Final: Southwestern 19, Cottey 0
Cottey College hit the road Tuesday night for a KCAC matchup at Southwestern, falling 19–0 in a game defined by short‑field situations and early momentum swings. Despite a tough offensive night, the Comets battled defensively and produced several standout individual performances.
First Half – Southwestern Capitalizes on Short Fields
Southwestern struck quickly in the opening quarter, turning a short field into a 13‑0 lead with touchdown drives of just 17 and 32 yards. The Comets' defense forced long‑yardage situations early, but the Moundbuilders continued to benefit from advantageous field position.
In the second quarter, Southwestern added a third score — a 7‑yard touchdown pass — to extend the lead to 19–0 at halftime. Cottey's defense tightened from that point forward, holding Southwestern scoreless the rest of the way.
Second Half – Defensive Adjustments Shine
The Comets delivered their strongest defensive stretch after halftime, forcing incompletions, limiting explosive plays, and generating turnovers. Xitlali Botts led the charge with 11 tackles and two interceptions, showcasing elite range and instincts in the secondary.
Dominique Derraco‑Franklin added six tackles, while Jonalynn Tolentino and Aryah Alexander each contributed key stops to help keep Southwestern off the board in the third and fourth quarters.
Offensive Notes
Cottey struggled to find rhythm offensively against a high‑pressure Southwestern defense that recorded nine tackles for loss.
Offensive highlights included:
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Aryah Alexander: 1 catch for 3 yards, plus a 4‑yard rush
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Xitlali Botts: 1 reception
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Dominique Derraco‑Franklin: 3 receptions
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Monica Blanc: 2 rushes for positive yardage
Quarterback Raniya Griffin finished with 96 passing yards, though negative yardage from sacks impacted the final totals.
Defensive Standouts
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Xitlali Botts: 11 tackles, 2 INT
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Dominique Derraco‑Franklin: 6 tackles
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Jonalynn Tolentino: 5 tackles
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Aryah Alexander: 4 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Cottey finished with 29 total tackles and forced three turnovers, including Botts' two interceptions and a third pick by the defense.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, the Comets showed resilience and defensive growth, particularly in the second half. Cottey returns home looking to regroup, build on its takeaway production, and continue developing offensive consistency as conference play continues.
