Utah Falconz to host semipro football championship Saturday at Cottonwood High


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SALT LAKE CITY — What’s next for the Utah Falconz, the semiprofessional women’s tackle football team that brought a national championship to Utah last year?

How about another title — on its home field?

The Falconz will host the International Women’s Football League title game Saturday at 7 p.m. MT, when the defending champs will take on the Austin Yellowjackets at Cottonwood High School.

“It’s very exciting, but I also know what it feels like to lose,” said Falconz star running back Keeshya Cox. “Our first year competing for a championship, we lost to Pittsburgh. I don’t ever want to feel that feeling again. I know myself and my teammates have put in the time, the work, to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

The unbeaten Falconz have defeated teams by a combined score of 77-7 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. It could give them confidence heading into Saturday’s matchup with Austin — or it might put a target on their backs.

They rolled through the eight-game regular season with wins over clubs from Phoenix, Sacramento, Carson City and more, while allowing just eight total points.

“We expect to win all of the games we play in; that’s our expectation and we’ve gotten accustomed to that feeling, as our record would show,” Falconz quarterback Louise Bean said. “We also know that other teams want to beat us.”

Utah has lost only one game in the past two seasons in IWFL play. But don’t call them favorites, head coach Rick Rasmussen warned.

“Frankly, I’m a little bit worried,” Rasmussen said. “Our girls are undersized, maybe not as aggressive — so we’re going to have to really bring our A-game.”

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Rod Zundel

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