ATLANTA, Ga. – The Ottawa University women's flag football team captured the program's third consecutive NAIA Women's Flag Football Finals Championship on Saturday afternoon at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Thomas University defeated the Braves 25-13 in game one, giving the Braves their first loss of the tournament. That loss meant the two teams would play an elimination game. Ottawa defeated Thomas 18-13, ending in a goal line stand for the Brave defense to capture the title.
Alyssa Linkous was named MVP of the game. Linkous,
Jazlyn Camacho, and
Madysen Carrera were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Game One
Thomas jumped out to a 13-0 lead over the Braves with two touchdowns in the second quarter. Ottawa cut into the Night Hawk lead with a
Madysen Carrera touchdown pass to
Jazlyn Camacho with 1:33 to go in the second quarter. The extra point attempt was good and Thomas took a 13-7 lead into the half.
The Night Hawks increased their lead over the Braves to 19-7 with a touchdown at the 7:41 mark in the third quarter. Ottawa cut into the Thomas lead with a Carrera touchdown pass to
Mandolyn Scalisi and the Braves trailed 19-13 with 1:30 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Thomas scored one more touchdown, taking the 25-13 victory over OU.
Inside the Box Score
Game Two
Ottawa's defense forced a Night Hawk turnover on TU's first offensive possession of the game.
Faron Malouff earned the pick and OU took over on its own three yard line. The Braves were forced to punt but did not have long to wait before getting the ball back from the defense.
OU forced a three and out by the Night Hawks and Ottawa took over on its own 37 yard line. Four plays and 43 yards later, the Braves were in the end zone. Carrera threw an eight yard touchdown pass to
Alyssa Linkous, giving OU a 6-0 lead with 2:03 left in the first quarter.
On Thomas' next offensive possession, the OU defense came away with another take away. Malouff earned her second interception of the game, returning the ball 16 yards to the TU 24 yard line.
Ottawa moved the ball to the Thomas four yard line. That is where the drive stalled the Braves turned the ball over on downs. The two teams exchanged punts and the Night Hawks took over with 4:55 left in the half on their own 24 yard line.
Thomas put together an eight play, 56 yard scoring drive to take a 7-6 lead over the Braves with 31 seconds left in the half. The Braves were not able to answer the Night Hawks' scoring drive with one of their own and Thomas took a 7-6 lead into the locker room.
The Braves received the ball to open the second half but were forced to punt. Thomas moved the ball to the OU 15 yard line. Ottawa's defense came away with its third interception of the game with a
Susann Kaufmann pick and the OU offense took over on its own 15 yard line.
The OU offense was able to put together an 11 play, 65 yard scoring drive and took the 12-7 lead on a Carrera touchdown pass to
Alyssa Linkous with 8:02 left in the fourth quarter.
Thomas quickly answered with an eight play, 66 yard scoring drive to retake the lead, 13-12 with 4:31 left in the game.
Ottawa responded and moved the ball down to the TU 10 yard line. Carrera connected with
Addison Orsborn for the 10 yard touchdown and Ottawa had a 18-13 lead with 1:60 on the clock.
The Night Hawks moved the ball down the field and had the ball, fourth and one with two seconds on the clock. Thomas attempted a play and Kaufmann knifed through to get the flag pull before the ball crossed the goal line. But the official said that they play did not go on his whistle. That meant Thomas had another crack at it.
TU's Kiana Acol took the snap and tried to score again, but Acol's flag was pulled by Kaufmann again. This time the officials called offsetting penalties and Thomas had another shot at fourth and one from the Brave one yard line. Thomas lined up again with Acol at quarterback, this time she pitched the ball to Janae Scott.
Jukanie Washington came up from her defensive back position and pulled Scott's flag before she crossed the goal line, giving the Braves the 18-13 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- The Braves finished the game with 275 yards of offense, 36 yards rushing and 239 yards passing. Thomas had negative eight yards rushing, and 306 yards passing for a total of 298 yards of offense.
- Madysen Carrera rushed for 28 yards. She threw for 235 yards (23-38) and three touchdowns.
- Addison Orsborn led OU with six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
- Alyssa Linkous and Tatiana Dos Santos finished the game with four receptions apiece. Linkous had two touchdown receptions.
- Jazlyn Camacho had three receptions for 51 yards.
- Faron Malouff led OU with 10 flag pulls. She had two interceptions.
- Abby Brown had eight flag pulls. Hailee McKay and DeJonice Parris finished with six flag pulls apiece.
- Parris had two sacks and three flag pulls for loss.
The Braves finish the season with an overall record of 18-1, a third NAIA Women's Flag Football Finals Championship, a third KCAC regular season championship, and a third KCAC Tournament Championship.
