It was not the ending 14 seniors expected in their final home game.

Playing for second place in the conference, St. Ambrose found itself in an early hole and never really recovered in a 43-14 loss to Olivet Nazarene Saturday. The Tigers (5-5, 4-1 MSFA) scored the game's first 26 points and the Bees were never able to get closer than 12 points from there.

After missing a 34-yard field goal off the upright on its first possession, ONU scored touchdowns the next four times it had the ball to take the 26-0 lead.

It was the Bee defense that helped the team get back in the game. Sam Kabureck had a third-down sack to force Olivet Nazarene to punt from its own 1-yard line. Two plays after a 32-yard punt, Jake Romani found Tanner Champley with a 26-yard completion, and a play later, Jake Osterberger scored from two yards out to cut the deficit to 26-7 at the half.

On their first possession of the second half, the Bees went 80 yards in 12 plays and Tanner Champley's four-yard touchdown run trimmed the margin to 26-14.

Even after a 22-yard field goal, SAU remained within two scores and marched to the ONU 19-yard line early in the fourth quarter. But the drive stalled there and Tom Gillen's 36-yard field goal sailed wide left. The Tigers sealed the win with touchdowns on their next two possessions.

Olivet Nazarene finished with 474 total yards and more than 36 minutes of time of possession. The Tigers totaled 248 yards on the ground.

St. Ambrose managed 160 rushing yards. Osterberger carried the ball 16 times for 80 yards and Isaiah Hawkins rushed 14 times for 77 yards to lead the way.

Romani completed 9-of-21 passes for 123 yards. Seven completions went to Champley for 91 yards. Carter Himmelman had a pair of catches.

Jake Schramm led the defense with 13 total tackles. Dillon Valdez had 11 stops. Griffin Zajac had eight tackles and an interception and Kabureck also notched eight tackles.

Prior to the game, St. Ambrose recognized its 14 seniors playing in their final game - Tanner Champley, Winfrid Cooper, Mike Erskine, Karl Fowler, Jordan Harris, Carter Himmelman, Garrett Humphrey, Ryan Ingalls, Cody Kieffer, Taylor O'Donnell, Boyd Roberts, Jake Romani, Daniel Sanchez and Cade Verschoore. Senior members of the band and cheer and dance teams were also recognized.

SAU finished the year 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the MSFA Midwest League.