The Philadelphia Phoenix start their season 1-0 with a 40-0 rout of the New Jersey Titans.
Philadelphia's temperature wasn't in the 40's on the last Saturday in April, but its football teams turned in many such numbers. The Eagles' first two NFL draft selections were picks 47 and 49 overall, and the Phoenix scored 40 points in their shutout win over the New Jersey Titans.
Number 42, cornerback/wide receiver Megan Gerber took the game's first punt 71 yards for a touchdown less than five minutes into the contest.
"We just wanted to come out and show 'em what we had," Gerber says. "It set the tone early."
That wasn't even her biggest play! Later in the first quarter, the Phoenix offense took the ball for the first time following another Titan punt. The first play from scrimmage? Gerber caught a Beth Speakman pass, ran and circumvented New Jersey defenders, and tallied an 86-yard score. Two non-defensive plays = two Gerber touchdowns.
"We were ready for tonight," Gerber adds. "We bust our a-- when we're at practice! We practice harder than any team."
The team effort that Philadelphia put together throughout four quarters of play also featured highlights from Speakman (#5), the game's offensive standout. She caught three passes for 62 yards, carried the ball four times for 52, and also threw three passes, completing two of them for 98 yards. Out of all of it, she recorded two touchdowns of her own.
"It's just a quick read," remarks Speakman about all phases of the game she's accustomed to. "Wherever you see an opening you've got to go, you've got to shoot for it...tremendous blocking tonight."
Speakman also gave teammates a scare when she left the contest temporarily in the second half.
"My calf muscle cramped up on me," she says after taking a bit hit from the Titans' defense. She returned to action early in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Jill Ottinger was glad she did, as she found Speakman for the game's final touchdown, a pass and run combination that netted 43 yards and the score.
"I couldn't be more proud," Ottinger says. "I can't even put it into words. They (offense) blocked for me, they protected me...I'm so proud of them."
Ottinger was 3-for-7 in passing for 62 yards, and also took seven carries 14 yards, scoring a touchdown on a one-yard poke early in the third period.
Next up for Philadelphia, a trip down Interstate 95 to play the Baltimore Burn on Saturday May 3, 2008. Ottinger says that while Saturday's performance was enjoyable, it's in the books now and time to move on.
"Next week we can only get better, but we've got to learn in the meantime," Ottinger claims. "We have to stay grounded."
The Titans, now 1-1, will return home to Wayne, New Jersey to host the New York Nemesis on May 3rd.
