The Thomas Night Hawks (15-1, 9-1 SUN) defeated the Webber International Warriors (8-7, 4-6 SUN), 33-14, in semifinal one of the 2023 Sun Conference Flag Football Championship.  While Thomas may have won the game via the mercy rule (up by 19 or more with two minutes remaining in the game), for the first half, the game was closer than most anticipated.  With the victory, the Night Hawks will advance to the finals to face the St. Thomas Bobcats (12-3, 7-3 SUN).  The game time for Saturday's matchup has been moved up to 11 AM, with an attempt to stay ahead of an anticipated weather system.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Night Hawks defense created the first score of the day for Thomas.  Nakerra Brown intercepted a Warrior pass on the second play of the game.  Alexa Wilson hit Kiera Knight on an 8-yard pass, the very next play, for the Thomas score (conversion good).  After a turnover on down, Thomas threw a 40-yard pick-six to Webber, and the score was tied at 7-7.

Thomas scored on a six play, 66-yard drive the next time they had possession of the ball.  Wilson completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kiana Acol for the score (conversion good).  Janae Scott, the conference's Champion of Character Award winner, took a Warrior pass to the house for a pick-six, to put the Night Hawks up 21-7.  

The Warriors would score on a six play 26 yard drive, on their first possession of the 2nd quarter, to put a scare in the hearts of Hight Hawks nation, and bring the score to 21-14, Thomas, where the score would remain at halftime.  The Night Hawks would open the 3rd quarter with a 13 play, 59 yard scoring drive, that saw Scott rush the final yard for the Thomas touchdown (conversion failed).  The defense would tighten up and not allow another point.  The final score of the day came on a Scott 76-yard run in the 4th quarter.

NOTES

• The Thomas quarterbacks, Alexa Wilson and Shelby Hartley, completed an astonishing 73.3 % of their passes.
• Thomas averaged 8.75 yards per rush attempt.
• Janae Scott led the team with seven tackles.  She scored two touchdowns on the day, one offensively and one defensively.  
• Gisele Jones led the the team in receiving yards with 53.  Margarita Pena led the team in receptions with six.
• St. Thomas is the only team to defeat the Night Hawks in Sun Conference play during the two years the Night Hawks have participated in Flag Football.  Both losses to the Bobcats were on the one and by a single point each time.

Follow the Sun Conference Tournament here.

BOX SCORE     INDIVIDUAL STATS