Kickoff: 6:00 PM CDT
Venue: Memorial Field, Sioux City, Iowa
Broadcast: NAIA.TV / GPAC Network
Game Overview
Week 1 of the 2025 NAIA season opens with an all-Iowa affair as St. Ambrose University travels to face Briar Cliff University at Memorial Field. The Fighting Bees aim to shake off a rebuild year, while the Chargers enter undefeated in season-open contests at home since 2021. Both programs will look to capture early GPAC momentum.
Team Profiles
St. Ambrose Fighting Bees
2024 Record: 3–7 overall, 1–7 GPAC
Head Coach: Tony Novoselsky (3rd season)
Offensive Scheme: Spread-tempo with RPO and quick-game emphasis
Defensive Scheme: 4–2–5 nickel focusing on zone coverage and takeaways
Key Returners
QB Marcus Kelley (Sr.) – Threw for 1,900 yards and 14 TDs, added 350 rushing yards on designed reads.
RB Darnell Wright (Jr.) – Rushed for 820 yards (4.6 YPC) with 8 touchdowns, a reliable third-down back.
DB Isaiah Brown (Sr.) – Team leader with 5 interceptions and 12 pass breakups; vocal sideline captain.
St. Ambrose will lean on Kelley’s escapability and quick reads to generate chunk plays. Defensively, the Fighting Bees must force early turnovers to sustain drives against a veteran Chargers offense.
Briar Cliff Chargers
2024 Record: 8–3 overall, 6–2 GPAC
Head Coach: Gerald Mosley (10th season)
Offensive Scheme: Pro-style balance with power runs and play-action passing
Defensive Scheme: 3–4 base front engineered for pressure packages
Key Returners
QB Tyler Owen (Sr.) – Completed 62% of passes for 2,350 yards and 20 TDs, plus 200 yards rushing.
RB Caleb Johnson (Jr.) – Rushed for 1,050 yards (5.2 YPC) with 15 touchdowns, excels on inside zone.
LB Marcus Franklin (Sr.) – Led team with 95 tackles, 6 sacks and 3 forced fumbles; anchor of the front seven.
The Chargers will look to establish Johnson’s downhill running to open play-action shots for Owen. On defense, Franklin’s sideline-to-sideline range and a veteran secondary must limit the Bees’ tempo attack.
Key Storylines
Home-Field Edge: Briar Cliff is 10–1 at Memorial Field under Coach Mosley.
RPO vs. Power-Run: St. Ambrose’s quick-snap spread contrasts with Briar Cliff’s clock-control ground game.
Turnover Margin: Chargers were +9 in takeaways last season; Bees must protect the football to stay within reach.
Tactical Matchup
St. Ambrose must convert early third downs and generate quick scores. Briar Cliff’s ability to finish drives in the red zone and force three-and-outs will determine field-position battles.
Briar Cliff’s proven red-zone efficiency and turnover prowess should prevail at home. St. Ambrose will spark a few big-play moments early, but the Chargers’ depth up front and disciplined clock management carry them to victory.
Game Odds
St. Ambrose Fighting Bees 52.5
Briar Cliff Chargers (IA) – 10.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, August 29, 2025
