Flag Football opens season with 32-6 rout of Saint Mary

Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football opened the 2024 season on a solid note easily defeating the Saint Mary Spires at Berkel Stadium.
 
The Coyotes opened the game with the ball, but couldn't get the offense going, forced to punt. Saint Mary took over and would go 55 yards in eight plays, the last 18 on a pass from Cheyenne Brooks to Kerisma Delgado for the score.
 
The Coyotes took over, and the offense stalled again, and the Coyotes were forced to punt.
 
Saint Mary threatened to score again, as their drive was aided by three KWU penalties, getting all the way to the KWU-6 before turning it over on downs, as Nickayla Howard knocked a pass down in the end zone.
 
The Coyotes needed only one play to cover 74 yards and Chihiro Iwata hit Jazmine Whitfield down the sideline and she outran the Spire defenders to the endzone. The PAT from Iwata to Angel Roman was good and the Coyotes had the lead with 1:37 left in the second.
 
Wesleyan again turned Saint Mary over on downs on the next drive and took the ball at the KWU-34 after the punt. Again, one play was all the Coyotes needed as Iwata hit Ciaran DeCuir wide open over the middle for a 46-yard touchdown pass. The PAT failed but the Coyotes would take a 13-6 lead into the half.
 
When Saint Mary's drive stalled to start the third quarter, it appeared the Coyotes had returned the kick for a touchdown as Ansdiane Rabano fielded the kick and lateraled to DeCuir who went 51 yards, but a penalty during the return game the Coyotes the ball on their own 36 to start the drive.
 
Six plays later, the Coyotes were in the end zone yet again, as Iwata hit Whitfield from 4 yards out making it 20-6 Coyotes with 3:44 left in the third.
 
The Coyotes had a golden chance to score again as Alexa Mansur picked off a pass at the Saint Mary 14, but the Coyotes could not score and gave the ball back to Saint Mary as the third quarter ended.
 
The ensuing drive was short lived as Mansur picked off another pass and returned it to the USM 17, where the Coyotes set up shop. However, Wesleyan could not score on the drive and Saint Mary took over at its own 12.
 
The Spires went backward on the drive ending when Angel Roman made an interception at the USM 31, giving the ball back to KWU with 4:02 left.
 
This time the Coyotes only needed two plays to cover the distance to the end zone. After a false start to start the drive moved KWU back, then an incomplete pass, Iwata hit Jayla Howes wide open, no one within 20 yards wide open, for the touchdown pass with 2:14 left.
 
Wesleyan wasn't done, forcing Saint Mary to punt from their own 8, the Coyotes got it at the 33 after the kick return with 46 seconds left.
 
A pass to Whitfield got the Coyotes to the Spire 18, and two plays later Iwata found Ashley Hawthorne in the end zone for the score with two seconds left.
 
Iwata was sensational in her KWU debut at quarterback, going 13 of 27 for 247 yards and five touchdowns. Whitfield had five catches for 110 yards and two scores. DeCuir had two for 53, Roman two for 15 and four others had one catch each. DeCuir had one rush for 11 yards.
 
Defensively, the Coyotes held Saint Mary to 107 yards of total offense, 98 passing and 19 rushing. Mansur had five flag pulls with her two picks and a pass breakup to lead the defense. Na'Kiya Lloyd also had five stops, Rabano had four, including one for loss and Trinady Antonelli had two. The Coyotes broke up six passes, Howard leading the way with two.
 
Wesleyan is off until February 28 when they head to Fremont, Neb., to take on Midland. KWU did have games scheduled with Bethel (Feb. 21) and Graceland (Feb. 24), but they have been canceled by the opponent.