Next stop, San Diego.
The Chicago Force is California-bound for the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) national championship game for the second consecutive year after its 46-27 win Saturday night, July 20, over the Boston Militia in the national conference championship game. The title game will take place Saturday, Aug. 3.
The Force moves to 11-0 and has reached the playoffs 10 of the team's 11 years. The Militia ends its season 10-1.
The Force will face the Dallas Diamonds for the championship as the Diamonds defeated the Central Cal War Angels 27-6 to claim the American Conference championship. The Diamonds had five shutouts in their eight regular-season games, and outscored their regular-season opponents 456-20. The Diamonds are in their 10th year and have won four national championships.
Chicago and Dallas met for the 2008 Independent Women's Football League (IWFL) Championship in Chicago, and the Diamonds triumphed.
"This is amazing," Chicago two-way star Darcy Leslie said Saturday after the rain-filled game. "I am so proud, so relieved that we won; it's a great feeling."
Chicago and Boston have played for the National Conference championship three consecutive years, and the Force has won the past two seasons.
"We really were firing on all cylinders tonight," Leslie said.
That could be written in particular about Chicago's Jessica Javelet, who walked off Lazier Field on the campus of Evanston Township High School holding the Offensive Game Day MVP award, which Spin Nightclub sponsored. Javelet scored five touchdowns, including the game-opening 90-yard run at 8:52 of the first quarter.
Javelet also scored on a 60-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, and then a 22-yard run at 5:03 of the second half, helping Chicago build a 26-0 halftime edge.
"It was like a boxing match out there, very tough, very physical," Javelet said. "We knew Boston would come out strong, especially in the second half, and ultimately the game got it little too close for comfort.
"But this was a team effort all around, a great game, a great win."
Javelet received second-half TD passes of 17 and 56 yards, both from quarterback Sami Grisafe.
"When it comes to running [with the ball], it's all about having good blockers—and everyone was blocking tonight," Javelet said. "I wouldn't have scored any touchdowns without my blockers. This [Offensive Game Day MVP award] is for them, the blockers.
"This was a career game for me."
Ironically, Javelet was on the field in the 2012 National Championship Game in Pittsburgh, playing for San Diego against Chicago. Javelet lives in Philadelphia and is the field hockey coach at St. John's University.
"I was running out of fear," Javelet said. "I'm not the biggest player on the field, and if those defenders catch me, I know I'll be in trouble. Getting hit by a 240-pound [defender] is no fun."
Grisafe connected with Jeanette Gray for a 17-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the first half.
"We definitely are going to bring the national championship trophy back to Chicago; there's no doubt in my mind about that," Leslie said. "We're not letting up and taking what is rightfully ours."
Boston struck for three third-quarter touchdowns, though the Force led 39-21 heading into the fourth.
Jen Dulski iced the victory with 5:08 remaining, recovering a botched Boston snap to its punter in the end zone for a touchdown. Dulski earned the Defensive Game Day MVP award, also sponsored by Spin Nightclub.
"We knew it'd be a battle until the clock showed :00, and it was," Chicago's Ashley Berggren said. "As an athlete, you live for games like this. This victory is so special because it was hard-fought and earned."
