Portland Fighting Shockwave (4-0) vs Cali War (2-0)
-Michael Burmeister
In this showdown between the WFA’s only two D1 Pacific Region teams, home-field advantage in the first round is on the line as the Cali War (2-0, 0-0 D1) host their rivals up north, the Portland Fighting Shockwave (4-0, 0-0 D1)!
This is the first time the Fighting Shockwave and War have ever played each other, and will be their only meeting of the regular season (They will meet again on June 15 in the D1 Pacific Region Championship).
Thoughts on the Fighting Shockwave: Once again, the PFS fam are proving why they RULE the WFA’s Pacific Northwest, defeating all four of the region’s other teams in their games so far. With the arm of Hollie Petrie, the amazing Gabriela Johnson currently leading the WFA in rushing yards (568) and TDs (13), with Yesenia Rodriguez and Janna Mae Lamb backing her up with run attacks of their own, with Tess B and Hailey Petit serving as Hollie’s favorite targets, and with the defense held down by Jessica Rainbow Gerdes and Tia Cunningham, PFS has EVERY tool needed to be a FORCE all throughout the road to Colorado! If they hand the much-touted War their first loss, EVERY pundit will be seeing them as the favorites to hoist that trophy high at the Colorado Mines stadium!
Thoughts on the War: Surrounded by some FANTASTIC hype given the absolute strength of their roster, the War have proven themselves EVERY BIT as dominant as advertised, outscoring their opponents by a combined total of 109-0 this season. Chantel Niino-Wiggins’ rocket arm, Alexis Snyder’s ground game and Chantel’s “big four” targets of Jamie Robinson, Kielyn Wilson, Lisa Gibbons King and Svetlana Stepanchuk, the War are geared up to make this the year they raise the title high at LONG last! Right now, they face their biggest test of the season as they host their rivals to the Northwest.
The questions are: Will the PFS’ #OneCityOneTeamOneMission power them to what would be their biggest statement win in team history and set them up as the favorites to win the big on in Colorado? Or will the War pick up their biggest conquest thus far and leave little doubt as to who’s going to be ready to represent the American Conference in the main event on July 13 at Marv Kay Stadium?