(ST. LOUIS, MO) As far as season openers go, the St. Louis SLAM’s 2023 launcher Saturday went according to plan and an impressive triumph was claimed.
The SLAM notched a 20-0 victory over the Minnesota Vixen at St. Mary’s High School and in the process fully-established themselves as a team to be reckoned with amongst the highly-competitive Pro Division of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA).
In Saturday’s duke, SLAM quarterback Jaime Gaal threw three touchdown passes while receiver Kaylee Knuetzling snared a pair of scoring catches.
St. Louis (1-0) held the Vixen, last year’s WFA Pro championship runner-up, to minimal yardage en route to the shutout.
After stopping Minnesota on their opening drive, the SLAM claimed first strike on their initial possession as Gaal connected with newcomer Jada Humphrey with a 62-yard touchdown pass. Taylor Hay successfully booted the PAT kick afterwards to push the locals’ lead to 7-0 a few minutes in.
As the half progressed, neither team was able to successfully push into the endzone and the SLAM maintained a 7-0 lead at intermission.
In St. Louis’ opening possession of the second half, the SLAM churned a seven-play, 41-yard scoring drive that was punctuated by Gaal’s six-yard touchdown pass to Knuetzling that pushed the SLAM’s advantage to 13-0.
The locals’ baker’s dozen lead progressed into the final quarter and with about eight minutes left, the SLAM secured victory as Gaal connected with Knuetzling with an eight-yard touchdown pass. Hay added the kick afterwards that extended the lead to 20-0.
Thanks to the SLAM’s stifling defense, the shut-out was preserved and St. Louis recorded the 20-0 triumph that pushed them early to the top of the WFA Pro American Division standings.
The SLAM continues their six-game regular season this upcoming Saturday against the Derby City Dynamite in Louisville, Kentucky.
St. Louis next competes at home June 3 against Dallas at St. Mary’s High School.
For more info on the SLAM, go to their official website.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
