By JOE SCANNELLA
Spartans News Service
EVERETT, WA. — When the Seattle Spartan's women's football team takes on the Oregon Cougars (1-3) on Saturday at Frank Godard Memorial Stadium, they will sport something they didn't possess after their first three games: A win.
Two rookie halfbacks paced last week's 36-22 pasting of the Portland Fighting Shockwave. Halfback Makana Keala tallied 150 yards rushing, while halfback Andraliah Lee added 85 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The road win saw Seattle (1-3) rack up 450 yards of offense with a covid-ravaged team reduced to 14 total players. Spartans runners churned up so much yardage that quarterback Lashundea Wansley didn't throw a pass.
Portland's game announcer summed up the Spartans tough-it-out victory when he said, "Never have so few women played so hard."
"Everybody had to run block the entire game, then had go over to play defense," said halfback and team owner NIcole Pelham. "All of our players had a monstrous game."
The offensive uptick places Seattle's running offense fourth (450 yards per game) in the Women's Football Alliance's Division II, while the defense remains in the No. 4 slot. Halfback Ashley Gearardo, who hasn't played in two weeks, remains the divisions's No. 10 runner with 180 yards.
On defense, Spartans linebacker Yollymar Delgado tops the division with three sacks, seven solo tackles and 11 assists. Defensive linewoman London Hester-Willams chips in with a sack, while Lee adds a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass deflections. Safety Sabrina MacDonald has two pass deflections, while Keala adds another. Hester-Williams and linewoman Charity Reed each have fumble recoveries, and Pelham had a sack last week.
Saturday's game is a rematch of game three that Seattle lost 8-6 to Oregon. The Cougars fell 18-12 last week to the California Crush. Oregon tops the Developmental Division in total offense (465 yards, 232.5 per game) and rushing (375 yards, 187.5 per game). Cougars quarterback Macie Reinin leads the division with 152 yards rushing on 31 carries, and is 7-17 for 90 yards passing. Oregon halfback Anastazia Brandi has 63 yards on 10 carries.
The Cougars defense is led by defensive end Sarah Hescock, who is third in the division with four sacks, 18 solo tackles and 10 assists, and defensive end Becky Lubahn with four sacks. Five Oregon defenders are among the division's top 10 sackers.
WHAT: Seattle Spartans vs. Oregon Cougars WHEN: Saturday, 6 p.m. WHERE: Frank Goddard Memorial Stadium, 231-269 124th St. SW, Everett, WA 98204 ADMISSION: $15 adults; $13 with ticket from any previous game; $10 with past season ticket, military or seniors, or a canned good. Discounts cannot be combined.
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