THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University flag football team continues to shine in its magical, inaugural season, clinching the SUN Conference title with wins over Webber International and Warner Wednesday evening at TU Soccer Complex.
 
TU 7, WIU 0
The Night Hawks' (13-1, 9-1 SUN) defense blanked its opponent for the fifth time season.  The Warriors (6-7, 2-7 SUN) were shut out for the first time this season, and just the second time in program history. 
 
Freshman rusher Jaida Reese was a main factor in TU's shut out win, posting five sacks in the contest with three on critical third-down situations.  The Crestview, Fla. native also tacked on five total flag pulls, with one resulting for a loss.  Sophomore Janae Scott led the Green & White with 11 flag pulls and one pass breakup.  Graduate Brittney Delva and Junior Gisele Jones recorded an interception apiece.
 
The offense struggled once again, completing a combined 13-for-29 with no touchdown passes and three picks.  Freshman Kiana Acol had 11 rushes for 43 yards and one touchdown, while Scott finished the game with one carry for -1 yard.
 
After forcing and three and out on Webber International's opening drive, TU's first possession ended with an interception by Susann Kaufmann, setting the tone for what would be a defensive slugfest throughout the entire contest.
 
The lone score of the game came midway through the fourth quarter, as Junior quarterback Shelby Hartley set up the drive with a six-yard reception to Freshman MARGARITA PEÑA before hitting Freshman Kiera Knight for a 16-yard pickup to enter the Warriors' red zone at the 19.  A roughing the passer on WIU two plays later set up TU with a fresh set of downs inside the five, as Acol ran in the score before completing the extra point with a pass to Scott to take the 7-0 lead with 6:01 remaining.
 
With 1:42 left, Webber was in position to drive down the field to attempt a game-tying touchdown before as Breaza Robinson cut multiple defenders en route to a big play before a blunder pitch was taken away by Jones and returned to the 3, effectively ending the comeback attempt and ultimately, the Warriors' chances of competing in the SUN Conference tournament.
 
TU 26, WU 20
In Thomas' regular season finale, the momentum quickly shifted from a defensive battle to a contest filled with a higher scoring margins.  Hartley went 23-for-27, throwing a season-high 229 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
 
Reese once again had a fantastic performance defensively, recording four flag pulls and four sacks.  Scott also led Thomas with nine flag pulls and three pass breakups.
 
The first half saw a similar, defensive theme as the Night Hawks' previous contest.  Warner would ensure a quick score on its opening drive, a Cynthia Homs 20-yard score from Madison Tingen to put the Royals up 6-0 for the first half's only score.
 
Thomas would return the favor to start the second half, driving down the field on its opening possession to tie the game 6-6 off a Hartley 23-yard pass to Delva before pitching it to an open Jones to finish the score with an eight-yard scamper to the end zone.  TU would take the lead 7-6 on a good conversion with an Acol bootleg towards the weak side with 9:57 in the third quarter.
 
After stopping Warner on the ensuing possession, the Green & White returned to the end zone on its next drive to capitalize off an Acol rushing touchdown to extend its lead 13-6.     
 
The Royals found its opportunity for a second, Tingen-to-Homs score on a 4th & Goal play, beating out Delva on a five-yard post-flag route.  WU missed the extra point, as Homs dropped a catchable ball at the right-side of the end zone.
 
Warner would immediately get the ball back on the next play with a Jasmine Pollock interception that set up the Royals in the Night Hawks' red zone, setting up yet another Tingen-to-Homs connection in the back corner of the end zone to retake the lead 18-13.  WU went for two to start at the 10-yard line, but an unsportsmanlike penalty on Thomas' bench, paired with a defensive hold on the first attempt, put the Royals around the 3-yard line for a second try at two.  Homs would once again come in the clutch, hauling in the conversion in the back of the end zone to give Warner a 20-13 lead with 2:58 left.
 
The Night Hawks responded on the next drive by working down the field to reach the red zone before a defensive holding penalty on the Royals gave TU afresh set of set downs to set up Acol's lone touchdown pass of the contest to Scott.  The Green & White failed to convert the extra point to remain trailing 20-19.
 
With under 1:30 left, the TU's defense stepped up to make a big stop, giving the ball back to the offense with 52 seconds left.  For the second time in a four-game span, the Night Hawks scored the game-winning touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Hartley to Acol to go ahead, as Acol converted on her second, rushing extra-point attempt to give Thomas the 26-20 lead.
 
Even with one timeout left, Warner did not have enough time to drive down the field, as a game-ending sack from Reese clinched the 26-20, come-from-behind win for the Night Hawks.
 
TU by the Numbers
1:        Seed number for the conference tournament
3:        Total INTs on the day
5:        Season shutouts
7:        Total pass breakups on the day
9:        SUN Wins (new conference record)
33:      Total points scored on the day
62:      Combined flag pulls on the day
 
Thomas now turns its attention to the SUN Conference tournament, as the Night Hawks officially clinched hosting rights.  With a win by St. Thomas, Warner is locked in as the #4 seed, setting up a TU-WU rematch Saturday.
 
Location and kickoff time will be announced on a later date.
 
For up-to-date information on this game 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.