Detroit Dark Angels
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 | |
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Folded | reorganized as the Venom |
| League | Women's Football Alliance |
| Team history | Detroit Dark Angels (2010-2021) |
| Stadium | The Hawk Community Center |
| Colors | black, crimson, white |
| Owner | DDA Football, Inc. |
| President | Alecia Sweeney |
| Head coach | Keith Thomas |
| Championships | 0 |
| Conference titles | 2 (2019, 2021) |
| Division titles | 1 (2012) |
| Mascot | Dark Angel |
The Detroit Dark Angels were a women's semi-professional American football team founded in 2010 by Chuck Lauber and Aaron Brothers.[1] In 2014, the team was purchased and reorganized as a 501(c)3 corporation DDA Football Inc., by a group that included former Detroit Demolition players Alecia Sweeney and Yarlen Henry along with Coach Keith Thomas.
Based in the Detroit, Michigan area, the Dark Angels played their home games at Southfield HS and The Hawk Community Center Farmington Hills, Michigan. The Dark Angels were members of the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) and competed in Division 2 of the WFA's three-tier structure.
The Detroit Dark Angels were founded in 2010 by Chuck Lauber and Aaron Brothers following the discontinuation of the Detroit Demolition. Players from the Demolition formed the core of the new team. Former Demolition players included linebackers Kim Walters and Misty Findley, tackles Lisa Miles and Mindy Corby, running back Aisha Moore, center Alecia Sweeney, wide receiver Kristine Vidojevski and lineman Catherine Moss.[2] The team was led by Head Coach Tony Gaisser (3-5) in their first season.
In 2011, Darrin Wubbenhorst (22-20) was named Head Coach, a position he held through 2015.
In 2016, the team was purchased and reorganized as a 501(c)3 corporation DDA Football Inc., by a group that included former Detroit Demolition player Alecia Sweeney. Keith Thomas (25-19), a long-time member of the coaching staff, was named Head Coach.
Westland John Glenn High School was established as the Dark Angels's home venue in its inaugural season, until 2016. The team then changed home stadiums several times, moving to Wayne Memorial High School in 2017, Southfield Lathrup High School in 2018, and the HAWK Community Center in Farmington Hills in 2021.
Highlights
Highlights for the team include the 2012 season when they went undefeated 8–0 in the regular season. They were eliminated in the playoffs by the Pittsburgh Passion.
The Dark Angels got revenge on Pittsburgh when they eliminated the Passion in the 2019 WFA Division 2 National Conference Championship Game. The victory propelled the team to their first national championship game, but they fell to the St. Louis Slam.
In 2021, the team's final season, the Dark Angels again reached the WFA Division 2 National Championship Game but lost to the Nevada Storm.
Season-by-season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3rd National North Central | -- |
| 2011 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2nd National North Central | -- |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1st National Mideast | Lost National Conference Wild Card (Pittsburgh) |
| 2013 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3rd National Great Lakes | -- |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3rd National Great Lakes | -- |
| 2015 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4th National Great Lakes | -- |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4th National Great Lakes | -- |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8th National Conference (Tier 2) | -- |
| 2018 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5th National Conference (Tier 2) | -- |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3rd National Conference (Tier 2) | Won Regional Final (Columbus Comets) Won National Conference Final (Pittsburgh) Lost WFA Division 2 Championship (St. Louis) |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1st National Conference (Tier 2) | Won Regional Final (Baltimore) Won National Conference Final (Jacksonville) Lost WFA Division 2 Championship (Nevada Storm) |
| Totals | 50 | 44 | 0 | ||
2010
Season Schedules
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 10 | West Michigan Mayhem | Home | Lost 0-52 |
| April 24 | Toledo Reign | Away | Won 7-6 |
| May 1 | Cleveland Fusion | Away | Lost 12-39 |
| May 15 | Dayton Diamonds | Home | Won 45-0 |
| May 22 | Pittsburgh Force | Away | Lost 14-31 |
| June 5 | Cleveland Fusion | Home | Lost 14-34 |
| June 12 | Toledo Reign | Home | Won 20-0 |
| June 19 | West Michigan Mayhem | Away | Lost 0-73 |
2011
Standings
| 2011 North Central 2 Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | DIV | GB | STK | |
| y-Detroit Dark Angels | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0.750 | 242 | 82 | 3-1 | --- | W4 |
| Toledo Reign | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0.500 | 209 | 161 | 3-1 | 2.0 | L3 |
| Dayton Diamonds | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.000 | 24 | 462 | 0-4 | 5.5 | L8 |
Season Schedules
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | Kentucky Karma | Home | Won 14-0 |
| April 9 | Cincinnati Sizzle | Home | Won 33-7 |
| April 16 | Indy Crash | Away | Lost 6-33 |
| April 30 | Toledo Reign | Away | Lost 6-19 |
| May 14 | Dayton Diamonds | Home | Won 69-0 |
| June 4 | Toledo Reign | Home | Won 33-6 |
| June 11 | Dayton Diamonds | Away | Won 57-0 |
| June 18 | West Michigan Mayhem | Away | Won 24-14 |
