MARS HILL, N.C. – Another opportunity for the No. 9-ranked Milligan University flag football program arose on Friday night, as they matched up on a neutral field with the NCAA Division II Wingate University (N.C.) Bulldogs. the game was played on the campus of Mars Hill University. After their closest game of the season against Lees-McRae on Thursday, the Buffaloes had no trouble with the Bulldogs, achieving a dominant 26-7 victory to move to 16-0.

Unlike their last contest, MU scored a touchdown right out of the gate in the first quarter after they claimed the opening drive of the game. An eight-play drive amassing 66 yards culminated in a four-yard TD pass from Bridget Keyser to Krista Quinn. A completed one-point conversion made it 7-0 early.

After a Wingate punt, the Buffaloes would make their first of very few big mistakes in the game, as an interception was tossed by Keyser. After a 19-yard rush to give WU a first down and goal from the 20, Milligan was able to supply a goal-line stand to keep them off the board.

The second quarter started with the Buffs forcing a turnover on downs at their 26 yard-line. Then, after a pair of chunk gains, a 35-yard connection from Keyser to Lilly Rumrill gave the Buffaloes a 13-0 lead after a failed PAT. 

A three-and-out by Wingate would follow, and the Buffs made them pay by going 34 yards on five plays after the punt. Ultimately, after reaching the one yard-line, Keyser rushed in a score for the lone rushing TD of the game by Milligan. That made it 19-0 after another unsuccessful PAT try.

The lone interception of the game by Milligan was recorded right at the conclusion of the first half, as Rumrill took the pass away with just 0:25 remaining, which would end the half with a 19-0 MU edge.

A Wingate turnover on downs began the third quarter, and the Buffaloes wasted no time picking up another TD, as a 38-yard rainbow from Keyser to Caitlin Quinn made it 26-0 after a successful conversion.

From there, no offense was necessary, as the Buffs did give up one touchdown in the fourth quarter but cruised to a simple 26-7 win to move to a perfect 16-0 record on the campaign.

Keyser tossed for 242 yards and three TDs on a 20-of-26 completion rate. She did hurl an INT in the first half.

Rumrill, while only snatching three passes, totaled 78 yards to lead the squad. She had one of the three receiving scores. The Quinn sisters (C. Quinn, 3 rec, 58 yds, TD | K. Quinn, 5 rec, 30 yds, TD) were responsible for the other two. Ashton Whearley had the highest number of catches, hauling in six for 54 yards. Sam Urso, Dani Shropshire and Abbylin LaPrise also had one reception apiece.

Six rushes for 10 yards and a TD were tallied by Keyser, while Whearley had the only other rush in the game for just six yards.

The Buffaloes' single interception from Rumrill was her sixth of her freshman campaign. Parker Bridges and Mykelah Davis each recorded a sack in the contest. Both Bridges and Jasmine McDowell tied for the team lead in flag pulls with five. Davis added four of her own, while Rumrill, Sophia Anderson, K. Quinn and Ashley Wilson tallied a pair apiece. Blakelee Ollis, Jessica Hudson, LaPrise, Whearley, Courtney Cummings and Annabelle Rhodes all chipped in with one.

Four more regular season tilts remain for the Buffs (16-0), with their next matchups coming on Saturday, April 11 on the LaGrange College (Ga.) campus. Milligan will play LaGrange at 12 p.m. and then Huntingdon (Ala.) at 3 p.m.