Reminiscent of her IX Cup performance in 2022, Bushman lead her team to an overwhelming offensive performance, as the Spartans scored on each of their first 3 offensive possessions.
Not to be outdone, was the Elite defense, led by dominant performances by Denesha Richardson (Defensive Player of the Game), Olivia Griswold, Allyssa Weatherd (lead the team in tackles), and veteran linebacker Deana Guidry.
The Spartan's defense held the high flying pass heavy Panthers offense to 126 total yards and
one touchdown through the air. The game started with a forceful drive led on the ground by Rasan Gore, who came up empty on multiple close connections with her talented receiving core (Rashida Young, Regena Jackson, Natalie Nicks). After a turnover on downs in the HUMBL Blue Zone, the Spartans took possession and never looked back.
Four plays into the drive, running back Tara "Turbo" Thomas took a handoff and sprinted untouched 59 yards for the first score of the game. Cara Wesemann added the extra point (7-7), and the Elite Spartans led 7-0 with 7:13 left in the first.
On their second possession, Texas drove the ball to the 4-yard line, where slot receiver Brittany Satterwhite sprinted into the endzone on a jet sweep with less than a minute gone in the second quarter.
Gore made several attempts to scramble and connect with top receiver Rashida Young, covered for most of the night by All-Pro DB Denesha Richardson. SACs and pressures by Texas DE's Latoria Randile and Olivia Griswold made it hard. Young was held to one catch for 18 yards on the night.
On the third Spartans possession, Tara "Turbo" Thomas scored with 5:24 left in the quarter
with their second jet sweep of the night. With 1:03 left in the half, Brittany Bushman found Maria Jackson open on post for a 9-yard score.
Bushman and the Spartans offense rang up 423 yards of total offense, putting four different scorers in the end-zone.
The Panthers showed a spark in the third quarter with a brilliant drive by Gore capped by a beautiful 58-yard TD pass to Natalie Nicks.
The Texas defense responded with shutdown defense, capped off by a SAC Fumble forced by Deana Guidry, recovered by Olivia Griswold in the end-zone.
The Spartans would score two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The first came when Brittany Satterwhite scored her second TD, as Texas Fullback Jelani Kelly blew open a hole on a 14-yard power play with 14 minutes left. The final score of the game was a 7-yard scamper by second-year running back Ashley McBay with 6:42 left.
The 49-7 win, marks win number 49 straight for the Spartans, as they head into the 2024 season looking to hit the 50-0 mark.