Graceland Uses Fourth-Quarter Surge to Power Past Cottey in Road Victory
NEVADA, Mo. – The Graceland University women's flag football team earned a 19-8 road victory over Cottey College on Tuesday evening, using a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull away late. The win moves Graceland to 3-4 overall on the season and marks the program's second win in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.
After falling behind 8-6 early in the fourth quarter, the Yellowjackets responded with consecutive scoring drives, including a short-yardage touchdown run by quarterback Shyla Barrios and a successful one-point conversion rush by Jazharia Taylor to seal the victory.
Barrios completed 14 of 34 passes for 156 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. She also led the team on the ground with 54 rushing yards on 12 carries and added a rushing touchdown late to cap Graceland's final scoring drive.
Wide receiver Mikiah Verdum and Delaney Mondino were the primary targets through the air. Verdum caught two passes for 52 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Mondino added three receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Taylor hauled in five catches for 23 yards and chipped in a one-point conversion on the ground.
The Yellowjackets' defense forced three turnovers, with Kymani Freeman recording two interceptions and returning them for a combined 39 yards. Mikiah Verdum also added a sack that helped swing momentum in the fourth quarter, while Ahmari Byrd anchored the secondary with a team-high 11 solo tackles.
Head coach Aaron Richardson credited his team's resiliency while emphasizing the need for continued growth. "It's always great to come away with a win, especially on the road in conference play. But we've got to be sharper," Richardson said. "Our execution still has room to improve, particularly in the red zone and on third down. We're making strides, and I love the energy this team brings late in games. But if we want to be competitive every week and push for a postseason spot, it's going to take more discipline and consistency across the board. This is a step forward, but it can't be our ceiling."
The game was a defensive battle through three quarters, with Graceland trailing 8-6 entering the final frame. The Yellowjackets opened the fourth with a six-play, 36-yard touchdown drive capped by Mondino's 16-yard catch from Barrios. After another stop, Freeman's second interception gave Graceland a short field with under 20 seconds to play. Barrios scored on a seven-yard rush, and Taylor converted the extra point to push the lead to double digits.
Graceland finished the game with 217 yards of total offense, including 156 through the air. The team recorded 10 first downs and did not commit a penalty. On the defensive side, the Yellowjackets limited Cottey to 86 passing yards and forced three turnovers, including a safety in the second quarter that gave Cottey its only lead of the game.
Next Up: Rumble in Rockford
Graceland will look to build on the momentum as it travels to Illinois for the Rumble in Rockford, hosted by Rockford University. The Yellowjackets will open tournament play on Friday, March 21, at 4 p.m. against Siena Heights.
For more information on Graceland women's flag football and all Yellowjackets athletics, visit GUjackets.com.