ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Rockford University women's flag football team fell to the Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats, 42-12, at Sam Greeley Field on Monday afternoon.
Quentasia Mills was the straw that stirred the drink offensively for Rockford. She ran the ball 23 times for 122 yards and a touchdown. She also completed 13-of-32 passes for 144 yards, with a touchdown and four picks.
Mercedes Morales consistently found the open space in the zone from the slot, catching eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Maureen Shelton added four catches for 42 yards.
On the other side of the ball, it was
Gina Neils who led the way with seven flags pulled. Shelton had five flag pulls, two pass breakups and an interception.
Kezia Jolicoeur finished with three sacks.
The Bobcats started with the ball and wasted no time putting points on the board. Nyanoang Gatchang connected with Aolani Andrade for a 59-yard touchdown on their third play from scrimmage. Their two-point try was successful to make it 8-0.
The Regents answered right back on their ensuing drive. Mills made multiple explosive plays with her legs and finally punched it in herself in the red zone to make it 8-6.
The Bobcats enjoyed what they did on the first drive so much that they decided to replicate it. Gatchang connected on another long ball, this time to Alexa Nuckles for a 76-yard touchdown on the third play of the drive. Another successful two-point conversion put them up, 16-6.
Rockford's next drive ended with an interception in the red zone. The Bobcats capitalized, marching down the field and scoring off the Gatchang-Nuckles connection again to take a 22-6 lead.
The Regents were stuck in the mud for most of the second quarter offensively. They were able to move the ball into Bobcat territory, but couldn't capitalize. The Bobcats scored again with 2:29 left in the half and converted the two-point try to stay in the driver's seat, 30-6.
The Regents were able to put together a successful two-minute drive to end the half, culminating in a Morales four-yard catch and run touchdown from Mills as time expired to grab some momentum back at the end of the half.
There was a lot less offense in half number two. The Bobcats scored first, connecting on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Gatchang to Tiahana Guzman to extend their lead to 24.
Unfortunately for the Regents, couldn't catch up, as they were held scoreless in the second half. Gatchang's sixth touchdown pass made the score 42-12, where it stayed, as the Bobcats got back on the bus with a victory under their belt.
The Regents will return to action on Thursday, April 9, when they face Marian and UW-Oshkosh in Fond du Lac starting at 5:00 p.m CDT.
