BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The No. 12 Olivet Nazarene University football team welcomed the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose University to Ward Field for a Saturday afternoon matchup.  The Fighting Bees upset the Tigers, 17-10. 

After the Tigers forced the Fighting Bees to punt on their first drive, ONU used a lengthy drive to put the game's first points on the board.  Cameron Crouch was at the helm of the Tiger offense on the drive and picked up most of his yards on the drive on the ground. The Tiger quarterback notched rushes of 13 and 26 yards, which set up Bryce Deguira for an 18-yard field goal attempt.  Deguira kicked the ball through the uprights and gave the Tigers the 3-0 lead.  The Fighting Bees countered with another long drive which was capped off with a 35-yard field goal.  The two teams were tied at three. 

The Tigers drove the ball down for a touchdown on their next drive.  After Crouch's 49-yard run was whipped out due to a penalty, he rushed the ball for 16 yards on the first play.  Aaje Grayson then picked up a six-yard rush to the ONU 36. A few plays later, Crouch connected with Jalen Dunnigan for a 36-yard pitch-and-catch.  Grayson then ran into the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown and gave the Tigers a 10-3 lead.  Saint Ambrose tacked on a 47-yard field goal before the half.  The Tigers led 10-6 going into the locker room.

Halftime: No. 12 Olivet Nazarene 10, Saint Ambrose 6

The Fighting Bees scored a touchdown on their first drive of the second half and led 12-10.  The extra point for Saint Ambrose was blocked by nose tackle Joshua Mathiasen for the Tigers.  The Tigers had a good opportunity to take the lead on the next drive but Deguira's 38-yard field goal was blocked by Saint Ambrose.  On the ensuing for the Fighting Bees, Tom Gillen made another field goal to extend their lead to 15-10. 

Later in the fourth quarter, the Fighting Bees pinned the Tigers inside their own 10-yard line to start their drive.  After a false start by the Tiger offensive line, the ball was placed on the Tiger four-yard line.  Unfortunately, Saint Ambrose stymied the Tiger rushing attack and marked a safety making the score 17-10. 

The Fighting Bees played great defense in the second half and did not let the Tigers get any momentum as Saint Ambrose took down the Tigers, 17-10. 

GAME VITALS

Final: Saint Ambrose 17, No. 12 Olivet Nazarene 10

Records: Saint Ambrose: 3-4 (2-1 MSFA) | No. 12 Olivet Nazarene: 4-2 (2-1 MSFA)

Location: Ward Field | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

QUICK HITS

• Crouch passed for 100 yards on 12-of-23. 
• Crouch led the Tigers with 111 yards rushing.
• Grayson carried the ball 17 times for 51 yards and a touchdown. 
• Dunnigan led the Tigers with six receptions for 73 yards. 
• Lucas Eckles returned three kickoffs for 113 yards, averaging 37.3 yards a return.
• Patryk Ryczek and Jason Freeman each amassed an interception. 
• Mathiasen led the Tigers with a career-high 15 tackles, while Freeman and Drew Hanft marked nine tackles. 
• Brayden Cook marked a career-high eight tackles for the Tigers.
• The two teams combined for 82 rushes. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The No. 12 Tigers welcome the Spartans of Missouri Baptist to Ward Field for Homecoming on Saturday, October 23^rd at 12 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu