TAMPA FL — Tytti Kuusinen rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns as the Boston Renegades doused the Tampa Bay Inferno. Allison Cahill tossed three touchdown passes.

Continuing their ground assault from the previous week, the Renegades opened with ten rushing plays. Halfback Ruth Matta and fullback Kuusinen paced the attack, with Cahill gaining a fourth-down conversion to keep the opening drive alive. Receiver Renate Meckl took a shovel pass from Cahill, sprinted to the right pylon and reached just across the stripe as she was being brought down by a Tampa Bay defender. Sarah Tully notched the extra point and Boston took the lead 7-0.

It was a lead the Renegades would not relinquish. The Inferno, who put up 76 points the week prior, were unable to establish their own run game. Boston’s defensive line and linebackers contained Tampa Bay to only short gains on the ground. Linebacker Spring Gamble shined with 9 combined tackles, and Nose Tackle Laura Pula twice wrapped up rushers behind the line of scrimmage. The Inferno gained only 12 yards on 11 carries in the first half.

Meanwhile, Boston added more passing on their second drive. Receivers Meckl, Tully, and Kyshani Dummott pulled in a combined 5 passes for 36 yards. Matta and Kuusinen rushed seven times for 34 yards. Kuusinen found paydirt from one yard out, her first of three touchdowns in the game. Tully’s kick made it 14-0. Tully finished a perfect 4-of-4 on PAT kicks, while also contributing 33 yards on three catches.

The Renegades scored again on their final drive of the first half, with Matta reaching the end zone on a 24-yard catch and run.

After halftime, Tampa Bay turned to their passing game, down 21-0. With Candace Pistole replacing Kim Shaw under center, Tampa Bay gained 67 yards through the air in the second half. The yardage did not translate into any points, however. And the Inferno’s best scoring opportunity — a deep pass into single coverage near the end zone was intercepted by Renegades Defensive Back KD Ellison, the first of her career.

On offense, Kuusinen lead a short drive capped by a 17-yard rumble into the end zone. Following a successful kick by Tully, Boston was ahead 28-0.

A 14-yard catch and run by running back Katie Falkowski helped set up a 27-yard touchdown reception by Dummott. Both are second-year players. Dummott lead the team with 9 receptions for 76 yards, both career highs. 

Falkowski and Latoya Saulters took turns at running back for the remainer of the game, though Kuusinen retuned for the final scoring drive when Heather Marini came in for Cahill at quarterback. Saulters finished with 18 rushing yards and a spike while Falkowski compiled 48 total yards on 11 touches. 

Tampa Bay and Boston are not scheduled to meet again this season, though a playoff matchup is possible. In 2021, the Renegades defeated the Inferno in the American Conference Championship Game.

Now 2-0, Boston will return to their home field next Saturday to face the Detroit Venom (1-1).