Quick Coyotes Start Downs Warriors

FREMONT, Neb. — No. 6-ranked Kansas Wesleyan University defeated (RV) Midland University, 39-7, in KCAC flag football action Wednesday night at Heedum Field. The Coyotes improved to 2-0 on the season and 2-0 in KCAC play, while Midland fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league action.

Midland received the ball to begin the game but was forced to punt after a three-and-out. The Coyotes struck on their opening drive when, on the fourth play of the possession, Chihiro Iwata connected with Nyjah Green on an 18-yard touchdown pass. The conversion pass to Leila Casillan was good, and with 8:00 remaining in the first quarter, Kansas Wesleyan led 7-0.

The Warriors ran four plays on their next drive and were again forced to punt. The Coyotes capitalized on the ensuing possession when Iwata completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Aliyah Wood. The conversion attempt failed, and with 1:27 remaining in the first quarter, the Coyotes led 13-0.

Midland ran three plays before the quarter expired. After a Midland drive stalled following an interception, the Coyotes added another score before halftime when Iwata carried the ball for a six-yard touchdown. After the conversion, Kansas Wesleyan led 20-0 with 47 seconds left in the half.

Both teams had possessions before the half expired, and the Coyotes carried the 20-0 lead into the locker room.

On the opening drive of the second half, the Coyotes extended their lead on another Iwata touchdown pass to make it 27-0 after the conversion. On Midland's next possession, a Lotta Wulff pass was intercepted by Nyjah Green at the Midland 16-yard line. Kansas Wesleyan cashed in three plays later when Iwata connected with Green on a 19-yard touchdown pass. The conversion attempt failed, and with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter, the Coyotes led 33-0, a score that held through the end of the quarter.

Midland got on the board on the second play of the fourth quarter when Wulff completed a two-yard touchdown pass to Alyssa Butler. The conversion pass was good, and with 11:19 to play, Kansas Wesleyan led 33-7.

The Coyotes added one more score when Iwata completed a two-yard pass to Leila Casillan. The conversion failed, giving Kansas Wesleyan a 39-7 lead with 5:04 remaining.

Midland had three possessions and Kansas Wesleyan had two more before time expired.

Kansas Wesleyan ran 63 plays for 413 yards of total offense. The Coyotes completed 30 of 47 passes for 335 yards and rushed 16 times for 78 yards. Midland ran 53 plays for 283 yards. Through the air, the Warriors were 32 of 47 for 301 yards and rushed six times for negative 18 yards.

Individually for Kansas Wesleyan, Chihiro Iwata completed 29 of 44 passes for 325 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. She also carried the ball nine times for 55 yards and a score. Jazmine Whitfield caught six passes for 96 yards, while Aliyah Wood had 11 receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown. Nyjah Green caught seven passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Yui Watanabe had two catches for 34 yards and a touchdown, and Leila Casillan caught one pass for a two-yard touchdown.

For Midland, Lotta Wulff completed 25 of 39 passes for 229 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Karina Alfaro carried the ball two times for two yards. Olivia Dominguez-Millsop caught five passes for 88 yards, while Alyssa Butler had seven receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kansas Wesleyan was led by Ava Duerr with 7.5 tackles, while Nyjah Green recorded 1.5 tackles and an interception. Midland was led by Holiness Hodges with eight tackles. Alyssa Butler added six tackles and an interception.

Midland (1-2, 0-1 KCAC) will return to action Saturday when it hosts Cottey (3-1, 0-0). Competition is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at Heedum Field.