BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - Illinois Wesleyan won its home opener against Benedictine, 39-0, at Tucci Stadium on March 28, 2026. (Photo by Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative)

Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative

Flag Football Splits at Flag Fest

Nunez throws four touchdowns in win over Rockford

4/11/2026 5:41:00 PM

LISLE, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University flag football team ended its 2026 road campaign with a split at Flag Fest, hosted by Benedictine University. The Titans picked up a 33-7 win over Rockford University before dropping its second game of the doubleheader to College of Dupage Saturday, April 11. The Titans now sit at 8-4 on the season.

Game One: Illinois Wesleyan 33, Rockford 7
Freshman Maylin Nunez (Chicago, Ill.-Taft) led the IWU offense with 16 completed passes on 22 attempts, good for 206 yards through the air. Nunez completed four touchdown passes on just one interception. She also led the Titans in rushing yards with 23 on 10 attempts.

Freshman Deanna Cirebea (Bartlett, Ill.-Bartlett) was the Titans top receiver with 90 yards of offense and two touchdowns. Freshman Lily Greenfield (Lindenhurst, Ill.-Lakes Community) also had two touchdowns in the game with 57 yards of offense on four receptions. Freshman Natalyia Stallings (Rockford, Ill.-Guilford) had the longest reception of the game at 44 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, freshman Nakilah Mason (Chicago, Ill.-Chicago Military Academy) had a career-high 11 flag pulls, including three for a loss.

An interception from freshman Zoey Vasquez (Independence, Mo.-William Chrisman) on the first Rockford (3-6) drive of the game gave IWU offensive possession midway through the first quarter. The Titan offense quickly went four-and-out, but the Green and White defense forced a punt to give Illinois Wesleyan possession with a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Nunez found Greenfield streaking downfield for a 41-yard touchdown pass at the first quarter buzzer. Nunez made quick work of the two-point conversion attempt, punching it in the endzone for a 9-0 Titan advantage.

Wasting no time, the Titan offense took over at the Rockford 32-yard line with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Nunez completed her second touchdown pass of the day, this time a 32-yarder to Cirebea for a 15-0 IWU edge.

Following an interception from freshman Layah Glover (Gurnee, Ill.-Round Lake), the Titan offense took over again less than a minute later. Nunez rushed it in herself this time as the Green and White extended its lead to 21-nil.

Nunez and Stallings connected with a minute remaining on a 44-yard pass to put IWU in excellent field position with under a minute remaining in the first half. Greenfield was the recipient of a short pass from the Titan quarterback as IWU took a 27-0 lead headed into halftime.

A quiet second half saw each team score once as IWU took a 33-7 win over the Regents.

Game Two: Illinois Wesleyan 0, COD 13
Official stats were not kept for the Titans 13-0 loss against College of DuPage. COD climbs to 3-6 on the season.

The Titans will end their 2026 season inside the friendly confines of Tucci Stadium in Bloomington, Ill. starting with a double feature against Rockford and Marian Sunday, April 19. Start times for the twin bill are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

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