San Diego football has won plenty of Championships in recent years. I don't think many know how successful we've been of late...
http://www.outsports.com/2014/10/17/...n-diego-denver
San Diego Bolts win their third consecutive Gay Bowl championship as Denver is building a dynasty in the women's tournament.
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The San Diego Bolts were crowned champions of Gay Bowl 14 in brilliant fashion, as they beat the Phoenix Hellraisers, 51-50, in overtime of the championship game of the Open A Division.
Two teams from Denver - Mile High Club Blue and Mile High Club White - faced off in the championship of the Women's Division, with MHC Blue coming out on top in the finals, 39-26. Denver Mile High Club Pink won the women's championship last year.
The Atlanta Storm came back to beat the "Cinderella" New York Warriors Pink, 33-27, for the B-Division championship; New York had gone winless in pool play before marching all the way to the finals. For final standings click here for the men and here for the women.
A championship game for the ages
But the game of the weekend was the A-Division championship game that featured an deep aerial assault by the Hellraisers and a continued offensive march by the Bolts. Only one offensive drive had ended without a score when San Diego intercepted a Phoenix pass in the red zone of their first drive.
With under two minutes left in the game the Bolts seemed to have the game locked up, holding a 44-32 lead. A deep 60-yard touchdown pass by Phoenix closed the gap to six.
San Diego took over and depleted Phoenix of their timeouts, then took aim at a game-clinching first down. San Diego put the ball in the air deep down the left side. That pass was intercepted and the Hellraisers had one last gasp.
On the final play of regulation, they scored the game-tying touchdown and were poised to try a game-winning conversion. That's when the entire Phoenix sideline streamed onto the field in celebration thinking they had won the game. That drew a 10-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which led to an unsuccessful try.
San Diego scored on the first play of overtime and added a one-point conversion. When Phoenix scored their touchdown to draw within one point, a Bolts defender illegally batted the ball out of the receiver's hands in the end zone, giving the Hellraisers a two-point try for the win from half the distance to the goal. The pass was out of the back of the end zone, ending the game.
It was the third consecutive Gay Bowl championship for the Bolts. Only one other team - the New York Warriors - have won three consecutive championships. The Los Angeles Motion have the most championships all-time with four.
On a personal note, it was a joy and honor to officiate the A-division championship game. I suppose you could say it was my eighth championship game (ha!) though my first as an official.
For years my participation in sports has been running around in these tournaments, catching passes and grabbing flags. Two years ago I hung up my cleats (at least temporarily) to become a referee. I had been frustrated for years with the quality of officiating and wanted to be part of the solution.
I'm not sure how much part of that solution I've been, but the officiating has improved dramatically. Lance Burage, the head official for the National Gay Flag Football League, has done a fantastic job preparing officials for these tournaments, communicating emphases, interpretations and rules changes. Plus, more officials with high school officiating experience are coming to the tournament, which has raised the level of expertise an professionalism.
Big kudos to all of the officials for a job well done this year!
Gay Bowl A-Division champions
2014 - San Diego Bolts over Phoenix Hellraisers
2013 - San Diego Bolts over Washington Generals
2012 - San Diego Bolts over New York Warriors
2011 - No champion determined*
2010 - Los Angeles Motion over New York Warriors
2009 - Los Angeles Motion over San Diego Bolts
2008 - New York Warriors over Salt Lake City Avalanche
2007 - New York Warriors over San Diego Sharks
2006 - New York Warriors over Chicago Fire
2005 - Chicago Fire over Atlanta Storm
2004 - Washington Monuments over Boston Hancocks
2003 - Washington Monuments over Chicago Spin
2003 - Los Angeles Motion over Chicago Spin
2002 - Los Angeles Motion over San Francisco 69ers
*Final day was canceled due to weather. Semifinalists were New York Warriors, Phoenix Hellraisers, San Diego Bolts and San Diego Toros.
PITTSBURGH -- Christine Carrillo didn't set out to own a women's football team, but the chief operating officer of an HMO decided to step up in support of her San Diego Surge.
The offensive lineman's sacrifices didn't end there. When Carrillo and her partner, Surge quarterback Melissa Gallegos, chose to have a baby, they decided that Carrillo would get pregnant so that Gallegos could play on.
"That was our deal at the beginning of this season," Gallegos said. "She said, 'If I carry this baby for you, you have to win a championship.' And with this team, we did it."
Christine Carrillo, wearing No. 54, helped the San Diego Surge to a championship Saturday at Heinz Field.
Jane McManus
Christine Carrillo, wearing No. 54, helped the San Diego Surge to a championship Saturday at Heinz Field.
Carrillo gave birth to their son, Brayden, in June. She was back on the field on Saturday, where she helped Gallegos fulfill her part of the bargain. The Surge beat the Chicago Force 40-36 in the Women's Football Alliance championship at Heinz Field in front of more than 2,000 fans. The game wasn't decided until a Surge interception sealed it with 18 seconds left.
"We were in a heavyweight fight," said Force coach John Konecki, who also coaches the Swedish national football team. "A 16-round fight that went to decision and the Surge beat us."
The game lived up to the venue. There were big plays. Surge wide receiver Holly Peterson set the tone on the opening kickoff, which she returned 82 yards for a touchdown. Force quarterback Sami Grisafe completed three passes to take her team 80 yards in the last minute of the game before the interception.
Konecki said the level of competition and speed has improved in the decade he has coached women, who play while working other jobs and volunteering their talents to help support their teams.
It was the first Women's Football Alliance title game to be held in an NFL stadium. And the women who had sacrificed to make it happen cheered from the tunnel when it was announced as they waited to run out to the field.
Andrea Grant, the Surge's defensive line coach, stood in the end zone of Heinz Field and reflected on what the milestone meant for her sport.
"It's huge," Grant said.
The Pittsburgh Passion had hoped to hold the championship in the new stadium they are building with a local soccer league in Station Square. Team co-owner Teresa Conn realized the stadium wasn't going to be finished in time.
From left, WFA co-founder Jeff King and Pittsburgh Passion co-owners Teresa Conn and Franco Harris at the title game.
Courtesy of Women’s Football Alliance
From left, WFA co-founder Jeff King and Pittsburgh Passion co-owners Teresa Conn and Franco Harris at the title game.
She went to Passion co-owner Franco Harris, the former Steelers great.
"Franco grinned and said, 'Let's check Heinz Field,'" Conn said. "The Rooneys were great to come let us do this. There's so much football history in Pittsburgh. That's just the way the family is. They see someone with the heart and the passion and said, 'Let's give them the opportunity.'"
Harris said he called Steelers owner Art Rooney but didn't need to do much convincing.
"He knows of the Pittsburgh Passion," Harris said. "He said if the details can be worked out on that date, the Steelers would be happy to work with the women's football league."
When Grisafe's high school football career ended -- she was the varsity backup quarterback her sophomore year but decided to pursue a sport which could produce a college scholarship -- the Force quarterback scooped a handful of dirt from her Redlands Senior High School field.
Grisafe thought it would be the last time she stepped onto a football field in a uniform.
"I never thought I'd be running out in one of the most prolific stadiums in football," Grisafe said.
Deborah Parker came from Fowler, Ind., to see her daughter-in-law, Surge offensive lineman Stephanie Parker, play. "My son is in the Navy stationed in San Diego, so I'm here to support her. He's never seen her play," she said.
Andra Douglas, owner and quarterback of the New York Sharks, has been waiting to see the sport gain wider popularity. She said the championship venue is a promising sign.
"I think if we can get a television contract, good backers, it's a good product," Douglas said.
One of those backers is Harris, who was honored at halftime for his part in the Immaculate Reception 40 years ago. As the video played on the JumboTron, Harris got high fives from some of the WFA all-stars. Harris' interest has upped the Passion's profile. The team averages between 2,500 and 5,000 fans a game, which leads the WFA in attendance. The Passion have had a few of their games broadcast on local television.
"If someone saw this game today," Harris said, "that would convince them that this is good football and this is exciting football and the talent is here."
http://www.outsports.com/2014/10/17/...n-diego-denver
San Diego Bolts win their third consecutive Gay Bowl championship as Denver is building a dynasty in the women's tournament.
Tweet (12) Share (64) Share + Comments
The San Diego Bolts were crowned champions of Gay Bowl 14 in brilliant fashion, as they beat the Phoenix Hellraisers, 51-50, in overtime of the championship game of the Open A Division.
Two teams from Denver - Mile High Club Blue and Mile High Club White - faced off in the championship of the Women's Division, with MHC Blue coming out on top in the finals, 39-26. Denver Mile High Club Pink won the women's championship last year.
The Atlanta Storm came back to beat the "Cinderella" New York Warriors Pink, 33-27, for the B-Division championship; New York had gone winless in pool play before marching all the way to the finals. For final standings click here for the men and here for the women.
A championship game for the ages
But the game of the weekend was the A-Division championship game that featured an deep aerial assault by the Hellraisers and a continued offensive march by the Bolts. Only one offensive drive had ended without a score when San Diego intercepted a Phoenix pass in the red zone of their first drive.
With under two minutes left in the game the Bolts seemed to have the game locked up, holding a 44-32 lead. A deep 60-yard touchdown pass by Phoenix closed the gap to six.
San Diego took over and depleted Phoenix of their timeouts, then took aim at a game-clinching first down. San Diego put the ball in the air deep down the left side. That pass was intercepted and the Hellraisers had one last gasp.
On the final play of regulation, they scored the game-tying touchdown and were poised to try a game-winning conversion. That's when the entire Phoenix sideline streamed onto the field in celebration thinking they had won the game. That drew a 10-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which led to an unsuccessful try.
San Diego scored on the first play of overtime and added a one-point conversion. When Phoenix scored their touchdown to draw within one point, a Bolts defender illegally batted the ball out of the receiver's hands in the end zone, giving the Hellraisers a two-point try for the win from half the distance to the goal. The pass was out of the back of the end zone, ending the game.
It was the third consecutive Gay Bowl championship for the Bolts. Only one other team - the New York Warriors - have won three consecutive championships. The Los Angeles Motion have the most championships all-time with four.
On a personal note, it was a joy and honor to officiate the A-division championship game. I suppose you could say it was my eighth championship game (ha!) though my first as an official.
For years my participation in sports has been running around in these tournaments, catching passes and grabbing flags. Two years ago I hung up my cleats (at least temporarily) to become a referee. I had been frustrated for years with the quality of officiating and wanted to be part of the solution.
I'm not sure how much part of that solution I've been, but the officiating has improved dramatically. Lance Burage, the head official for the National Gay Flag Football League, has done a fantastic job preparing officials for these tournaments, communicating emphases, interpretations and rules changes. Plus, more officials with high school officiating experience are coming to the tournament, which has raised the level of expertise an professionalism.
Big kudos to all of the officials for a job well done this year!
Gay Bowl A-Division champions
2014 - San Diego Bolts over Phoenix Hellraisers
2013 - San Diego Bolts over Washington Generals
2012 - San Diego Bolts over New York Warriors
2011 - No champion determined*
2010 - Los Angeles Motion over New York Warriors
2009 - Los Angeles Motion over San Diego Bolts
2008 - New York Warriors over Salt Lake City Avalanche
2007 - New York Warriors over San Diego Sharks
2006 - New York Warriors over Chicago Fire
2005 - Chicago Fire over Atlanta Storm
2004 - Washington Monuments over Boston Hancocks
2003 - Washington Monuments over Chicago Spin
2003 - Los Angeles Motion over Chicago Spin
2002 - Los Angeles Motion over San Francisco 69ers
*Final day was canceled due to weather. Semifinalists were New York Warriors, Phoenix Hellraisers, San Diego Bolts and San Diego Toros.
PITTSBURGH -- Christine Carrillo didn't set out to own a women's football team, but the chief operating officer of an HMO decided to step up in support of her San Diego Surge.
The offensive lineman's sacrifices didn't end there. When Carrillo and her partner, Surge quarterback Melissa Gallegos, chose to have a baby, they decided that Carrillo would get pregnant so that Gallegos could play on.
"That was our deal at the beginning of this season," Gallegos said. "She said, 'If I carry this baby for you, you have to win a championship.' And with this team, we did it."
Christine Carrillo, wearing No. 54, helped the San Diego Surge to a championship Saturday at Heinz Field.
Jane McManus
Christine Carrillo, wearing No. 54, helped the San Diego Surge to a championship Saturday at Heinz Field.
Carrillo gave birth to their son, Brayden, in June. She was back on the field on Saturday, where she helped Gallegos fulfill her part of the bargain. The Surge beat the Chicago Force 40-36 in the Women's Football Alliance championship at Heinz Field in front of more than 2,000 fans. The game wasn't decided until a Surge interception sealed it with 18 seconds left.
"We were in a heavyweight fight," said Force coach John Konecki, who also coaches the Swedish national football team. "A 16-round fight that went to decision and the Surge beat us."
The game lived up to the venue. There were big plays. Surge wide receiver Holly Peterson set the tone on the opening kickoff, which she returned 82 yards for a touchdown. Force quarterback Sami Grisafe completed three passes to take her team 80 yards in the last minute of the game before the interception.
Konecki said the level of competition and speed has improved in the decade he has coached women, who play while working other jobs and volunteering their talents to help support their teams.
It was the first Women's Football Alliance title game to be held in an NFL stadium. And the women who had sacrificed to make it happen cheered from the tunnel when it was announced as they waited to run out to the field.
Andrea Grant, the Surge's defensive line coach, stood in the end zone of Heinz Field and reflected on what the milestone meant for her sport.
"It's huge," Grant said.
The Pittsburgh Passion had hoped to hold the championship in the new stadium they are building with a local soccer league in Station Square. Team co-owner Teresa Conn realized the stadium wasn't going to be finished in time.
From left, WFA co-founder Jeff King and Pittsburgh Passion co-owners Teresa Conn and Franco Harris at the title game.
Courtesy of Women’s Football Alliance
From left, WFA co-founder Jeff King and Pittsburgh Passion co-owners Teresa Conn and Franco Harris at the title game.
She went to Passion co-owner Franco Harris, the former Steelers great.
"Franco grinned and said, 'Let's check Heinz Field,'" Conn said. "The Rooneys were great to come let us do this. There's so much football history in Pittsburgh. That's just the way the family is. They see someone with the heart and the passion and said, 'Let's give them the opportunity.'"
Harris said he called Steelers owner Art Rooney but didn't need to do much convincing.
"He knows of the Pittsburgh Passion," Harris said. "He said if the details can be worked out on that date, the Steelers would be happy to work with the women's football league."
When Grisafe's high school football career ended -- she was the varsity backup quarterback her sophomore year but decided to pursue a sport which could produce a college scholarship -- the Force quarterback scooped a handful of dirt from her Redlands Senior High School field.
Grisafe thought it would be the last time she stepped onto a football field in a uniform.
"I never thought I'd be running out in one of the most prolific stadiums in football," Grisafe said.
Deborah Parker came from Fowler, Ind., to see her daughter-in-law, Surge offensive lineman Stephanie Parker, play. "My son is in the Navy stationed in San Diego, so I'm here to support her. He's never seen her play," she said.
Andra Douglas, owner and quarterback of the New York Sharks, has been waiting to see the sport gain wider popularity. She said the championship venue is a promising sign.
"I think if we can get a television contract, good backers, it's a good product," Douglas said.
One of those backers is Harris, who was honored at halftime for his part in the Immaculate Reception 40 years ago. As the video played on the JumboTron, Harris got high fives from some of the WFA all-stars. Harris' interest has upped the Passion's profile. The team averages between 2,500 and 5,000 fans a game, which leads the WFA in attendance. The Passion have had a few of their games broadcast on local television.
"If someone saw this game today," Harris said, "that would convince them that this is good football and this is exciting football and the talent is here."
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