AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria football team gave fourth-ranked Saint Xavier all they could handle on Saturday afternoon, falling to the visiting Cougars 24-21. The game was delayed an hour and a half at the start due to lightning.
 
Saint Xavier got the scoring started with a 22-yard field goal by Abdul Mahdi with 1:32 remaining in the opening quarter. The Gyrenes answered on their ensuing drive, capping an 8-play, 78-yard drive with a Dustin Roberts 10-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point put AMU in front 7-3.
 
The Cougars responded on their next drive. After a long touchdown pass was called back due to an unsportsmanlike conduct, Saint Xavier scored a few plays later on a 25 yard pass and catch from John Rhode to Stephen Simms.
 
Trailing 10-7 at the half, Brian Byrd caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Uecker to again put the Gyrenes in front 14-10.
 
Saint Xavier scored the next 14 points on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Vilimek and a 60-yard touchdown pass to Dan Ladd, the later coming with 3:44 to play in the fourth quarter.
 
The Blue and Green made it interesting late when Uecker found Jeff Lindenmoyer for a touchdown pass to make it a three point game, 24-21. The Gyrenes were able to recover the on-side kick but weren't able to get into scoring position before the clock ran out.
 
The Gyrenes had 497 yards of total offense compared to 381 yards by the Cougars. All of Saint Xavier's yards came through the air, as the Cougars rushed for minus one-yard on a soggy AMU Football Field. The Blue and Green had 121 yards on the ground.
 
Uecker completed 29-of-59 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two interceptions and rushed for a net of 23 yards on 14 carries. Dustin Roberts led the Gyrene rush attack with 11 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. Antonio Gonzalez-Pola and Thomas Zimmer each had seven catches on the afternoon for 139 and 103 yards, respectively.
 
Frank Kelly had nine total tackles, six solo, on the afternoon including 2.5 tackles for a loss. Reshard Allen had eight total tackles for the Blue and Green. Ramsey Bennett and Nicholas Ramirez each had an interception for AMU.
 
For Saint Xavier, John Rhode threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns on 33-of-55 passing. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. Stephen Simms was his go to receiver, with the duo connecting for seven passes, 126 yards and one touchdown. Dan Ladd had four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Blue and Green hit the road next week when they travel to Lagrange, Ga., to take on Lagrange College. The opening kick is set for 6 p.m.