Fighting Bees Streak Snapped by Cougars

By: Ryan Holtmann            St. Ambrose University Football Sports Information Director

November 2, 2002    5:10 p.m.

You would not have thought that a football game had just been played at Brady Street Stadium in front of a large crowd, shortly after the game ended.  It went from the loudest place in the city to the quietest as John McDowell was sacked on the final play of the game.  The No. 18 St. Xavier Cougars (4-1, 7-2) knocked off the No. 8 St. Ambrose Fighting Bees (4-1, 6-2) 24-20, stopping the Fighting Bees Mid-States Football Association Midwest League record streak at 18 consecutive conference victories.  

St. Xavier’s Casey Drown threw for 154 yards and a touchdown on 12 competitions in 20 attempts and rushed eight times for 48 yards and a touchdown.  Rodney Donley rushed 12 times for 103 yards to lead the Cougars.  

The game started off with John Miller returning Mark Whitlock’s opening kickoff all the way back for a touchdown.  St. Ambrose took over soon after, but on first down from the St. Ambrose 44-yard line, John McDowell’s pass fell short and right into the hands of John Miller who returned it seven yards to the St. Xavier 39-yard line. 

The Fighting Bees defense held their own on the next set of downs, this giving the offense the start they needed as McDowell threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Matt Walker to bring the score to 7-6 as Matt Webster’s PAT attempt was blocked. 

McDowell finished the day with 234 yards on 17 of 39 passing, throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions.  McDowell did spread the wealth completing passes to eight different receivers.  Brandon Adolphs had another tremendous day as he rushed 18 times for 160 yards.

After a St. Xavier field goal to give them a 10-6 lead, McDowell threw a strike to Joe DuPage for a 27-yard touchdown to give the Fighting Bees a 12-10 lead.  McDowell would strike again right before halftime, this time hooking up with Andy Ford for 18 yards and the touchdown to give the Fighting Bees a 20-10 lead after McDowell’s pass to Joe Schimmel was completed for the two-point conversion.

This would prove to be the last time the Fighting Bees would add points to the scoreboard.  St. Xavier came out in the second half with guns blazing as it took them seven plays to stop the Fighting Bees offense and nine plays and 78 yards to pull within three when Casey Drown ran four yards for the touchdown.

On their very next set of offensive downs the Cougars went 80 yards in four plays to take the lead on a Drown 59-yard pass completion to Jarrod Nowman.  This would be all the Cougars would need.

The Fighting Bees had two chances late in the fourth quarter but were unsuccessful in both attempts.  The game ended with McDowell being brought down at the St. Xavier 36-yard line, with Othiniel Mahone recording the sack.

Josh Embretson boomed a punt 65 yards and finished with four punts going for 157 yards.  Mark Whitlock left the game at halftime after being hit on a St. Xavier kickoff return.  Matt Webster missed his only PAT attempt.

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