WPFL: L.A. Demolishes Minnesota
Amazons Improve to 4-0 by Stomping Minnesota Vixen.
The L.A. Amazons remain undefeated.
The Amazon River may not be the world's longest - but the Amazons football team is definitely earning its keep as the WPFL's strongest.
Backed by stingy defense, crafty, charismatic offense, and smart, opportunistic special teams play, the Los Angeles Amazons threw the Minnesota Vixen a 52-6 stomping at Bassett High School in La Puente.
The Amazons' attack was spearheaded by #21 Deana Guidry. She carried the ball 17 times, for 250 yards, and scored, yes, 6 touchdowns.
"We tend to play at our opponent's level," says Guidry, the 5'5" Inglewood native who plays three different positions, including RB. "They came out a little bit slow...we were a bit slow coming out."
The Amazons clung to a meager 7-6 lead midway through the first quarter, reminiscent of some of the many Vikings/Rams NFL playoff games of the 70's. It put some of those very L.A. fans on the edges of the bleachers early. Team captain Christina Rodriguez even demanded that teammates 'keep their heads up.'
Yet the one-point lead was soon a memory as L.A. went onto score 45 unanswered points, 43 offensively.
"In the second half we picked it up more...you could tell the difference," Guidry adds. "We're usually a much faster-paced team."
Guidry's first touchdown came on a 19-yard run early in the first period. The Minnesota counterattack failed on offense, yet on L.A.'s own next possession, Vixen DB/WR Catima Wilson intercepted a Sarah Adams pass, and returned it 67 yards for the Vixen's only score. The point after try went awry, bringing that aforementioned 7-6 mark.
Back came the Amazons. Guidry later took a 34-yard run in for 6 more points, and L.A. earned a 2-point conversion following a botched snap attempt for one P.A.T. 15-6 Amazons. On defense, L.A. pinned Minnesota deep in their own territory, culminating in a safety, which would tack on two more points and force the Vixen to kick it away. 17-6 L.A. at halftime, though the scoreboard read 18-6.
The first Amazon offensive play of the second half came after getting outstanding field position at Minnesota's 35-yard line. Guidry took it in for a 35-yard score, and the game tally read 25-6. Guidry's rushing and scoring prowess and the Amazons' domination continued to make the contest a laugher. Her longest run of the night was an 83-yard touchdown sprint that put the game out of reach at 44-6 in the fourth quarter. Finally, L.A.'s one passing score of the evening came on a 40-yard bomb from quarterback Sarah Adams to WR Amber Moffett-White, number 80.
"We aren't a strong passing team," admits Guidry. "We've really been working on that. Now that we actually had a couple under our belt this game, hopefully we can pass a lot more."
Minnesota had the same troubles. The lone offensive drive in which they plunged deep into Amazon territory came with just over 8 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. On a 3rd and goal play, Amazon LB Amy Satterfield #59, and number 46 Maria Rodriguez combined for a sack on Vixen quarterback Kimberly Miller. On 4th down, Miller gunned it right to Wilson, the woman responsible for the Vixen's earlier points, who dropped the ball in the end zone. Minnesota's offense was shut out in an already humiliating defeat.
For the Amazons, an unusual reversal of Murphy's Law is unfolding. Everything that can go right appears to be going right. They are 4-0, alone in first place in the WPFL's American Conference West, and now have a bye before taking on arch-rival, the So Cal Scorpions.
"I always tell everybody, celebrate tonight, and tomorrow, we're back on the grind," says Guidry. "That's my philosophy...until we win the championship. So Cal beat Dallas, and everybody thought Dallas was unstoppable. We know that we're going to have to have that fire for the week after next."
The Amazons, who already beat the Scorpions 15-13 in San Diego, host them at Bassett on Saturday, September 22nd. Kickoff is at 7:05pm.
