ATLANTA, Ga. – The Thomas University flag football was within 40 yards of scoring what would have been the game-winning touchdown in the final minute to bring home a national title before a game-clinching interception by Ottawa University ended the Night Hawks' magical run, falling 24-20 to the Braves Saturday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
 
In a contest that truly came down to the final drive, TU (18-2, 9-1 SUN) finished with 288 passing yards and 11 yards rushing.  Junior quarterback Shelby Hartley threw 23-of-32 with 233 yards with one interception.
 
Freshman Kiana Acol went 4-for-5 with 55 passing yards and throwing for one score in addition to five yards rushing.  The Crestview, Fla. native also had four receptions, averaging 24 yards per catch.
 
Saturday marked just the second time this season the Green & White allowed 20 points or more in a contest.  The Braves (16-2, 8-0 KCAC) gained 300 yards of offense, as OU's Madysen Carrera completed 23 of 34 passes with 256 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception.
 
Thomas came out firing the first play, as Acol broke free from Ottawa, nearly scoring before Braves' Abby Brown saved six with a flag pull.  TU would punch in the first score on the next play with a four-yard touchdown pass from Acol to Sophomore Janae Scott with an extra point to take a 7-0 lead.
 
After OU responded with a Carrera to Jazlyn Camacho touchdown, TU denied the extra point to keep the lead 7-6.  On the ensuing possession, the Night Hawks failed to reach the red zone after a fourth and two stop was made by the Braves.  The Gold & Black made Thomas pay on the next drive, as Alyssa Linkous' 22-yard skinny post route touchdown gave OU its first lead of the day 12-7.
 
With seconds remaining in the first half, the Night Hawks had another opportunity to strike and take a potential lead into the half before Alyssa Gillespie deflected an Acol pass intended for Gisele Jones to preserve Ottawa's five-point lead heading to intermission.
 
Bad went to worse for the Thomas defense, as the Braves began the second half driving down the field and scored on a 21-yard reception to Mandolyn Scalisi to give OU its largest lead of the contest 18-7.  The third receiving touchdown was enough for the Night Hawks to fly back into the contest, as TU took six plays on the ensuing possession to cut the deficit back down to five points on an Acol three-yard touchdown run.
 
It was not long before Thomas would retake the lead, as Graduate Brittney Delva picked off Carrera en route to a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown that put TU back on top 20-18.
 
Ottawa controlled the clock in the fourth quarter, holding possession for over eight of the 12 minutes.  With 4:56 remaining in the contest, TU appeared to have made a fourth and one stop from the Thomas 21 before Freshman Si'Naya Glover was flagged for a controversial pass interference call that gave Ottawa new life and the ball in the Night Hawks' red zone.  The new set of downs led to a fourth, Carrera passing touchdown, this time to Bailey Hodgins that put OU back in front 24-20 with 3:55 remaining.
 
After driving into Braves' territory on the ensuing possession, Thomas struggled to move the ball, leading to another turnover-on-downs.  TU was forced to use all of its remaining timeouts to get the ball back with a little over a minute left in the game.
 
For the fourth time this season, the Night Hawks were in position to score the game-winning touchdown in the contest's final moments.  Unfortunately for Thomas, the drive, and its national championship hopes, were eradicated by an Abby Brown interception that sealed a 24-20 win and a second, consecutive national title for Ottawa.
 
TU by the Numbers
2:        Players with 90+ receiving yards
10:      First downs
18:      Season wins
20:      Points scored
24:      Flag pulls
299:    Total yards on offense
 
Thomas finishes its inaugural season with the most wins in NAIA flag football history.  The Green & White additionally finishes 2022 as the NAIA leader in fewest points allowed (150).
 
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.