Atlanta, Ga.- The University of Saint Mary Women's Flag Football team traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to compete in the NAIA Flag Football Championships that started on Thursday. The team would go 3-2 overall, losing to Kansas Wesleyan in the Silver Bracket Championship game Saturday morning.
The Spires finished the year 7-9 overall and 4-8 in the KCAC.
Day 1- Game 1
The first game of pool play pitted the Spires against the Warner University Royals (Florida). The game was a close shootout, with the Spires losing by two scores, 40-27. Warner would strike first midway through the first quarter after a quick pass right in front of the goal line was completed, the PAT after was good, and the Spires would go down 7-0. Saint Mary would answer with a touchdown of their own on the ensuing drive. Senior Shian Galbreath hit Jerrica Johnson for a 60-yard catch and run that would tie the game up, 7-7. The Royals would score two unanswered touchdowns after the Spires got on the board, and as the second quarter approached, Saint Mary would be down 21-7.
The second quarter began with the Spires driving down the field to score and completed the PAT Saint Mary would still be down 21-14 with a good amount of the quarter left. The Royals would find the endzone again after the Spires opening touchdown but missed their PAT holding a 27-14 lead with time dwindling in the first half. Saint Mary would drive the length of the field, and with time expiring in the half, Galbreath would score on a ten-yard rush. The PAT would be missed, and the Spires would enter the half down 27-20.
The Royals would drive down the field to open the second half with a touchdown and a missed PAT to extend their lead to 33-20. The Spires would answer with a touchdown of their own, pulling within one score again with time running out in the third quarter. Warner would get one more touchdown and a converted PAT midway through the fourth quarter making it 40-27. Saint Mary would not be able to find the endzone late in the contest, and 40-27 would be the final score.
Game 2
Saint Mary would meet Cottey College for game two in pool play, the winner would earn third place in the group. The Spires would take a commanding early lead, scoring on their first two drives and converting both PATs to make the score 14-0. Elle Campbell would score the third touchdown for Saint Mary in the first quarter after returning an interception for a touchdown to give the Spires a 21-0 lead. The defense of Saint mary was staunch in the first half, giving up zero touchdowns and forcing one turnover.
The Spires would open the second half by driving the length of the field and scoring to take a 27-0 lead early in the third quarter. Cottey would use the rest of the quarter to get down the field and get their first touchdown of the day, making the score 27-7. Galbreath would rush in another touchdown for Saint Mary right after the start of the fourth quarter extending their lead to 34-7. Both teams would score once more in the contest to make the final 39-14, securing a spot for an elimination game Friday with Milligan University.
Day 2- Game 1
The Spires would pick up right where they left off from day one and took another early lead after stopping Milligan on their opening drive and scoring right after. Saint mary would Score on their first two drives of the game to take a quick 14-0 lead. Caroline Simpson would take a punt return back for a touchdown that expanded the Spire's lead to 21.
A miscue by the Milligan punter gave Saint Mary very good field position and led the Spires to their fourth touchdown just after the start of the second quarter. Milligan would score midway through the second quarter to make the score 27-7 with a few minutes left in the half. The Spires would score two more touchdowns in the half, giving them a 42-7 lead.
Saint Mary would get one more touchdown in the second half and go up 49-7. The Spires would pitch a second-half shoutout holding the Comets to just one touchdown all day.
Game 2
The Spires would face the Midland Warriors for their second elimination game of the day. The Warriors would strike first on the opening drive but failed to convert the PAT and took an early 6-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, the Spires would find the endzone and score their point after attempt, taking a one-point lead at 7-6. The Defenses would stand out in the first half as both teams made it their mission to limit scoring. The Spire would get one more touchdown before halftime but miss their PAT to take a one-score lead of 13-6.
As the second half started, the Spires drove down the field and scored from another Galbreath pass, making it 19-6. The Warriors would have an answer for Saint Mary, and on the next drive, Midland would go down the field and score, cutting the Spire's lead to just six, the score being 19-13. Saint Mary found the endzone one more time midway through the fourth quarter and took a 25-13 lead. The Spires would be able to stop the Warriors on defense and hold on to Send themselves to the Silver Bracket Championship against Kansas Wesleyan.
Day 3
The hot streak for Saint Mary would run out on day three against Kansas Wesleyan, losing the championship game 26-7. The Coyotes would start the game with the ball, but Simpson would intercept the Kansas Wesleyan quarterback to give the Spire good field position to start the game for the offense. However, Saint Mary would not be able to get past the Coyote's defense, and the score remained at zero. Kansas Wesleyan would get the ball back and score the first touchdown of the game with only five minutes left in the first quarter.
The Spires would have an answer for the Coyotes, and on the ensuing drive, Galbreath would hit Ashlyn Tuss for their only touchdown of the day early in the second quarter. The Coyotes would go on to score 19 unanswered points, making the final 29-7.
