The women’s flag football team, Simply Marvelous, won the Swamp Bowl Tournament this weekend. It was the team’s fifth Swamp Bowl title.
The team placed second the two previous times and won all the tournaments from 1996 to 1999. Simply Marvelous also had three players make the all-tournament team.
The first day the team beat West Florida 33-12 and Florida Atlantic 33-6. They cruised through the first day of competition with a strong passing attack and stiff defense.
Freshman quarterback, Ericca Collins shined throughout the tournament and earned tournament MVP honors. Collins accounted for 14 total touchdowns throughout the tournament, throwing for twelve and rushing for two.
“We all played well together as a team and I am honored to be an asset to Simply Marvelous,” Collins said.
The team turned up its intensity the second day, and the defense pitched two straight shutouts. Simply Marvelous won its semifinal game against the University of South Florida 26-0 and the final game against University of Central Florida 26-0 as well.
The defense was stifling through the two games, accounting for six interceptions on Sunday. The other freshman starter, Kimbryana Lewis also had a big weekend, catching five touchdown passes and intercepting six passes from the other team. She was also named to the all-tournament team.
Senior receiver Carmen Jones made the all-tournament team, catching three touchdowns and scoring over six times for the tournament.
“Carmen is kind of coming out of her shell,” head coach Marvin Green said.
“We have been really working hard this season,” Jones said. “This tournament let them know we mean business.”
“We pride ourselves in tournament play,” Green said.
The girls swept through the tournament and Green said the tournament was a good starting point.
When asked about the freshman starters, Green said, “I’m excited about the future of our program.”
“We are primed and ready to make a run for the national championships in New Orleans and at the University of Texas,” Jimmy Witherspoon said, assistant coach and marketing director for campus recreation.
The team is off to a good start and this season could produce another set of national championships.