What a difference a year makes, throughout the 2009 season, San Diego went through three coaching regimes an 0-3 record and only managed to score 6pts. Fast forward to a year later, Seduction Nation has developed a swagger at 2-0 tied for 1st place with Chicago.

The difference has been a mixture of several elements, not the least of which is stability at coaching, the development of a franchise quarterback in Kindra Myers and legitmate talent on both sides of the ball including potential rookie All-Fantasy players in Aubreigh Hutchinson, Audrey Latsko, Tamica Estrella and Amber Reed.

For the Seattle Mist, its a complete reversal. Coming off an impressive 3-1 season in which they barely missed the Western Conference Playoffs behind the play of the league’s No.1 ranked defense only giving up an average of 97.1yds per game. In 2010, while the Mist have remained competitive, they simply could not finish games against Los Angeles and tonight against San Diego. Seattle led at halftime of both games. This 0-3 team could very easily be 2-1 if it were not for poor tackling and bad clock management.

Tonight’s game in San Diego had a Playoff-like atmosphere with a charged up crowd which included several San Diego Chargers in attendance.

Both teams came into the game with potent offenses that included balanced attacks and franchise quarterbacks under center. After a botched reverse on the opening kickoff, Seattle inherited great field position which led to an opening drive score on a Laurel Creel to Danika Brace touchdown pass. Creel appears to be the real deal under center replacing Natasha Lindsey who is out for the season with an MCL tear. Creel seems to have a more confident presence in the pocket, a much stronger armer and more mobile than Lindsey. Look for Creel to finish the season as the starting quarterback and most likely be the starter heading into the off-season.

After Creel guided Seattle down the field, it was Kindra Myers’ turn who capped San Diego’s opening drive with a touchdown run to tie the game at 6-6. Seattle returned the favor at the 8:26 mark with another touchdown drive taking a 12-6 lead.

The heavyweight offenses continued to battle back-and-forth in one of the most physical games of the season. On San Diego’s final drive of the half Myers’ connected with Amber Reed to take a 12-13 lead.

Playing from behind, Seattle’s Creel orchestrated a great 2 minute offense prior to the half ending with a Danika Brace run for a touchdown with only :32 seconds remaining to take a halftime lead of 19-13.

At halftime the echoes of San Diego coaches yelling in their locker room could be heard through the halls of the arena. Coach Kelly understood that the Western Conference playoffs were on the line. Seattle head coach Chris Michaelson simply reteiterated ‘Let’s keep the foot on the throttle and don’t let up’ which has haunted this Seattle team all-season, not being able to play complete games.

In the second half, San Diego’s defense came to life behind the possessed play of perhaps the best pass rushing defensive ends in the league with Aubreigh Hutchinson and Amber Reed. Hutchinson was in the Seattle backfield more than Seattle running backs consistently sacking or hurrying Creel. Graduall, the upfront physical play of San Diego took over which led to pair of touchdown runs, one by Audrey Latsko and the other by Myers taking a 26-19 lead with a little over 2 minutes remaining.

The stage was set for Seattle offensive coordinator Michaelson and rookie quarterback Creel to complete a John Elway ‘the drive’ type finish. Creel calmly guided the Mist offense down the field with a pair of completions, using the clock wisely and nerv losing her cool, which set up the play of the year, a 4th & 4 deep inside the redzone.

This play would determine whether Seattle’s season would stay alive or if they simply play out the string. As Creel took the snap she was once again pressured outside on a boot-leg and in a last second deep pass into the endzone wide receiver Shanell Broromeo made the catch of the year stretching out to bring down on over-thrown pass for a 27yd touchdown which brought the Mist to within 1pt at 25-26.

Two weeks in a row, LFL, Friday Night Football came down to an extra point conversion. Last week Philadelphia head coach Chandler Brown decided to go for the win on the road against Miami with a 2pt conversion and won it. This week coach Michaelson decided to take a more conservative approach and play for the tie and overtime. On the extra point conversion, the ball was fumbled from the snap which lost precious seconds for Creel as she scrambled to buy more time having to ultimately throw into the endzone for the tie, San Diego’s Latsko stepped in front of the pass and caught a game-winning interception to preserve a 26-25 win.

The win propels San Diego into a tie with Chicago at 2-0 at the top of the Western Conference, setting up an incredible showdown on a Saturday, November 13th in the Windy City. The road to the Playoffs and possibly a trip to Vegas in February gets tougher for San Diego as they finish the season on the road in Chicago followed by their season finale on New Year’s Eve at home against rival and 2010 LFL World Champion Los Angeles Temptation.

For Seattle all that remains is to play with a sense of pride, easily considered the biggest disappointment of the 2010 season. Seattle finishes their season on Jan 21st at the Cotton Bowl against Dallas, in a game that could very well pin two 0-3 teams against each other already being called the ‘Someone Has To Win Bowl’ if Dallas loses to Los Angeles on Dec. 3rd.

Photo Credit: © Eddie Perlas/LFLUS.com

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