The Xavierite
By the time the Cougar football team met the Saint Ambrose University Fighting Bees last season, Saint Xavier was nearly eliminated from playoff contention.
The Bees saw to it that the “nearly” in that sentence was erased when they beat the Cougars 65-30.
The Cougars, who are still very much in playoff contention this season, did not allow a repeat on Saturday at Deaton Memorial Field.
Saint Xavier dropped Saint Ambrose to 3-5 with a sound 35-13 victory. The win extended the Cougars’ winning streak to three games and moved them to 6-2 overall.
Special teams got the Cougars going against the Bees. The defense forced a three-and-out for Saint Ambrose on its first offensive possession before senior Nick DeBenedetti returned a punt 61 yards to the Ambrose 7-yard line.
After a false start, freshman running back Mike Ivlow took a pair of handoffs, scoring from nine yards out on the second attempt.
The Bees responded with the passing game, moving down the field and securing a tie. It would be the only time Saint Ambrose would draw even.
The Cougar offense was on its A-game for the third-straight game. Sophomore quarterback John Rhode did not have another 400-yard game, but he still made explosive plays.
On a third-and-two in the first quarter, Rhode completed a short pass to the left side to redshirt freshman Mark Strbjak. Strbjak, who has been utilized as a quarterback, receiver and punter this season, made one man miss and was off to the races.
His straight-line speed was on display as he streaked 75 yards for the score and the Saint Xavier lead.
Saint Xavier would slow down offensively for a while, but the Cougars added one more score in the second quarter.
After Ivlow and junior running back Joshua Hunter combined to move down the field, the Cougars found themselves at the 15-yard line.
That is where Rhode took control of the drive, floating a pass over coverage to DeBenedetti in the corner of the end zone for a 21-7 lead.
The Cougar defense did its part in return, giving the offense the ball back when senior safety Joe DeMarco picked off a pass with just over two minutes left in the half.
Rhode had a lapse in judgment, though, and gave the Bees the ball right back on an interception.
With good field position, Saint Ambrose scored a rushing touchdown with just 10 seconds remaining. Junior defensive lineman Nick Cemeno blocked the extra point to keep the score at 21-13.
Cemeno and his teammates on the defensive side would not allow another score. They forced six sacks against opposing quarterback Patrick Smith.
Cemeno finished with 1.5 sacks. Senior lineman Greg Hayward added 2.5 sacks, senior Tom Hitz contributed another and both senior Marcus Maas and junior linebacker Dan Fitzgerald helped on another.
The Saint Xavier offense ran the ball and the clock in the second half.
After an extended drive, DeBenedetti ran into the end zone from five yards out at the end of the third quarter.
The Cougars added one more score for good measure in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore receiver Stephen Simms set up the touchdown with a 49-yard reception early in the fourth quarter.
On the very next play, Ivlow plunged forward from a yard out to set the final score at 35-13.
All three phases combined to earn the Cougars the win on Saturday.
Saint Xavier will have to stay frosty with upcoming games against beleaguered opponents Trinity International University (3-5) and Olivet Nazarene University (1-8) to close the regular season.
The schedule has lightened up, but the Cougars hope to be firing on all cylinders as they move toward the NAIA playoffs.
It may be difficult to remain focused against teams like TIU and Olivet, so the Cougars still have their work cut out for them.
Trinity International is the next opponent for Saint Xavier. The Cougars will play the Trojans on the road on Saturday at noon. The radio broadcast is available on WXAV 88.3 FM Chicago.
Tim Carroll
Senior Sports Editor
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