NEWPORT NEWS, Va. --- After being held scoreless in the opening quarter, the Ave Maria football team put up 14 points in the second and 21 points in the third en route to a 42-21 victory against Apprentice School on Saturday afternoon. Clayton Uecker threw for over 400 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
The Gyrenes finish the season on an eight game win streak to finish the season 8-2 overall.
Ave Maria started off slowly, being forced to punt on its first three drives. The Gyrenes finally found the endzone early in the second quarter when Uecker connected with Dan Mervos for a 13-yard touchdown to cap off an eight-play, 77-yard drive.
The Gyrenes added another score just before the half when Scott Jones crossed the goal line for a one-yard touch touchdown run with six second remaining in the half.
Ave Maria added on another touchdown early in the third quarter when Dashawn Smith ran in a touchdown from 17 yards out. A 37-yard rush by Jones earlier in the drive set up the touchdown.
After Apprentice School got on the board with a touchdown with 8:28 left in the third, the Gyrenes showed their quick-strike ability when Uecker and Karim Bryant connected on a 69-yard touchdown pass less than a minute later to put the Blue and Green up 28-7.
After the Ave Maria defense came up with an interception to give the Gyrenes good field position, Uecker and Jones took advantage, connecting on a 2-yard touchdown pass with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Apprentive School added a touchdown late in the third and another early in the fourth quarter to cut the Gyrenes lead to 35-21. Uecker and Jones would connect one more time on a 15-yard touchdown pass to make the final 42-21.
Uecker finished 24-of-42 for 405 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. Jones finished with 95 yards on the ground and one touchdown. He also caught three passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns.
Dashawn Smith also had a solid day on the ground, rushing for 31 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Mervos and Bryant also caught touchdown passes form Uecker while Travis Makauskas finished with team-highs in receptions and receiving yards with seven and 123, respectively. Bryant caught six passes for 115 yards.
Kurt Joseph led the Gyrene defense with seven solo and nine assist tackles including three for a loss and an interception. Gage Hayes and Tanner Bowling added nine total tackles.
