Keiser University Athletics

No. 3 Keiser University came within minutes of its first NAIA Flag Football National Championship on Saturday, but a late fourth-quarter touchdown sent No. 1 Warner University to a 13-6 victory at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
 
Keiser set the tone early, controlling play on both sides of the ball and striking first in the opening quarter. Quarterback Ava Wallace led an eight-play, 63-yard drive and connected with Ashlea Klam on a four-yard touchdown pass to give the Seahawks a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Keiser's defense backed up the score, forcing Warner into multiple punts and keeping the nation's top-ranked team off the scoreboard throughout the first half.
 
The Seahawks dominated possession and field position in the opening two quarters and had several chances to extend their lead. Keiser reached deep into Warner territory twice in the second quarter, including a goal-to-go situation, but came away empty after an interception in the end zone and a turnover on downs at the Warner two-yard line. Despite outgaining Warner at halftime, Keiser settled for a 6–0 lead at the break.
 
Warner tied the game early in the second half, but Keiser continued to battle in a defensive struggle defined by tight coverage and physical flag pulls. Wallace consistently moved the offense through the air, spreading the ball among multiple receivers and sustaining long drives. Dakota Moberg and Sophia Caprio were key targets throughout the game, helping the Seahawks flip the field repeatedly.
 
The turning point came late in the fourth quarter. After Keiser forced a turnover on downs and appeared poised to regain control, Warner capitalized on a short field and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:42 remaining. Trailing by seven, Keiser mounted one final drive, advancing into Warner territory and threatening to tie the game. The Seahawks' comeback bid was halted by an interception in the final seconds, sealing an agonizingly close championship defeat.
 
Wallace finished an outstanding performance with 253 passing yards and a touchdown, completing nearly 40 passes while directing the offense against one of the nation's top defensive units. Moberg led Keiser with 10 receptions for 84 yards, while Caprio added 10 catches for 52 yards. Defensively, Keiser was anchored by Hannah Jayes, who recorded a team-high 10 tackles, and Moberg, who also contributed a sack.
 

• Keiser ends the year with a 16-5 record
• Keiser moves to 20-7 all-time in the NAIA postseason play 
• The Seahawks are now 10-4 all-time versus Warner
• The Seahawks are 8-5 versus ranked opponents this season
• The Seahawks outgained the Royals, 239-151
• Ava Wallace finished her freshman campaign with 79 touchdowns with a school-record 5,690 yards 
• Dakota Moberg finished the day with eight flag pulls to finish the year with a school-record 175 flag pulls
• Hannah Jayes recorded a career-high 10 flag pulls in the contest