Posted September 13, 2008
St. Ambrose overcame a UW-Platteville halftime lead to beat the Pioneers 34-17 Saturday in Davenport, Iowa.
The Pioneers led 17-14 at the half, thanks to a 25-yard scoring pass from John Akim to Nick Grosso, a Grosso blocked punt that Jon Martin returned 32 yards for a TD and a Tony Smidl 26-yard field goal.
The Bees, coming off an 8-3 season, scored the final seven points of the first half and all 20 in the second half for the win. They scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter to take a 27-17 lead, thanks to a pair of Will Ducey three-yard scoring passes. The former Ole Miss quarterback hit Austin Hoschtetler 5:24 into the second half and Michael Hayward 3:30 later. Ducey threw his third scoring pass of the game with 6:08 to play, a 25-yarder to Hayward.
Ducey threw for 297 yards, completing 21 of 42 passes, while Brennan McCarron ran for 129 yards and a first-quarter touchdown.
Akim threw for 233 yards, including 7 for 75 to Grosso, 4 for 53 to Aunton Terry and 4 for 52 to Tyson Droessler. The Bees (now 1-1) held the Pioneers to 70 rushing yards on 23 attempts and intercepted three passes in the rain. David Akey paced the Pioneer defense with a 10-tackle performance that included two for losses and a quarterback sack. Matt Janus, Rob Crowley, Lucas Clayton and Randy Langer also registered sacks.
Grosso also blocked a punt last year vs. UW-Oshkosh, and Martin's touchdown was the Pioneers' first score off a punt return since 2002.
After a bye week, the 1-1 Pioneers make their home debut Saturday, Sept. 27 against Augustana (Ill.) at 6 p.m.
Related Links