BUFFALO, N.Y. - D'Youville flag football was defeated by Roberts Wesleyan University with a final score of 53-0 on Sunday.
The first quarter began with Roberts Wesleyan quickly establishing momentum through a drive that culminated in a 23-yard touchdown pass to begin their scoring. The Saints responded with a drive initiated at their own 14-yard line, with
Paige Robinson completing a 7-yard pass to
Annika Lopez, but the drive stalled after a loss on a rushing attempt.
Alexis Brua's efforts on special teams and offense were notable, though the Saints were unable to convert these into points. The quarter closed with Roberts Wesleyan leading 19-0.
D'Youville faced a challenging second quarter as Roberts Wesleyan capitalized on its opportunities, including a 39-yard touchdown at the 13:00 mark Despite solid defensive efforts, including a notable QB flag pull for a loss by
Mackenzie Laforest, the Saints could not halt another scoring drive, with a 5-yard touchdown with just over a minute remaining for the Redhawks.
Robinson contributed offensively for the Saints with both rushing and passing plays, including a key completion to Laforest. However, the quarter closed without a score from the Saints, and the scoreboard showed Roberts Wesleyan leading 32-0 at halftime.
In the third quarter, D'Youville's defense demonstrated resilience, highlighted by Brua's crucial QB flag pull for a loss, pushing Roberts Wesleyan back two yards early in the quarter. Offensively, the Saints' Robinson connected effectively with teammates, including a notable 7-yard pass to Brua, followed by a 2-yard gain by
Madelyn Lewis.
Savannah Kroener showcased her agility with an 8-yard rush later in the quarter, but despite these efforts, the Saints could not overcome the deficit. The quarter concluded with Roberts Wesleyan maintaining its lead, ending 39-0.
D'Youville began the fourth quarter with possession near the Roberts Wesleyan 20-yard line, but an initial push stalled, resulting in no gain. Despite a strong defensive effort by Brua, who stopped Roberts Wesleyan's drive at the start of the quarter, the visitors managed to capitalize on a delay of game penalty and a subsequent long pass for a touchdown at 9:30.
Kroener provided a critical defensive moment for the Saints by intercepting a pass at their 39-yard line, halting another Roberts Wesleyan advance. However, the ensuing drive did not yield yardage for the Saints, and Roberts Wesleyan capitalized again with a touchdown rush by Turner at 1:45.
The Saints made a final push with a series of plays led by Robinson and Brua, gaining some ground but ultimately not affecting the score. The game concluded with Roberts Wesleyan securing a 52-0 victory over the Saints.
Lopez collected six receptions for 38 yards and recovered a fumble, showcasing her versatility on both sides of the ball. Robinson completed 21 of 31 passes for 118 yards, leading the team's aerial attack with precision. Brua contributed with four receptions for 33 yards and added four flag pulls to bolster the defense.
Bella Cartonia also recovered a fumble while recording two flag pulls, further supporting the defensive efforts.
