Game date: June 30, 2018 @ Simley High School, Inver Grove Heights, MN
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
In their third meeting of the 2018 season, the Minnesota Vixen (7-1, 3-0 Division 2) and the Wisconsin Dragons (5-3, 0-2 Division 2) will battle for the right to advance in the Women’s Football Alliance national playoffs.
While the Vixen won handily in the teams’ two regular-season contests, wide receivers coach Jake Potter knows the Dragons will do their best to get a different outcome on Saturday. “There is nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose,” Potter said. “They’re fighters, and they want to make a statement by beating us.”
Minnesota hopes to make a statement of its own and continue its dominance of the feisty Wisconsin team. So far this year, the Vixen have held the Dragons to six total points while racking up 88 points on offense. In fact, almost one-third of Minnesota’s total offensive yardage has come against the Dragons.
As usual, the Vixen will depend on a punishing ground game from Grace Cooper and Jeanette “Tank” Nelson to lead the way, and quarterback Kiersten Hansen will have regular targets Sam Barber and Rae Uhrich available in the air attack. Both Cooper and Nelson had 100-plus yard games in the prior two games this year.
The Dragons have had some success against the Vixen using heavy pressure up front on defense, but so far have been unable to put together an extended drive against Minnesota’s defense, which ended the season tied for first in Division 2 in total points allowed. Rookie defensive end Chelsy Swanson was especially troublesome for Wisconsin in the early June matchup, turning in three sacks and seven tackles.
The winner of Saturday’s game advances to the American Conference final on July 14 against either the San Diego Rebellion or the Mile High Blaze. If the Dragons win, they will be the lower seed and head out west; the Vixen, who earned the top overall seed in Division 2, will host the July game if they win.
Also, all players and coaches for the 20 years of the team’s existence have been invited to attend Saturday’s game and will be honored during an alumni recognition ceremony at halftime.
The Vixen will post live updates on Twitter during their away games, and for the fourth year in a row, Town Square Television will broadcast home games live on local cable access channels and streaming online.
Website: www.mnvixen.com
Facebook: Minnesota Vixen Women’s Football
Twitter: @MinnVixen
Live stream and replay of home games: Town Square Television
