Reign Rule, Carolina Queens Crumble

By Dave Herndon

Originally Thee Toledo Reign was supposed to play the Northern Ice, but the franchise decided to take a year off to regroup. The game was rescheduled to be against the Georgia Gladiators, but that team folded. Finally, the WPFL got the Carolina Queens to come to town.

After the game Carolina was wishing it hadn't agreed to the game, when they fell 56-0. The score could have been much worse, but the teams agreed to a running clock for the second half, after more than an hour and a half lightning delay.

Toledo won the coin toss, elected to receive and quickly scored the first points of the game. Just 1:21 seconds into the game Stacy Alkula busted through the line for a 17-yard scoring run. The PAT was blocked, but Toledo lead 6-0.

Toledo regained possession quickly when Turquoise Perry fumbled the kick-off. Kandi Kill quickly monopolized the turnover scoring on a seven yard run; then she took in the 2-point conversion for the 14-0 lead with 12:14 left in the opening quarter.

The Reign weren't finished yet though. With just over two minutes to go in the first Angie Maddox brought down Mia Nance, the Carolina quarterback, for a safety. Then to close out the scoring in the quarter Natasha Hall took in her only touchdown of the day from five yards out, as time expired on the clock. The conversion attempt fell incomplete but Toledo still lead 22-0.

Kill scored her second touchdown of the day when Maranda Carpenter threw a line-drive pass from the 29-yard line with 6:16 remaining in the half. Toledo now led 28-0. Less than a minute later it was Kill again that put the dagger in the coffin scoring her third touchdown of the day, this time from 36-yards out. That made the halftime margin 34-0 in favor of the home team.

Halftime began with a performance from the Bedford Martial Arts Academy, and ended an hour and a half later, after a lengthy rain delay. During this time the majority of the fans hid out in the concession areas and under the bleachers, hoping to catch the end of the game.

"We used the time to talk about strategy and to go over the game plan," said Reign head coach Mitchi Collette. "My girls stayed loose in the locker room and were ready to go when we got the word."

The third quarter saw just a single score; again from Kandi Kill. This time from 13-yards out. Natasha Hall put in the 2-point conversion. Throughout the quarter both teams played sloppily, with numerous slips and fumbles due to the conditions on the field.

Lynne Venable started out the fourth quarter scoring. She blocked Kat Farrenkoph's kick, picked up the ball and ran in to the endzone from 20-yards out. Five and a half minutes later Kandi Kill scored her fourth rushing touchdown, and fifth total on the day to put the final margin of 56-0 on the board.

"We really wanted this game," said defensive captain Angie Maddox. "We weren't able to prepare much for them, because we didn't find out we were going to play them until much later than we would have liked. We just went out and played football. It proved that we were just the better team."

"I'm very proud of my team tonight," coach Collette said. "This was an important game for us, especially after the heartbreaking loss last week."

Kandi Kill had 21 carries for 257 yards to lead The Reign's offensive attack. She scored four rushing touchdown's and caught another. Stacy Alkula also had a rushing touchdown to go with her 51 rushing and 31 receiving yards. Erin Socks and Chris Wolcott helped to lead the defense with seven and five tackles respectively. Heather Swinehart had to sacks and Jodi Fruchey had an interception. Carolina was lead by Darekia Slade and Tonya Monroe on the ground, each had five rushing yards. Mia Nance completed just two passes for 45 yards through the air. Jennifer Dillard was tops in the game with 12 tackles.

Toledo was penalized just once for 15 yards while Carolina had 13 penalties totaling 132 yards. Toledo had 381 yards on the ground and 412 yards of offense. Carolina was held to negative 19 yards on the ground and totaled just 26 yards of offense for the game.

Next week these same two teams will be on the field against each other again, this time in Raleigh, North Carolina. It will be the first excursion from Bedford Community Stadium this season for the Reign.

"Next week will be an entirely different game. They'll have the home field, and the home fans. It'll be a good game," coach Collette said.

For more information, please contact Thee Toledo Reign at 419-654-5799 or email: TheeToledoReign@aol.com.