Midway through the first half, Cavanaugh quarterback Lisa Ruffer threw a touchdown pass to wideout Janice Flynn for the Chaos' second score on the day, and the team never looked back.
After forcing a punt after an initially promising Howard possession, Cavanaugh took the ball in its own half and drove down the field to make the score 12-0.
An interception by Lizzy Brown on Howard's first possession gave the Chaos field position inside the Ducks' territory. Cavanaugh then scored its first touchdown on an option run when running back Tara Brown received the pitch near the goal line from Ruffer for the touchdown.
Chaos defensive back Kerri Bergen caught the second interception of the day, giving Cavanaugh good field position again. Ruffer found receiver Elisa Suarez in the end zone for the third touchdown before halftime, making the halftime score 18-0.
For the Chaos, everything was seemingly working in the first half. With the defense forcing two turnovers and the offense putting up three scores, Cavanaugh was a daunting presence on the field.
"They made us look good as coaches," said Chaos offensive coordinator Hunter Land.
The Ducks defense buckled down in the second half, forcing two punts on the Chaos' first two possessions. Laura Pils also recorded the only sack of the day when she brought down Ruffer for a loss of about seven yards. Also, the Ducks secondary held Chaos quarterbacks to a 3-for-11 completion rating, forcing Cavanaugh to stick to the run.
The Ducks were hurt by field position in the second half, however, and could not get the offense to get them out of their own half of the field. Cavanaugh quarterback Katie Dunn ran the option consistently and scored the final touchdown of the game, making the final score 24-0.
Howard coach Evan Walsh was still impressed with his team after the loss.
"I am immensely proud of my team, especially the younger players," Walsh said. "If we can improve, we still have room for a very successful season."
Next week Cavanaugh will play Badin and Howard will square off against Lewis.
Walsh 12, Lewis 7
Julie Campbell's interception with less than two minutes remaining secured victory for Walsh Hall in the Wild Women's season-opening victory over Lewis Hall Tuesday.
Campbell's pick came as Lewis was driving inside Walsh territory, threatening to take the lead. Walsh quarterback Mary Sullivan then ran out the clock on the next three plays, sealing the victory.
The pick was the third time Walsh intercepted Lewis quarterback Elisa Valdez, with Campbell claiming two. The other interception by Kristen Keve set up a 3-play, 15-yard go-ahead drive midway through the second half that ended in a one-yard touchdown run by Sullivan.
At the half, Walsh led 6-0, but on the first play of the second half, Lewis struck pay dirt on a perfectly executed 65-yard hook and ladder play.
Valdez dropped back and threw an 8-yard pass to Kara Bailey, who pitched it to tight end Jocelyn Moya. Moya avoided two tacklers and out ran the rest of the Walsh defense on her way to the end zone. Lewis then converted the PAT and led 7-6.
On Walsh's ensuing possession, Sullivan found receiver Laurie Wasikowski twice for a total of 45 yards and Walsh seemed poised to recapture the lead. But on third and goal from the 10, Sullivan's pass was tipped and intercepted by Lewis safety Lauren Mullins. Three plays later, however, Valdez was intercepted by Keve on the Lewis 18, which led to Sullivan's score.
"The interceptions killed us," said Lewis co-captain Kara Bailey, "We won the game for them."
The teams traded possessions once until Campbell's second interception.
On the second play of the game, Valdez was picked off by Campbell, who returned the ball to the 3. Walsh scored two plays later on an option run Molly Brenner. The PAT failed and Walsh led 6-0.
Both teams played good defense. Lewis contained the speedy Sullivan for most of the game, and Walsh held Lewis to two first downs.
"She's a great cornerback," Walsh head coach Brian Burkavage said of Campbell's performance. "She reads the ball well and breaks on it very well."
"When we'd score the defense would feed off of us," Sullivan said. "When Julie made those interceptions we fed off of them. It was a team effort."
Walsh faces Badin on Sunday while Lewis takes on Lyons, also on Sunday.
Badin 12, Lyons 0
The Badin Bullfrogs defeated Lyons to win their first game Tuesday night, as the second half was purely a defensive struggle and two early touchdowns proved to be the difference in the game.
Freshman quarterback Katie Rose Hackney looked very confident early, throwing a pair of touchdown passes in the first half. But in the end, it was the defense that solidified the victory for Badin. It kept the Lyons offense on their heels throughout the contest, especially late in the game.
"Our defense's experience really showed through at the end," Badin captain Meg Charlebois said.
Lyons, meanwhile, looked flat after a rousing 20-0 victory in its first contest.
"We definitely have to work out some offensive issues in practice before we play again," captain Katie Mackin said. The Lions are, however, still optimistic about their game on Sunday.
"We have to move on and concentrate on beating Lewis," Mackin said.
Badin will face Walsh next, also on Sunday.
"We're really psyched to play them," said Charlebois. "They should be pretty good but we're ready to take it to them."
She hopes that the squad regains the form it displayed in the first half of tonight's game, when many different players contributed on offense. The Bullfrog touchdowns were scored by receivers Lizzie Shappell and Courtney Rains.
