Bridgeview, Ill. (LFL360.com) – The Las Vegas Sin made history in more ways than one on Friday night as the expansion franchise not only scored their first-ever win but also ended Chicago’s undefeated home record by stunning the hosts and spirited hometown crowd, 32-20.

Las Vegas delivered the first blow, as Game MVP Tracee Thomas effectively turned the edge and used her speed to elude the Bliss defense to give the visitors a 6-0 lead with 13:47 remaining in the first half. After the teams exchanged unsuccessful drives, Chicago quarterback Heather Furr and running back Chrisdell Harris mounted a response, pulling the Bliss within the one and allowing Tasha ‘Tank’ Pryor to roll into the end zone to knot the game at six with 3:22 left in the first half. The Sin ultimately countered for the final score of the period behind the powerful running of Sunshine Uli to regain the lead 12-6 at halftime.

Las Vegas built a two-score advantage on a precision throw from Nikki Johnson to A.J. Vernon to extend the lead to 20-6 after a successful two-point conversion at the 7:12 mark of the second half. Chicago’s running game answered, as Chrisdell Harris helped the home team answer to cut the lead to 8 at 20-12 with 8:38 remaining in the contest. Just shy of two minutes later, the Sin again responded through the air, this time with Johnson finding Carrie Walters on a beautiful post pattern to extend the Las Vegas advantage to 26-12. The Bliss, however, did not give in, as Heather Furr and Stacey Jarrett systematically led their team down the field, allowing ChrisDell Harris to cap off the drive once again with another touchdown run, clawing Chicago back into the game, 26-20, with 4:45 remaining. Ultimately, the Sin proved to be too much, extending the lead in the final minute with another impressive drive and score, effectively ending the contest.

Las Vegas was led by the precision passing of Johnson, the running duo of Thomas and Sunshine Uli and the sure hands of A.J. Vernon and Carrie Walters, all who scored for the upstart visitors. “A great fundamental team will beat a more talented team who doesn’t have good fundamentals and that’s what we did [tonight],” said Sin Head Coach Dion Lee.

Chicago was led by Harris, who added two touchdowns for the Bliss, including a late fourth-quarter score that gave the hometown faithful hope. “We dug ourselves too deep to get back into the game. This is a building point from here and the sky is the limit [for our team] from here,” said Harris.

However, the Chicago defense was overmatched all night, yielding multiple long drives and several big passing plays that allowed the aggressive Las Vegas offense to dually utilize their running and passing games to maximum effect, both by controlling the clock and forcing the Chicago offense to equally match their impressive weaponry and firepower.

And at least on this night, presented a challenge that the Bliss could not ultimately overcome.

Photos courtesy of Joe Petro, LFL National Director of Photography and Mike McGinnis, Official Photographer of the Chicago Bliss.

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Tags: Chicago Bliss, Jim Wallin, Las Vegas Sin, week two