Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football won its fifth straight game as the Coyotes topped the University of Saint Mary Spires 34-12 on a windy Wednesday afternoon at JRI Hospitality Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.
The Coyotes stopped Saint Mary on its first drive as Samari McKinney picked off the USM pass and returned it to the USM 24. From there, the Coyotes only needed two plays to score as Chihiro Iwata found Jenise Washington for a 7-yard score with 7:58 left in the first.
Another interception for the Coyotes, this time by Zo Lucas set up KWU's second score of the first quarter. Three plays later, Iwata scored on a 3-yard run to make it 14-0 Coyotes after KWU converted the 2-point PAT.
A penalty on the Coyotes on a fourth down play gave Saint Mary its first score of the game with 5:50 to go in the second quarter.
The Coyotes then stopped Saint Mary with yet another interception as Ava Duerr picked one off and returned it 32 yards to the Saint Mary 33. However, KWU's drive would stall at the USM 12 with 25 seconds left in the half.
KWU led 12-6 at the intermission.
The Coyotes scored quickly to open the second half as Iwata hit Aliyah Wood for a 17-yard touchdown with 10:02 left in the third.
Jenise Washington then picked off a pass setting up Iwata's 64-yard touchdown pass to Wood as she caught the ball over the middle and went untouched into the endzone with 5:52 left in the third.
Washington picked off another pass for the Coyotes which set up Leila Casillan's touchdown run to make it 34-6 with 8:52 left in the game.
Saint Mary scored with 42 seconds left to make it 34-12.
KWU outgained Saint Mary 282-229 in the game despite running 17 less plays than the Spires.
Iwata was 14 of 30 passing for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Casillan had five rushes for 30 yards and Iwata added three for 24. Watanabe had five catches for 50 yards to lead the receivers.
Wesleyan's defense was led by Khylie Douglas with 11 flag pulls, including two for loss that included one sack. Ansdiane Rabano had nine stops. KWU's defense also picked off five Saint Mary passes.