LEAVENWORTH – It was a record setting performance for the Kansas Wesleyan flag football team on Saturday as the Coyotes routed Cottey College (Mo.) 90-7 in the first round of the KCAC Invitational, but fell to eventual champion Ottawa 34-6 in the semifinal round at Berkel Stadium.
The Coyotes set a new single game scoring mark in the 90-7 win over Cottey in the first round. The 90 points eclipses the previous high mark of 55 points set on March 21, also against Cottey.
KWU scored five times in the first quarter, starting things off with three touchdown passes from Sabrina Saldate (JR/Las Vegas, Nev.), twice to Ja'Daa Wilson (FR/Crawfordville, Fla.) for 10 and 65 yards, then a 2-yard toss to Brianna Hernandez-Silva (JR/Las Vegas, Nev.). Hernandez-Silva then tossed a 2-yard pass to Wilson to make it 27-0 after the PAT. Wilson then scored a fourth time in the quarter on a 25-yard interception return.
Saldate had three more touchdown passes in the second quarter, finding Carlee Becker (SR/Henderson, Nev.) for 13 yards, Marisa Rubino (FR/West Palm Beach, Fla.) for six, and a 25-yard play to Hernandez-Silva with 3 seconds left before the half as KWU led 52-0 at halftime.
In the third, Hernandez-Silva found Rubino for a 21-yard touchdown, Saldate had a 25 yard interception return, Wilson had a 40-yard run for a score and then caught a 65-yard pass from Saldate.
The Coyotes added two more scores in the fourth, a 3-yard pass from Hernandez-Silva to Rubino and Rubino capped it with a 22-yard run.
Wesleyan racked up 373 yards passing and eight touchdowns through the air. Saldate was 13 of 19 for 259 yards and five scores, while Hernandez-Silva was 9 of 11 for 114 yards and three scores. Hernandez-Silva had five catches for 76 yards and two scores. Wilson had five catches for 154 yards and four scores and Rubino had six catches for 89 yards and three scores.
KWU's defense held Cottey to 194 yards of offense on the day. Hernandez-Silva had nine flag pulls and three interceptions with a sack. Ghariana Green (FR/Dunedin, Fla.) had 10 flag pulls to lead the way. Morgan Bryand, who just joined the squad from the volleyball team had five stops, which included four sacks.
The Coyotes scored first in the game with Ottawa in the semifinal, taking a 6-0 lead on Hernandez-Silva's 40-yard run with 8:59 left in the first quarter, but the Coyotes could not score again as Ottawa rattled off 34 unanswered points to win 34-6.
Hernandez-Silva had 107 yards rushing on 15 attempts and KWU's lone score. Saldate was 13 of 24 passing for 80 yards and Hernandez-Silva was 4 of 8 for 21 yards.
Rubino had 38 yards receiving on six catches. Hernandez-Silva had four catches for 15 yards, Green had three catches for 30 yards.
Green had five stops to lead KWU's defense.
Next up for the Coyotes is the NAIA Flag Football Invitational, which will be held in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., as part of a partnership with the NFL and Reigning Champs Experiences.
--kwucoyotes.com--