_{Senior Wide Receiver celebrates by signaling for a touchdown against Briar Cliff (Photo courtesy of SAU Athletics)}

The St. Ambrose football team began their 2024 season in the Heart of America Conference, ending their 26-year stint in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA). Players are excited for the opportunity to establish themselves amongst a new group of competitors.

“We want to set the tone each week and make a name for ourselves within the conference, making a statement that St. Ambrose comes to play hard-nosed football every Saturday!” exclaimed junior linebacker Colin Gudella. 

Making a name for themselves is certainly something the Bees have a history of doing. In their first 10 years in the MSFA, the Bees won at least a share of their division title six times. SAU also finishes their run in the MSFA with the third most conference wins in history amongst 34 other teams that have played in the conference.

The new conference schedule will see a shift from playing mostly schools in Illinois, to a mix of Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri schools. The most notable new school on the schedule for this year is Grand View out of Des Moines, a team that has made the NAIA playoffs each of the last nine years.

Offensively, the Bees faced two important challenges heading into their first game against Briar Cliff. First, they needed to replace the production of SAU’s all time receiving touchdowns leader, Yemi Ward. Second, they needed to find someone to take the reins for the team at the quarterback position after losing last year’s starters Tom Casey to graduation and Joey Sprinkle transferring to Eastern Illinois. The Bees got some good answers to those questions in their first game.

Game 1 vs. Briar Cliff

The first half was full of good drives with disappointing results for the Bees. In the middle of the first, the Bees were driving down the field after starting the possession on their own six yard line. They moved the ball to midfield with a few nice gains before a fumble ended the drive dead in its tracks.

On their next possession, it was even more heartbreak for the Bees. This time, the Bees started on their own 20-yard line and took the ball all the way down to the one-yard line, where the ball was once again fumbled as quarterback Tomele Staples dove toward the end zone. The ball was recovered in the end zone by Briar Cliff for a touchback, and the Bees remained scoreless after a 14 play, 80-yard drive.

As the game switched to the second half, the Bees were able to finally capitalize on their good drives. They got a 51 yard touchdown pass from Staples to senior receiver Jalen Coleman to tie the game at seven apiece. Immediately after, junior defensive back Brock Mason got an interception on the Briar Cliff 5 yard line, which Staples converted into an easy touchdown. 14 points for the Bees in just over two minutes of game time.

The game would continue to go back and forth, as Briar Cliff would get a score and a two-point conversion on a fake reverse pass to tie the game at 21 and send the game into overtime. 

The Bees would start on offense and in just three plays put the ball in the endzone again. Coleman made an incredible catch after taking a huge hit right on the goal line, and the Bees went ahead 28 to 21.

The Bees defense then made huge plays to seal the victory. The Bees swarmed on a jet sweep for no gain, and then senior defensive tackle Jonathan Thurman made a huge sack to put Briar Cliff in a third and 16 situation. From there, the Bees forced a pair of incompletions to seal the victory 28 to 21.

Staples had a tremendous debut as a Fighting Bee, throwing for 349 yards, rushing for 35 yards, and was responsible for all four of SAU’s touchdowns. Coleman also stepped up in a huge way, finishing with nine catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Coleman spoke about his role on the team and trying to replace one of SAU’s greatest receivers of all time, Yemi Ward.

“We lost a big time playmaker and wide receiver [in Yemi Ward]. I just see myself doing my best and doing everything I can to contribute to this team and program’s success,” said Coleman.

Players described the emotion after pulling off the close overtime victory in front of a roaring SAU crowd.

“It felt great, we all went into that game knowing we were not leaving that field without a win. We just wanted to show our supportive fans that there is more to come!” described junior defensive tackle Djabrill McNabb.

“It felt amazing to get that win, especially in front of our home crowd. It was a packed house all night and the environment was like no other, getting that win in such gritty fashion really shows how much potential we have as a team. I’m super excited to continue working and building with my brothers everyday so we can keep stacking those wins!” detailed Gudella.

Game 2 at Baker (Kansas)

As high as the Bees were riding after their overtime thriller, they came crashing back down to earth the next week against 17-ranked Baker University in Kansas. The Bees lost in a shutout 52 to zero in a game where they couldn’t get anything to work on either side of the ball.

On offense, the Bees finished with just 233 yards of offense and turned the ball over three times to Baker’s zero. Staples, after totaling just under 400 yards of offense and four touchdowns, managed to tally just 131 total yards and no touchdowns in game 2.

Baker was able to score in all three phases of the game. Whether it was a long, offensive touchdown drive, an interception return for a touchdown, or a punt return touchdown, the Bees could not keep Baker out of the endzone. Baker scored a touchdown on each of their possessions in the first half.

The Bees ended up trailing 45 to zero at halftime and were never able to diminish the deficit. Although they held Baker to just seven points in the second half, it would have taken a miracle for them to pull off the comeback victory.

It was a disappointing follow up after the high of the season opener. The Bees would only have to wait a week to reach that high again.

Game 3 at William Woods (Missouri)

In a complete turnaround of the game against Baker, the Bees jumped on William Woods University, a school playing their first year of college football in their 153 year history. Just as they had trailed 45 to zero at halftime against Baker, they lead 38 to nothing at halftime against William Woods.

The Bees had their best offensive halves in recent history. They totaled 347 total yards on offense, and scored on their first six possessions of the game.

They got some help from their defense and special teams as well in the first half. The Bees grabbed an interception and blocked a punt to set the offense up in William Woods territory, and later in the half forcing a turnover on downs.

William Woods would tack on a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but inversely to the previous week against Baker, the second half deficit was too much to overcome. The Bees got their second win of the year with a final score of 52 to 13. At two wins and one loss, it’s their best three game start to a season since 2018.