Tom Casey ran for a touchdown, Tom Gillen booted three field goals, and the defense forced two turnovers, including a big one late in the fourth quarter, as St. Ambrose knocked off No. 12 Olivet Nazarene 17-10 Saturday afternoon in Bourbonnais, Ill.

In a defensive battle, it was the Bees who came up with the big plays down the stretch to seal the win.

Leading 15-10 after Gillen's third field goal of the day late in the third quarter, the SAU defense made sure that lead held up.

Immediately following the 39-yard field goal, the Bees forced a three-and-out. St. Ambrose had to punt but Jackson Hunsicker boomed a 47-yarder that pinned Olivet Nazarene at its own 7-yard line. Following a false start penalty that moved the ball to the four, Drew Ackman and the Bee defense got a safety to extend the lead to 17-10.

The Tigers (4-2) got the ball back and drove in Bee territory. But on a first-down play, Ethan Miebach forced a fumble at the SAU 14-yard line that Nick Daniel recovered with 4:27 to play.

Behind the running of Ray Bouye, St. Ambrose picked up one first down. Bouye was stopped short of another on a third-down carry but the Tigers were whistled for a personal foul penalty, handing the Bees a first down and allowing the team to run out the clock.

Bouye had a big day for the Bees, finishing with 106 yards on 24 carries. Trent Nunn ran for 37 yards.

But it was a one-yard run from Casey that accounted for the Bees' lone touchdown. He kept the ball around the left side on a third-and-goal play early in the third quarter to give St. Ambrose its first lead of the game at 12-10, a lead they would not relinquish.

Gillen kept SAU close in the first half, kicking field goals of 41 and 47 yards in the second quarter. That put the deficit at just 10-6 at the break.

After allowing a touchdown run in the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Bee defense pitched a shutout from there.

SAU allowed just 255 yards of total offense. Bernard Buhake recorded one of the team's four sacks. Aaron Boley had 1.5 sacks.

Along with the key fumble recovery, Daniel led the Bees with nine total tackles. Connor Dertz had six tackles, and Buhake, Miebach and Vince Shaw were each in on five stops. Ackman registered four tackles for loss and also forced and recovered a fumble in the win.

Casey completed 10 passes for 104 yards. Blake Wittman had three receptions for 25 yards. Bouye caught two passes for 47 yards.

SAU will return home to host MSFA foe St. Francis (Ill.) next Saturday. Kickoff at Brady Street Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.