West Palm Beach, FL – The Webber International Women's Flag Football team competed in the SUN Conference Tournament Quarterfinals against the St. Thomas Bobcats on Thursday afternoon. After taking an early lead, the Warriors needed an extra frame to take down the Bobcats 33-27 in overtime.
Webber started the game with the ball, as quarterback Samantha Wilson engineered a game-opening touchdown drive. Wilson completed passes to Rylee Bolser, Kaitlyn Sigmundi, Jasmine Henry, Sammy Gonzalez, and Brea Kamm. The Warriors drove down the field and Wilson capitalized the drive with a four-yard touchdown rush. On the Bobcats' first drive, Bolser intercepted the ball and returned it nine yards to the 12-yard line. The first pass from Wilson was a 12-yard TD to Leah Bailey. After a two-point conversion, the Warriors led 14-0. St. Thomas started their next drive and began to march down the field. Henry sacked the Bobcats' quarterback to end the quarter.
The second quarter started well for St. Thomas as they scored a touchdown on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Wilson engineered another touchdown drive in response to the St. Thomas one. She spread the love between Gonzalez, Sigmundi, Kamm, Bolser and Henry, before Sigmundi found Zoe Melo for the one-yard score. A punt from St. Thomas gave the Warriors the ball on the STU 37. Wilson drove the Warriors down the field again ending with her second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, as the Warriors took a 27-7 lead into halftime.
St. Thomas started the second half with a a touchdown drive, as a 15-yard touchdown catch capped off the drive. The Warriors were forced to punt, and one play later the Bobcats were in the endzone again on a 35-yard touchdown to make it 27-20. The Bobcats drove down to the eight-yard line to the end of the third.
The Bobcats punched it into the endzone on fourth down to tie the game at 27-27 with 11 minutes to go. The Warriors were forced to punt again but would get the ball back on the ensuing Bobcats' drive. A tackle by Gonzalez would force the ball out of an STU receiver's hands, and Gabby Franzose was there to pick it up. Wilson would drive the Warriors down the field again but threw an interception in the endzone. Henry sacked the St. Thomas Quarterback for the final play of the quarter, forcing the game into overtime tied at 27-27.
The Warriors won the overtime coin toss and elected to go on defense first. After a first down rush by STU, Cheyenne Durand intercepted a pass in the endzone. Wilson completed a pass to Bailey who was downed at the one-yard line. Wilson found Bolser in the back of the endzone for the game winning touchdown.
When asked about the game, Head Coach Jeff Melesky said "This is the third time we've seen the Bobcats this season, so we knew what we were getting into. We showed a lot of heart today after giving up our lead and I'm proud of my girls for stepping up when we needed to. St. Thomas is a great team and it feels great to get a win in the conference tournament. Go Warriors."
The Warriors will be back in action on Friday, April 26th when they take on Keiser at 5 PM.
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