OTTAWA, Kan. — Southwestern closed its season Friday with a 31-19 loss to Kansas Wesleyan at AdventHealth Field.
The Builders finished (8-6) (5-5), battling back multiple times before Kansas Wesleyan (11-2) (8-2) pulled away late.
Mary Jones led Southwestern with a strong all-around performance, catching five passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns while adding 23 rushing yards. Kenndi Hayes threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns, including a 36-yard scoring strike to Jones in the first quarter and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Vivianna Solis in the second.
Solis also made an impact on both sides of the ball, completing 8 of 9 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, catching five passes for 60 yards and a score, and adding five tackles with two pass breakups.
Southwestern answered Kansas Wesleyan's opening touchdown when Hayes connected with Jones to tie the game at 7. The Builders later took a 13-7 lead on Hayes' touchdown pass to Solis, and Devina Lytle's interception near the goal line helped send the game into halftime tied at 13.
After Kansas Wesleyan went ahead in the third quarter, Southwestern responded with a seven-play, 66-yard drive capped by Solis' 12-yard touchdown pass to Jones, tying the game at 19.
Kansas Wesleyan scored the final 12 points, including a 39-yard touchdown pass from Chihiro Iwata to Jenise Washington late in the third and a 4-yard touchdown pass to Yui Watanabe in the fourth.
Lilibeth Rico led Southwestern defensively with 11 tackles and a pass breakup. Kennedy Wesley added six tackles, while Lytle recorded an interception and two pass breakups.
Southwestern totaled 276 yards of offense, including 251 through the air, and committed only one penalty in the season finale.
