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Richmond Black Widows fall 20-18 in championship game

7/29/2016, 7:05 p.m.
Three failed extra point tries kept the Richmond Black Widows from a perfect ending to their inaugural season in the …

Three failed extra point tries kept the Richmond Black Widows from a perfect ending to their inaugural season in the Women’s Football Alliance.

Playing in the WFA Tier III championship game last Friday in Pittsburgh, the Widows fell 20-18 to Acadiana Zydeco of Louisiana.

After each touchdown, the Richmonders failed in 2-point attempts via run or pass. Also choosing to run or pass rather than kick, Acadiana made one of its 3 point-after attempts, and that was the difference.

“With so much to be concerned with this first year, we weren’t able to find an extra point field goal kicker,” said team owner and offensive guard Sarah Schkeeper. “That’s certainly an area we’ll address looking ahead.”

The Richmond Black Widows finished its first season 6-4 and all systems are go for the 2017 campaign starting in April.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” said Schkeeper. “We went from being nothing to the championship game.”

April Bryant, Crystal Harvey and quarterback Katelyn Wright scored the Widows’ touchdowns. The Widows led 12-0 at halftime, but a long, early-morning bus ride to Pittsburgh and oppressive heat for the 3:30 p.m. game may have contributed to fatigue. The team’s chartered bus left Richmond at 3:30 a.m. on game day.

The Widows’ quarterbacking situation is dicey.

Wright, a graduate of Deep Run High School in Glen Allen and a former Virginia Commonwealth University student, has moved to Chicago. It would be difficult to commute back and forth for practices and games throughout 2017.

Also, Schkeeper promises her team is on the lookout for a place kicker.

“They’re out there, I know,” she said of kicking prospects.

Schkeeper says tryouts will begin next winter and she is very much open to new-

comers. The Richmond Black Widows play home games at Hovey Field at Virginia Union University.

Information and details about tryouts: www.richmondblackwidows.com.