By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com) 

ORLANDO — The Orlando Fantasy mowed down the Cleveland Crush, 68-8, in the most lopsided contest of the season-to-date as Game MVP Etta Paul (118 ALL-PURPOSE YDS., 4 TD) led an aggressive 34-minute assault that ultimately crushed the visitors’ spirits before a celebratory crowd at the iconic Citrus Bowl.

The Fantasy, who entered the action looking for their first-ever home win, wasted little time lighting up the scoreboard. Serving as a precursor to how the evening would unfold, Orlando benefited from excellent starting field position thanks to their special teams and strong ground game, as Paul accounted for 45 of the 52 yards (including a 27-yard kickoff return), leading the home team to an early 8-0 advantage.

After a three-and-out, the Orlando offense capitalized on a short field in three plays as Paul’s 14-yard rush set up a three-yard plunge by Sade Kusimo to extend the Fantasy advantage to 16-0.

After seeing Baltimore stifle their passing game in the road opener, quarterback Anonka Dixon (4/7, 82 YDS, TD — 3 ATT, 30 YDS, 2 TD) used her mobility to score on an eight-yard run to extend the lead to 22-0 while also connecting four times with wide receiver Jenny Kraus (4 rec, 82 YDS., TD). Krause’s line includes an impressive 43-yard reception late in the second half for the final tally of the contest.

Orlando jumped out to a 34-0 halftime lead and equaled that effort in the second half, outputting a season-high 68 points and 60-point margin of victory.

Cleveland’s offense was virtually non-existent, as quarterback Abbie Sullivan (4/17, 33 YDS., 4 INT) endured her worst performance  of the season and the running game, led by Marija Condric (5 ATT, 19 YDS.) and Tamar Fennell (5 ATT, 14 YDS.) failed to find consistent success against the stifiling Fantasy defense.

Trailing 56-0 late in the second half, the Crush defense finally showed signs of life, as Theresa Petruziello (10 tackles, TD) returned a Kusimo fumble 36-yards to put Cleveland on the board.

For their part, the Orlando defense followed up a strong performance against Baltimore with an even stronger effort on this night. The trio of Vonshari ‘The Beast’ Hoardes (5.5 tackles, 2 sacks, fumble recovery), Deidra Strickland (3 tackles, 2 INT) and Lauran Ziegler (2 tackles, 2 INT) terrorized the Crush offense all evening with a blend of physicality and opportunism that ultimately paralyzed their opponents.

Cleveland ends their inaugural season win-less, as did Orlando last season. But with experience and the development of emerging cornerstones on this roster, Crush fans may have reasons to be optimistic for a similar turnaround next season.

Orlando now moves on for a key inter-conference test in January against the Tampa Breeze and can clinch a playoff spot with a win. Currently, Las Vegas (Western Conference) and Philadelphia (Eastern Conference) have clinched playoff berths.

Photos courtesy of: Joe Petro, Don Montague, Jonathan Lorentz, Randy Settle/LFL PHOTOS

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Tags: 2011, cleveland crush, GAME 18, Jim Wallin, Orlando Fantasy