Passion Season Ends With Loss To Force

Unfortunately, the Passion season came to an end in the Conference Championship game over the weekend. I'll let longtime reader and Passion megafan smarchit take over:


The Passion season came to a disappointing close this evening in the IWFL Eastern conference championship game at the hands of the host Chicago Force

The game was a hard hitting defensive struggle throughout, but the Passion managed to draw first blood midway through the 2nd quarter, capping off a 65 yard drive with a 1 yard TD run. The Passion held a slim 7-0 lead at halftime, and maintained that advantage through the 3rd quarter.

At around the 5 minute mark of the 3rd, the hard hitting of the Chicago Force started to turn the tide of the game a bit. While picking up a key first down to move the Passion inside the Chicago 30 yard line, Pittsburgh starting QB Lisa Horton was knocked out of the game by Force safety Linda Bashe, and replaced by backup Kara Prentice. With Prentice at the helm, the Passion were unable to move any further until a 4th down pass that came up short of the sticks, turning the ball over on downs at the Chicago 10 yard line. The Force were able to get a few passes to get out of their own end and towards midfield, but were eventually forced to punt again. The punt was nearly blocked by the Passion, but Chicago got it away, and benefited from a good bounce that pinned Pittsburgh down inside their own 2 yard line.

Number 3 QB (technically a #2b, but officially 3rd on the depth chart) Janice Masters took over for Prentice, and helped give the Passion a little more breathing room, before they were forced to punt with about 8 minutes to go in the 4th. Chicago took over at the Passion 48 yard line, and started to move the ball. Pittsburgh had Chicago down to their final gasps though at 6:47, facing a 4th and 1 from the 33. On the 4th down attempt, the Passion had appeared to stop Chicago short, but a timeout had been called just before the snap, giving the Force a second chance. This time, they converted on a QB sneak by Samantha Grisafe, to continue the drive.

Behind the powerful 2nd and 3rd effort running of Force FB Melissa Smith, Chicago got the ball down to the 1 yard line. From there, Grisafe did the rest, calling her own number to get the Force on the scoreboard with 4 minutes to go.

Then lightning struck for the 2nd time in as many playoff games for the Force, as Melissa Smith converted the 2 point attempt for an 8-7 Chicago lead. Horton came back into the game on the ensuing Passion drive, but Pittsburgh was unable to move the ball again, and facing a 4th and 2 with just over 2 minutes left, fumbled away the ball back to Chicago.

With all 3 timeouts still in their pocket, the Passion defense was able to force a 3 and out, and got the ball back one last time at their own 31 yard line, with 45 seconds left to go. After a false start on first down, Horton nearly hooked up with WR Wilma Walton on a 1st and 15 needle threading sideline pass. But Bache was able to knock it away on a bang bang play, bringing up 2nd down. On 2nd and 15, Horton wound up and threw again, but Theresa Simon stepped up and intercepted the pass, sealing the deal.


Rough way to end the season, especially for a team that had won a championship the year before. It is difficult to assume what the team expected this year, what with the success of last season and the uncertainty of a move to a more demanding conference. Sure, the team still has an unreal regular-season win streak, but I bet that's little consolation after losing a conference championship.

On behalf of Passion fans everywhere, I'd like to congratulate the team on a thrilling season filled with tons of wins and and one crushing loss. I pity any team that has to play the Passion next season, as I bet the team has a little extra motivation in '09.


Passion Season Recap:

Game 1: 62-0 win over Central PA Vipers

Game 2: 34-8 win over Boston Militia

Game 3: 38-34 win over D.C. Divas

Game 4: 38-0 win over Columbus Phantoms

Game 5: 28-0 win over Baltimore Nighthawks

Game 6: 28-21 win over New York Sharks

Game 7: 54-6 win over the Holyoke Hurricanes

Game 8: 17-12 win over the D.C. Divas

Playoffs

Game 9: 41-6 win over the Orlando Mayhem

Game 10: 8-7 Loss to the Chicago Force (above)

Passion Get Close Win Over Divas

An uncharacteristic 38-34 win over the D.C. Divas this weekend helped the Passion extend their winning streak to 16 games (3-0 this season).

You like that picture? I did it myself...in case you were wondering.

The teams traded the lead back and forth, showing fans that although they're used to blowing out opponents, Pittsburgh knows how to play with the pressure on.

With the win, the Passion are now tied for first place in the N. Atlantic Division. The New York Sharks also sit at 3-0. May 31st is setting up to be a power struggle between the two teams.

Props to Lori Johnson, who caught an 83-yard touchdown pass to set a team record previously held by Wilma Walton.

Next week, Pittsburgh welcomes the Columbus Phantoms. They're 0-3. I don't like to predict wins and losses, but this matchup looks positive for the Passion.

Hey, Ladies...

I know this picture has made its rounds, but come on...is there a better visual representation for this story?

PSaMP isn't shy about showing its love for the fairer sex. PSaMP is your official unofficial Pittsburgh Passion women's football team blog, and Ladies..., Babes Love Baseball and Girls Gone Sports are three sportsblogs that I make sure to frequent. I knew there was a reason for this. It must be because you ladies love the Steelers.

According to a Scarborough Sports Marketing survey of 220,354 residents in 75 United States markets, Pittsburgh has the largest female fan base in the entire NFL. Its not even close, too. Pittsburgh comes in with a whopping 34% of females living in the area claiming to be Steelers fans. Green Bay comes in second with 29% of Green Bay women professing their love for the Pack. That's a 5% difference between the 'Burgh and the football mecca that is Green Bay. I'm proud of yinz girls out there representin'.

The Post-Gazette is even running an open forum to discuss why you women are so loyal to the Steelers. A common answer is tradition. If you're born in Pittsburgh...man or woman...you are bred to hate the Browns love the Steelers.

And its not just locals, either. Thanks in large part to the collapse of the Steel industry, female Steelers fans are everywhere. In the late 70s and early 80s, many a steel worker left town to find jobs. There families were raised elsewhere, but the Steelers tradition stayed true. That's why Steelers Nation is so large and powerful. When you see those Terrible Towels at each and every opposing teams' stadiums, those aren't all travelling Pittsburghers. Those are former 'Burghers who refuse to let the distance between them and their team quiet their Black and Gold voices.

Steelers Nation owes a debt of gratitude to all the local and not-so-local female Steelers fans. This Scarborough poll just re-emphasized how large and diverse Steelers Nation really is.