(ST. LOUIS, MO) The St. Louis SLAM launched their 2024 campaign Saturday night at St. Mary’s High School and clearly showed those that follow the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) that once again they are a team to be feared.
This comes following their dominant 65-3 victory over the Columbus Chaos. 28 uncontested points scored in the first quarter penned the narrative by the reigning champs of the WFA Pro America division.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“Everyone came out and executed at a high level on offense, defense and special teams,” assessed wide receiver Kerri McMahan, who scored three touchdowns on the night. “There’s a couple of things we need to do to clean up, but overall, it’s a good start. We got a nice number on the scoreboard, so we just got to keep finishing it.”
The coin flip was won by Columbus, a scrappy but smaller WFA Division 2 rep, and some were surprised that they elected to defer the game’s opening possession. Strange thinking since the SLAM’s offense averaged over 36 points per game last season.
“When they gave us the ball, we were looking at each other and thinking, ‘Are they crazy?’” said SLAM running back Jada Humphrey.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
It turned out to be a fatal mistake as the SLAM’s Danielle Price returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for the team’s first points of the season. Kaylee Neutzling added the PAT kick that pushed the score to 7-0.
The SLAM’s highly-touted defense – consisting of veterans Neutzling, Myah LeFlore, Raven Williams, Jasmine Yandell, Brooklyn Devitt, Tay Johnson, Mary Altepeter, Keyonna Smith, Jamie Skinner, Stephanie Moore and Alisha Straws – made an immediate impact and forced Columbus to punt on their opening possession.
Starting at their own 13-yard line for their opening offensive snap from scrimmage, Humphrey romped 87 yards for her first touchdown of the season.
“We got one, straight out, and then we scored again a few minutes later,” the running back said of the SLAM’s fast start. “We really set the tone.”
After Neutzling added the PAT kick, St. Louis extended the lead to 14-0 with 10:46 left in the quarter.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
On their second drive, the Chaos offense failed to post yardage and punted, handing the SLAM favorable field position at Columbus’ 36-yard-line.
Three plays later, Humphrey notched her second end zone run of the quarter – a 35-yarder at the 7:39 mark – that pushed the score to 21-0 following Neutzling’s added PAT kick.
Another defensive SLAM stop, followed by a Chaos fumble during their punt, handed St. Louis an excellent start from Columbus’ 20 for their third possession.
Two plays in, SLAM veteran quarterback Jaime Gaal connected with rookie receiver Sydney Bloch for a 12-yard touchdown strike. Following Neutzling’s PAT kick with 5:02 left in the first quarter, the SLAM possessed a 28-0 lead.
Bloch would collect back-to-back scores with a 42-yard touchdown punt return with 12:22 left in the second quarter as the SLAM widened their advantage to 35-0.
Columbus finally broke their goose egg with kicker Kate McEachern’s 31-yard field goal with 8:25 left in the half that made the score 35-3.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
St. Louis countered with a seven-play, 63-yard drive that was anchored by the offensive live consisting of veterans Marion Ball, Tamikka Brents, Pamela Green, Caitlin Erickson and Kinnaudy Daniels.
Gaal connected with McMahan for a 30-yard touchdown catch with 4:46 left in the half. Neutzling’s kick afterwards pushed the SLAM’s lead to 42-3.
The pair would combine again with 1:39 left in the frame for a 30-yard end-zone strike.
“Jaime’s IQ is through the roof,” said McMahan of the chemistry. “Obviously, physically, she does a lot of things extremely well. She’s the quarterback that I want to play for as long as I get to play because she does a great job. Just not for me but for everybody else. She’s a leader on the field and off the field.”
At halftime, the SLAM possessed a 49-3 lead.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
Columbus’ pre-game, coin-flip decision turned out regrettably on their opening second-half possession as they fumbled into their own end zone, resulting in a SLAM safety that pushed the score to 51-3.
With 5:58 left in the third quarter, Mother Nature struck and the game had to be stopped due to lightning and a 45-minute weather break ensued.
When play resumed under continuous clock, the SLAM’s onslaught continued.
McMahan – who took over at quarterback for Gaal– raced for a 51-yard QB keeper with 3:19 left in the quarter as St. Louis pushed their lead to 58-3 following the extra kick.
The SLAM’s final exclamation point came with under six minutes left with a five-play, 59-yard scoring drive capped by Christy Burkett’s 45-yard touchdown run. Neutzling finished the night perfect in PAT kicks, going 8-for-8.
St. Louis outscored the Chaos 16-0 in the second half en route to the 65-3 triumph to start their season 1-0.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“We really dominated on all sides of the ball,” assessed Humphrey, who finished with 138 rushing yards and a pair touchdowns. “We’ve been stressing how much special teams mean. They’re taking take of business, the defense was taking care of business and we’re just scoring like crazy on offense. You can’t complain about that.”
The next two SLAM games are on the road, starting with next Saturday’s meeting with the Minnesota Vixen (0-0), last year’s WFA Pro America runner-up. St. Louis posted three hard-fought victories against their rival last season.
“Both teams are going to want to beat each other,” McMahan projected of the upcoming tilt. ”They’re going to be out for blood and we’ve got to be ready to take a few punches.”
St. Louis returns home May 18 against five-time defending WFA Pro champs Boston at St. Louis University High School.
For more information on the SLAM, go to their official website.
INDIVIDUAL SLAM STATISTICS
PASSING: Gaal 10-13, 155 Yards, 3 TDs
RUSHING: Humphrey 6-138, 2 TDs. McMahan 3-60, 1 TD. Burkett 1-45, 1 TD. Fitzpatrick 3-9. Harold 3-5. Bloch 1-3.
RECEIVING: McMahan 5-68, 2 TDs. Smith 2-43. Neutzling 1-21. Bloch 1-12, 1 TD. Richardson 1-7.
KICKING: Neutzling 0-1 FG, 8 PATs
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.
