CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Milligan University's No. 7-ranked women's flag football program concluded regular season play against the Tigers of Campbellsville University Saturday evening. The contest served as the final regular season contest ahead of upcoming post season play. Milligan's defense held Campbellsville to 12 points, while a 13-0 fourth quarter powered Milligan to a 27-12 victory to complete the perfect regular season.
It was a hard-fought defensive battle to start the game, as neither side was able to put any points on the board through the opening quarter. Milligan had two drives in the first 12 minutes. After receiving the opening kick and being forced to punt, the second drive pushed to the Campbellsville 15-yard line before a turnover on downs ended the threat. The Tigers' two drives in the quarter both ended in punts.
Milligan looked to punch the ball across the goal line for the first time when an air raid attack moved them into Tiger territory for the second time in the game. However, Campbellsville came up with another red zone stand, forcing a turnover on downs at their own five-yard line. Following the stop, the Tigers kept the momentum going by methodically moving the ball down the field with a series of short passes. The Buffs hoped for a fourth-down stop after an incomplete pass on third-and-five from the Milligan 25-yard line, but the Tigers converted on a 19-yard strike. Campbellsville then rushed for the final six yards, taking a 6-0 lead.
The Buffs did not respond in an ideal way, going three-and-out and giving the ball right back. However, the defense turned the momentum by coming up with a fourth-down stop. With time winding down in the half, Milligan took over from their own 30-yard line with 1:42 remaining. Sisters Caitlin and
Krista Quinn provided a spark with back-to-back receptions from
Bridget Keyser, and Rumrill broke through in a big way with a 34-yard touchdown catch to put the Buffs on the board. Milligan converted the one-point conversion to take a 7-6 lead into the half.
Campbellsville came into the second half poised to end Milligan's perfect regular season, completing three straight passes and mixing in an effective ground game to push into Milligan territory. A fourth consecutive completion was followed by two straight passes that missed the mark setting the Tigers up for a fourth-and-15 from the Milligan 15-yard line. That is when a 15-yard completion put Campbellsville back ahead 12-7, putting pressure on Milligan.
The Milligan offense went back to work after falling behind.
Sam Urso hauled in a 14-yard reception to start the drive, and
Ashton Whearley chipped in with a 17-yard reception on third down before Rumrill delivered another big play to set Milligan up at the one-yard line. Keyser did the rest with a one-yard touchdown rush, and a point-after conversion gave Milligan a 14-12 lead with 3:54 left in the third quarter.
The Milligan defense came up with another crucial stop on the ensuing Campbellsville drive, forcing a turnover on downs to open the fourth quarter.
With only a two-point lead,
Krista Quinn capped a nine-play, 48-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception to give the Buffs some breathing room at 21-12 with 6:45 to play.
The Buffs forced a punt on Campbellsville's next possession, and Whearley capped the game and the regular season with a touchdown reception to seal a 27-12 victory on the road.
Keyser finished the night completing 19-of-36 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. She also did damage on the ground, carrying eight times for 45 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Rumrill led the receiving corps with four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by the 34-yard scoring strike late in the second quarter. Whearley was the most targeted option, hauling in five receptions for 58 yards and a score.
Caitlin Quinn added four catches for 46 yards, while
Krista Quinn chipped in three receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. Urso rounded out the contributors with two catches for 20 yards.
Defensively,
Parker Bridges and
Abbylin LaPrise each led the team with six tackles.
Mykelah Davis and
Taylor Thrasher each recorded three stops, as the unit combined for 28 total tackles and four tackles for loss on the evening. LaPrise and Davis each broke up a pass as well.
After completing the perfect regular season, Milligan (20-0) will now travel to Columbus, Ind. for the NAIA Independents Tournament that begins on Thursday, April 23.
