TEMPE - The Grand Canyon University (GCU) Lopes women’s flag football team took part in the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley, a groundbreaking two-day 7-on-7 national collegiate tournament held April 18-19, 2026, at Arizona State University’s Fields at Dorsey on the Tempe campus.
In pool play on Saturday, the Lopes faced a tough slate against three powerhouse opponents and came up short in all three contests:
That resulted in a combined point differential of -128 across the three games.Offensively, the Lopes looked shaky at times. Pressure frequently got to senior quarterback Ella Bernier, forcing hurried and inaccurate throws that led to interceptions. However, she scrambled well. Against USC, missed opportunities in goal-to-go situations as time expired in both the second and fourth quarters proved costly. In one instance, the defense forced a quick turnover, only for the offense to give the ball right back, helping USC build a 21-point lead before halftime.
On the defensive side, the Lopes showed flashes of promise. Freshman Wylann Smith generated key pressures and sacks, disrupting opposing offenses and even forcing a pick. However, the sluggish offense and inaccurate passing put extra strain on the defense, leaving them vulnerable to deep plays and big touchdowns. Despite the difficult day, the Lopes are hoping to bounce back on Sunday as the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic continues at ASU in Tempe.
Watch CNNs interview with defe sive player Wylann Smith Now.
In pool play on Saturday, the Lopes faced a tough slate against three powerhouse opponents and came up short in all three contests:
- vs. Georgia: 61-0 loss
- vs. USC: 31-8 loss
- vs. UCF: 44-0 loss
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| OB Ella Bernier dodged defenders |
On the defensive side, the Lopes showed flashes of promise. Freshman Wylann Smith generated key pressures and sacks, disrupting opposing offenses and even forcing a pick. However, the sluggish offense and inaccurate passing put extra strain on the defense, leaving them vulnerable to deep plays and big touchdowns. Despite the difficult day, the Lopes are hoping to bounce back on Sunday as the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic continues at ASU in Tempe.
Watch CNNs interview with defe sive player Wylann Smith Now.
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