Surge preps for conference championship berth

The San Diego Surge poses for team photo after defeating Central Cal in Overtime.

Women's Football Alliance Playoffs (Conference Finals)
San Diego Surge (7-3) at Dallas Elite (7-0)
Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, TX)
Saturday, July 8th, 2017 @ 5:00 p.m. PST

Series History

First Meeting: July 25, 2015 - Dallas 56, Surge 28 (Conference Championship)

Dallas Leads All-Time Series 1-0

Breakdown

This season has featured more setbacks and uncertainty than any of the previous in team history, but through resiliency, the San Diego Surge (7-3) once again find themselves playing for a trip to the WFA National Championship.

Following improbable postseason wins over No. 2 seed Los Angeles and No. 1 seed Central Cal, the three-seeded Surge will travel to Texas this weekend, where they hope to dethrone the two-time defending conference champion Dallas Elite (7-0).

Since its inaugural season in 2015, Dallas has only suffered two losses, both to the D.C. Divas in the previous two national title games. With their signature high-powered offense and stout defense that hasn't allowed a point in 2017, the Elite appear to be the heavy favorites to earn its third straight bid to the most prestigious game in women's football.

But the Surge are no strangers to defying the odds.

From nearly missing out on the postseason to knocking off the top seed in the conference, capitalizing on their newfound momentum could be what keeps this storybook campaign going.

"We weren't expected to get this far, but we're probably peaking at the right time." said veteran Surge quarterback Melissa Gallegos.

"I would call [this season] a Cinderella story, and hopefully there's a happy ending."

Tale of the Tape

SAN DIEGO SURGE (7-3)
Pacific Regional Champions

Head Coach: Mike Suggett (5th Season)

Previous Game: Defeated Central Cal 35-34 (OT)

Points Scored: 327 - 36.3 PPG

Points Allowed: 229 - 25.4 PPG

Massey Rating: #7
Conference Championships: 3 (2011, 12, 14)
National Championships: 1 (2012)

All-American Surge

OL Jessica Cable

DT Eboni Chambers

TE Carmen Cruz

LB Deana Guidry

LB Lorie Moore

DB Sonfre Roberson

K Melissa Strother

DALLAS ELITE (7-0)
Midwest Regional Champions

Head Coach: Odessa Jenkins (3rd Season)

Previous Game: Defeated Minnesota 53-0

Points Scored: 449 - 64.1 PPG

Points Allowed: 0 - 0.0 PPG

Massey Rating: #3
Conference Championships: 2 (2015, 16)
National Championships: 0

All-American Elite

DE LaShaunte Bowman
OG Renee Fruean
QB Jessica Gerhart
LB Angellica Grayson
DE Olivia Grizwold
LB Gina Holcomb
RB Odessa Jenkins
RB Amber Kimbrough
WR Liz Landry
OT Rachel May
DT Fancy Robinson

WFA Playoffs (Conference Championships)

American Conference

SAN DIEGO SURGE (7-3) @ Dallas Elite (7-0)

National Conference

Chicago Force (8-1) @ Boston Renegades (10-0)