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IWFL: Pittsburgh Passion Return Home To Host Philadelphia Firebirds Saturday Night

By Larry Snyder

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The Battle for Pennsylvania is renewed as the Pittsburgh Passion (1-0) welcome the Philadelphia Firebirds to the Steel City tonight in Week 2 of the Independent Women’s Football League.

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Kickoff for the Mid-Atlantic Division rivals is set for 7 p.m. at George Cupples Stadium on East Carson Street. It is MS Awareness Night on the South Side.

Coming into this evening, the Firebirds are 1-0 with their 20-0 victory at home last week over the Carolina Queens. In 2014, Philadelphia went 2-6 and averaged seven points per game while surrendering 19.1 points per contest.

The Black and Gold are 4-0 all-time against the Firebirds. The Passion have won nine of their last 12 home openers including six at Cupples Stadium. In fact, the team was won all 25 games against Pennsylvania opponents.

After tonight, the remaining home games are May 9th against the New York Sharks, May 16th against the Carolina Phoenix, June 6th in a rematch with the Toledo Reign, and June 13th against the Washington Prodigy,

Pittsburgh has won 12 games in a row. Last season, the Black and Gold claimed eight regular-season wins and swept the three-game playoffs to go 11-0, capturing the IWFL World Championship. They defeated the Houston Energy 41-7 last July for the title in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The Passion shut out the Reign 66-0 last week in Toledo. Pittsburgh’s defense in 2014 had four shutouts during the regular season.

Last Saturday in the Buckeye State, veteran quarterback Lisa Horton threw touchdown strikes to Rachel Wojdowski, Angela Baker and Sharon Vasquez. She had no interceptions.

The ground attack added four touchdowns as Tara Catone had a pair of scores and Emily Olinzock, and Sarah Neidermeyer each contributed a touchdown.

The defense was heard from on both sides of the ball. Defensive line Octavia Griswold had five tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery while linebacker Tia Montgomery put up three tackles. The two each added a rushing touchdown on the offense.

Special teams kept pace on the night as defensive back Krystal Cozzo returned a punt for a 35-yard touchdown and tight end Kate Sullivan added a two-point conversion run. Placekicker Amy Fallon went 4-for-4 in her point-after attempts.

Up Next: After a bye week, the Passion are back on the road Saturday May 2 to take on the Nighthawks in Baltimore at 4 p.m. Pittsburgh shut out the ‘Hawks 31-0 last season at Cupples Stadium.

From The Clipboard: The ‪‎Passion‬ are participating in Pittsburgh’s 2015 ‎MS Walk‬ Sunday April 19 benefiting the ‪‎National MS Society‬.

Next: Riverhounds return home to battle expansion Louisville City

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