore Nighthawks, New York Sharks and Philadelphia Firebirds. The Divas defeated Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia by a combined 167-32, while the Militia swept those squads by a margin of 147-7.
E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net