ATLANTA, Ga. – The Thomas University flag football team opened the 2022 NAIA National tournament with a soaring start, as the Night Hawks thumped Milligan 74-0 before besting Webber International 26-6 in the afternoon contest Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
 
TU 74, MU 0
The defense of the Night Hawks (17-1, 9-1 SUN) struck on the first play of scrimmage, as a pick-six from Graduate Brittney Delva immediately gave TU a 7-0 lead following the extra point.  Milligan (1-6) was limited to three first downs throughout the entire contest. 
 
Junior quarterback Shelby Hartley also capitalized for the Green & White on its first, offensive possession, throwing a strike to Freshman Nakerra Brown to push the lead 14-0.
 
For the first time in program history, Thomas eclipsed the 60-point mark.  The Night Hawks also saw Freshman Si'Naya Glover score TU's first-ever punt return for a touchdown.
 
TU 26, WIU 6
For the second time this season, Webber International (7-9, 2-8 SUN) failed to maintain is lead after
holding a 6-0 lead at intermission.  The Warriors used two, first-half interceptions to set up a bootleg run across pay dirt by Sam Wilson.
 
It would not take long for the Night Hawks to respond, scoring on the first possession of the second half on a 48-yard connection from Hartley to Delva to tie the contest 6-6.  The Boynton Beach, Fla. native would help TU take the lead for good in the fourth quarter after a reception by Freshman Margarita Peña set up a pitch to Freshman Kiana Acol who lateraled to Delva for a 12-6 lead.
 
Bad went to worse for Webber on the ensuing possession as a botched pitch landed in the arms of Sophomore Janae Scott, returning it 22 yards that led to a 13-point difference (19-6).  Acol would top off TU's 26-point second half performance with a bootleg left side towards the end zone that preserved a 26-6 win for Thomas and ending the game at the two-minute warning.
 
Thomas locked up the No. 1 seed in the NAIA National's Gold bracket and will await the winner between fourth-seeded St. Thomas and fifth-seeded Webber International for the National semifinals.  Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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.