KWU Athletics
OTTAWA – Kansas Wesleyan flag football dropped the final game of the 2022 regular season to the Ottawa Braves on Friday night at Ottawa's AdventHealth Field.
The Coyotes drove to the KWU 39 on their opening drive but turned the ball over on downs. Ottawa would score on the ensuing drive but the Coyotes stopped the extra point attempt to make it 6-0 with 5:02 left in the quarter.
Wesleyan would turn it over on its next drive on an interception that set up Ottawa's next score with 3:32 left in the first making it 12-0.
The Coyotes would turn Ottawa over on downs and it only took two plays for the Coyotes to score. Brianna Hernandez-Silva (JR/Las Vegas, Nev.) would find Angel Roman (FR/Jacksonville, Fla.) over the top of the Ottawa defense for the score from 48 yards out to make it 13-6 with 8:17 left in the second.
Ottawa scored on its next two drives to take a 26-6 lead into the half.
Ottawa scored on its first drive of the second half, but the Coyotes answered right back. The Coyotes would march down the field and Hernandez-Silva would run it in from 24 yards out with 1:34 left in the third to make it 32-13.
Ottawa scored again but again the Coyotes answered right back.
Hernandez-Silva would scramble from the Ottawa 10 after a penalty on the Braves that game KWU a first down and lateralled to Ja'Daa Wilson (FR/Crawfordville, Fla.) for an eight yard touchdown run to make it 39-19 with 8:11 left.
Ottawa added one more touchdown to cap the scoring in the game.
Hernandez-Silva was 16 of 30 passing for 159 yards with a touchdown. She also added 86 yards rushing and a touchdown. Angel Roman had four receptions for 77 yards and a score, while Cui Waialae (FR/Las Vegas, Nev.) had 41 yards receiving on four catches.
Roman had an interception for the Coyote defense and led the Coyotes with seven flag pulls.
The Coyotes finish the regular season with a 7-6 record and a 6-2 mark in the KCAC.
KWU now prepares for the KCAC Invitational Tournament on April 22 and 23 at Ottawa.
The NAIA finals are May 13-14 in Atlanta, Ga. Flag Football remains at Emerging Sport status within the NAIA.