MIDDLETOWN, Pa.- The Keystone College women's flag football team kicked off their inaugural season with a 55-6 loss to Penn State Harrisburg on Wednesday evening.
Penn State Harrisburg built an 18-0 lead in the opening quarter and never looked back. Quarterback Nadia King accounted for eight total touchdowns with six through the air and two on the ground, while also making an impact defensively with three interceptions, including a pick-six.
The Nittany Lions opened the scoring on their first possession with a 40-yard touchdown pass from King to Jordan Carpenter.
Moments later, King stepped in front of a Keystone pass and returned it 15 yards for a score. A 22-yard touchdown reception by Mi-La Guest extended the lead to 18-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Keystone found its rhythm early in the second quarter with its best drive of the night. Starting late in the first quarter and carrying into the second, the Giants marched 42 yards on seven plays. Quarterback Nataly Bermudez (Las Vegas, NV/Valley) capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to put Keystone on the board and trim the deficit to 18-6 after the conversion attempt failed.
Penn State Harrisburg responded with 19 second-quarter points to take a 37-6 lead into halftime. King threw two touchdown passes in the period and added a scoring run, while the Nittany Lions' defense continued to pressure the Giants' offense.
The Nittany Lions added one touchdown in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to account for the final score.
Keystone finished with 17 yards of total offense. Bermudez completed 8 of 29 passes for 51 yards and rushed for a team-high 20 yards and a touchdown. Victoria Alvarez (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) led the Giants with two receptions for 20 yards, while Tayana Bibbins (Lincoln, Del./Sussex Technical) added two catches for 10 yards.
Defensively, Hailee Hackett (Carmicahel, Calif./Rio Americano) recorded a team-high nine tackles for Keystone. Malina Alexander (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton Area) added three tackles and a sack.
Penn State Harrisburg totaled 249 yards of offense, including 166 through the air. Carpenter hauled in two touchdown receptions and finished with 86 receiving yards, while Guest added two scores of her own.
Keystone (0-1, 0-1 United East) will prepare for their home opener on Monday, Mar. 16 against Elmira College.
