AUSTIN ASSERTS ITS NO.1 RANKING WITH 50-19 THRASHING OF LOS ANGELES

(Saturday, June 18 – Austin, TX) While there was a lot of excitement last week about the thrilling overtime game between Chicago and Kansas City, most fans were fixated on the Los Angeles Black Storm vs Austin Sound battle. A match-up that some had slated as No.2 vs No.1, respectively – but a No.2 ranking proved to be far too high of a ranking for the Black Storm.

Before they could even fire up the BBQ grills at H-E-B Center’s parking lot the hometown Austin Sound had jumped out to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter. A pair of Michell Angel 1st quarter touchdowns to Kassandra Bills and Mandy Pena were complimented by a Sydnie English 13yd touchdown run. Los Angeles’ defense was clearly out-matched upfront, most importantly Los Angeles was out-coached in the 1st quarter and throughout. LA head coach and offensive coordinator Rory Dairy placed his defense in tough situations in having to defend very short fields because he called down-the-field plays with an untested first-year Quarterback. Austin’s field position in the 1st quarter spoke volumes, starting at the LA 13yd line on one scoring drive and the LA 14yd line on its second scoring drive.

In the 2nd quarter, Los Angeles finally started to show some life behind the Lopez sisters, as Marissa and Miriah led a 9-play 40-yard scoring drive that was capped by a Marissa Lopez’s quarterback sneak touchdown and an extra point which pulled LA closer at 7-18.

It took the world’s No.1 ranked female Quarterback one play to respond as Angel connected with co-Game MVP Kris Daniels on a 40yd touchdown pass to extend Austin’s lead to 25-7. Angel was not done in the 2nd quarter, another big-play combination this time with the other co-Game MVP Kassandra Bills via a 48yd touchdown pass that broke open the game with Austin extending its lead to 31-7.

A demoralized and shell-shocked Los Angeles team found themselves on the verge of utter embarrassment if they did not rally in the 2nd half.

Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the 3rd quarter would begin as the 1st half played out, another poor decision by Marissa Lopez, this time costing the Black Storm via a 43 yd pick 6 courtesy of Kris Daniels, driving up Austin’s lead to 37-7.

Los Angeles led by Marissa Lopez would respond in the 4th quarter with an 8-play 37-yard drive that ended with another Marissa Lopez rushing touchdown. It was clear that Lopez would have to rely on her legs vs her arm on this night, her lack of experience as a QB1 was rather evident.

As the 4th quarter played out, Austin started to sit most of its noteworthy starters including their QB1 Michelle Angel who ended the night with 4TDs and a 130.79 QBR. Angel’s back-up and the future of the franchise Jonee Villanueva took over and looked respectable, completing a pair of passes but more importantly leading a 7-play 40-yard scoring drive. Villanueva and the Austin offense did not need to do much with an already commanding lead and continued gifts from Marissa Lopez in the form of interceptions as Kris Daniels would pick-off Lopez for the 2nd time in the game with yet another pick 6.

Lopez did flash very late in the game with a 32yd dart to Nina Claud, but it came far too late in garbage time. Austin would hand a ’50’ burger on Los Angeles winning the game 50-19.

Perhaps the biggest concern if you are a Los Angeles fan is that following the embarrassing loss, a Black Storm athlete would remark ‘why are we acting as if we won, we lost badly’. The Black Storm lack experience and maturity on the roster, which could spell disaster for the remainder of the season.

The one bright spot for LA was the play of first-year player Jessica Medina who looked impressive as a physical pass-receiving threat the Black Storm can develop.

LA will now have to wait until August 13 to regain its respectability as the Black Storm will host the Arizona Red Devils at Champions Stadium in Irvine, CA.

Austin may face its biggest test of the 2022 season when it travels to Atlanta to battle the Empire on July 9.

Game Stats