Hutton's Four Touchdowns Lifted No. 25 Tigers Past Saint Ambrose

DAVENPORT, Iowa. – The No. 25 Olivet Nazarene University football team used a relentless air attack and a great defensive effort to take down the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose University, 40-10, inside Brady Street Stadium on Saturday.

The first quarter started slow for the Tigers as the Fighting Bees cracked the scoring column first with a 25-yard field goal. The Tigers then took the lead on their second drive of the game. On the SAU 47-yard line, Aaje Grayson (SO/New York, N.Y) rushed for a 36-yard gain to setup a great scoring opportunity on the Fighting Bee four yard-line. A couple plays later, Grayson punched in the Tigers' first touchdown of the game making the score 7-3. The Tigers led by that same 7-3 score at the end of the first quarter.

The Tigers marched the ball down for another score on the next drive. David Hutton (SO/Brookfield, Wis.) combined for 52 all-purpose yards and the drive ended with a 15-yard reception to Tyler Isaacson (FR/Festus, Mo.) for the Tiger touchdown. After the PAT by Bryce DeGuira (SR/Nashville, Tenn.), ONU led 14-3. Hutton and the Tiger offense was back at it again on the next drive. ONU used a seven-play drive to score another touchdown but this time, it was 28-yard touchdown reception by Jalen Dunnigan (JR/Jacksonville, Fla.). The Tigers led 21-3.

Hutton threw two touchdowns through the air and Grayson added another on the ground as the Tigers led the Fighting Bees, 21-3, at the half.

Halftime: ONU 21, SAU 3

The Tigers tacked on another score on their second drive of the second half. The drive started on consecutive runs by Grayson. Then, Scott Graziano (SR/Elgin, Ill.) caught a nine-yard pass from Hutton to the Fighting Bee 16-yard line. After incomplete passes and a Saint Ambrose tackle-for-loss, Hutton threw his second touchdown pass to Dunnigan making the score 28-3.

ONU kept their foot on the gas on its next drive. Hutton continued his big day through the air and completed a 38-yard pass to Graziano, which setup Hutton's fourth touchdown of the game and his second to Isaacson. ONU led 34-3. On the Tiger next drive, DeGuira showed off his big leg and made 45-yard field goal to extend the Tiger lead to 37-3.

DeGuira hit another field goal and the Fighting Bees scored a late touchdown but that would prove too little too late as the No. 25 Tigers dominate the Fighting Bees, 40-10.

Game Vitals

Final: No. 25 Olivet Nazarene 40, Saint Ambrose 10

Records: No. 25 Olivet Nazarene 4-0 | Saint Ambrose 1-2

Location: Brady Street Stadium | Saint Ambrose University | Davenport, Iowa

Quick Hits

• Hutton passed for 221 yards and 4 touchdowns on 20-of-34 passing.
• Grayson ran for his second straight 100-yard game going for 107 yards on 17 attempts for a touchdown.
• Dunnigan and Isaacson caught two touchdowns apiece.
• Joe Passarelli (SO/Downers Grove, Ill.) led the Tigers with 12 tackles, an interception, and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
• Arinze Ekowa (JR/Plainfield, Ill.) had two sacks for 20 yards.
• Jason Freeman (SO/Zion, Ill.), Joshua Mathiasen (FR/Elmhurst, Ill.), Miles VanderKlok (JR/Wheaton, Ill.), and Mark Phelps (JR/Schoolcraft Mich.) followed with seven tackles each.
• DeGuira accounted for 10 points on 4-of-4 PATs and 2-of-2 on field goals.

What's Next?

The No. 25 Tigers host the Fighting Saints of the University of St. Francis at Ward Field on Saturday, March 13. Kickoff is set at 1 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu