AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria football team escaped with a 30-27 win over visiting Edward Waters on the Saturday afternoon. Prior to the game, AMU recognized its 19 seniors.
 
Ave Maria improves to 4-5 overall and to 2-2 in Sun Conference action. Edward Waters falls to 1-7 overall and to 0-4 against TSC opponents.
 
The Gyrenes opened the scoring when Matthew Kreichman found pay-dirt on a 9-yard touchdown run. The touchdown capped a six-play, 45-yard drive. Early in the second quarter, the Gyrene defense got a score on a 23-yard pick-six by Tarick Barnes to make the score 13-0.
 
After Edward Waters got on the board with 4:26 to play in the first half, Joseph Ferraro caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Kreichman to put AMU up 13, 20-7, with 45 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
 
The Tigers wouldn't go away in the second half, scoring on a seven yard run by Ray Dukes to make it 20-13 with 8:46 to play in the third quarter. Ferraro caught his second TD reception of the day at the 5:40 mark in the third quarter on a 15 yard pass from Clayton Uecker.
 
EWC again pulled to within six early in the fourth quarter on a 13-yard TD run to cap a seven-play, 39-yard drive. On the ensuing drive for the Blue and Green, Brandon Leon connected on a 41-yard field goal attempt to put Ave up nine with 8:59 to play.
 
Edward Waters scored a touchdown with 32 seconds remaining to cut the final advantage for AMU to three, 30-27.
 
Ave Maria finished with 278 total yards of offense compared to 361 yards of offense by the Tigers. The Gyrenes were able to take care of the ball, not turning the ball over once, while forcing two fumbles and intercepting EWC twice.
 
Kreichman got the start at quarterback for AMU. He completed five-of-seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball seven times for 14 yards and a touchdown. Uecker completed 6-of-14 in the game for 43 yard and a touchdown.
 
Scott Jones led the ground game for AMU with 73 total yards on 11 carries. Ferraro had two catches for 20 yards and two touchdowns. Xavier Roberts had a team-high three receptions for 32 yards.
 
Tarick Barnes led the Gyrene defense with five total tackles, an interception return for a touchdown and four pass breakups. Frank Kelly had 10 total tackles while Nick Dorgan had eight total tackles including one sack. Kobi Bowers had five total tackles, an interception that he returned 41 yards and recovered a fumble in the Gyrene win.
 
AMU returns to the field next Saturday when they travel to West Point, Ga., to take on Point University. The game is scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m.