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DUBUQUE, Iowa – St. Ambrose Fighting Bees defensive back
Johnny Dickens has not had two interceptions in one game since high
school. He has never intercepted two passes on his birthday. All of that changed on Saturday in the Fighting Bees 16-14
come from behind victory over historic archrival Loras at the Rock Bowl in
front of over 5,000 fans. The win reclaimed the Victory Bell for the
Fighting Bees. It was the first time the two teams have played in 21
years. “It’s a great win, they are a good football team,”
Fighting Bees coach Todd Sturdy said. “There were a couple of things
that I was worried about coming into this. Seeing how they were 7-3 a year
ago and with all of those guys back, a ton of seniors, a game under their
belt, I was concerned about that.” Dickens’ two interceptions, along with a blocked punt,
seven sacks and committing no turnovers while forcing three were the keys
to the Fighting Bees victory. Loras, who started their season a week prior with a 43-7 win
over Concordia (Ill.), started the game off well. Forcing St. Ambrose to a
three-and-out on their first possession, Loras took their first possession
and marched down the field on eight plays, traveling 71 yards, which was
capped by a Jeremy Brown 3-yard touchdown run. St.
Ambrose then had trouble moving the ball on their next possession. Loras
took over and began to march down the field. Then Dickens began to
celebrate his 23rd birthday. Facing
a second-and-10 from the St. Ambrose 31-yard line, Loras looked to the
aerial attack. Loras quarterback Matt Hintz dropped back and threw a pass
to the right side, one that Dickens would step in front of the Loras
receiver and picked off the pass. The
Fighting Bees offense still struggled to push deep into Loras territory,
but the defense was sparked by Dickens’ interception. With Loras taking
over still maintaining the 7-0 lead, the Fighting Bees defense stepped up
and forced the Duhawks to punt. Jake
Schisler’s punt sailed 42 yards only to have Andy Ford return it 59
yards to the Loras 28-yard line. Five plays later, kicker Matt Webster
drilled a 29-yard field goal to cut the Duhawks lead to 7-3. The Ford
return and Webster field goal sparked the offense. The
start of the second half was dominated by the Fighting Bees defense, which
did not allow a Loras first down the entire third quarter. After forcing a
three-and-out on the Duhawks second possession, the Duhawks were forced to
punt again. This
time Chris Burhans broke through the line and stuffed Schisler’s punt.
Tim Turkowski recovered the ball for the Fighting Bees at the Loras
25-yard line. Three plays later, St. Ambrose faced a third-and-one at the
Loras 16-yard line. The Fighting Bees stacked the line of scrimmage and
appeared as if they were going to power the ball up the middle. But
Fighting Bees coach Todd Sturdy went into his bag of tricks, faked the run
and had Burhans slip past the secondary, who was wide open in the endzone
for the go ahead score. “On
that play it is designed for me to be that wide open,” Burhans said. Loras
then began to attack the Fighting Bees defense to start the fourth
quarter, but that only lasted seven plays. Fighting Bees defensive end
Shawn Giffin had back-to-back sacks of Hintz, the second he forced the
ball out of Hintz’ hands, which Jacob Brower recovered for St. Ambrose. Giffin
finished the day with a game-high 10.5 tackles, two sacks and a forced
fumble. Fighting
Bees running back Larry Williams then refused to be tackled on a 27-yard
touchdown run to put the Fighting Bees up 16-7 after the partially blocked
extra point that just missed. Williams finished the day with 108 rushing
yards on 11 carries and the score. On
the ensuing Loras possession, they began to march down the field yet
again, just as they did to start the game. But it was Dickens again who
would halt the Duhawks drive, this time picking the ball off in the
Duhawks endzone with just over six minutes remaining in the game. “There’s
11 guys on the field (on defense), I don’t want to talk,” Dickens said
as he credited the entire defensive unit for his big day. “I was just
doing my job like the coach wanted me to, guarded my man, (Hintz) threw
the ball and I was there to make the play. “Make
plays, that is the object of this game, and it’s to make plays. I just
happened to be in the right place at the right time.” “I
thought that he was going to run it out. I was right next to him and I was
about to tackle him,” Giffin said jokingly. “But I am glad that he
took a knee.” The
Fighting Bees then ate up the clock before having to punt the ball away,
pushing Loras back to its own 27-yard line. Using
almost two minutes, the Duhawks pulled within two after Hintz connected
with Matt Burds for a 17-yard score. Loras then set up for the onside
kick, which took a high bounce and after bouncing off two St. Ambrose
players, finally found the hands of Fighting Bees tight end Jason Lynch. “Our
defense made them drive the field at the end, kind of ‘bend, but don’t
break,’” Sturdy said. “I would have liked to not see it get in the
endzone on the last play.” There
are talks that the two-year contract for the two teams to play football
could be extended for a longer period to keep the rivalry alive. If Sturdy
has his way, the two would play every year. “Two
schools an hour apart, both Catholic schools, it’s a natural rivalry,”
Sturdy said. “I’d love to see (the contract) renewed. I like an away
game an hour away.” The
Fighting Bees will have their home opener this Saturday at Brady Street
Stadium, when they welcome the Waldorf Warriors to town. Last season in
Forrest City, the Fighting Bees won 70-0. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Return to the Football Homepage |
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518 West Locust
Street, Davenport, IA 52803 |
