WALESKA, Ga. - The (1) Ottawa University women's flag football team moved 66 yards in the final 2:16 and scoring with five seconds left to defeat Wingate University, 26–20, in Waleska, Georgia.
How It Happened
After a scoreless first quarter, Ottawa broke through late in the second.
With 40 seconds remaining before halftime, quarterback
Anna Anderson capped a 61-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to
Olga Sotillo, then added the 1-point conversion pass to give the Braves a 7–0 edge at the break.
Ottawa wasted no time in the third quarter. On the opening play of the half, Anderson launched a perfect deep ball to
Jaida Bayron, who raced 66 yards for a touchdown and a 13–0 lead just 14 seconds into the period.
Wingate answered twice to narrow the gap, but Ottawa's defense stiffened in key moments — highlighted by a 13-yard sack from
Dejonice Parris and a team-high 10 flag pulls from
Jocelyn Garcia.
Early in the fourth, Wingate briefly grabbed a 12–13 deficit down to a one-point game, but Ottawa responded with a methodical 11-play, 66-yard drive. Anderson finished it herself with a 5-yard touchdown run and added the conversion pass to stretch the lead to 20–12 with 5:15 remaining.
Wingate tied the game at 20–20 with 2:21 left, setting the stage for Ottawa's defining drive.
Starting at their own 14-yard line, the Braves stayed composed. Anderson converted a key third down with a 23-yard scramble, then methodically worked the sidelines with completions to
Alyssa Linkous,
Jaelyn Jensen, and Bayron. Facing fourth-and-one at the Wingate nine with nine seconds left, Anderson delivered a strike to Linkous for the game-winning touchdown with just five seconds remaining.
By The Numbers
- Anna Anderson: 25-of-38 passing, 257 yards, 3 TDs; 7 rushes, 34 yards, 1 TD
- Jaida Bayron: 2 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD (66-yard score to open second half)
- Olga Sotillo: 6 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
- Alyssa Linkous: 4 receptions, 31 yards, game-winning TD
- Total Offense: 291 yards (257 passing, 34 rushing)
- Scoring Drives: 61, 66, 66, and 66 yards
- Defense: 33 total flag pulls
- Punting: Anderson averaged 29.7 yards on three punts
Who is Next
Ottawa (2-0) returns to the gridiron on Wednesday, March 4 at AdventHealth Field against Bethel College. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.
