REVERE, MA — Ruth Matta rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns in the first half as the Boston Renegades stopped the Detroit Venom 49-0. Allison Cahill tossed two touchdown passes and rushed for one to start the scoring in the first quarter.

Game Day Captain Kyshani Dummott #4 returned the opening kickoff 22 yards to give the Renegades excellent starting field position. Their first drive would feature rusher Ruth Matta #22 who covered 53 yards on six plays that included a 29-yard jaunt. But it was Allison Cahill #7 who rushed across the stripe, followed by a successful kick by Sarah Tully #11. Cahill attempted one pass on the drive – a shot to the end zone intended for Tully – but the pass was deflected by Detroit’s #4 Danyelle Kerse. 

Detroit and Boston traded possessions before the Venom mounted their most successful drive of the game. An 18-yard rush and an 11-yard reception by Detroit’s #38 Clarissa Tullis and #7 Larcretia Harvey respectively helped the Venom string together two first downs and push into Renegades territory. But Detroit was forced to punt when Boston’s Chante Bonds #21 knocked down a third-down pass attempt.

Tullis was WFA Pro’s leading rusher heading into the contest with 354 yards over two contests. She finished the game with 74 yards.

On the following drive, Matta scored her first touchdown of the night, a 33-yard burst to the pylon after key blocks by offensive liners Ash Beckham #80 and Erin Truex #88. Matta would score again on Boston’s next possession, following blocks by offensive tackle Hillary Crook #75 and fullback Tytti Kuusinen #46. 

Boston’s offensive line helped Matta to two more touchdowns before halftime including an electrifying 35-yard romp. The line also includes Amanda Alpert #50, Sam McKay #68, Steph Jeffers #66, Molly Winsten #99, Ashley Clarke #67, Olivia Taplin #76, and Tiffany Bell #78.

In the passing game, Cahill made only 13 attempts after averaging 27 over the first two games of the season. Still, she threw two touchdowns to zero interceptions, good for a 126.9 QBR.

The largest gain of the night was a 44-yard reception by Adrienne Smith #10. Smith grabbed a quick strike on a post route and broke loose when two Detroit defenders collided with each other. Smith sprinted to the end zone. With the reception, Smith reached a milestone 5,000 receiving yards in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA). Smith has played in the WFA since 2011, when she joined the Boston Militia. She joins Jeanette Gray (Chicago Force) and Liz Sowers (West Michigan Mayhem, Kansas City Tribe, KC Titans) as the only players to have accrued 5,000 receiving yards while playing in the WFA. 

Dummott accounts for the other scoring reception, catching a dart from Cahill from 6 yards out for her second touchdowns in as many games. 

The Renegades’ stingy defense was lead by the stalwart linebacker Spring Gamble #23 and rookie linebacker Kara Gailiunas #32 who both had 7 combined tackles. Gailiunas lead the team with 3 solo tackles. 2021 WFA Defensive Player of the Year Danielle Fournier #70 forced a fumble that was recovered by Deanna Walsh #53. Erin Diette #30 picked up a sack, and Laura Pula #72 and Lisa Vincent #19 combined to score a safety.

At the midpoint of the regular season, Boston’s defense ranks third in points allowed per game (9.3), while the Renegade offense ranks first in scoring (55.0 ppg) while generating just over 400 yards per game. The 3-0 Renegades will remain at home to face the Pittsburgh Passion (2-0) next Saturday.