DENVER, CO - The No. 1 ranked San Diego Rebellion (6-0) secured the Pacific Division title with a commanding 33-0 road victory over the Denver Bandits (1-5) Saturday night, showcasing their stellar ground game and defensive prowess throughout all four quarters.
Kesz Wesley, a contender for the league's rushing title, opened the scoring early in the first quarter, finding the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown run with 5:51 remaining. The successful extra point by Jen Strother gave San Diego a 7-0 lead. The Rebellion wasted no time extending their advantage when running back Regina Escoto punched in a two-yard score just minutes later, putting San Diego up 14-0 before the quarter ended.
The second quarter saw no letup in the Rebellion's attack. Wesley recorded her second touchdown of the day on a two-yard play early in the quarter, though the extra point attempt failed, leaving the score at 20-0. Escoto followed with her second trip to the end zone, breaking free for a 14-yard scoring run with 6:34 left before halftime to push the lead to 27-0.
After a scoreless third quarter, quarterback Alia Karmali put the exclamation point on the victory, scrambling for a 10-yard touchdown run with 4:32 remaining in the game.
Any hope of Denver avoiding San Diego's fourth straight shutout was extinguished when Brittani Lusain intercepted a Bandits pass with just 2:19 left on the clock.
The victory not only secured a second straight Pacific Division title for the Rebellion, but also demonstrated why they're considered serious contenders heading into the Western Conference Playoffs. San Diego's strong offensive line, productive rushing attack, and stifling defense should make them a formidable opponent for any team they face in the postseason.
The Women's National Football Conference will reveal its official 2025 playoff bracket live during the WNFC Selection Monday Show, airing Monday, May 19 at 5:00 PM PT on Victory+.
Scoring Summary
SD 1st 5:51 - Kesz Wesley 23-yard TD run (xp good) SD 7, DEN 0
SD 1st 2:06 - Regina Escoto 2-yard TD run (xp good) SD 14, DEN 0
SD 2nd 11:11 - Wesley 2-yard TD run (xp no good) SD 20, DEN 0
SD 2nd 6:34 - Escoto 14-yard TD run (xp good) SD 27, DEN 0
SD 4th 4:32 - Alia Karmali 10-yard TD run (xp no good) SD 33, DEN 0
