Women's Football: Rebellion Clinches #1 Seed and Pacific Division Title

DENVER, CO - The No. 1 ranked San Diego Rebellion (6-0) secured the Pacific Division title with a commanding 33-0 road victory over the Denver Bandits (1-5) Saturday night, showcasing their stellar ground game and defensive prowess throughout all four quarters.

Kesz Wesley, a contender for the league's rushing title, opened the scoring early in the first quarter, finding the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown run with 5:51 remaining. The successful extra point by Jen Strother gave San Diego a 7-0 lead. The Rebellion wasted no time extending their advantage when running back Regina Escoto punched in a two-yard score just minutes later, putting San Diego up 14-0 before the quarter ended.

The second quarter saw no letup in the Rebellion's attack. Wesley recorded her second touchdown of the day on a two-yard play early in the quarter, though the extra point attempt failed, leaving the score at 20-0. Escoto followed with her second trip to the end zone, breaking free for a 14-yard scoring run with 6:34 left before halftime to push the lead to 27-0.

After a scoreless third quarter, quarterback Alia Karmali put the exclamation point on the victory, scrambling for a 10-yard touchdown run with 4:32 remaining in the game.

Any hope of Denver avoiding San Diego's fourth straight shutout was extinguished when Brittani Lusain intercepted a Bandits pass with just 2:19 left on the clock.

The victory not only secured a second straight Pacific Division title for the Rebellion, but also demonstrated why they're considered serious contenders heading into the Western Conference Playoffs. San Diego's strong offensive line, productive rushing attack, and stifling defense should make them a formidable opponent for any team they face in the postseason.

The Women's National Football Conference will reveal its official 2025 playoff bracket live during the WNFC Selection Monday Show, airing Monday, May 19 at 5:00 PM PT on Victory+.

Scoring Summary

SD 1st 5:51 - Kesz Wesley 23-yard TD run (xp good) SD 7, DEN 0

SD 1st 2:06 - Regina Escoto 2-yard TD run (xp good) SD 14, DEN 0

SD 2nd 11:11 - Wesley 2-yard TD run (xp no good) SD 20, DEN 0

SD 2nd 6:34 - Escoto 14-yard TD run (xp good) SD 27, DEN 0 

SD 4th 4:32 - Alia Karmali 10-yard TD run (xp no good) SD 33, DEN 0

Women's Football: Rebellion tops latest WNFC Rankings

The San Diego Rebellion are soaring through the 2025 WNFC season with a 4-0 record, cementing their status as the top ranked team in the league. But their success hasn’t come without challenges. Key injuries to linebacker Knengi Martin and offensive lineman Johanna Aspenberg—both ruled out for the season—have tested the team’s depth. Meanwhile, all-pro quarterback Daniella Trainor has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, leaving her return timeline uncertain. Despite these setbacks, the Rebellion continue to dominate, blending resilience with relentless execution.

Even without Trainor’s dual-threat playmaking ability, San Diego’s offense has thrived behind the WNFC’s most effective rushing attack. The Rebellion have bulldozed opponents for a league-leading 903 rushing yards—over 200 yards more than the next-closest team—fueled by the dynamic duo of Kesz Wesley and Regina Escoto. Wesley averages 8.2 yards per carry with 343 yards and five touchdowns, while Escoto has 316 yards and four scores. Backup QB Alia Karmali has admirably stepped in, adding two rushing touchdowns. Though the passing game has stalled without Trainor, the Rebellion’s ground-centric identity continues to demoralize opposing defenses.

The Rebellion’s defense has been on a tear, allowing just nine total points (2.2 per game) and is coming off two straight shutouts. Losing Martin, a tackling machine with 19 combined stops and 3.5 tackles for loss, was a blow. Yet the unit hasn’t missed a beat. Brittani Lusain and Katie Claxton have been unstoppable, tallying 32 tackles each, while Alena Kuzmova leads the team with two sacks. The secondary has also shined, with Taranisha Taylor recording five pass deflections.

San Diego face the Oregon Ravens (May 10) and Denver Bandits (May 17) to close out their regular season schedule—games they’re favored to win. A healthy return from Trainor could provide a late-season boost, but even without her, The Rebellion’s formula—crush opponents on the ground, suffocate them on defense—remains effective. With playoff seeding in sight, the Rebellion are focused on maintaining their unbeaten streak and honoring their injured teammates as they maintain the top seed in the Western Conference.

Women's Football: Rebellion's Complete Performance Overwhelms Seattle

KENT, WA - The San Diego Rebellion made a powerful statement Saturday night with a 44-3 triumph over the Seattle Majestics in a display of rushing prowess and defensive domination at French Field.

After falling behind 3-0 on Jocelyn Charette's 31-yard field goal late in the first quarter, the Rebellion (2-0) responded with 44 unanswered points. San Diego's ground game proved unstoppable, producing four rushing touchdowns from four different ball carriers while amassing 238 rushing yards on just 26 carries (9.2 average).

The WNFC's leader in rushing yards heading into Week 3, Regina Escoto ignited the offensive explosion with a 39-yard touchdown scamper early in the second quarter, finishing with 79 yards on just 7 carries (11.3 avg). Kesz Wesley matched that production with 79 yards and two touchdowns (1-yard, 40-yard) on 7 carries to extend the margin to 21-3, showcasing the Rebellion's dominant offensive line play.

The defensive highlight came early in the fourth quarter when linebacker Katie Claxton intercepted a Seattle pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 30-3 and effectively sealing the game. Claxton finished with 9 tackles (3 for loss), a forced fumble, and the pick-six in a standout defensive performance. Linebacker Brittani Lusain led all defenders with 12 tackles.

Quarterback Danielle Trainor was efficient when needed, completing 4-of-9 passes for 18 yards while adding 51 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Backup QB Alia Karmali capped the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown run in her only carry of the game.

Seattle's offense struggled throughout, with quarterback Alexis Catton completing just 4-of-9 passes for 13 yards with an interception. Former Rebellion RB Adriana Gutierrez provided the lone bright spot for the Majestics with 95 yards on 21 carries (4.5 avg).

Next week the Rebellion returns home to host the Los Angeles Legends as they continue their run for a top seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Women's Football: Rebellion Seeks Road Victory in Seattle

🏈 San Diego Rebellion (1-0) at Seattle Majestics (1-1)

📍 French Field (Kent, WA)

📅 Saturday, April 11th 🕔 6:00 PM (PT)

💻 Victory+

The San Diego Rebellion (1-0) travel to the Pacific Northwest this weekend for a pivotal Western Conference showdown against the Seattle Majestics (1-1) in what could serve as an early playoff preview.

The Rebellion dominate the all-time series 5-1 and enter rested after a Week 1 rout of Utah (40-6) and a Week 2 bye. Seattle opened 2025 with a dominant 51-6 Week 1 rout of the Las Vegas Silver Stars but stumbled in Week 2 with a 42-0 shutout loss to the Texas Elite Spartans. They now seek redemption and their first win over San Diego since 2019, having dropped five straight in this rivalry.

The Rebellion’s offensive identity crystallized in their opener, spearheaded by running back Regina Escoto, who gashed Utah for 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries (8.0 avg). San Diego’s offensive line dominated the trenches, paving the way for 302 team rushing yards—a league-high through Week 2.

Women's Football: Rebellion Dominate Utah in Season Opener

ESCONDIDO, CA - The San Diego Rebellion kicked off their 2025 season with a commanding 40-6 victory over the Utah Falconz Saturday night at Wilson Stadium. Quarterback Danny Trainor led the offensive charge with three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), while the Rebellion defense held Utah's newly implemented spread offense to just six points.

San Diego established their dominance early when running back Kesz Wesley punched in a four-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. The Rebellion extended their lead to 14-0 in the second quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Trainor to rookie tight end Alyssa Speckhals.

Utah showed signs of life late in the first half when linebacker Brittney Bjork intercepted Trainor and returned it to the San Diego 19-yard line. The Falconz capitalized with a four-yard touchdown pass from Sara Galica to Renate Meckl, but missed the two-point conversion attempt, leaving the score at 14-6 heading into halftime.

After regrouping, the Rebellion offense found its rhythm, scoring 26 unanswered points in the second half. Regina Escoto contributed two touchdown runs, while Trainor added a rushing touchdown and connected with Alicia Zappia-Neeley for another score.

"I feel like our offense has a great unit behind us," Trainor said after the game. "We had some adversity in the beginning, a couple players went down, but we pulled together and came through in the end."

The 2024 MVP candidate acknowledged her early struggles, which included two interceptions, but credited her teammates for helping her bounce back. 

"I rallied around my team, they lifted me up. I struggle with getting in my head, and they lifted my chin, and helped me flush it."

Women's Football: Rebellion seeking another championship run

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

2025 SAN DIEGO REBELLION SEASON PREVIEW

After a dominant 7-1 campaign in 2024 that ended in another conference final loss to the Texas Elite Spartans, the San Diego Rebellion enter 2025 with a revamped roster, renewed determination, and an unwavering focus on capturing their first WNFC IX Cup championship. Here's what to expect as the Rebellion gear up for redemption:

Overcoming Adversity on Offense

The Rebellion may face a significant challenge with standout running back Melina Malaxos sidelined for the season due to an ACL injury. Malaxos was instrumental in 2024, rushing for 488 yards and scoring four touchdowns, but San Diego's depth offers hope to fill the void. Dual-threat quarterback Danny Trainor returns for her second season after accounting for 12 touchdowns (5 rushing, 7 passing) last year. She'll be supported by a backfield committee featuring efficient backup Kesz Wesley (7.0 yards per carry in 2024) and Regena Escato, a dynamic playmaker from Team Mexico.

The receiving corps gains a major boost with the return of Sakura Roberson, a former SDSU track star who missed 2024 after a standout rookie season. Her speed and versatility add a new dimension to the offense, while veteran wideout Nisha Taylor provides two-way value, having notched three receiving touchdowns and three interceptions as a cornerback. The Rebellion also added receiver Jamie Blue, who earned WNFC All-Pro Game MVP honors as a rookie with the Las Vegas Silver Stars in 2022. Up front, the line remains a fortress, anchored by All-WNFC center Tanya Luna and 2024 Trench Player of the Year Johanna Aspenberg.

Women's Football: Undefeated Rebellion Eyes Playoff Dominance

🏈 #1 San Diego Rebellion (6-0) vs. #4 Denver Bandits (3-3)

📆 Thursday, June 6th 🕔 7:00 p.m. PT

✈️ Mater Academy East (Las Vegas, NV)

📺 Caffeine TV ($)

With the 2024 regular season in the books, the San Diego Rebellion (6-0) enters the WNFC Western Conference Playoffs with a perfect record for the third time in franchise history. Their balanced offense is averaging 243.3 yards per game (159.7 rushing, 83.7 passing), led by quarterback Danny Trainor, who has been a dual threat, throwing for 502 yards, nine touchdowns, and just four interceptions while rushing for 203 yards and six more scores. Melina Malaxos is the Rebellion's workhorse in the ground game, rushing for 571 yards and four touchdowns this season.

On defense, linebacker Katie Claxton stands out, leading the league with 48 total tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions, including a pick-six. Nisha Taylor is a playmaker on both sides of the ball, hauling in three touchdowns and three interceptions this year.

The Denver Bandits (3-3) have fought their way to a playoff spot, despite coming off two straight losses. Karla Granados Rodríguez leads the ground attack with 240 yards and a touchdown, while Lydia Morgan has 190 yards, one score, and an interception in the passing game.

Linebacker Amber Craft, one of the league's top defenders, anchors the Bandits' defense with 30 total tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and two interceptions. Defensive end Kara Corcoran has also contributed 23 tackles and a sack.

Women's Football: Rebellion remain Unbeaten after holding off Seattle's late effort

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Escondido, CA - The San Diego Rebellion stayed perfect on the season, improving to 3-0 with a 27-6 victory over the visiting Seattle Majestics (1-2) on Saturday night.

San Diego came out firing, recovering the opening kickoff at Seattle's 20-yard line. Quarterback Danny Trainor promptly capped the opening drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. The missed extra point left San Diego with an early 6-0 lead.

The first-quarter onslaught continued as the Rebellion offense remained in high gear. Running back Melina Malaxos punched it in from two yards out, and Trainor added another five-yard scoring run to extend San Diego's advantage to 20-0 after one quarter.

Seattle finally got on the board early in the second quarter. Cornerback Krista Seaman came up with a key interception, setting up a three-yard direct snap touchdown run by Andraliah Lee. But the Majestics failed to convert the two-point try, trailing 20-6.

Both defenses dug in during a scoreless third quarter. The Rebellion seized control early in the final period when Trainor broke free for a backbreaking 30-yard touchdown scamper to make it 27-6 after the extra point.

San Diego's swarming defense clamped down from there, securing the 27-6 victory. Trainor finished with a trio of rushing touchdowns to power the Rebellion's balanced offensive attack. Two-way athlete Nisha Taylor added to her stellar season with two interceptions, totaling three on the year. Linebacker Katie Claxton came up big with two recovered fumbles. 

The Rebellion will look to keep rolling next week when they host the 3-0 Atlanta Phoenix in a battle of unbeaten teams. Meanwhile, the Majestics have a bye to regroup before hitting the road to take on the Oregon Ravens in two weeks.

Women's Football: Rebellion Outlasts Utah in Defensive Battle

Salt Lake City, UT - The San Diego Rebellion (2-0) delivered a commanding performance against the Utah Falconz (1-1), securing a 24-7 victory Saturday night in a game marked by strong defensive plays and crucial turnovers.

The Rebellion set the tone early in the first quarter, with a blocked punt by Sabrina Kessler recovered in the end zone by Katie Claxton. Defensive touchdowns are worth nine points in the WNFC, so the play gave San Diego a 10-0 lead after a successful extra point by Jen Strother.

Utah fought back on the next possession, with Jessica Cannon powering her way into the end zone for a five-yard score on a pitch play. This cut the lead to 10-7 by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, turnovers played a pivotal role, with both teams struggling to maintain possession. San Diego's Melina Melaxos's fumble was recovered inside Utah's red zone, but the Rebellion defense retained possession with an interception by Nisha Taylor.

San Diego held on to a 10-7 lead at halftime.

The Rebellion came out strong in the second half, with quarterback Danny Trainor finding an open Erica Arie on a pitch and catch for a 23-yard touchdown, extending their lead to 17-7.

The San Diego defense continued to shine, forcing turnovers and keeping the Falconz at bay.

In the fourth quarter, Natalia Escoto’s interception set up Trainor's 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor, who made a spectacular catch in traffic on 4th and 12, extending the lead to 24-7 with 6:59 left to play.

Despite a late-game effort by Utah, including another recovered fumble on the San Diego 22-yard line, the Rebellion defense held strong against the triple option, securing the win.

Alone in first place in the WNFC's Pacific Conference, San Diego looks to carry this momentum forward as they return home next Saturday to host the Seattle Majestics.

Women's Football: Rebellion Set For Playoff Rematch at Utah

🏈 San Diego Rebellion (1-0) at Utah Falconz (1-0)

📆 Saturday, April 13th 🕔 6:30 p.m. PT

✈️ Highland High School (Salt Lake City, Utah)

📺 Caffeine TV ($)

One of the premiere games in Week 2 of WNFC action will be a renewal of one of the most competitive developing rivalries in the league.

The San Diego Rebellion (1-0) will travel to face the Utah Falconz (1-0) in a rematch of last year's playoff clash. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, April 13th in Salt Lake City, streaming live on Caffeine TV.

Last year, Utah swept the regular season series by a combined score of seven points, but the Rebellion ended their season with a 48-20 triumph in the Pacific Conference semifinals. Overall, the Falconz leads the all-time series 3-2, while San Diego has a 2-1 advantage in the postseason.

In Week 1, the Falconz escaped Seattle with a 30-22 double overtime win over the Majestics. The hard-fought victory was sparked by a strong performance from dual-threat quarterback Sara Galica, who had two rushing touchdowns, and all-pro running back Gina Magana who added 109 rushing yards and a score.

In the Rebellion's 21-7 win over the Las Vegas Silver Stars last week, quarterback Danny Trainor threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns. One went to halfback Melina Malaxos, who showcased her speed on a 44-yard screen pass. This matchup features two of the league's top offenses, but the Falconz defense, led by linebacker Ally Cleveland's 12 tackles, will look to slow down San Diego's balanced attack. Utah's ground-and-pound style, featuring running back Laura Goetz adding to the one-two punch with Magana, could be the difference.

While the Rebellion front-seven led by veteran linebacker Knengi Martin has shown the ability to stop the triple-option run, the secondary that notched three interceptions last week, will need those same clutch plays on 3rd-and-long and 4th down situations, where the Falconz passing game is known to excel.

With both teams currently ranked at the top of the Pacific Conference standings, this contest will have serious playoff implications.

Series History

July 17, 2021 - San Diego 22, Utah 18 (Conference Championship)

June 9, 2022 - Utah 23, San Diego 15 (Conference Semifinal)

April 1, 2023 - Utah 14, San Diego 8

May 6, 2023 - Utah 22, San Diego 21

June 8, 2023 - San Diego 48, Utah 20 (Conference Semifinal)

Women's Football: Second Half Burst Helps Rebellion Defeat Vegas in Season Opener

Photo Credit: San Diego Rebellion Instagram

After two seasons playing for the Oregon Ravens, Danny Trainor made her debut as the new starting quarterback for the San Diego Rebellion. She made an immediate impact, scoring all three touchdowns to help the Rebellion (1-0) begin the season with a 21-7 victory over the Las Vegas Silver Stars (0-1) on Saturday night at Escondido High.

Former Rebellion standout Adriana Guttierez, returning to her hometown to face her former team, scored the only touchdown for Vegas with a 5-yard run. This gave the Silver Stars a 7-0 lead with 3:48 left in the 1st quarter. 

However, the Rebellion responded with 21 unanswered points. Trainor connected with Nisha Taylor for a 28-yard touchdown on 4th-and-18, tying the game at 7-7 with 8:50 remaining in the half. Shortly after, Trainor completed a screen pass to running back Melina Malaxos, who raced 44 yards to the end zone, putting San Diego up 14-7 with 6:01 left in the half.

San Diego's defense dominated the second half, forcing three turnovers. Linebacker Katie Claxton started the turnover spree with an interception, while Daisy Avila intercepted a pass in the end zone, thwarting Vegas's attempt to tie the game. Trainor added a quarterback scramble for a touchdown as time expired in the third quarter. Cornerback Markeisha Perry's interception on the 5-yard line with 7:23 left to play effectively sealed the win for the Rebellion as they head to Salt Lake City next week to face the Utah Falconz, who will be seeking revenge after the Rebellion ended their season with a 48-20 playoff defeat.

Chambers' first career touchdown sparks Rebellion win at Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV - The San Diego Rebellion (1-1) put on an impressive display Saturday night, blanking the Las Vegas Silverstars (1-1) 21-0 on the road to claim their first victory of the season.

The first quarter was a stalemate, with neither team able to put points on the board. But the Rebellion offense found their groove in the second quarter when Eboni Chambers caught a pass from quarterback Knengi Martin and raced 68 yards for a touchdown, the first of her career.

"You never know what we got up our sleeves," Chambers said in a pregame interview when asked if she would score during the game.

Chambers is playing her second season at tight end following a stellar career on the offensive line.

The Silverstars blocked the ensuing extra point, leaving San Diego with a 6-0 lead heading into halftime. But the Rebellion offense didn't let up in the second half, with running back Adriana Gutierrez scoring a three-yard touchdown on a direct snap. She then ran the same play for the two-point conversion, extending the lead to 14-0 with just under three minutes left in the third quarter.

The San Diego defense also stepped up, stifling the Silverstars offense throughout the game. Rookie linebacker Brittani Lusain sealed the win for the Rebellion by intercepting a pass and returning it 60 yards for a touchdown.

With this win, the Rebellion look forward to their home opener on April 29th against the Seattle Majestics after another bye week.

Rebellion to kickoff 2023 season at Utah

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

🏈 San Diego Rebellion at Utah Falconz

📆 Saturday, April 1st 🕔 2:00 p.m. PT

🏠 Cottonwood High School (Salt Lake City, Utah)

📺 Wscore ($)

The San Diego Rebellion are gearing up for their 5th season of football and 4th season in the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC). In 2022, the team finished with a 6-1 record, winning all six of their regular season games before falling to the Utah Falconz in the first round of the Pacific Conference Playoffs.

However, the Rebellion is currently on a 12-game regular season win streak, and they'll look to continue it on Saturday, April 1st when they open their season on the road with a revenge game against the Falconz.

The team's offense will be led by quarterback Knengi Martin, who threw for 7 touchdowns and rushed for 8 more last season. Martin will be joined in the backfield by veteran running back Adriana Gutierrez, who led the WNFC in rushing yards last season with 705 and found the end zone 10 times.

On the defensive side of the ball, which ranked 2nd in the league last season, linebacker Mercedes Tyler is back after leading the team with 35 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2022. Other standouts returning on defense are fellow linebackers Elliot and Chachrelle Nguyen. The defensive line will be anchored once again by perennial all-star Angela "Havik" Mims, who will be playing her third season with the team.

With a talented roster and a new head coach in John Serrata, the San Diego Rebellion are poised to make another deep playoff run and contend for a WNFC IX Cup in 2023. Fans can follow the team's progress all season long on the team's website at sandiegorebellion.com.

WNFC, home of the San Diego Rebellion, announces new streaming platform

The Women's National Football Conference has announced the launch of wSCORE, a new direct-to-consumer streaming service that will offer unlimited access to all live and on-demand WNFC events, along with a deep archive of league content and original programming. The service is set to launch for the 2023 season and will be priced at $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year. 

The WNFC aims to eliminate the pay-to-play barrier for its athletes by 2025 and hopes that wSCORE will help elevate the visibility of women's football. The service will become the ultimate destination for everything WNFC, offering fans unrivaled access to the league's content.

Visit https://www.wnfcfootball.com/wscore to learn more. 

The San Diego Rebellion will kickoff their 5th season on Saturday, April 1 with a road trip against the Utah Falconz. This will be a rematch from last season's first round playoff bout where fourth-seeded Utah upset No. 1 seed San Diego. In their first meeting, the Rebellion stunned the top-seeded Falconz in the 2021 Pacific Conference Championship.

IX Cup Preview: San Diego vs. Texas Elite

Basic Information

🏆 2021 WNFC IX Cup Championship

🏈 #2 San Diego Rebellion (8-0) vs. #1 Texas Elite Spartans (8-0)

📍 Apogee Stadium (Denton, Texas)

📅 Saturday, August 7th 🕠 5:30 p.m. PT

💻 watchvyre.com

The San Diego Rebellion and Texas Elite Spartans meet in the 2021 WNFC IX Cup Championship game Saturday, August 7 at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas, home of the University of North Texas football team. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (PT) and will be livestreamed on various platforms. This will be the first-ever meeting between these teams.

In only their third season of play, the Rebellion will compete in its first-ever league championship game. San Diego is coming off a 22-18 win over the No. 1 seeded Utah Falconz in the Pacific Conference Championship on July 17th. San Diego became only the third team to ever defeat the Falconz, who will miss out on a championship appearance for the first time in its history.

Texas Elite is fresh off a 27-10 victory over the No. 2 seed Alabama Fire in the Atlantic Conference Championship, a game that was played on a neutral site in Atlanta, GA. The defending WNFC champions are looking for their second straight Title IX cup, and third title overall. Since the team debuted during the 2018 season, the Spartans boast a perfect 23-0 all-time record.

Rebellion stuns top-seeded Utah, claims Pacific Conference title

The San Diego Rebellion (8-0) are the 2021 WNFC Pacific Conference Champions following a 22-18 win over the hosting No. 1 seed Utah Falconz (7-1) Saturday night. With the well-earned victory, the Rebellion will get to complete their phenomenal season in the WNFC IX Cup Championship game, where they'll face the Atlantic Conference champion Texas Elite Spartans (8-0) at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas on August 7th.

After a defensive effort kept the game scoreless after the first quarter, the Rebellion struck first with an 11-yard run by Adriana Gutierrez. She followed it up with a successful two-point conversion run to give San Diego an 8-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Utah answered back on the following drive with a three-yard touchdown run by Gina Magana, but the two-point attempt fell short to keep the Rebellion leading 8-6.

The Falconz took their first lead of the game with an incredible 24-yard touchdown run by Magana, where she was stripped of the ball and recovered it on her way to the end zone. A failed two-point conversion kept Utah's lead at 12-8 early in the third quarter.

Utah was able to recover the ensuing onside kick, but the Rebellion defense was able to force a turnover on downs to avoid any further damage.

On just the second play of the fourth quarter, Knengi Martin connected with Ashlee Austin-Bean, who shook off a defender and took off for a 39-yard score to regain the lead 15-12, but the Falconz answered back by ending a 71-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run by Tina Tela to put them back in front 18-15.

On the ensuing drive, a 15-yard scramble by Martin set up a 45-yard dash to the end zone by Gutierrez for what would be the game-clinching touchdown. Following a great kickoff return by Magana, who was stopped by Gutierrez at the San Diego 22-yard line, the defense was able to force a turnover on downs.

Unable to run out enough clock, the Rebellion was forced to punt and tasked with needing to hold off the high-powered Utah offense one last time. The Falconz drove to the red zone, but a clutch fumble recovery by Stephanie Lopez helped seal the team's first conference championship in its third season of play.

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Rebellion set to take on #1 Utah in Pacific Conference Final

WNFC PACIFIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP from Score Sports58 on Vimeo.

🏆 WNFC Pacific Conference Championship Game

🏈 #2 San Diego Rebellion (7-0) vs. #1 Utah Falconz (7-0)

📍 Hunter High School (West Valley City, UT)

📅 Saturday, July 17th 🕔 5:00 PM (PT)

💻 https://vimeo.com/event/925315

Following a hard-fought 19-16 win over the Las Vegas Silver Stars in Thursday's semifinal round, the San Diego Rebellion (7-0) will have only one full day to prepare for the toughest test of their phenomenal season: the top-seeded Utah Falconz (7-0). This conference championship matchup between one of the top offenses and defenses in the WNFC will be the first-ever meeting between these teams.

The winner earns a trip to the WNFC IX Cup Championship game in Dallas, to take on the champions of the Atlantic Conference.

Live: Rebellion set for Conference Championship Tournament

WNFC PACIFIC CONFERENCE PLAYOFF GAMES from Score Sports58 on Vimeo.

🏆 WNFC Pacific Conference Championship (Semifinal)

🏈 #2 San Diego Rebellion (6-0) vs. #3 Las Vegas Silver Stars (4-2)

📍 Hunter High School (West Valley City, UT)

📅 Thursday, July 15th 🕔 2:00 PM (PT)

💻 https://vimeo.com/event/925315

The two-week bye is over, and the WNFC playoffs are finally here. The field is set for the top four teams from each conference to compete for a chance to win the 2021 championship in Dallas. Coming off their best regular season campaign in the team history, two-seed San Diego Rebellion (6-0) are looking to keep the momentum going in a rematch against the three-seed Las Vegas Silver Stars (4-2). The last time these teams faced each other, the San Diego Rebellion pulled away with a 28-6 victory. 

Rebellion earns No. 2 seed in WNFC Playoffs

Following a 6-0 finish to their phenomenal regular season, the San Diego Rebellion secured the #2 seed in the 2021 WNFC Playoff Tournament, where they’ll face the #4 seed Las Vegas Silver Stars in opening round on Thursday, July 15th at 2:30 p.m. PT. This will be a rematch from June 19, when the Rebellion pulled off a 28-6 victory at Torrey Pines High School.

The winner advances to the Pacific Conference Championship the following Saturday to take on the Utah Falconz or La Muerte De Las Cruces the following Saturday for a trip to the Title IX Cup.

Pacific Conference:

1️⃣ Utah Falconz (6-0)

2️⃣ SAN DIEGO REBELLION (6-0)

3️⃣ Las Vegas Silver Stars (4-2)

4️⃣ La Muerte De Las Cruces (4-2)

Atlantic Conference:

1️⃣ Texas Elite Spartans (6-0)

2️⃣ Alabama Fire (5-1)

3️⃣ Kansas City Glory (4-2)

4️⃣ Mississippi Lady Panthers (4-2)

JULY 15, 2021

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

GAME 1 - ALABAMA FIRE vs. KANSAS CITY GLORY

GAME 2 - TEXAS ELITE SPARTANS vs. MISSISSIPPI LADY PANTHERS

PACIFIC CONFERENCE

GAME 1 - SAN DIEGO REBELLION vs. LAS VEGAS SILVER STARS

GAME 2 - UTAH FALCONZ vs. LA MUERTE DE LAS CRUCES

JULY 17, 2021

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

WINNER OF GAME 1 vs. WINNER OF GAME 2

PACIFIC CONFERENCE

WINNER OF GAME 1 vs. WINNER OF GAME 2

Martin's three-touchdown performance sparks "home-opening" victory for Rebellion

DEL MAR HEIGHTS - In their first home game played in San Diego County this season, Knengi Martin scrambled for three touchdowns to lead the San Diego Rebellion (5-0) to a 28-6 win over the visiting Las Vegas Silver Stars (4-2).

On their opening drive, the Silver Stars were threatening to draw first blood, until Ashlee Austin-Bean's picked off Shawnee Phillips' pass in the end zone on fourth down.

That would eventually set-up an 80-yard drive that ended with Martin's first touchdown run of the game, giving the Rebellion an early 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, following both teams exchanging punts, Phillips' pass was intercepted again by Taranisha Taylor. On the following play from scrimmage, Martin was picked off by Denajha Kie, who would go on to score on a touchdown pass from Phillips. The 20-yard connection ended San Diego's scoreless streak at 12 quarters. A blocked extra point kept the Rebellion leading 7-6.

Set up by a 50-yard kickoff return by Adriana Gutierrez, San Diego answered with a 32-yard touchdown run by Martin, increasing the lead to 14-6 at halftime.

The second half kicked off with another big play from Taylor, this time a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to increase San Diego's lead to 20-6.

In the fourth quarter, Martin took off for her third and final score of the game to seal the Rebellion's fifth win of the season. Next week they will close out the regular season at Westview High School for their first-ever meeting with the Oregon Ravens.

Impact Rebellion

Knengi Martin

3 Touchdown Runs

Taranisha Taylor

1 Interception

70-yard Kickoff Return Touchdown

Impact Silver Stars

Denajha Kie

2 Interceptions

20-yard Touchdown Catch

Shawnee Phillips

20-yard Touchdown Pass

Video Credit: San Diego Digital Imagery