After a four-play, 70-yard drive, highlighted by a 47-yard completion from Alec Ponder to Kameron Bohnsack and capped by a one-yard Maximo Vasquez touchdown run, gave St. Ambrose a 17-14 lead a minute into the second half, the Bees watched Briar Cliff score touchdowns on its next three possessions to ultimately claim a season-opening 35-23 victory on SAU in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday.

Following the Vasquez score, the Chargers quickly regained a 21-17 lead and then capitalized on a Bee fumble at the BCU 32-yard line and SAU coming up short on a 4th-and-3 play at the SAU 40-yard line to push across two more touchdowns to build a 35-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Ponder pulled the Bees to within 35-23 on a one-yard rush that wrapped up a 16-play drive. St. Ambrose got the ball back inside the final four minutes but an interception allowed Briar Cliff to run out the clock.

It was a disappointing ending to a game that started off well for the Bees.

After a Charger touchdown opened the scoring seven seconds into the second quarter, Jayden Evangelo booted a 36-yard field goal to get SAU on the board. Minutes later, Ponder found Bohnsack for a 38-yard touchdown reception and a 10-7 lead.

BCU scored late in the half to take a 14-10 lead into the break before Vasquez scored on his short run 71 seconds into the third quarter.

The Bee defense struggled to get off the field, allowing the Chargers to convert on 10-of-15 third-down attempts. That helped Briar Cliff finish with a nearly 2-to-1 advantage in time of possession (39:36 to 20:24).

In his first start for St. Ambrose, Ponder completed 19-of-27 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown. Seven different Bees caught a pass, led by Bohnsack with seven for 145 yards. Jaylen Brazzle hauled in three receptions for 53 yards and Willie Feagin III had four catches for 15 yards.

Vasquez carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards. Zaire Wilcox added 23 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

Colin Gudella had a huge day totaling 16 tackles, including 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage. CJ Resto was credited with seven tackles and Emmanuel Howard and Brock Mason were each in on five tackles. Caden McDermott recorded two tackles for loss, including a sack, among his four total tackles. Djabril McNabb, Caleb Ballard, Rolando Sepulveda, Grant Macke and Destiny Ekwebelan were also in on four stops apiece. Jon Grant also had a sack in the loss.

SAU will play at Missouri Baptist next Saturday.