Outlaws Shutout North Texas Fury

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Monica Gauck eludes a tackler (Photo courtesy of MaryLou Spence)

The Outlaws wasted no time setting the tone for their game last Saturday against the North Texas Fury. In the first drive of the first series, defensive linewoman Diane Cardile and linebacker Bridgette Brown sacked Dallas’ quarterback for the first of six total sacks. Possession soon changed, and the offense followed suit. This left Dallas no time to reconsider their shotgun formation (or their choice in centers), and the game ended with an Outlaws’ shutout: 33-0.

In the first quarter, tight end Tracey Suire christened the Outlaws’ improved passing game – scoring their first touchdown off a 15-yard pass. And in the last two minutes of the first half, running back Monica Gauck intercepted the ball twice, once for a 64-yard touchdown return and again for a 53-yard touchdown return. In the second half, wide receiver Becky Lahmann kept up the Outlaws’ momentum with two touchdowns: one off a 33-yard pass and another off a 37-yard run, during which she beat two Dallas defenders. In the end, Dallas just couldn’t get through the Outlaws' defensive line, and they couldn’t respond to the Outlaws’ stacked running game and some of the Outlaws’ best passing of the season.

Previously of the Austin Rage, veteran linebacker Sekethia “Ski” Tejeda has played football for four years with the Outlaws (seven years total), and her son plays for Southwest Baptist University. At the start of the season, she listed response time and getting “to the play before the back gets to the line of scrimmage” as opportunities for the team to improve defensively. Last Saturday, the Outlaws definitely achieved this goal. Ski had one tackle and a fumble recovery in her own right. But as a team, the defense all but shut down Dallas’ running game, they disarmed an otherwise strong passing quarterback, and they so intimidated Dallas’ center that she regularly snapped the ball too high which led to Dallas fumbles. The few times Dallas did sneak a pass by the Outlaw defense, it rarely proved fruitful. In one particularly timely play, the multitalented defensive back/kicker/wide receiver Amber “Simba” Lyons broke up a fourth-down pass.

The Outlaws’ offense more than capitalized on the support they received from their defense. Two weeks ago in Houston, quarterback Julie Wilke’s passing yardage totaled 52. This past weekend she improved her passing yardage to 82 and notched her first two touchdown passes of the season. This, coupled with their always-strong running game, sealed the Outlaws’ victory. Monica Gauck ran for 89 yards in just 12 attempts, Lahmann ran for 37 in one attempt, and Shadana Hurd ran for 35 yards in six attempts. In all, each of the Outlaw rushers averaged at least four yards per carry.

This Saturday the Outlaws have a bye. In lieu of a game, they’re hosting a benefit golf tournament at Hidden Falls Country Club on Medowlakes Drive. The following week, on May 10, the girls return to the field against the New Orleans Blaze for their first home game of the season.