By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)

MINNEAPOLIS – The Chicago Bliss accelerated into and sped out of the Twin Cities with an important 40-33 inter-conference win as Game MVP ChrisDell ‘Ferrari’ Harris (9 ATT./104 YDS, 1 rec., 32 YDS., 2 TD) and Heather ‘Rockstar’ Furr (4/8, 72 PASSING YDS., 6 ATT./30 YDS, 4 TD) combined to lead a recharged high-octane offensive fireworks show for the two-time playoff qualifiers.

But it was Emily Greiner‘s lone rushing attempt of the night, which resulted a seven yard touchdown with 5:13 remaining, that proved to be the game winner, vaulting Chicago to a two touchdown advantage in a contest which saw the Valkyrie make a furious second-half rally.

The Bliss passing offense, ranked 11th in the league coming into the action, nearly quadrupled their total output of their first two contests, as reigning league MVP Furr fueled an impressive first half, including a touchdown strike to Laura Petersen (1 rec., 28 yds, TD) on the opening drive to commence the scoring. Chicago extended their lead to 14 on an impressive 22-yard-run  and extended their first-half advantage to 20 on a one-yard plunge, both by Furr.

The Valkyrie swiftly responded to the large deficit, as Jocelyn Bendijo (6/10, 90 PASSING YDS., 2 TD, INT) Whitney Meierotto (3 rec., 55 YDS, 105 TOTAL YDS, 3 TD) combined on a 38-yard scoring play to cut the Bliss lead to 13. Bendijo filled in admirably for the injured Jana Skrtic, successfully rebounding after a poor second-half performance against Los Angeles. However, the rookie quarterback failed to make the same impact on the ground as the Furr-led Chicago defense stifled the option play most of the night.

When Minnesota staged a furious second-half rally behind an opening 36-yard kickoff return by Leekplay Paye as well as strong contributions from  Bendijo, Meierotto and Cydney Froelich (3 rec, 36 YDS, TD), it was Chicago’s Harris who picked up for an ineffective Bliss passing attack, extending the lead to 32-18 on a 40-yard touchdown run and, later, a key 28-yard run to set up Greiner’s seven yard game-winning score.

Chicago’s defense was led by Furr, who turned in one of the best individual defensive performances of the season, totaling 10.5 tackles.

The win marks the first triumph for veteran coach Keith Hac since January 2010 in a 29-19 win over the Miami Caliente in the Eastern Conference Championship Game. That win marked the franchise’s first and only conference championship-to-date. Hac did not coach the bliss in the 2010-11 season and the team dropped their first two contests this year.

Both teams take to the road for their respective regular season finales as Minnesota travels west to take on the Seattle Mist and Chicago visits Los Angeles, where the Bliss hope to exact revenge for a heartbreaking 2010 regular season overtime loss and subsequent playoff elimination at the hands of the Temptation. Both teams currently remain playoff-eligible but do not control their respective fates.

– Photo courtesy: Joe Petro/LFL PHOTOS, J&K Creative!, Official Photographers of the Minnesota Valkyrie –

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Tags: Chicago Bliss, GAME 16, Jim Wallin, Minnesota Valkyrie, week 13