Football Uses Big Fourth Quarter to Take Down St. Ambrose for MSFA Midwest League Win

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Roosevelt University football team used a big fourth quarter to defeat Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) by the score of 35-21 to earn a MSFA Midwest League victory at Morris Field on Saturday, October 30.  The win evened the Lakers overall record at 4-4 and raised their league record to 3-2 on the year.

Both teams were unable to score on their first two possessions, but a Denzel Tolliver interception on the Fighting Bees third possession gave the Lakers the ball at the St. Ambrose one-yard line.  One play later, Ke'von Johnson scored on a run and Andrew Bucaro connected on the point after for a 7-0 Roosevelt lead.  The Fighting Bees answered with a 12-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run of their own to tie the game at 7-7 and the score remained that way heading into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the Lakers regained the lead at 14-7 with 9:31 to go in the half when Tyler Tenner capped off an eight-play, 72-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown run.  However, St. Ambrose came right back to tie the game at 14-14 on its very next possession with John Beckendorf breaking a run for a 57-yard touchdown and the score stayed tied at 14-14 at the half.

Neither team was able to generate any scoring in the third quarter, but the Fighting Bees carried a drive into the fourth quarter and scored on a six-yard TD pass to take a 21-14 advantage.  On the very next possession, the Lakers drove down to the SAU 43-yard line and Jack Sheehan then connected with Khaliq Hammond on a 43-yard pass play to even the game at 21-21.

The Roosevelt defense stepped up on the St. Ambrose next possession, forcing a punt and giving the Lakers good field position at their own 42-yard line.  On the first play of the drive, Sheehan hit Blaize Griffin on a 58-yard touchdown pass to give the Lakers a 28-21 lead.

Once again, the RU defense stopped the Fighting Bees and then the Lakers offense came through with another touchdown.  This time Tyler Tenner broke free for a 21-yard scoring run, his second of the game, to put the Lakers up 35-21 with 2:43 left to play and the RU defense shut down SAU to seal the MSFA Midwest League victory.

GAME DETAILS

Score:   St. Ambrose       7              7              0              7              21
                Roosevelt            7              7              0              21           35

Records: Roosevelt 4-4, 3-2 (MSFA) // St. Ambrose 3-6, 2-3 (MSFA)

Location: Morris Field | Arlington Heights, Ill.

KEY STATS

• Tyler Tenner rushed for 131 yards & two TD's on 13 carries
• Jack Sheehan threw for 174 yards on 11-for-23 passing with two touchdowns
• Blaize Griffin had four receptions for 91 yards & a TD
• Zavier Cordero-Barnes led the RU defense with 14 tackles, 2.5 sacks, & five tackles for a loss
• Corties Draper had nine tackles & Malik Barbee made eight tackles
• Ernest Potts & Denzel Tolliver each had an interception
• Both teams had 16 first downs in the contest
• The Lakers held a 339 to 291 yard advantage in total offense
• SAU held a 37:39 to 22:21 advantage in time of possession

NEWS & NOTES

• The Lakers are now 3-0 versus the Fighting Bees in the all-time series
• Click here to view the current MSFA Midwest League standings

NEXT UP

The Lakers continue MSFA Midwest League play on Saturday, November 6 when they host the University of St. Francis, who remains unbeaten in the MSFA with a 5-0 record.  Kick-off is set for 3pm at Morris Field in Arlington Heights.