AVE MARIA, Fla. --- After opening their season on the road last weekend at Pace University, the Ave Maria football team opens their 2015 home slate this Saturday when they welcome NAIA fourth-ranked Saint Xavier to AMU Football Field for an 11 a.m. clash.
 
Live video/audio and live stats will be available for the game. The live video/audio stream will be available at a cost of $7.95 while the live stats will be free of charge. The links for the live broadcasts can be found above and on the Ave Maria Athletics website.
 
Admission to the game will be $5 for adults and $2 for students. Kids 12 and under will receive free admission. AMU students and staff will be admitted free of charge with their Ave Maria University ID card.
 
Parking in the grass tailgating lot next to the field house will be $10. Parking in all other lots around the town center will be free of charge.
 
The Blue and Green opened the season last week with a 36-23 loss at NCAA DII Pace University. The Gyrenes moved the ball well and Pace scored just 17 points when the AMU defense was on the field. Ave Maria did show some first game jitters with a couple costly turnovers that were returned for touchdowns and a Pace punt return for a touchdown.
 
The Gyrenes dominated the air game, passing for 359 yards compared to just 31 by pace. Clayton Uecker completed 23-of-41 attempts for three touchdowns with two interceptions.
 
Thomas Zimmer was Uacker most productive target with the duo connecting for three receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. Kaleb Coffee led the Gyrenes had a team-high seven receptions for 69 yards. He also ran for 59 yards on 13 attempts.
 
Jordan Ramsey, Ramsey Bennett, and Nicholas Ramirez led the Gyrenes with six total tackles each. Ramirez also had a team-high two tackles for a loss. Brandon Leon averaged 32.6 yards on eight punts and backed Pace to within their own 20-yardline twice. He also converted on a 25-yard field goal late in the second quarter.
 
NAIA fourth-ranked Saint Xavier is coming off a 10-3 2014 season in which they made it to the semifinal round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. The Cougars are off to a 1-1 start to the season after opening the year with a 45-13 loss to top-ranked Marian University (Ind.) and rebounding with a 34-28 win over Saint Francis (Ill.).
 
Saint Xavier is averaging 432 yards of total offense per game and have done most of their damage through the air, passing for 333.5 yards per game. The Cougars have six passing touchdowns on the season compared to none on the ground.
 
John Rhode will get the start at quarterback for the Cougars. He is completing passes at the .604 clip for 610 yards and five touchdowns. His favorite target this season has been Stephen Sims who has 18 receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns in two games. Five difference receivers have caught touchdown passes for the Cougars.
 
The Cougars bring in a balanced defense with several players having recorded double-digit tackles over two games. Doug Ruggles leads the team with 15 total tackles including 1.5 tackles for a loss and one interception.