St. Ambrose Football

Bees Avoid Upset Bid

Despite losing in time of possession and being out-gained 296-270, the Fighting Bees were able to force two Trojan turnovers and thwart two field goal attempts to hold on 24-14.

Trailing 7-0 after the first period, the Bees rattled off seventeen second quarter points to take a 17-7 halftime lead. Brock Dodson returned a Kelly Tappenbeck kickoff 65 yards to set up a Kyle Korth 3-yard touchdown reception from Jim DuPage. After a 3 and out by the Trojans, the Bees responded with a 5-play, 58-yard drive, capped off by a 38-yard touchdown run by Vernon Reed. The Bees defense stepped up again, forcing another Trinity punt, and the offense responded with 3 more points courtesy of a 21-yard field goal from Evan Gutierrez.

With 2:20 remaining in the the half, the Trojans started on their own 34-yard line, but quickly invaded Bee territory. Following a pair of Ryan Thorson passes, one to Deon Dukes for 34 yards and one to Kenneth Danzle for 13 yards, the Trojans offense crept to the Bees 17 yard-line with 56 seconds left in the half. On the very next play, linebacker Kellen Driscoll forced a Ryan Thorson fumble and Chad Otdoerfer recovered at the Bees 24 yard-line to end the Trojans scoring threat.

The Trojans picked up right where they left off on their first possession of the second half. Following a 3 and out for the Bees, the Trojans countered with a 14 play, 68 yard drive, capped off by a Ryan Thorson 4-yard run to bring the score to 17-14 midway through the third quarter.

With the Trojans gaining momentum, the Bees turned to their running game to control the pace, and put together their most impressive drive of the game. SAU took away all momentum by pounding the run with Vernon Reed. On a 12 play, 74 yard drive, Reed rushed the ball seven times for three Bees first downs while averaging 7 yards a carry. Reed got the ball to the Trinity 8-yard line before DeQuinn Watford put the on finishing touches with an 8 yard touchdown run.

The Trojans kept battling back, but a pair of missed field goals kept the Bees out of harms way. Kelly Tappenbec missed a 43 yard field goal, and had a 21 yard attempt blocked in the final minutes of the game.

Reed finished with a 150 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown. DuPage connected on 12 of 23 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The Bees defense held the Trojans to just 5 yards of rushing on 29 attempts while forcing two turnovers. Kellen Driscoll paced the defense with 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and a forced fumbled. Chance Jenkins added 8 tackles, one for loss, and a ten yard sack.

The Bees, 7-0, 6-0 in the MSFA, host a non-conference match-up with Waldorf on the 28th, 1p.m. at Brady Street Stadium.

Box Score