St. Ambrose Football

Bees Break Record, Clinch Title

The St. Ambrose Fighting Bees put together their most complete game of the season in a dominating win over league rival St. Francis (IL), 55-3 on Senior Day. With the victory, the Bees clinched at least a share of the MSFA Midwest title and can win it outright with a win next week against Olivet Nazarene.

Besides a share of the title, the Bees also broke the mark for most consecutive wins to open a season. The 65 year-old record had stood since the 1940 team won their first eight games before tying in the regular season finale, 0-0.

The Bees got on the board early and often as Tim Turkowski got the Bees on the board with an 11-yard touchdown reception from Jim DuPage. Less than a minute later, the Bees would find the endzone again as Kellen Driscoll picked off a Matt Ladd pass and took it 37 yards to put the Bees up 14-0.

Following a 3 and out for the St. Francis Fighting Saints, the Bees took over on their own 16 yard line. After a pair of runs by Vernon Reed, Jim DuPage was sacked for a 17 yard loss and coughed up the ball. SFU took over at the Bees two yard line and the defense was able to keep running back Jeremiah Jobe out of the endzone. St. Francis settled for its only points of the game on a 24 yard field goal from Nick Herberer.

On the ensuing drive, the Bees picked up big gain after big gain. After a pair 10 11 yard runs by Reed, DuPage hit Kyle Korth for a 31 yard touchdown strike. Gutierrez added the extra point and later hit a 23 yard field goal to bring the Bees to a 24-3 lead at halftime.

The second half began how the first half ended with Gutierrez connecting from 42 yards out for another Bee field goal. The Bees and the Saints traded field position for most of the third quarter before the Bees were able to capitalize on a 60 yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 31 yard Jim DuPage touchdown throw to DeQuinn Watford to put the Bees up front 34-3.

After Watford's score, the Fighting Saints went into panic mode and the Bees took advantage. 3 plays later, Ben Sacco intercepted the Andy Ladd pass and walked into the endzone behind an enclave of Fighting Bees.

The Bees held the Fighting Saints to a 3 and out and forced a point. Returner Justin Harris set the Bees up with good field position, returning the ball 13 yards to the Saint Ambrose 43 yard line. The Bees put in speedy back Josh Jackson to replace Reed and he found the endzone after just 3 short runs. After gains of 7 and 37 and his first two carries, Jackson finished the drive with a touchdown run form 13 yards out.

The Fighting Bees scored 17 points in seven minutes to put the game out of reach for good.

The Bees won the battle of the front lines, gaining 313 yards by ground and 160 by air. The bees defense held St. Francis to just 54 yards of offense and forced 4 Saints turnovers.

The Bees, now 9-0 and 7-0 in the MSFA will head to Bourbannis, IL next week to finish the regular season against Olivet Nazarene.

Box Score