St. Ambrose Football

Mustangs Sting Bees in Overtime

The Fighting Bees season came to a halt with a 38-31 double overtime loss to the Morningside Mustangs in the first round of the NAIA Championship Series. Faced with a 4th and 2 for their season, the Bees were stuffed on a run up the middle by Vernon Reed to end the game.

The Bees got off to a great start after Brandin Smith blocked a punt to set the Bees up with great field position at the Morningside 20. Following an incomplete pass, DuPage scrambled for five yards to the 13 to set up a 30 yard Evan Gutierrez field goal.

Later in the first period, the Bees were putting together a drive when a Jim DuPage pass was broke up and intercepted by Chris Kuehl at the Bees 28. A personal foul penalty on the Bees placed it on their own 14 and the Mustangs finished the drive with a 26 yard field goal to even the score 3-3.

The Bees put the pressure on the Mustangs to start the second quarter by scoring on two straight possessions. The first drive was set up by a Chance Jenkins interception to put the Bees at Morningside 35. The Bees wasted no time scoring as DeQuinn Watford scampered 4 yards to the end zone on a five play, two minute drive.

On the following Bee possession, St. Ambrose scored in 1:38 on a three play drive ,capped off by a 41 yard touchdown run by Vernon Reed.

All seemed well as the Bees took an easy 17-3 lead into the half.

Then, the Mustangs offense sprang to life.

In under 12 minutes of play, the Mustangs put together three consecutive scoring drives in the third quarter to put them ahead 24-17 to end the third quarter.

After five straight possessions without points, the Bees put together another quick scoring drive. Taking over at their own 43, Jim DuPage took over connecting on a 16 yard pass to DeQuinn Watford and a 40 yard touchdown pass to Kyle Korth.

Tied at 24, the Bees were able to force a Mustangs punt with just under two minutes to play, but the offense could not get anything going. Following their punt, the Mustangs took a knee to force overtime.

The Bees took the ball in overtime and looked like the team from the first half, moving the ball with ease. Reed rushed for gains of 8, 7 and 4 to put the Bees inside the five. Sensing Reed would get the ball again, Morningside brought the blitz and Jim DuPage hit tight end Tyler Driscoll for the score. Driscoll was initially stuffed at the 2 yard-line but muscled himself in for the score and the lead.

Morningside returned the favor with a quick score of their own. Tim Richard connected on three straight passes, hitting Chris Becker for the score from two yards out.

As overtime rules dictate, the Mustangs took the field on offense again and scored quickly. Nick Reigle rushed for a gain of 11 and 14 to put the Mustangs up 38-31.

The Bees had one final shot but came up short on their return drive when the Mustangs defense stuffed Reed short of the first down.

The Bees (10-1) concluded their season with the loss against the Mustangs. Morningside (9-2) will move on the quarterfinals of the NAIA Championship Series at a site and time to be determined.

Box Score