FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – Milligan University's No. 7-ranked women's flag football program put their undefeated record back on the line on Wednesday evening at Emmanuel University (Ga.). The Buffaloes went through a close-fought first half before pulling away for a dominant 39-14 win to push them to 19-0 for the campaign with just one regular-season tilt to go.

In the opening quarter the contest began in Milligan's favor, as they marched down the field on their opening drive and scored a passing touchdown from Bridget Keyser to Caitlin Quinn from three yards out. After a failed conversion, the Buffaloes led 6-0. They would then get the ball back and score yet another TD, as Keyser found Sam Urso for a 12-yard score and a subsequent one-point conversion to make it 13-0. 

Emmanuel parried the early surge from MU with a score of their own at the conclusion of the opening frame. They went 66 yards in nine plays and concluded their drive with a 13-yard TD strike to cut their deficit to 13-6.

The Buffs then grabbed their first and only score of the second quarter, notching a six-yard touchdown toss from Keyser to Ashton Whearley to make it 20-6 after a rushing conversion for one point by Keyser.

A long 36-yard TD strike by the Lions late in the second quarter made it a much tighter 20-14 game at the break as the hosts converted their two-point attempt to put the pressure back on the Buffaloes.

The second half was all Milligan, beginning with a drive in the third quarter that included a 16-yard TD pass from Keyser to Whearley, her second receiving score of the evening. With the extra point converted, the Buffaloes led 27-14 after three quarters.

Two more touchdowns would be tallied by Milligan in the fourth quarter, as they drew up a three-yard TD pass from Keyser to Carsen Bigelow to make it 33-14. Then, a pick-six was converted by Courtney Cummings, who returned an errant pass 30 yards to pay dirt to make it 39-14, which would be the eventual final tally.

Keyser went 25-for-33 passing with 248 yards and a quintet of touchdown passes on the day without hurling an interception.

Krista Quinn led the team with seven receptions, while Whearley grabbed six. They each totaled 77 yards on the day, while Whearley hauled in two scores. Urso had four grabs for 27 yards and a TD. Lilly Rumrill and C. Quinn were the only other receivers with multiple catches, snatching two for 26 yards and two for six yards and a score, respectively. Jasmine McDowell, Taylor Thrasher, Jeylise Padilla, Annabelle Rhodes, Jessica Hudson and Bigelow each grabbed one pass on the day.

The Buffs rushed the ball a combined nine times for a combined 42 yards. Keyser led the way with 43 yards on five rushes, while the remaining three runners had a combined -1 yard.

Both Whearley and Abbylin LaPrise notched interceptions with no returns, while Cummings' 30-yard interception return for the final score of the game rounded out the three picks tallied by the Buffaloes. McDowell's five flag pulls, including a pair of sacks, led the team. Mykelah Davis had four flag pulls and a sack, and Parker Bridges had the other Milligan sack on three stops total. Cummings, Blakelee Ollis and Ashley Wilson were responsible for three pulls apiece, and Padilla and K. Quinn notched two each. Rumrill, Thrasher, LaPrise, Whearley, C. Quinn and Jessica Hudson all nabbed one stop on the night.

Milligan (19-0) will now head to their final regular-season tilt of the season at Campbellsville (Ky.), as they look to complete the perfect 20-0 record with the NAIA Independents Tournament on the near horizon.