Images courtesy of Boston Renegades
It was going to happen eventually, the Renegades just weren’t sure when.
The greatest women’s football player in history just so happened to be the quarterback for Boston, helping the team to five consecutive championships. But, like Tom Brady, superstar Allison Cahill was going to decide to hang up the cleats eventually while holding any record you could imagine.
That time came just a few days before training camp.
Not only are the Renegades without Cahill for the first time in seemingly forever, but veteran offensive lineman Amanda Alpert also retired after last year’s fifth straight title.
But, for one night at least, it seems like the most dominant football team in New England right now won’t miss a beat.
Boston hammered Tampa Bay 47-0 in the season opener this past Saturday down in Florida. It was the 41st straight win for the Renegades.
While the entire staff is back, the ‘new’ leadership group now consists of captains Katie Falkowski (RB), Ash Beckham (OL), Danielle Fournier (DL), Solina Pascual (LB), Stephanie Pascual (WR) and Briannah Gallo (S).
“It was a great team win for us down in Tampa. It’s been a long preseason full of hard work and coming together, and I think we were all just ready to get down there and show everyone who the 2024 Renegades are,” Falkowski said after the win. “Each year is a new team that carries on the legacy and standard of the Boston Renegades, and I think this team, in particular, is united in our desire to prove to everyone who we are and what we’re capable of as a unit. There’s a belief in each other and an understanding that it takes everyone on the roster to accomplish our goal.”
“To echo Katie’s thoughts, this team is just so excited to show the world who we are this year,” Beckham added. “Our players are a direct reflection of this organization and how important it is to show up for this sport and this city. This 2024 season will showcase some new captains that have an opportunity to continue the legacy left behind from previous captains and players. But, more importantly, the core of this team will have its own, unique, identity for the 2024 season.
“That identity is shaping up to be one of grit, blood sweat and tears, a chip on our shoulder, and the pure joy of getting to play this game. This game isn’t about who is on the field, it’s about what’s inside of each player through the team. The beautiful thing about that, is every player brings something different, yet so incredibly valuable. This team may be unrecognizable now, but very soon the 2024 Boston Renegades will make their mark on this season.”
It certainly didn’t take long, as six different players scored touchdowns for Boston against Tampa and it was QB-by-committee for Megan McFadden and Jackie Lane. The offense still put up 338 total yards and both Lane and McFadden had two touchdown passes each. Falkowski finished with 75 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and Steph Pascual found the end zone once on the ground and she also caught two TD’s and hauled in 10 balls for 86 yards.
Six different receivers caught at least one pass and four had more than two. Defensively, the Renegades got two interceptions from Jocelyn Forrest and held Tampa Bay to just 197 total yards of offense.
The standard is the standard for the Renegades, no matter who is or isn’t on the field.
Through one game with the new-look for Boston, that standard is still impossible to reach for every other team in the WFA.
Even without the greatest women’s QB to ever play leading the way.
“I think we all feel that we’re just scraping the surface of what this team is capable of, and we are excited to get back to work for our upcoming game this Saturday in Revere versus the Alabama Fire,” added Falkowski. “There is so much individual talent on this roster, but what makes this team special is our collective belief in each other to reach our goal. We know nothing comes easy, but we are just so eager to keep putting in work together to level up and have another championship season.”