After an undefeated regular season, the St. Louis SLAM is fully aware if they want to claim back-to-back national titles, three straight wins need to be recorded.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
The first hurdle to clear comes Saturday night as the defending champs of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) Pro Division hosts Nebraska Pride in an American Conference semifinal at St. Mary’s High School (4701 South Grand, St. Louis).
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $15 while children 10 and under are free.
“Oh, we are ready!” said SLAM co-captain Taylor Hay. “We never take for granted being able to experience the ‘second season’ of football.”
St. Louis (6-0) snared the top seed in the four-team conference bracket after thumping Indiana Valor last month, 64-6, to push their undefeated streak to 15 games.
Eight different players scored touchdowns in the victory as quarterback Jaime Gaal threw four endzone passes, pushing her total to 25 heading into the playoffs. Targets included Aaryana Cook, Kerri McMahan, Zariah Johnson and Amanda Richardson.
In the backfield, Jada Humphrey rushed for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Patrice Fitzpatrick claimed her second score of the season.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
The SLAM line of Pamela Green, Caitlin Erickson, Antonnia Washington, Marion Ball, Tamikka Brents and a host of others paces a unit that averages 49.2 point per game.
Thanks to all the depth contained, Tay feels like this might be the most balanced collective the franchise has ever fielded.
“This is the first time in a long time, wide receivers aren’t also starting defensive backs,” the co-captain assessed. “So that in itself makes us RICH! The veteran O line is the bones of our successful offense, and Jaime has been on fire. Most certainly one of the top offensive units in SLAM history.”
Equally as impressive in the final regular season duke was the SLAM’s defensive unit, who held the Valor to 152 yards in total offense. The squad currently ranks fourth in the league in defense (8.7 PPG).
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
Alongside Hay, the defense is propelled by Brooklynn Devitt, Jasmine Yandell, Raven Williams, Tay Johnson, Kinnaudy Daniles, Keyonna Smith, Ciara Morgan, Mary Altepeter, Jennifer Perkins, Stephanie Moore, Jennifer Tussey and a host of others.
“The defensive unit has been faced with so much adversity this season,” Hay said of her field mates. “Starting the season missing some key veterans, to losing key veteran starters to injuries, they’ve really just leaned into each other game by game and proven to be one of the best defensive units in the WFA.”
The SLAM’s Saturday foe made the jump to the WFA Pro Division this campaign after claiming the league’s Division 2 title last season.
The on-field results turned out better than projected.
The Pride (4-2) played all six regular season games within the Pro American Conference and claimed four intraconference victories. A home-and-home sweep over Mile High Blaze secured fourth-seed placement.
Their lone setbacks during the regular season were a pair of shutout losses to third-seeded Minnesota Vixen.
Nebraska enters the playoffs averaging 11.7 points per game, paced by quarterback Brittany Florer, running back Tiffany Wright and multi-specialist Britt Peterson. Both Wright and Peterson also plays on defense alongside Nakia Lee and Erin Mardi for a unit that surrenders 17.3 points per game.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“We were hoping for a new face,” said Hay of the Pride. “Many years ago, the SLAM battled a hard-nosed Nebraska team, and it was always such a great experience. And playoffs is a new season for everyone, so our records are 0–0.”
The winner of Saturday’s meeting faces the winner of the #2 Cali War vs. #3 Minnesota conference semifinal that also takes place that night. Last month, the War won a 64-61 topsy-turvy tussle on their Californian turf and the rematch is on the same grass.
As the top seed in the conference, the SLAM received home field advantage for the entire Pro American playoffs. If successful Saturday, they would host the conference championship on July 12.
Hay hopes for packed stands at St. Mary’s for support.
“SLAM fans have really carried us all of these years, in person and virtually,” the veteran said. “We are hoping to gain a few more in the post season as we are lucky enough to host this first game, possibly second at home!!”
Live online coverage can be seen for free at LiveStreamSTL beginning at 6:30 pm. LINK
For more info on the SLAM, go to their official website.
Litehouse Media will have a full recap posted Sunday afternoon.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Litehouse Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews. Finally, he prefers Diet Ski over coffee.
