Harrisburg Havoc gearing up for 2024 season

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The Midstate women’s football tackle team the Harrisburg Havoc has their home opener slated for April 27 and the players are ready to compete.

“I’m ready to take the field again,” said Sharae Piece, a member of the Havoc. “It seems like for the last couple of seasons we have been the underdog. I’m ready to show the other teams while they think we’re the underdog, we’re really not the underdog. We’ve got something to show them this year.”

Leah Crump, a multi-talented player who plays linebacker and quarterback for the Havoc, has been highly anticipating the start of the season.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for with my team,” said Crump. “This is just a step to walk through with your girls, each one (has) got to find their talent and we all just got to come together.”

Crump represented Harrisburg with her teammate, defensive lineman Kaeli Thomas, at the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) Coffee Bowl in Columbia in February. Their team, Team United, won 56-0.

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“The experience was great,” said Thomas. “Being able to see females doing the same sport as us in a different country — it was great to see that we all share the same passion.”

Thomas said the Columbia team had younger girls on their roster and she and Crump were able to share some of their knowledge with them.

“We all go through the same obstacles. . . so to be able to help them (with) what knowledge we have (and) to be able to share that was awesome,” Thomas said.

Thomas and Crump both learned a lot from their trip as well which they will be bringing to Harrisburg’s field this season.

“With this being my first time going (to the Coffee Bowl) it was more like a learning experience,” Crump said. “I definitely looked up to people, I got to get introduced to different stuff.”

Playing the same sport, especially one that is male-dominated, bonds women who compete in tackle football. Havoc player Jere’e Clark highlighted how much the game means to the athletes.

“It kind of brings a lot of women together who always had the passion for football,” said Clark. “Growing up you might want to play little league, but your mom’s like ‘No, you’re a girl, boys are too rough’. Then you find a league when you’re older and then you sign up and you love the game.”

The Harrisburg Havoc has given the women in Central Pennsylvania who love playing football an outlet to do so and compete competitively, just like men have always had.

“We’re just like the men out there,” Clark said.

Jameika Sharp said she has experienced growth between last season and now and is anxious to play again.

“Last year I felt like I was kind of hesitant about my achievements and I was scared, but this year I feel like I’m ready,” said Sharp. “I’ve got the experience from last year now. Now I feel like the possibilities are endless and I’m just happy and excited to see what’s next.”

The team as a whole is itching to get back on the field. They have been putting in work since October to prepare for this year and they are ready to show off their skills against their opponents.

Harrisburg’s big goal for the season is to make it to the National Championship in Canton, Ohio.

“We’re ready to see these teams,” Thomas said. “We’re ready to show not only that we know what we’re doing, but we’re ready to show what (we’ve been) working so hard (on).”

The Harrisburg Havoc encourages Central Pennsylvania residents to come out to a game this season and support the women’s efforts on the field.

“We’re out there having fun on our field, but it’s even better when our stands are filled,” Thomas said.

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