FERRUM, Va. – On Wednesday, for the second time this season, the No. 9 Milligan University flag football program was pitted against the Panthers of Ferrum College. In the previous matchup that took place in Elizabethton, Tenn. on March 4, Milligan walked away with a 26-14 victory. This time around, the Buffs won again in a far more dominant fashion, cruising to a 48-7 victory.
Milligan struck first in the first quarter, when a turnover on downs from Ferrum set up Milligan on Milligan's side of the 40-yard line. Then four straight pass completions set up the Buffs at the two-yard line and a
Bridget Keyser pass to
Sam Urso was complete across the goal line to put MU ahead 6-0. A subsequent one-point conversion would extend Milligan's lead to 7-0 with 13:56 to play in the first half.
The Buffs forced a punt on the ensuing Panthers drive, and it did not take long for them to turn the turnover into points. On the first play of the drive, Keyser showed off her arm strength on a deep pass that resulted in a
Lilly Rumrill 57-yard touchdown reception, and a second consecutive one-point conversion extended the MU lead to 14-0.
Nearing the end of the half with 40 seconds left, Balklee Ollis jumped in the Panthers passing lane to snag an interception, and the Milligan offense was able to score quickly with prime field position for their third touchdown of the day. Urso proved to be the favorite short yardage redzone target, as she hauled in a six-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 20-0 going into halftime.
On the opening drive of the second half, Milligan took the ball away from Ferrum on their second interception of the day. Then, on the next play Keyser found Rumrill for another one play touchdown, this time for 49 yards. Following the touchdown, a successful two-point conversion from the 14-yard line extended the Buffs lead to 28-0.
The Milligan offense continued to click on all cylinders after the defense forced a punt, as Urso's third touchdown of the day was the result of the next Milligan drive. A one-point conversion would put the scoreboard heavily in the Buffs' favor at 35-0 with 6:42 remaining in the third quarter.
Ferrum would find pay dirt for the first of the afternoon at the 1:37 mark of the third quarter, and one-point conversion would make the score 35-7.
Milligan would add their fifth touchdown of the day in response, as
Annabelle Rhodes scored on 11-yard reception, and a one-point conversion gave Milligan a convincing 42-7 lead with 13:15 to play.
The dominating performance from the Buffs was capped at the 10:38 mark of the fourth quarter when Milligan scored the final touchdown of the game.
Parker Bridges intercepted a Panthers pass, and it took only one play again for the Milligan offense to capitalize on the turnover. This time Keyser found
Ashton Whearley for a 59-yard touchdown pass, but a failed conversion attempt left the score at 48-7. With neither side able to score again, this would be the final score, giving the Buffs a dominant 48-7 victory to continue their perfect season.
Keyser dominated through the air, completing 29 of 35 passes for 397 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. Her longest completion of the day went for 58 yards, and she was sacked just once on the afternoon.
The Milligan receiving game was led by Rumrill, who hauled in five catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Urso had nine catches for 51 yards and three scores, and Whearley caught the ball twice for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Krista Quinn had two catches for 17 yards, and Rhodes added one reception for 11 yards and a touchdown on the afternoon.
Keyser led the way rushing the ball with four carries for 25 yards. Whearley had two carries for 11 yards, and McDowell carried the ball once for four yards.
Defensively, the squad recorded two sacks from Bridges and Urso. Bridges led the team with 13 total flag pulls on the day. Davis, Rumrill, and Whearley each had two, while McDowell had three. Padilla, Urso, Laprise, Quinn, Wilson, and Rhodes also had pulls on the afternoon.
Next for Milligan (8-0) is two matchups at home on Citizens Bank Field on March 14. In the first matchup the Buffs will take on Cumberland (Tenn.) and in the latter tilt they will face Reinhardt (Ga.). Kickoffs are set for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
