RIVERSIDE, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football beat Baker in a thrilling 26-20 win on Saturday in the KCAC Semifinals, but then lost to Ottawa University 28-13 in the KCAC Championship game at the KC Current Training Center.
In the semifinal, the Coyotes and Wildcats met meaning it would be an exciting game as the three regular season meetings were decided by a total of 10 points, including two 1-point games.
Wesleyan was first on the board as Chihiro Iwata converted a fourth down from the 3-yard line running it in for the score with 6:45 to go in the first and the PAT was good making it 7-0 Coyotes.
The Coyotes would stop Baker on the ensuing drive on fourth down, but after driving to the Baker 10, the Coyotes could not punch it in.
The teams went back and forth until Baker was able to score on a drive that was extended by three KWU penalties and the Wildcats were able to tie it up with two minutes left in the first half.
The Coyotes took a 13-7 lead with 11:54 left in the game as Iwata again made it happen running the ball, a 7-yard scramble in for the score, but the PAT was no good and it was a 13-7 game.
Baker quickly answered with a 61-yard touchdown pass to tie things at 13-all.
Wesleyan answered right back as the Coyotes drove the distance as Iwata hit Aliyah Wood for a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Coyotes up 19-13 with 6:26 left.
Baker came right back and scores getting a couple big plays to keep the drive going, pushing it across and converting the PAT with 2:08 to go.
The Coyotes would then take over. A pass interference penalty would extend the drive and later in the drive Iwata found Jazmine Whitfield to convert a fourth down to keep the drive alive. The Coyotes got a big first down as Iwata found Ciaran DeCuir for a first down at the Baker 20. Iwata would come through on third down at the 15, hitting DeCuir for the scoring play and the PAT was good with four seconds left.
Baker tried one last desperation play but could not do anything with it and the Coyotes got the win.
Iwata was 31 of 47 passing for 272 yards and two touchdowns. She also ran nine times for 45 yards and two scores. Wood had 13 catches for 88 yards and DeCuir had seven for 95 to pace the Coyote receivers.
Nyjah Green had five flag pulls to lead the KWU defense. Alexa Mansur had four.
The Coyotes then faced the veteran Ottawa squad for the KCAC Championship.
Wesleyan was the first on the board, as Iwata found Angel Roman for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 5:59 left in the first inning.
Ottawa came back and tied it with a score with 15 seconds in the first quarter.
The Braves then added three more touchdowns to take a 28-7 lead with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
The Coyotes were able to keep the Braves out of the endzone as Ashley Hawthorne broke up a pass at the KWU 3 giving the ball back to the Coyotes.
Wesleyan would cover the 77 yards in nine plays to score as Iwata ran it in from eight yards out with 1:25 to go. The big play on the drive was a 39-yard pass to Whitfield that got the Coyotes down to the Ottawa 14.
Iwata was 20 of 33 passing for 189 yards and one touchdown. She added 43 yards rushing on seven carries and another score. Roman led the Coyote receivers with six catches for 51 yards.
Samari McKinney had seven flag pulls for the Coyotes to lead the way. Hawthorne had two pass breakups.
The Coyotes now turn attention to the NAIA Flag Football Finals, as flag football still remains as an emerging sport at the NAIA level, and not yet at National Championship status.