Yellowjackets Earn Road Win Over Saint Mary, Move to 2–2 on Season
LEAVENWORTH, Kansas — The Graceland University women's flag football team secured a 24-7 road victory over Saint Mary (Kan.) on Tuesday night at Charles Berkel Memorial Stadium, using efficient offensive execution and consistent defensive pressure to control the NAIA matchup.
Graceland set the tone early and maintained control throughout the four-quarter contest, scoring in each period while forcing multiple turnovers on the defensive side of the ball.
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a touchdown drive that covered 66 yards across 16 plays, establishing rhythm through the passing game and short-yardage gains. The one-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the early score gave Graceland a 6-0 advantage.
Later in the opening quarter, the Yellowjackets extended the lead with another touchdown drive, pushing the margin to 12-0 despite an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt.
Saint Mary answered just before halftime with a quick scoring drive to cut the deficit to 12-7, completing a touchdown pass and converting the extra point with a rush.
Graceland responded in the second half with efficient offensive drives and improved defensive pressure. A 75-yard scoring drive in the third quarter extended the lead to 18-7, and the Yellowjackets added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter following a short three-play possession that sealed the 24-7 victory.
Quarterback Sierra Flores led the Graceland offense, completing 20-of-36 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns while also contributing on the ground with 50 rushing yards on 11 attempts. Flores consistently moved the offense with quick reads and short passing routes, helping the Yellowjackets maintain offensive balance.
In the receiving game, Jaida Lammie led the team with 11 receptions for 75 yards, serving as a primary short-route target throughout the contest. Ahmari Byrd added five receptions for 43 yards, while Sydney Gann recorded a 38-yard touchdown reception that provided a key scoring play in the second half.
Graceland finished the game with 237 yards of total offense on 52 plays, including 182 passing yards and 55 rushing yards. The offense also converted multiple extended possessions, recording 10 first downs while controlling the pace of the game.
Defensively, the Yellowjackets generated consistent disruption. Graceland recorded five sacks and three interceptions, limiting Saint Mary to 149 yards of total offense and just 11 rushing yards on 19 attempts. The defensive unit also produced three interception returns totaling 17 yards, creating multiple momentum swings throughout the contest.
Following the game, Graceland head coach Aaron Richardson emphasized the importance of continuing to refine execution despite the positive result.
"It's always good to come away with a win, especially on the road, and I'm proud of how our players competed tonight," Richardson said. "At the same time, we know there are still areas where we need to improve our execution. In flag football, the details matter — route timing, defensive leverage, pulling flags in space and finishing drives. We saw some good things from our group, but we also know we have to keep building consistency if we want to continue progressing throughout the season. Our players understand that the standard is to keep improving every week with the expectation we're playing our best football at the end of the season."
The Yellowjackets now turn their attention to their upcoming home opener as conference play begins this weekend.
Graceland will host Ottawa University on Saturday, March 14 at 1:00 p.m. CDT at Huntsman Field in Lamoni, Iowa. The matchup marks the first home contest of the season for the Yellowjackets and the opening game of conference play.
Graceland will look to build on its early-season momentum while continuing to sharpen execution in both phases of the game.
For more information on the Graceland women's flag football team and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.