This Bonds a secret weapon; HC woman a pro gridder.

Byline: Jennifer Toland

COLUMN: COLLEGES

Chante Bonds, a veteran of many two-hand touch games in her neighborhood as a kid, was just tossing a football around with her friends on the beach at Fire Island, N.Y., a few years ago when she caught the eye of a fellow surf and sand lover who played for the New York Sharks of the Women's Football Alliance, a 64-team professional league.

"I've always been interested in football," said Bonds, who is in her second season as an assistant on Bill Gibbons' Holy Cross women's basketball staff. "It just wasn't available for me as a young girl."

Bonds, who was previously an assistant at Farleigh Dickinson, tried out for the Sharks and played for them for two years. When Bonds got the HC job and returned to her home state - she's originally from Brockton - she joined the Militia, Boston's entry in the WFA, and this summer ended up being one of the most memorable of her life.

The 5-foot-5 Bonds, who plays free safety and running back, helped lead the Militia to the WFA national championship. In last month's title game, played in Bedford, Texas, Bonds had a second-quarter interception and later broke up a pass on fourth down in the Militia's 34-19 win over the San Diego Surge.

"It was a great moment walking onto that field," Bonds said. "You had flashbacks to all the hard work we started putting in in January. All that hard work paid off and this was the moment we were waiting for."

The excitement started before the team arrived in Texas. The Militia, who play their home games at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, arrived at Logan Airport for their flight to Dallas toting their helmets, which were carry-ons.

"That's a conversation starter right there," Bonds said. "We were stopping, taking pictures, signing autographs. That's when it sunk in - we're really playing for a national championship. It was great. It really felt like our Super Bowl."

Bonds played basketball for coach Barbara Stevens at Bentley in Waltham. As a sophomore, Bonds helped the Falcons advance to the NCAA Division 2 Final Four.

A combo guard, Bonds' favorite tasks on the basketball court were diving for loose balls and setting screens for post players. On the football field, she caught on to contact and tackling quickly.

"I would have run through a brick wall for Coach Stevens," Bonds said, "and I always liked contact in basketball. Now, putting on this equipment - the pads, the helmet - you think you're going to get hurt because it's so...