Box Score

For the third time in three games this season, the Malone University football team participated in a contest that was decided in the final moments. However, unlike the previous two weeks, this time it was the Pioneers who came up just short as a 35-yard field with five seconds remaining lifted Saint Ambrose (IA) University to a 24-22 victory over Malone on Saturday afternoon at Fawcett Stadium.

The game-winning field goal by Fighting Bees' kicker Patrick Schmadeke spoiled what had been an impressive Pioneer comeback. Saint Ambrose, now 2-1 on the season, held a 21-7 advantage early in the second quarter. A 62-yard touchdown pass from Malone quarterback Will Szpor to wide receiver Justin McLean and a 38-yard field goal by kicker Nick Allison trimmed the deficit to 21-17 by halftime. The Pioneers then inched closer in the third quarter as Allison connected on his second 38-yard field goal of the game to make the score 21-20.

Malone, also now 2-1 overall, grabbed a 22-21 advantage with six minutes remaining in the final period. After Saint Ambrose managed to recover a Pioneer fumble inside the Bees' 10-yard line, Malone defensive lineman Daryll Jackson posted two big tackles behind the line of scrimmage on consecutive Saint Ambrose running plays. The first pushed the visitors back to the five-yard line. Jackson then knifed through the line again on the very next play, tackling SAU running back Greg Wilson in the endzone for a safety.

Following the ensuing free kick, rushes of 15 and 13 yards by Malone running back Daryon Mosley moved the ball inside the Bees' 20-yard line. Saint Ambrose's defense managed to push the Pioneers' back, though, as a false start penalty and two big sacks on third and fourth down halted the Malone drive.

The Fighting Bees then took the ball and slowly marched down the field, converting a pair of fourth-down conversions on a crucial 15-play, 50-yard drive that sheared over three minutes off the clock and set up Schmadeke's game-winning kick.

After each team went three-and-out on their opening possession of the game, Saint Ambrose wide receiver Barney O'Donnell helped set-up the Bees' first score with a 70-yard punt return. Two plays later, Willson plunged across the goal line from a yard out to make the score 7-0.

Saint Ambrose put together a 10-play, 87-yard drive on its next possession, pushing its advantage to 14-0 on a 29-yard TD pass from quarterback Eric Williamson to O'Donnell.

Malone cut the lead in half on the first play of the second quarter as McLean hauled in a pass over the middle from Szpor and turned on the jets, racing 94 yards to the end zone. With the big play, McLean tied his own record for the longest reception in school history (he had also hauled in a 94-yard touchdown catch against Trinity International in 2009). The lengthy TD grab also gave McLean a scoring play of 90 yards or more in each of the Pioneers' first three games, an accomplishment which is believed to be a first in school history (McLean ran back a kickoff 90 yards for a score in Malone's 40-34 double overtime win against Tiffin in week one; he then posted a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD in the Pioneers' 30-27 victory at McKendree in week two).

St. Ambrose managed to recover from the big play, though, as it pushed its advantage to 21-7 on its next possession when Wilson hauled in a screen pass from Williamson and dashed 34 yards to end zone.

After McLean snagged the 62-yard reception to make the score 21-14, the Bees then looked to tack on a field goal late in the second quarter. However, Schmadeke's 51-yard attempt was blocked by Pioneer defensive back Demarco Donaldson.

The Pioneers then cashed in on the good field position, moving the ball down to the SAU 21-yard line with the help of a nifty trick play. Szpor threw a quick backwards pass to slot back Josh McLaughlin. McLaughlin faked a run and then tossed the ball down field to wide receiver Ryan Murphy for a 36-yard completion. Allison then trotted onto to the field and split the uprights with his 38-yard field goal as the second-quarter clock expired, making the score 21-17 at intermission.

The Pioneers then pulled ahead midway through the fourth before Saint Ambrose managed to pull out the win with the clutch kick by Schmadeke.

Malone picked up 414 yards of total offense in the contest, 108 rushing and 306 passing. The Bees countered with 68 yards on the ground and 233 yards through the air for a total offensive output of 301 yards.

On the afternoon, McLean registered a total of five catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns. His 188 receiving yards marked the second-highest single-game total in Pioneer history, second only to Josh Settlemire's 198-yard performance against Urbana University in 2005. The 5'9 junior from Laurel Hill, North Carolina also registered 28 yards on two kickoff returns, giving him 216 all-purpose yards on the afternoon.

Szpor completed 17 of 33 passes for 270 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Mosley picked up 69 rushing yards on 12 attempts (5.8 average). Murphy caught four passes for 37 yards while wide receiver Tyson Hawley pulled in three catches for 25 yards.

Defensively, linebacker Antonio Scassa posted a game-high 11 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss. Defensive back Glen Raphael followed with seven stops and a pass break-up. Donaldson also recorded seven tackles with an interception, a pass break-up and the blocked field goal. Linebacker Brandon Commodore added six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

For Saint Ambrose, Williamson completed 25 of 44 pass attempts for 233 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Wilson picked up 52 rushing yards on 29 carries with one TD. He also snagged five receptions for 41 yards and a score. Defensive back James Hannah-White led the way for the Bees' defense with seven solo tackles and an interception.

Malone will be back in action next Saturday when the squad hosts the Kempthorn VW Classic at Fawcett Stadium, a 2:00 p.m. contest against NAIA #4 Marian (IN) University (4-0 overall). Fans that cannot be in attendance on Saturday can follow the action on the Malone Sports Network (on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM or on the internet at www.thelight959.com). Live streaming video and statistics will also be available. Click here to access the links for each.