Football News - 2008-09

Bees Ranked 13th in NAIA Top 25 Spring Poll

April 20, 2009

St. Ambrose is ranked 13th in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Spring Poll released today. The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and independents.

The University of Sioux Falls, the 2008 NAIA National Champion, is the top team in the poll. The Cougars ended the Bees season in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.

St. Ambrose finished 8-4 overall in 2008 and won the MSFA Midwest League title for the third straight year. The Bees qualified for their fourth consecutive NAIA Football Championship Series appearance.

Fall 2008 Athletic Director Honor Roll Announced

Feb. 4, 2009

St. Ambrose Athletic Director Ray Shovlain announced today members of the Fall 2008 Athletic Director Honor Roll. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have had a minimum 3.0 grade-point average in the fall semester.

There were 306 total Fighting Bee student-athletes named to the honor roll. Of the group, 138 had GPAs between 3.0-3.49, 131 had GPAs between 3.5-3.99 and 37 had 4.0 GPAs.

Football
Joseph Biszewski
Nicholas Boswell
Charles Cady
Michael DuBois
John Ducey
Raymond Duncker
Jacob Eikenberry
Vincent Fillipp
Daniel Foster
Ryan Foster
Maurice Fulton
Colin Green
Kristopher Griswold
Hayden Grove
Jordan Hanrahan
Arthur Haug
Nicholas Hauge
Shane Heath
Austin Hochstetler
Michael Iazzetto
Jacob Jakaitis
Kyle Joerger
Jeremy Johnson
Alec Kiburz
David Kietzman
Brendan Koren
Kyle Korth
Chad Kron
Scott Langel
Michael LaRocco
Julian Lazzara
Andrew Lellig
Michael LeMay
Nicholas Lenz
John Michaletti
Matthew Mueller
Kristopher Penton
Jarrod Reichelt
William Rembold
Curtis Roeder
Dan Sharp
Spencer Smith
Matthew Sutton
Mason Tangen
Gavin Tigges
Benjamin Tuttle
Nicholas Vandermyde
Justin Verschoore
Alex Waterkotte
Steve Wesselhoff
Chad Wilson

Hayward, Sutton, Fillipp Earn All-American Honors

Jan. 23, 2009

Three St. Ambrose football players earned All-American honors as announced by the College Fanz Sports Network today. Wide receiver Michael Hayward was named to the first team, left tackle Matt Sutton was tabbed for the second team, and defensive tackle Vince Fillipp earned honorable mention. All three Bees earned first team all-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League honors earlier.

Hayward, a two-time all-conference selection, set SAU single-season records for receptions (88), receiving yards (1,292) and receiving touchdowns (11) this season. The sophomore from Davenport, Iowa (Bettendorf High School), finished third in the country in receiving yards at 107.7 yards per game and sixth in catches at 7.3 receptions per game. In just two years, Hayward already holds school records for career receptions (166) and career touchdown receptions (20). He is second all-time with 2,175 career receiving yards.

Fillipp, also a two-time all-conference pick, had 68 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 8 sacks in 2008. The senior from Cary, Ill. (Cary-Grove High School), forced one fumble and recovered three. Fillipp finished 50th in the nation in sacks. He is fourth all-time in SAU history with 14 career sacks and is seventh with 28.5 career tackles-for-loss.

Sutton led an offensive line that helped St. Ambrose average 24.9 points and 360.6 yards of total offense per game this season. The sophomore from San Diego, Calif. (West Hills High School), helped protect quarterback Will Ducey, who threw for 2,947 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Bees finished 19th in the country in passing offense after averaging 251.6 yards per game through the air.

St. Ambrose finished 8-4 overall in 2008 and won the MSFA Midwest League title for the third straight year. The Bees qualified for their fourth consecutive NAIA Football Championship Series appearance and saw their season end in the first round at the hands of eventual NAIA National Champion Sioux Falls (S.D.).

Formerly the Victory Sports Network (VSN) NAIA Coaches’ All-American Team, the VSN/College Fanz 2008 NAIA All-American team is selected by a group of 10 NAIA football coaches and the College Fanz Sports Network’s Jason Dannelly.

Eight Players Named to MSFA All-Academic Team

Jan. 21, 2009

The Mid-States Football Association recognized eight St. Ambrose University football players on the 2009 MSFA All-Academic Team. To be eligible for the academic all-conference team, student-athletes must hold a cumulative 3.2 grade point average, be a junior or senior and have made a contribution to the team.

St. Ambrose MSFA All-Academic selections
Name (Yr., Hometown, Major)
Will Ducey (Sr., Belleville, Ill., Business)
Colin Green (Jr., South Elgin, Ill., Management and Marketing)
Mike Iazzetto (Jr., Darien, Ill., Physical Education)
Jake Jakaitis (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Sports Management and Marketing)
Jeremy Johnson (Sr., Blue Island, Ill., Political Science and Finance)
Dave Kietzman (Sr., Eldridge, Iowa, Elementary Education)
Kyle Korth (Sr., Stockton, Ill., Exercise Science)
Mike LeMay (Jr., Sterling, Ill., History Education)

#2 Sioux Falls 28, #15 St. Ambrose 0

Nov. 22, 2008

Four turnovers are hard to overcome any time, but they are especially difficult to get around against the second-ranked team in the country. St. Ambrose found this out in a season-ending 28-0 loss at Sioux Falls (S.D.) in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

The Bees committed four turnovers, all in the first half, in closing the season with an 8-4 record.

Facing the nation's top defense, St. Ambrose found some success moving the ball in the first quarter. SAU took the opening kickoff and marched to the USF 31-yard line before an interception ended the drive. On the team's second possession, the Bees again moved into USF territory, this time the 33-yard line, before being forced to punt.

Matched against a Sioux Falls defense which led the country in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense, the SAU defense more than held its own. The Bees forced punts on the Cougars' first three possessions.

The Bees' second turnover cost the team. One play after an interception deep in SAU territory, USF threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

SAU responded by again making its way down the field before an interception in the end zone stopped the drive. Midway through the second quarter, the Bees' final turnover led to USF points. The Cougars picked off a pass and returned it 54 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead.

Sioux Falls dominated the ball in the second half. The Cougars had almost 24 minutes of possession time in the second half while the Bees had the ball for just over six minutes. USF scored single touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to account for the final score.

St. Ambrose finished with just 139 yards of total offense. Will Ducey completed 11-of-38 passes for 130 yards. Michael Hayward caught six passes for 73 yards while Austin Hochstetler hauled in three passes for 51 yards.

Sioux Falls threw for only 95 yards but finished with 217 yards on the ground in advancing to the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

Hayward Named MSFA MWL Player of the Year

Nov. 20, 2008

Winners of three straight Mid-States Football Association Midwest League crowns, St. Ambrose was honored with a league-high five first team selections on the all-conference team released on Thursday, Nov. 20. Included among the selections was Michael Hayward, who was named the league's Player of the Year.

Hayward, a sophomore wide receiver from Davenport, Iowa (Bettendorf), earned his second straight all-conference honor after setting SAU single-season records for receptions (82), receiving yards (1,219) and receiving touchdowns (11) this season. He is second in the country in receiving yards (110.8/game) and sixth in catches (7.5/game).

In just his second year, Hayward already holds school records for career receptions (160) and career touchdown receptions (20). He is second all-time with 2,102 career receiving yards.

Senior defensive tackle Vince Fillipp, from Cary, Ill. (Cary-Grove), joined Hayward as a two-time all-conference pick. Fillipp has 61 total tackles, including 11.5 tackles-for-loss and 7 sacks, in 2008. He has forced one fumble and recovered three. Fillipp is fourth all-time in school history with 13 career sacks.

Senior defensive end Mike Walter, from DeWitt, Iowa (DeWitt Central), was the second Bee defensive lineman to earn all-league honors. Walter set a school record with 12 sacks, and is tied for second with 18.5 tackles-for-loss this season. He is currently ninth in the country in tackles-for-loss (1.7/game) and 12th in sacks (0.9/game).

In his only season at SAU, senior quarterback Will Ducey, from Belleville, Ill. (Althoff Catholic), was named first team all-conference. He is in the top-five in four single-season categories - third in completions (216), third in total offense (2,798 yards), fourth in passing yards (2,817) and fourth in passing touchdowns (21). Ducey is currently 13th in the country in passing (256.1 yards/game) and 15th in total offense (254.4 yards/game).

Protecting Ducey was the Bees' final first team all-league pick, sophomore left tackle Matt Sutton, from San Diego, Calif. (West Hills). Sutton leads an offensive line that helps SAU average 27.2 points and 380.7 yards of total offense per game this season.

Junior center Mike Iazzetto, from Darien, Ill. (Downers Grove South) leads a group of five Bees who earned second team all-conference recognition.

Senior wide receiver Kyle Korth, from Stockton, Ill. (Stockton), paired with Hayward to give SAU one of the top wide receiving duos in the country. He has caught 62 passes for 830 yards and five touchdowns this season. Korth is second in SAU history with 153 career catches and third with 2,035 receiving yards.

The final three all-MSFA Midwest League second teamers came on the defensive side of the ball. Senior linebacker Hank Belshause, from Orion, Ill. (Alleman), has 67 tackles, including 11 tackles-for-loss and 2 sacks, this season. He has forced two fumbles and recovered three. Belshause has also broken up six passes and intercepted one.

Senior strong safety Kris Griswold, from Mendota, Ill. (Mendota), has been in on 59 tackles, including 7 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He has 3 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, and also blocked a kick.

Junior cornerback Colin Green, from South Elgin, Ill. (St. Charles North), leads St. Ambrose with 6 interceptions in 2008. He tied a MSFA Midwest League record by picking off three passes in SAU's 34-27 come-from-behind overtime win at Quincy. Green has 58 tackles, including 7 tackles-for-loss, and 12 pass breakups.

Senior defensive lineman Jake Jakaitis , sophomore linebacker Tyler Boyle and junior linebacker PJ Conroy earned honorable mention. Jakaitis has 59 total tackles, including 7.5 tackles-for-loss and 3 sacks. Boyle recorded 59 tackles, including 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 2 sacks, despite missing several games due to injury. Conroy leads the Bees with 86 tackles. He has 3.5 tackles-for-loss while intercepting two passes, forcing two fumbles and recovering two fumbles.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Girsch was one of three coaches to share the MSFA MWL Assistant Coach of the Year award.

St. Ambrose (8-3 overall, 6-1 MSFA MWL) will compete in the NAIA Football Championship Series for the fourth straight year. The Bees open the playoffs at #2 Sioux Falls on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The complete all-MSFA Midwest League list is available on the conference website.

Football Team Opens Playoffs at Sioux Falls (S.D.)

Nov. 17, 2008

In its fourth straight NAIA Football Championship Series appearance, St. Ambrose didn't get any breaks when the pairings were announced. The Bees will open the playoffs at #2 Sioux Falls (S.D.), a program that has reached the NAIA championship semifinals in each of the last three years and won the national championship in 2006.

The first round game on Saturday, Nov. 22, will kickoff at 12 p.m. at Bob Young Field.

St. Ambrose, ranked #15 in the recent NAIA poll released after Saturday's games, qualified for the FCS after winning the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League. The Bees won six of their final seven games to finish 8-3 overall and 6-1 in the conference. This is the 11th time SAU has advanced to the post-season playoffs, but the Bees are only 4-9 in playoff games and have lost three straight in the FCS.

St. Ambrose is tied for the third-most Championship Series appearances with eight. The team's four straight appearances is the fifth-longest active streak in the country.

The Bees will be matched against a University of Sioux Falls team that has won 32 straight home games overall. As champions of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, USF (10-0) finished the regular season undefeated for the third consecutive year. The Cougars shut out six of their 10 opponents this season and are the top ranked team in the country in most major defensive categories - scoring defense (5.7 points/game), total defense (92.9 yards/game), rushing defense (11.7 yards/game) and passing defense (81.2 yards/game).

More information on the 2008 NAIA Football Championship Series, including the complete bracket, is available on the NAIA website.

#20 St. Ambrose 28, Trinity International 0

Nov. 15, 2008

St. Ambrose got exactly what it needed Saturday afternoon - a 28-0 win at Trinity International and a 45-42 Quincy win over William Penn. With SAU holding the tie-breaker over William Penn, the Fighting Bees were likely headed to the NAIA Football Championship Series with a win anyway. But the Bee win coupled with the Statesmen loss gave SAU the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League title out-right. SAU and WPU entered the game tied atop the conference standings.

"It's a great honor," said head coach Mike Magistrelli. "It's our one goal every year - to win the conference and advance to the national playoffs. I'm excited for our seniors and the entire program that we were able to achieve our goal."

SAU, owners of three straight conference crowns, will find out its playoff position when the pairings are announced on Sunday.

Saturday, the Bees got the win they needed but it didn't come easily. SAU led only 7-0 at the half before opening things up with a 21-point third quarter. St. Ambrose finished with 404 yards of offense but was hurt by two interceptions, two turnover-on-downs, and a pair of missed field goals, and scored only three times in six red-zone chances.

Billy Rembold, Mike LaRocco and Will Ducey scored on short touchdown runs and Ducey fired a 22-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Korth to account for the 28 SAU points.

That was more than enough for the Bees' defense. SAU limited Trinity International (1-10, 0-7 MSFA) to only 115 yards of total offense. The team pressured TIU into completing only 8-of-26 passes for 46 yards.

Ducey completed 24-of-35 passes for 332 yards and the one score. Korth caught 11 passes for 116 yards while Michael Hayward finished with eight receptions for 127 yards. LaRocco (14 carries, 50 yards) and Brennan McCarron (17 for 49) combined for 99 rushing yards.

Colin Green and Michael Hayward Named MSFA Players of the Week

Nov. 10, 2008

Junior defensive back Colin Green and sophomore wide receiver Michael Hayward were named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Monday, Nov. 10. The pair helped #22 St. Ambrose come from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat Quincy 34-27 in overtime on Saturday.

Green, from South Elgin, Ill. (St. Charles North High School) tied a conference record by intercepting three passes in the Bees' comeback victory. His final interception came in overtime to preserve the win.

His first two picks were as important. With SAU trailing 13-6 late in the first half, Green intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart a Hawks' drive. Then on Quincy's first drive of the second half, Green picked off a pass at the SAU 35-yard line.

Green also registered five solo tackles, including one tackle-for-loss.

Hayward, from Davenport, Iowa (Bettendorf High School) had a career day. SAU's all-time career leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns, hauled in nine passes for 212 yards and caught three touchdown passes in the win.

Hayward's last three receptions in the contest went for touchdowns. The Bees trailed 27-6 entering the fourth quarter and were down 27-13 before Hayward caught a 9-yard touchdown pass to pull the Bees within a touchdown. He then caught a 71-yard toss from Will Ducey to tie the game at 27-27 late in the fourth. On the first play in overtime, Hayward brought in a 25-yard TD pass to give the Bees their first lead of the game.

In the fourth quarter and overtime, Hayward caught four passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns.

This season, Hayward has caught 74 passes for 1,092 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has 152 receptions for 1,975 yards and 20 TDs in his two-year SAU career.

#22 St. Ambrose 34, Quincy 27 (OT)

Nov. 8, 2008

Trailing by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, St. Ambrose saw its Mid-States Football Association Midwest League title hopes slipping away. But the Bees rallied for three fourth-quarter touchdowns to force overtime and eventually prevailed 34-27 in the extra session Saturday at Quincy.

The win over the Hawks kept SAU (7-3 overall, 5-1 MSFA) in a first-place tie atop the conference standings with William Penn. The loss dropped Quincy (5-5, 4-2) a game behind the conference leaders.

In large part due to turnovers, St. Ambrose trailed 27-6 entering the fourth quarter. Then the Bees found their rhythm. Mike LaRocco scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and Will Ducey threw a pair of touchdown strikes to Michael Hayward to tie the contest and force overtime.

On the first play of overtime, Ducey connected with Hayward on a 25-yard touchdown pass to give SAU its first lead of the contest at 34-7. Just two plays later, Colin Green intercepted his third pass of the game, tying a MSFA Midwest League record, to give the Bees the victory.

Ducey completed 20-of-38 passes for 389 yards and three touchdown passes. Hayward caught nine balls for 212 yards and the three scores. Kyle Korth finished with eight receptions for 172 yards. LaRocco carried the ball 14 times for 71 yards and scored a pair of TDs.

Despite the big offensive numbers, St. Ambrose was slowed  by five turnovers. Down 6-0 in the first quarter, the Bees appeared poised to tie the game but a fumble deep in Quincy territory ended the drive and the Hawks scored on their ensuing possession for a 13-0 lead.

In the third quarter, QU turned another SAU fumble into a touchdown to grab a 20-6 lead. The score could have been worse if not for the work of Green and the Bee defense. Green picked off a pass in the end zone late in the first half to keep SAU within 13-6. He picked off another pass early in the second half. Despite the SAU defensive efforts, the Hawks appeared to have complete control with another touchdown late in the third quarter.

LaRocco capped a 9-play, 64-yard drive with a one-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to 27-13. The SAU defense forced a three-and-out but the Bees' fifth turnover of the game, this one at the QU 7-yard line, gave the ball right back to Quincy.

Again the St. Ambrose defense got a stop and this time, the offense converted. An 8-play, 54-yard drive ended with a 9-yard touchdown toss from Ducey to Hayward to pull the Bees to within 27-20. During the drive, Ducey threw a 28-yard pass to Korth on a 4th-and-19 play to keep the Bees alive. Another Quincy three-and-out gave St. Ambrose the ball with 4:26 to play. After a holding penalty, Ducey found Hayward on a 71-yard touchdown pass to knot the score at 27-27.

Quincy crossed midfield but the Bees forced a punt with under a minute to play to send the game into overtime. From there, it took just one offensive snap and two defensive plays for the Bees to escape with the win.

St. Ambrose will close the regular season at Trinity International next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

Billy Rembold Named MSFA Offensive Player of the Week

Nov. 3, 2008

Freshman wide receiver Billy Rembold was named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Nov. 3, after his performance in #23 St. Ambrose's 49-0 win over Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday.

Rembold, from Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf High School) scored three total touchdowns in helping the Bees move to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play. He had rushing touchdowns of two and three yards, and hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Will Ducey.

Rembold finished with six receptions for 104 yards and carried the ball five times for 47 yards.

#23 St. Ambrose 49, Iowa Wesleyan 0

Nov. 1, 2008

Billy Rembold scored three touchdowns as St. Ambrose exploded for a 49-0 win over Iowa Wesleyan on Senior Day at Brady Street Stadium Saturday afternoon. SAU is 6-3 overall and maintains a share of the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League lead with a 4-1 conference mark.

The Bees finished with 499 yards of total offense in dominating the Tigers. Will Ducey completed 16-of-21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Tim Brown led a balanced running attack with 89 rushing yards on 15 carries.

Ducey found Michael Hayward with an 11-yard touchdown pass to give SAU a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Then it was Rembold's turn. The freshman wide receiver scored on a two-yard touchdown run and later hauled in a 33-yard touchdown reception to give the Bees a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Bees opened things up in the third quarter, scoring 21 points. Ducey hit Kyle Korth with a 56-yard touchdown strike for a 28-0 lead. Rembold (three yards) and Kyle Ryon (one yard) added touchdown runs in the quarter. Jake Eikenberry ended the scoring with a three-yard burst early in the fourth quarter.

Rembold finished with six receptions for 104 yards and added 47 yards on the ground. Seven different Bees had at least one rushing attempt as the team finished with 215 yards rushing.

As it has all season, the Bees defense dominated. Iowa Wesleyan (3-6, 1-4) was limited to 214 total yards. SAU forced four turnovers and finished with seven sacks. Vince Fillipp led the charge with 13 total tackles, including three sacks, and a fumble recovery. Mike Walter added eight tackles and a pair of sacks. PJ Conroy recovered two fumbles and Colin Green came up with an interception.

Eleven seniors played their final home game Saturday - Dave Kietzman, Will Ducey, Kyle Korth, Kris Griswold, Gavin Tigges, Hank Belshause, Mike Walter, Jeremy Johnson, Jake Jakaitis, Matt Hohs and Vince Fillipp.

St. Ambrose will visit Quincy next Saturday in a key conference matchup. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.

#23 St. Ambrose 16, Olivet Nazarene 10

Oct. 25, 2008

After losing its first conference game in three years last week, St. Ambrose bounced back with a 16-10 win at Olivet Nazarene on Saturday. The Bees are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League.

Will Ducey threw for 183 yards and a touchdown. His 18-yard strike to Billy Rembold in the first quarter was the lone SAU touchdown of the afternoon. Scott Langel kicked three field goals, two coming in the first half as the Bees jumped to a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Olivet Nazarene (3-5, 2-2) scored its only touchdown midway through the second quarter. After a scoreless third quarter, ONU pulled to within 13-10 on a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Langel tacked on a 42-yard field goal to give the Bees a little more breathing room with only 6:05 to play.

Like it did all afternoon, the St. Ambrose defense came through, forcing a 3-and-out on the Tigers' next possession. With just under four minutes left, SAU was able to run out the clock to secure the win.

McKendree 21, #15 St. Ambrose 7

Oct. 18, 2008

McKendree rushed for nearly 300 yards in upsetting #15 St. Ambrose 21-7 Saturday afternoon at Brady Street Stadium. The loss dropped the Bees to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League.

The Bearcats ran the ball an amazing 77 times for 299 yards while completing 4-of-5 passes for 51 yards to improve to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the MSFA Midwest League.

Meanwhile, the St. Ambrose offense could not get anything going all afternoon. The Bees ran the ball 17 times for -14 yards, thanks in large part to four McKendree sacks. Will Ducey completed 20-of-40 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, but also turned the ball over twice.

Despite the numbers on the ground, the Fighting Bee defense kept the game close. SAU forced five fumbles and recovered four of them.

McKendree scored touchdowns in the first and second quarters to grab a 14-0 halftime lead. St. Ambrose managed only 65 total yards and four first downs in the opening half. The Bees got a break early in the third quarter. Steve Herbert recovered a fumble deep in Bearcat territory. On the next play, Ducey found Michael Hayward in the corner of the end zone with a 20-yard pass to cut the deficit to 14-7. Hayward now has a school-record 16 career TD receptions.

The momentum was short lived as McKendree marched down the field on the ensuing possession on a 16-play, all on the ground, 73-yard touchdown drive to regain a 14-point advantage. Both SAU turnovers occurred in the second half as the Bees were unable to threaten the rest of the way.

Hayward caught eight passes for 89 yards and the score. Kyle Korth finished with six receptions for 72 yards. Kris Griswold led the defense with 13 total tackles while Jake Jakaitis finished with 10 stops. Thanks to the running attack, McKendree nearly doubled St. Ambrose in time of possession (39:51-20:09).

The Bees will look to get back on track next Saturday at Olivet Nazarene.

Mike LaRocco Named MSFA Offensive Player of the Week

Oct. 13, 2008

Sophomore running back Mike LaRocco was named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 13, after his performance in #17 St. Ambrose's 41-21 win at William Penn on Saturday.

LaRocco rushed 16 times for 127 yards and a touchdown as SAU moved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play. With the Bees leading 27-14 early in the fourth quarter, LaRocco scored on a 41-yard run to effectively seal the win.

LaRocco also returned the second half kickoff 78 yards down to the William Penn 11-yard line.

#17 St. Ambrose 41, William Penn 21

Oct. 11, 2008

St. Ambrose finished with 528 yards of total offense in getting past William Penn 41-21 in a Mid-States Football Association Midwest League game Saturday afternoon in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Bees are 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Mike LaRocco rushed for 127 of SAU's 238 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown while Kyle Ryon ran for 61 yards and two scores. Will Ducey completed 22-of-38 passes for 290 yards and tossed two touchdown strikes.

SAU wasted little time in taking control, scoring 17 first-quarter points. Ducey found Austin Hochstetler with a three-yard scoring toss to cap the Fighting Bees' opening possession. Scott Langel kicked a 38-yard field goal and Ryon scampered in from 11-yards out for the 17-0 lead.

Langel tacked on a second field goal, this one from 24 yards, to give St. Ambrose a 20-0 advantage midway through the second quarter. William Penn (3-3, 1-1) got on the board later in the frame to cut the margin to 20-7 at halftime.

The Statesmen closed the gap to 20-14 with a score midway through the third quarter, but SAU extended the lead with back-to-back touchdowns to end the third and start the fourth quarter. Ducey hit Michael Hayward on a 20-yard TD pass before LaRocco scored on a 41-yard run.

The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter with Ryon ending the scoring with a one-yard burst.

Hayward caught seven passes for 107 yards and a score. Kyle Korth brought in six catches for 75 yards. Hochstetler (44 yards) and Billy Rembold (67 yards) each caught four balls.

The Bees defense limited the Statesmen to 306 yards of offense. PJ Conroy led the team with 12 total tackles. Steve Herbert and Colin Green were each in on nine stops. Mike Walter finished with eight tackles and both of the SAU sacks.

Will Ducey Named MSFA Offensive Player of the Week

Oct. 6, 2008

Senior quarterback Will Ducey was named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 6, after his performance in the Bees 34-16 win over #18 St. Francis, Ill., on Saturday.

Ducey completed 24-of-43 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns as #16 St. Ambrose improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Bees have won 17 straight league games.

Ducey threw touchdown passes to Kyle Korth (20 yards), Austin Hochstetler (26 yards), and Michael Hayward (43 yards) in the win. He also rushed for 11 yards.

#16 St. Ambrose 34, #18 St. Francis, Ill. 16

Oct. 4, 2008

Another home game, another strong second half. In front of a large Homecoming crowd, #16 St. Ambrose used a dominating second half to defeat #18 St. Francis, Ill. 34-16 Saturday afternoon at Brady Street Stadium.

Will Ducey threw for 354 yards and three scores and Kyle Korth and Michael Hayward combined for 18 catches and 319 yards and two touchdowns as the Bees won their 17 straight Mid-States Football Association Midwest League game.

After giving up more than 200 yards in the first half, the SAU defense limited the Saints to only 105 total yards after halftime. SAU forced seven turnovers, five in the second half, and came up with five sacks in improving to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in league play.

An unusual first quarter saw SAU's Mike LaRocco score on a 41-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 play and USF get on the board when a bad snap on a punt attempt sailed out of the end zone.

St. Francis (4-1, 0-1 MSFA) twice grabbed a lead in the second quarter. Donte Villery scored from a yard out to put the Saints in front 9-7 early in the frame. After Ducey found Korth on a 20-yard scoring toss to put the Bees back on top, John Goolsby hit Ponce Palmer with a 49-yard TD pass for a 16-14 Saints edge.

St. Ambrose took the lead for good late in the second quarter. Ducey found tight end Austin Hochstetler on a 26-yard scoring strike as the Bees led 21-16 at the half.

The second half belonged to the Bees. Scott Langel kicked field goals of 22 and 27 yards in the third quarter to increase the lead to 27-16. Ducey found Hayward, who outran the USF secondary, on a 43-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to end the scoring. Of USF's nine second-half possessions, five ended in turnovers (two fumbles, three interceptions), one ended with a turnover on downs, and three ended with punts.

Ducey completed 24-of-43 passes in the win. Korth hauled in 10 passes for 148 yards while Hayward finished with eight receptions for 171 yards. Mike LaRocco led the Bees' rushing attack with 49 yards on seven carries.

Tyler Boyle led the defense with nine total tackles. Hank Belshause finished with eight tackles, including three tackles-for-loss and two sacks, and forced a fumble. Kris Griswold, Zack Hughes, Colin Green and PJ Conroy each picked off a pass.

St. Ambrose will visit William Penn next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

#4 Saint Francis, Ind. 43, #10 St. Ambrose 14

Sept. 27, 2008

Saint Francis, Ind., proved worthy of its #4 national ranking by defeating #10 St. Ambrose 43-14 Saturday afternoon. The Bees are 2-2 overall this season.

Saint Francis (4-0) finished with 500 yards of offense while St. Ambrose managed only 248 total yards. The Cougars, who have won 47 straight home games, led 5-0, thanks to a safety and 27-yard field goal, after the first quarter. USF tacked on 17 more points in the second quarter for a 22-0 halftime lead.

With the score 29-0, SAU got on the board in the fourth quarter. Will Ducey hit Michael Hayward with a seven-yard touchdown pass midway through the final frame. The pair connected again, this time on a 27-yard reception, late in the game to end the scoring.

Ducey completed 26-of-52 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Hayward hauled in 11 passes for 98 yards and the two scores. Tyler Boyle led the St. Ambrose defense with 13 total tackles while PJ Conroy finished with 11. Colin Green picked off a pass and Vince Fillipp recovered a fumble in the loss.

The Bees will open Mid-States Football Association Midwest League play next Saturday by hosting St. Francis, Ill., in a 1 p.m. contest at Brady Street Stadium.

#10 St. Ambrose 42, Waldorf 3

Sept. 20, 2008

St. Ambrose rolled for 514 yards of total offense in hammering Waldorf 42-3 Saturday afternoon at Brady Street Stadium. SAU (2-1) is now a perfect 6-0 against Waldorf all-time.

Three Bee quarterbacks combined to complete 23-of-27 passes for 312 yards and three scores. Will Ducey led the way with 258 yards and a pair of touchdown tosses. Michael Hayward completed all three of his attempts, including a five-yard TD pass, for 24 yards, and Tyler Horberg was 4-for-4 for 30 yards.

Hayward (7 catches, 105 yards) and Billy Rembold (4 catches, 103 yards, 1 touchdown) each finished with more than 100 yards receiving. Kyle Korth caught five balls for 45 yards and two scores.

The SAU running game powered for 202 yards, led by 86 yards on just four carries from Tim Brown. Brown's 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter capped the Bees' scoring. Brennan McCarron added 73 yards and a score on 17 carries. Mike LaRocco also found the end zone on a nine-yard run.

The defense did its job, limiting Waldorf (1-3) to just 242 yards, much of that after the outcome had already been decided. Tyler Boyle finished with a team-high nine total tackles. Hank Belshause was credited with six tackles, including two for loss. He also forced and recovered a fumble. PJ Conroy and Colin Suiter each intercepted a pass in the win.

St. Ambrose scored on its first offensive possession, marching 90 yards in just eight plays. McCarron capped the drive by finding the end zone from a yard out. Two Korth touchdown receptions, one from Hayward and one from Ducey, sandwiched LaRocco's TD run as SAU exploded for 21 second-quarter points.

SAU scored the first two times it touched the ball in the second half on a nine-yard toss from Ducey to Rembold and Brown's long run to open up a 42-0 lead. The Warriors kicked a field goal in the final minutes to account for the final score.

The Bees will visit #4 Saint Francis, Ind., next Saturday.

#10 St. Ambrose 34, UW-Platteville 17

Sept. 13, 2008 - Video Highlights

St. Ambrose used a dominating second half to power past the University of Wisconsin-Platteville 34-17 at Brady Street Stadium in the home opener for the Fighting Bees. SAU rallied to score the final 27 points of the contest in evening its mark at 1-1 on the season.

The Bees finished with 445 yards of total offense. Will Ducey threw for 297 yards and three scores, Michael Hayward caught eight passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, and Brennan McCarron rushed for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 29 carries in a balanced offensive attack.

The defense limited the Pioneers to only 131 yards of offense in the second half and 327 yards for the game.

St. Ambrose got on the board first after a Kris Griswold interception midway through the first quarter. McCarron capped a short drive with a three-yard scoring run to give SAU a 7-0 lead.

A handful of big plays pushed UW-Platteville (1-1) in front. Completions of 37 and 25 yards on one drive resulted in a game-tying touchdown late in the first quarter. On the next Bee possession, a blocked punt was scooped up and returned 32 yards for a score to give the Pioneers a 14-7 lead. The next time UW-Platteville had the ball, a 13-yard completion on fourth-and-10 kept a drive alive which later ended with a 26-yard field goal for a 17-7 score.

The Pioneers appeared poised to grab a larger lead late in the half, but Zack Hughes picked off a pass at the SAU 14-yard line to halt the drive. Using the momentum, the Bees marched down the field and McCarron again found the end zone from three yards out to cut the deficit to 17-14 at halftime.

The second half was all St. Ambrose. Ducey fired three-yard touchdown passes to Austin Hochstetler and Hayward on the first two SAU possessions of the second half to give the Bees a 27-17 edge. Midway through the fourth quarter, Ducey threw a 25-yard touchdown toss to a leaping Hayward on a fourth-and-5 play.

The defense did the rest, keeping the Pioneers off the scoreboard for the final 36 minutes of the game. Thanks to the strong defensive work, SAU finished with nearly a 10-minute edge in time of possession.

PJ Conroy and Tyler Boyle each finished with eight tackles to lead the team. Mike Walter had two sacks, while Griswold, Hughes and Hank Belshause each had an interception.

The Bees will welcome Waldorf College to Brady Street Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.

South Dakota 52, St. Ambrose 0

Aug. 30, 2008

The University of South Dakota rolled for 547 yards of total offense in shutting out St. Ambrose 52-0 in the season opener for both teams in the DakotaDome on Saturday, Aug. 30. The Coyotes finished with 299 rushing yards and threw for 248 yards in their first game as an NCAA Division I FCS member.

USD took little time in taking control, scoring on the first possession of the game to grab a 7-0 lead. The Bees stayed close throughout the majority of the first quarter. The Coyotes pushed across a second touchdown late in the frame for a 14-0 edge. It was the first of four consecutive South Dakota possessions resulting in a touchdown as the lead grew to 35-0 at the half.

The Coyotes tacked on 17 points in the second half for the 52-0 win.

St. Ambrose finished with 174 yards of total offense. Brennan McCarron finished with 64 rushing yards on 15 carries. Kyle Ryon added 37 yards on eight rushes. Will Ducey completed 12-of-28 passes for 66 yards. Michael Hayward and Kyle Korth each caught four balls.

Tyler Boyle led the Fighting Bees defense with 10 total tackles, including three tackles-for-loss. Zack Hughes finished with nine tackles and Colin Green had eight stops.

The Bees will play their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 13, when they welcome the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to Brady Street Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

Football Team Ranked 10th in NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll

Aug. 11, 2008

The St. Ambrose football team is ranked 10th in the NAIA Football Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll released today. Defending NAIA champion Carroll College (Mont.) received all 15 first-place votes to earn the top spot in the poll. University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) is ranked second while Missouri Valley College is third.

Last week, the Fighting Bees were picked to win the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League according to the MSFA preseason coaches' poll.

All this recognition comes despite St. Ambrose returning only eight starters from a year ago. The Bees were 8-3 overall and 7-0 in MSFA Midwest League play and advanced to the NAIA Playoffs in 2007.

St. Ambrose will get tested early in the 2008 campaign. After opening the season at the University of South Dakota, an NCAA Division I FCS member, on August 30, SAU will host the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on September 13. The Pioneers defeated the Bees 16-6 in Platteville last year.

SAU will face two preseason top 25 teams during the regular season. The Bees will visit #4 University of Saint Francis, Ind., on September 27, and play host to #25 McKendree University on October 18.

More information on NAIA football, including the complete preseason coaches' poll, is available here.

St. Ambrose Picked as MSFA Midwest League Preseason Favorite

Aug. 4, 2008

Despite returning only eight starters from 2007, the St. Ambrose University football team has been tabbed as the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League favorite this year according to the MSFA preseason coaches poll.

The Fighting Bees, coming off consecutive Midwest League titles in 2006 and 2007, garnered seven of the eight first-place votes to earn the top spot. McKendree grabbed the other first-place vote and is second in the poll. The complete conference rankings are below.

"It's a nice honor but it's really based on what you did a year ago," said St. Ambrose head coach Mike Magistrelli. "It's great to be the preseason number one, but it's really not something we put much stock into. We still have to line up each and every Saturday and work for it."

Ohio Dominican sits atop the MSFA Mideast League poll, followed closely by St. Francis (Ind.).

St. Ambrose will open the 2008 season at the University of South Dakota on August 30. The Fighting Bees' home opener is September 13 against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. MSFA Midwest League play gets underway on October 4 when St. Ambrose hosts St. Francis (Ill.) at 1 p.m.

MSFA Midwest League

School (1st-place votes) - Points
1. St. Ambrose (7) - 7 - 63
2. McKendree (1) - 56
3. Olivet Nazarene - 43
4. William Penn - 37
5. Quincy - 35
6. Trinity International - 21
7. St. Francis, Ill. - 19
8. Iowa Wesleyan - 14

MSFA Mideast League

School (1st-place votes) - Points
1. Ohio Dominican (5) - 60
2. Saint Francis, Ind. (3) - 59
3. Saint Xavier - 48
4. Malone - 38
5. Walsh - 31
6. Urbana - 26
7. Marian - 18
8. Taylor - 8

For more information on the MSFA, visit http://www.mid-statesfootball.org.