AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria football team picked up its first Sun Conference win on Saturday afternoon, besting Southeastern 38-35 at AMU Football Field. The Blue and Green totaled nearly 600 yards of total offense in the win.
 
Ave Maria (2-5, 1-1 TSC) jumped out to a 14-point lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Uecker to Travis Makauskas and then a 3-yard touchdown run by Kaleb Coffee.
 
Southeastern responded quicklye with two touchdowns of their own early in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-all. A few minutes later, Brandon Leon converted a 30-yard field goal attempt to retake the lead for AMU, 17-14.
 
After a Southeastern touchdown, Dustin Roberts found the back of the endzone to make the score 24-21 in favor of the Gyrenes. Just before the half, the Fire scored their fourth touchdown of the quarter to take a 31-28 lead on the Blue and Green.
 
Midway through the third quarter, Ricardo Collier caught a 19-yard pass from Uecker in the endzone for a touchdown to put the Gyrenes in front 35-31. Less than two minutes later, Southeastern scored on a 25-yard run by Jarrel Reynolds to take 38-35 lead.
 
With 1:10 remaining in the third quarter, Uecker and Makauskas connected for another touchdown, this time a 33-yard pass and catch, to put AMU ahead 38-35. That would be all the AMU defense would need as they held Southeastern scoreless in the fourth quarter to secure the 38-35 Ave Maria win.
 
Uecker finished 19-of-33 for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Makauskas was on the receiving end of seven Uecker passes for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Collier caught the other touchdown pass.
 
Coffee racked up 136 yards rushing on 24 carries and a touchdown. Roberts finished with 72 yards rushing on 13 carries and a touchdown.
 
Tanner Bowling and Kurt Joseph led the Gyrene defense with six total tackles and 5.5 tackles, respectively. Joseph also recorded a sack while Bowling assisted on a sack. Anfernee Martin led AMU with four solo tackles. Andrew Wilson totaled five tackles and broke up three passes.
 
Ave Maria returns to the field next Saturday when they travel to Babson Park to take on Webber International.