WPFL Playoffs: So Cal Edges L.A.
Reyes' 3 INT's Lift Scorpions 7-6 In Defensive Turfwar
So Cal wins its first round playoff game.
The 1985 Chicago Bears and 2000 Baltimore Ravens would be enamored with Saturday's performance by the 2007 So Cal Scorpions.
As all three squads will share with onlookers: 'offense wins games, defense wins championships!'
The Scorpion defense defuses a dubious Los Angeles offense and defeats the Amazons, 7-6.
With three interceptions, including the first and last defensive plays of the game for So Cal, cornerback Athena Reyes (#22) highlighted a grittily fought game.
"It's pretty easy for me, I've just got to be in the right place," claims Reyes. "We've got a good line that puts pressure on the ball."
Reyes' third pick of the night was the game-saver. With under two minutes to play, on 3rd down and 16 for L.A. just outside the So Cal 30-yard line, L.A.'s Christina Rodriguez lofted a rainbow pass to her right. Reyes dashed halfway across the field to grab the ball at the 20, and was tackled down as So Cal took over for good.
"It's always important for a defense to come out and keep their composure," Reyes adds. "We always tell our offense that all you've got to do is get on the board one time, and we got you."
And that's what happened! The game's only offensive score came shortly after So Cal received the second half kickoff. Among a series of Desiree Weimann carries, quarterback Melissa Gallegos (#3) connected with wide receiver Brittany Cotton for an 18-yard pass, and later got the ball to Isis Wagner (#88) for the touchdown, a 15-yard run.
"Spreading the ball out...that's how this offense works," says Gallegos. "But defense saved us again. The one score they (L.A.) did have was my fault."
L.A.'s points came early, and courtesy of their own defense's number 22. The fourth play from scrimmage in the opening minutes saw Amazon cornerback Lorie Moore pick off a Gallegos pass and run it into the end zone from midfield. The extra point was blocked, and that paid off in spades given the game's final score.
"Stuff happens," says Gallegos. "There's 60 minutes to this game, and you've got to play all 60."
Outside of the two touchdowns, the game was loaded with muffed snaps, missed field goals and heavy, hard hits. Yet in the end, defense got the job done for both teams, especially So Cal. Even the game's offensive standout starts with "D," Scorpion running back Desiree Weimann. She collected 83 total yards on 20 carries and caught two passes.
"It is always an intense game against L.A.," says Weimann, who turned over two rare fumbles, the second setting up the final Reyes pick. "You can't count on getting big yards, they have one of the toughest defenses too."
For L.A. offensively, running back Deanna Guidry (#21) tallied 66 yards on 13 carries, including a 20-yard sprint. QB/RB Christina Rodriguez passed and rushed but finished only 8 yards on the plus side, not counting the 10 she gained on a punt fake. So Cal's Gallegos completed 6 of 19 passes for 104 yards, and ran five times for 17.
The Scorpions now travel to Rochester, New York to face the Empire State Roar in the WPFL's AFC Championship November 17th. The Roar beat So Cal 28-6 in September - a game in which Weimann left midway with a rib injury, and a Gallegos pass was intercepted at the goal line and taken 100 yards for a touchdown.
"We switched to the right coverage too late in that game," admits Reyes. "But...you've seen what we do to passing teams."
The winner will represent the AFC in the WPFL Championship.
