Late Wilson-to-McFarland Strike Lifts Reinhardt Over Graceland, 25-19
WALESKA, Ga. — A late touchdown connection from Alexus Wilson to Bleu A. McFarland capped a fourth-quarter drive and lifted Reinhardt (GA) to a 25-19 comeback win over Graceland in women's flag football Saturday afternoon in Waleska.
With the game tied 19-19 in the final minutes, the Eagles marched down the field behind Wilson's arm and composure. The junior quarterback finished the decisive drive by finding McFarland on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 1:03 remaining, breaking the deadlock and giving Reinhardt a 25-19 advantage that held through the final whistle.
Wilson turned in a standout performance for the Eagles, completing 27 of 40 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns while adding 38 rushing yards on 12 carries. After Reinhardt fell behind 13-0 early in the second quarter, Wilson ignited the offense with a 16-yard scoring strike to Destiny Smith at the 8:33 mark of the second quarter. She later found Mya McRae for a 38-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in the half, a play that flipped the scoreboard and sent Reinhardt into the break with a 19-13 lead.
Graceland controlled the opening stretch behind quarterback Sierra Flores. Flores finished 26-for-44 passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns, adding 37 yards on the ground. She opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jaida Lammie in the first quarter, then extended the lead in the second with a 2-yard touchdown toss to Ahmari Byrd for a 13-0 cushion after a missed point-after attempt.
The Eagles' defense tightened after the early surge, limiting Graceland to just six points over the final two quarters and creating the pivotal takeaway late. Smith delivered perhaps the biggest defensive play of the afternoon when she intercepted Flores at the Reinhardt 30-yard line with 16 seconds remaining, returning it 2 yards to effectively seal the win after the Eagles' go-ahead score. Smith's interception complemented her offensive impact, highlighted by her 16-yard touchdown reception that sparked Reinhardt's comeback in the second quarter.
Lammie led Graceland's skill players with six receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown while also adding 19 rushing yards and a 4-yard scoring run midway through the fourth quarter that tied the game at 19-19. That drive briefly swung momentum back to Graceland before Wilson and the Eagles responded with the final, decisive march. Reinhardt finished with 311 yards of total offense on 55 plays, averaging 5.7 yards per snap, while Graceland totaled 263 yards on 60 plays.
Reinhardt also received a productive outing from receiver Blye Townsell, who hauled in seven passes for 65 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles leaned on a deep passing attack that produced four receiving scores. The win showcased Reinhardt's resiliency on its home field, with the Eagles overcoming a double-digit first-half deficit and delivering key plays on both sides of the ball in the closing minutes to secure the nonconference victory.