DAVENPORT – Iowa Wesleyan College was done in by turnovers and a poor second half as nationally ranked St. Ambrose University defeated the Tigers 49-0 Saturday afternoon at Brady Street Stadium.
IWC committed four turnovers in the game and was limited to 30 yards of offense in the second half as the Tigers dropped to 3-6 on the season, 1-4 in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League. The Fighting Bees, ranked 23rd nationally, improved to 6-3 overall and remain tied for the top of the MSFA Midwest at 4-1.
The Bees had seven sacks, recovered three IWC fumbles and added an interception, and it took its toll on the Tigers by the second half as SAU scored 28 points over the third and fourth quarters, including three touchdowns in a four-minute span.
St. Ambrose built a 21-0 lead at halftime despite IWC more than holding its own statistically in the first 30 minutes. The Tigers posted 11 first downs to nine for St. Ambrose while the Bees held a 224-184 advantage in yards. Greg Fields (So.-St. Louis, Mo.) had nine catches in the first half alone as Wesleyan moved the ball on a number of occasions, forced four SAU punts defensively, and appeared to have something for the hosts early.
However, IWC had four drives into SAU territory in the first half but came away with zero points. In contrast, St. Ambrose scored touchdowns on all three of its drives into Tiger territory and took advantage of two Iowa Wesleyan turnovers as well as a fourth down stop near midfield.
St. Ambrose took control in the second half, continually applying pressure to Tiger quarterback Bryan Abihider (Sr.-Hemet, Calif.) and disrupting the offense. IWC had a total of -3 yards on five third quarter drives, and a pair of turnovers in Bees’ territory allowed SAU to wrap up the game with a short touchdown drive at the end of the third quarter and another at the beginning of the fourth.
The Bees held a seven-minute advantage in time of possession in the second half and finished the game with a 499-214 advantage in yards. IWC was led offensively by Abihider, who completed 20 of 33 passes for 154 yards, including 10 passes to Fields for 72 yards. Lawrence Moore (So.-Country Club Hills, Ill.) added six catches for 59 yards, while Jaren Maybin (Jr.-Baltimore, Md.) rushed for 60 yards on 14 carries.
Darious Watson (Jr.-Bellwood, Ill.) led IWC defensively with 12 tackles, six solo. Chris Owens (So.-Greer, S.C.) added eight tackles. Billy Rembold led St. Ambrose with six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown and added five carries on end around plays for 47 yards and two scores.
IWC returns home next Saturday for its final home game of 2008 and the final home game for ten seniors. The Tigers will host long-time rival William Penn University for the 63rd meeting between the two schools, with game time at 1 p.m. at Mapleleaf Stadium’s Evans Field.
For more information regarding the IWC football program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
