The Chicago Force ended its regular-season with a 44-20 win over the St. Louis Slam on Saturday, June 3, at Evanston Township High School, anchored by a three-touchdown performance from Force rookie Kristy Moran.
Both the Force and the Slam are at 7-1.
Moran, who has played football for five years, yet is accustomed to playing in her native Australia, where teams have nine players per play, as opposed to 11 in the Women's Football Alliance ( WFA ). Moran rushed 15 times for 62 yards against the Slam, and also caught two passes for 31 yards.
She now has 84 carries for 637 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
"It was brilliant," Moran said after the win over the Slam. "Our opponent really brought it ( to us ) tonight. Sure, we didn't have a mistake-free game, but it still was good to get the win.
"Personally, I have to credit the play-calling and the offensive line; I just had to run the ball."
The Force struck first, but slowly. It was 3-0 after the first quarter after Jules Harshbarger nailed a 31-yard field goal.
The Slam tied the score early in the second quarter before the Force answered with 21 straight points to build a 24-3 lead.
Cassey Brick had a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown, followed by a Jeanette Gray touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Sami Grisafe. Moran rushed in at 9:57 of the third quarter.
After St. Louis struck with another field goal, making the score 24-6, Moran scored on a 3-yard run, followed by a 30-yard TD run by Tamika Robinson on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving Chicago a 38-6 lead.
St. Louis never relented and the Slam scored twice in the fourth quarter both on kickoff returns by Danielle Price.
Moran had the final touchdown for Chicago, scoring on a 2-yard run.
"Having a home game with so many fans in attendance was great," Moran said. "This definitely was one of the better games ever for me."
Moran said many Aussies watch her action on the team's Facebook Live broadcast.
Moran earned the Game Day Offensive MVP Award, presented by DLG Management.
Kelsey Casey ( 8 tackles ) earned the Game Day Defensive MVP Award, also presented by DLG Management.
The Force earned a first-round bye, thus, Chicago opens the WFA playoffs on Saturday, June 17, with a home game at Evanston Township High School. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.