Mid States
[Football] St. Ambrose runs past Trinity International 63-7
Relying on its running game and defense, St. Ambrose overpowered Trinity International 63-7 Saturday night at Brady Street Stadium.The Bees piled up 451 yards on the ground, the seventh-most in a game in program history, in improving to 3-0 in the MSFA Midwest League. The team ran 54 times in averaging 8.4 yards per carry in front of several former Bees back for Alumni Football Weekend.SAU used its entire stable of backs. Brandon Baalman (9 carries, 117 yards) and Isaiah Hawkins (4 for 112) each topped 100 yards with neither reaching double digit attempts. Ray Bouye got the most carries, running 20 times for 79 yards, all in the second half. Garret Tiarks had 62 yards, Declan McDonald rushed for 33 yards, Vince Vignali finished with 30 yards and Jake Osterberger added 19 yards.The defense was as dominant as the running game. Trinity International (1-7, 0-4 MSFA) finished with -3 yards on the ground and had just 197 yards of total offense, much of that coming in the fourth quarter with the game long decided.The defense forced five turnovers and recorded 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including three sacks. The Bees also registered a pair of safeties.Seven-yard touchdown runs from Vignali and Hawkins gave St. Ambrose a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. Vignali added a 10-yard run late in the first quarter.Despite possessing the ball a mere 2:35 in the second quarter, SAU put up 23 points in the frame. McDonald scored on a 28-yard run. Brody Mason blocked a punt that Bernard Buhake recovered in the end zone (video below courtesy SAUtv).A dropped snap on another punt attempt led to a safety. Then, after the Trojans pinned the Bees on their own 7-yard line on the ensuing free kick, Hawkins broke free for a 93-yard touchdown run, tying the second-longest scoring run in school history, for a 44-0 halftime lead (video below courtesy SAUtv).SAU scored touchdowns on six of its first seven possessions.Baalman (61 yards) and Tiarks (4) had touchdown runs in the third quarter, and Tom Gillen kicked a 22-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth to extend the lead to 61-0. TIU scored its lone touchdown midway through the final quarter before a bad snap on a late punt attempt sailed through the end zone for another Bee safety to end the scoring.St. Ambrose did not attempt a pass in the second half. McDonald completed 2-of-4 passes for 20 yards before giving way to fellow freshman Rian Schmidt. Chris Collier caught one pass for 16 yards and Osterberger had a four-yard reception.Buhake led the defense with eight total tackles. Jacob Holmes had seven tackles, including three for losses, while also forcing and recovering a fumble. Jeremiah Jackson Sr. matched Holmes with seven tackles, while added a fumble recovery and an interception, his fifth of the season. Nick Daniel forced and recovered a fumble, and Braxton Criss intercepted a pass (video below courtesy SAUtv).Jaxson Nelson, Aaron Boley, Ethan Miebach, Vybert Greene Jr., Parker Henderson, Marshaun Zachary and Drew Ackman each had one tackle for loss.The win sets up a showdown on Nov. 2 when first place in the conference will be on the line as the Bees host No. 13 Saint Xavier (4-2, 3-0 MSFA). SAU is off next week.