Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 There was one goal for the Night Hawks on Saturday:  WIN THREE!!!  In a must-win situation, Thomas had to take care of business in games one and two, in order for game three to even occur.  And that's exactly what the Night Hawks did.  They were a team on a mission.  After getting off to a slow start versus Keiser in a game that started at 9 AM, Thomas would defeat #3 Keiser, 20-7, to set up the much anticipated rematch against #1 Ottawa, who entered the contest undefeated in 17 games.  

The Night Hawks would win the game by a score of 25-13, forcing an "If-Necessary", winner-take-all contest, due to the double elimination format of the tournament.  The final championship game would be a tight contest, and have a thrilling 4th quarter, that left fans wanting more and had people in the stands talking about the bright future of flag football.  Unfortunately, for Thomas, the Night Hawks fell short of their goal, in a game that, literally, was decided on the final play of the day.  The Night Hawks finish the season with a program record 19 victories against three losses, of which two of them were versus Ottawa.  The 2023 campaign is good enough for for Thomas to be the NAIA National Runner-Up.

GAME ONE

After a 1st quarter that saw both teams go scoreless, Thomas would score on their first possession of the 2nd quarter as Alexa Wilson drove the Night Hawks down the field.  Gisele Jones would end the drive with a 14-yard touchdown catch (conversion failed).  TU 6 OU 0.

Thomas would also score on their next drive, also.  The quick-strike drive would see Wilson complete a 32-yard touchdown pass to Brittney Delva for the score (conversion good) .TUT13 OU 0.  For Delva, the senior would have a career game, with 13 catches on 16 targets, good for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

The Night Hawks would give up a score to the Braves on the ensuing possession, as Ottawa would keep the game close.  Thomas would open the 3rd quarter with a defensive stand to gain possession.  Then, the Night Hawks, would drive 64 yards in just five plays, as the Wilson-Delva connection would hook up for their second 30+ yard touchdown combination of the day, this time for 33-yards (conversion failed).  TU 19 OU 6.

Ottawa would keep the contest close with a late 3rd quarter score, that ate 6:11 off of the clock and covered 66 yards.

Thomas would add a final score in the 4th quarter, milking 5:50 off of the clock, and cover 71 yards, for the score.  Kiana Acol would toss the ball to Janae Scott for the final score of the game (conversion failed).  TU 25 OU 13.

NOTES

• Thomas would win the time of possession battle 30:29 to 24:27.
• Thomas racked up 319 yards of total offense, compared to 271 for Ottawa.
• Alexa Wilson finished just shy of 300 yards passing, totaling 296 yards while connecting on 32/45 passes for 3 touchdowns.
• Brittney Delva caught 13 passes for 147 yards on 16 targets and two touchdowns.  Defensively, she added seven flag pulls and one pass breakup.
• Aliyah Wood added eight receptions for 43 yards, while Kiera Knight contributed five catches for 32 yards.
• Janae Scott led the defense with 13 flag pulls.  Offensively, she scored a touchdown.
• Kiera Knight, Aliyah Wood, and Si'Naya Glover had an interception.
• Gisele Jones accumulated two sacks.

BOX SCORE

GAME TWO

In the winner-take-all game, Thomas would take the opening drive into the Ottawa red zone, but ultimately turn the ball over of a 4th down interception.  The next two possessions by each team would produce zero points, until the Braves finally scored towards the close of the 1st quarter, covering 43 yards in 1:34 (conversion failed).  OU 6 TU 0.

Thomas would finally hit pay-dirt on their closing drive of the first-half, driving 61 yards in 4:24, to take the lead.  Alexa Wilson would hit Nakerra Brown with a pass for five-yards.  Brown would then lateral the ball to Kiera Knight, who would scamper the remaining five-yards for the score (conversion good).  TU 7 OU 6.

Ottawa would score at the end of the 3rd quarter, to re-take the lead.  Ottawa would go for the tqo-point conversion, but fail.  OU 12 TU 7.

Thomas would answer with a score in the 4th quarter, on the next possession, to take the lead back.  Wilson would hit Acol for the 12-yard strike (conversion failed).  TU 13 OU 12.

Ottawa would answer the Night Hawks challenge with the final score of the game, a six-play, 61 yards drive in 2:41 (conversion failed).  OU 18 TU 13.

Thomas would have the final possession of the game, gaining possession with 1:50 remaining on the clock.  The Night Hawks would drive the length of the field, down to the Braves 1-yardline.  After three failed attempts in the Brave red zone, Thomas would use their final timeout with 00:03 on the clock, on a 4th down play.  Kiana Acol was stopped short, but a Braves defensive penalty would give the Night Hawks one un-timed down.  An Acol option run to the left to Scott was stopped for a one-yard loss to end the Night Hawks quest for the National Championship short.

NOTES

• Thomas totaled 308 yards of offense.  Ottawa totaled 269 yards of offense.
• Thomas was held to -7 yards rushing.  Ottawa totaled 36 yards on the ground.
• Thomas turned the ball over three times.
• Alexa Wilson was 34/45 passing for 315 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions.
• Brittney Delva continued to perform offensively with eight catches, on nine targets, for 57 yards.
• The Night Hawks had three players with over 50 yards in receptions:  Kiana Acol - 80 yards, Margarita Pena - 65 yards, and Brittney Delva - 57 yards.
• The Night Hawks had four players with five or more receptions:  Brittney Delva - 8, Kiana Acol - 8, Margarita Pena - 7, and Aliyah Wood - 7.
• Janae Scott had her second consecutive double-digit flag pull game versus Ottawa with ten in this contest.  Scott also had three pass breakups.
• Brittney Delva added seven stops and Aliyah Wood contributed six.
• The Night Hawks had no sacks in the game for the first time this season.

BOX SCORE

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