LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Rockford University women's flag football team shut out Benedictine University 32-0 on a historic evening on Saturday night at Halas Hall. Saturday marked the first women's collegiate flag football game in the state of Illinois, and the Regents were dominant from start to finish. Rockford scored in every quarter and held Benedictine to just 119 yards of total offense. RU quarterback
Jennah Grice threw five touchdowns, including the first collegiate women's flag football touchdown in the state of Illinois, when she found
Clare Strong in the end zone and put Rockford out in front 6-0 late in the first quarter. The Regents tacked on two more touchdowns in the second, one in the third and one in the fourth to take a commanding lead. The defense then secured the shutout when
Ava Divis intercepted a pass with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter, as Rockford went on to win by a final score of 32-0.
- Rockford needed just 6 plays to cover 62 yards and score the game's first touchdown on the Regents' second possession of the day. Jennah Grice was 4-for-5 on the drive, including an 8-yard touchdown strike to Clare Strong to give the Regents a 6-0 lead.
- The Regents kept their momentum going with another touchdown on the very next drive. Rockford steadily moved the ball down the field until it faced a fourth and goal at the 14-yard line. Jennah Grice maneuvered her way around to buy some time until she found Tiondra Henry in the end zone for the touchdown to make it a 12-0 RU lead.
- The RU defense continued to assert itself by stopping the Eagles on fourth down. Emma Valenzuela sacked the BenU quarterback on fourth and eight to give the ball back to the Regent offense.
- It took Rockford eight plays to find the end zone for the third time in the game. Grice was once again the focal point, accounting for all 20 yards on the possession, including 12-yard touchdown strike to Mercedes Morales on fourth and goal, to extend the Regents' lead to 18-0.
- Rockford would then force its first turnover in program history on the ensuing drive. Gina Neils intercepted a Benedictine pass to send the game into the half with Rockford leading 18-0.
- The RU offense continued to pour it on with its fourth touchdown of the game late in the third quarter. Rockford went 56 yards on 7 plays, capped off by 7-yard touchdown pass from Jennah Grice to Tiondra Henry. Grice would then convert the point after to make it a 25-0 Regent lead.
- Rockford scored its final points of the game midway through the fourth quarter. Jennah Grice was a perfect 4-for-4 on the drive and hit Tiondra Henry for a 2-yard touchdown for the duos third TD connection of the game. Grice then converted the point after to extend Rockford's lead to 32-0.
- The Regent defense would then seal the shutout on an Ava Divis interception with 26 seconds left. Rockford proceeded to take a knee to run out the clock and win its first ever women's flag football game by a final score of 32-0.
- Jennah Grice was outstanding in her Regent debut. Grice went 24-of-34 for 228 yards and 5 passing touchdowns. She was also the game's leading rusher with 7 carries for 53 yards.
- Tiondra Henry caught 6 passes for 54 yards and 3 touchdowns.
- Clare Strong had 6 receptions for 64 yards and 1 touchdown.
- Mercedes Morales had 5 catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.
- Kayla Ladines led the RU defense with a team-high 6 tackles and a pass breakup.
- Gina Neils added 5 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception.
- Emma Valenzuela tallied 4 tackles, a sack and 2 pass breakups.
- Ava Divis had an interception.
