Fighting Bees Sting Hawks, Win Opener

By: Ryan Holtmann 

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The weather outside was frightful, but the play inside Brady St. Stadium was delightful for the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees. 

Head coach Todd Sturdy could not have been more pleased with the way his team opened up the 2003 season than with the romp he and his team put on the Quincy Hawks in a 34-7 Fighting Bees victory.

Numerous Fighting Bees made their debuts while others proved why they are seasoned veterans.

Andy Ford got things started for the Fighting Bees (1-0) returning a Pat Bradfield 34 yard punt 46 yards down to the Hawks six-yard line, setting up Joe Schimmel who scampered in untouched for the Fighting Bees first score.  Kicker Matt Webster missed the ensuing extra point.

Webster would make up for the early mistake, kicking three of his four field goals in the first half, two from 22 yards, the other from 25.  He would later add a 35-yard field goal as well.  

Webster’s first field goal came after University of Iowa transfer Chris Burhans blocked Bradfield’s punt that was picked up by St. Ambrose’s Luke Perry and returned to the Hawks 30-yard line.

The Hawks would score after Webster’s first field goal, a drive that went 12 plays for 70 yards capped by LeVar Ammons four-yard rush for the touchdown, which cut the Fighting Bees lead to 9-7.

After marching down the field, Fighting Bees quarterback Jeff Kietzman threw an interception into the end zone as time expired in the first quarter.  Hawks defensive back Bill Survillion made the diving catch and downed the ball in the end zone.

Fighting Bees linebacker Mike Aussieker would return the favor, intercepting a Matthew Wehrle pass and returning it 19 yards to the Hawks 11-yard line.

Aussieker finished the game tops in tackles with ten, three assisted, as well as a tackle for a loss, the interception and a pass deflection. 

The Bees would fail to get into the end zone, however and Webster kicked his second field goal, giving the Bees a 12-7 lead.

The Fighting Bees would travel 81 yards on 14 plays to setup Webster’s third field goal of the half, giving the Bees a 15-7 lead going into the locker room.

Webster also missed a 41-yarder late in the second quarter.

Burhans would get his first reception of the year and it was a big one.  Burhans hauled in a 55-yard pass from Kietzman to give the Fighting Bees a 22-7 lead with 10:29 to go in the third quarter.

Kietzman finished the day 7-of-13 for 127 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

“Today was touch (battling the weather) but they had to play in the same conditions too,” Kietzman said of his debut.  “The offensive line played great today, they deserve all of the credit.”

“I thought that Jeff played a great game,” Sturdy added.  “He did some good things, the interception was his only mistake and the ball was wet, so you can’t fault him for that.

“But he kept his head, he didn’t panic or do all those things that you normally get out of when you have a new guy out there.”

After the Fighting Bees defense forced another Hawks punt, one that was fair caught at the Bees 45-yard line, Schimmel got the call again.  He would take the pitch and rush 55 yards for the score.

Schimmel finished the day with 180 yards on 19 carries, two touchdowns while hauling in three passes for 26 yards.  Schimmel was named the Game MVP and Offensive Player of the Game.

“I am pretty proud at how well I played, but I tell ya, the line up front did a great job,” Schimmel said.  “I have been waiting for this day since I got here, playing behind Nate (Norman) and Brandon (Adolphs).

“I waited my time and picked up some things from them along the way and it all worked out.”

“Joe Schimmel came to play today, he played like a veteran player,” Sturdy added.

After the Fighting Bees took the 29-7 lead and the defense forced the Hawks to punt again, JUCO transfer Larry Williams saw action at the tailback position, giving Schimmel a rest.

The move was a smart one as Williams did almost as much damage as Schimmel did.  Williams rushed 17 times for 139 yards in his first game as a Fighting Bee. 

After Webster added the 35-yard field goal, Aaron Washington blocked a Hawks punt that rolled into the end zone and went for a safety.

The Fighting Bees out gained the Hawks 491-238 and controlled the clock, having possession of the ball for 33:13 of the game.

“There were a lot of good things,” Sturdy said.  “We did sputter a little bit there, but it is our first game.

“We played well, I was pretty happy with both sides of the ball especially with all the new faces that we had in there and those kids did a good job.”

The Fighting Bees will now travel to Forest City, Iowa to take on the Waldorf Warriors at 1:00 p.m.

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