THOMASVILLE, Ga. – On a historical day for the Thomas University flag football program, there was magic in the air Saturday afternoon, as the Night Hawks began its existence with a monumental 19-13 upset win over NAIA National finalist Keiser at the TU Soccer Complex.
 
In its first, ever appearance on the gridiron, TU (1-0, 1-0 SUN) became the first team to hand Keiser (0-1, 0-1 SUN) its first, regular season defeat in program history.  Thomas compiled 74 rushing yards while passing for 179.  Freshman Quarterback Kianna Acol went 10-for-14 on the day with 85 yards through the air, while posting 10 rushing attempts for eight yards and a touchdown.  Sophomore Running Back Janae Scott finished the season opener with 13 attempts for 66 yards, as Freshman Kiera Knight posted three receptions for 88 yards while passing 1-for-1 with 12 yards.
 
The Green & White drove down the field on their opening drive, but a Seahawks' (0-1, 0-1 SUN) goal-line stand denied Thomas a chance to add opening points.  After a three-and-out from KU, Thomas would not let its second possession go to waste, as a two-yard score from Acol gave TU its first-ever score in the final minute of the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead after a missed conversion.
 
It took Keiser more plays than usual to keep up with the Night Hawks, but Seahawks' Quarterback Jazmyn Rhoden would find her favorite target in Sophomore Kennedy Foster on a fourth-down, goal line slant to give Keiser the tying score before the successful extra point attempt conversion off an Adrianna Cavalotti slant gave the Seahawks their first lead of the day (7-6) at the 8:15 mark in the second quarter.
 
In the waning moments of the first half, Acol and the TU offense rallied to put together a strong drive, fueled by a 19-yard post to Knight, that took the Night Hawks just outside the red zone at the two-minute warning.  On the next play, the Crestview, Fla. native found Graduate Brittney Delva on a 21-yard corner strike before a good extra point from Scott gave Thomas a 13-7 advantage.  On the Seahawks' ensuing possession, Delva came up with a critical interception that would secure Thomas' lead heading into the half.
 
The Night Hawks would see its lead extend in the third quarter with a 59-yard strike from Junior Quarterback Shelby Hartley to Knight to extend the Green & White's lead to 12 (19-7).
 
Early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks got a big break when Thomas was called for pass interference, setting up Rhoden's second score, this time to Allyson Goolsby to cut the deficit to one score (19-13).  Keiser was unable to convert on the extra-point attempt to remain down by six.
 
With a little over eight minutes remaining in the contest, Thomas ate a chunk of the clock by keeping its possession on the ground, running the ball between Acol and Scott.  On a critical fourth-down play at Keiser's 25, Acol found Scott on a screen route as the Tallahassee, Fla. native squeezed past several Seahawk defenders to pick up the first down and keep the clock running.  The Green & White eventually left all but three seconds on the game clock, but Keiser was unable to keep the final play alive, preserving a memorable 19-13 win for Thomas.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of our girls; we worked really hard," said Head Coach Chelsea Parmer.  "This is just the beginning.  We can't be satisfied with this victory; the expectation is always to win week in and week out.  So we got to continue to push, not get complacent, and we'll run into them again."
 
TU by the Numbers
2:        TD Passes
4:        Pass breakups
13:      Points allowed
19:      Points scored
74:      Rushing yards
179:    Passing yards
 

BOX SCORE	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Keiser	0	7	0	6	13
Thomas	6	7	6	0	19

Thomas will hit the road Saturday to face Xavier (La.) for its first, away contest of the 2022 season.  Kickoff time has yet to be announced.
 
Stay tuned for full stats of the contest.
 
For up-to-date information on games and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU women's flag team by following them via Twitter and/or Instagram at @NightHawksWFlag.