LAKELAND, Fla. --- The Ave Maria football team scored 24 points in the second half of Saturday's conference opener at Warner to overcome a 14-7 halftime deficit and walk away with a 31-24 victory. After Warner tied the game with 6:30 remaining in the game, Kaleb Coffee had a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Blue and Green in front for good.
 
Warner got the scoring started on a 56-yard pass and catch from DJ Davis to Jeff Suarez with 6:07 to play in the opening quarter.
 
Dustin Roberts tied it up with his first of two touchdowns on the day on an eight-yard touchdown run to cap a 12-play, 68-yard drive. A few minutes late, Davis and Suarez connected again for a 19-yard touchdown reception to put the Royals ahead 14-7, a lead that Warner would take into the break.
 
In the second half, Ave Maria started with the ball and took it 72-yards on 12 plays capped by a Dustin Roberts 2-yard touchdown run to even the score at 14-all.  On the ensuing Gyrenes drive, AMU took advantage of a bad snap on a Warner punt that gave AMU the ball on Warner's 13 yard line, when Matthew Kreichman found Thomas Zimmer for a six-yard touchdown pass and catch.
 
Warner responed by going 85-yards on 11 plays for a touchdown to tie the game at 21-21 with 1:59 to play in the third quarter. The Blue and Green retook the lead early in the fourth quarter when Brandon Leon connected on a 26-yard field goal to put AMU ahead 24-21.
 
Midway through the fourth quarter and with Warner in a first and goal to go situation from the AMU one yard line, the Gyrene defense was able to come up with a huge goal line stand to force the Royals to kick a field goal.
 
On the Gyrenes' final drive of the night, Coffee capped an 11-play, 63-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown jaunt to put the Blue and Green in front 31-24. After a 60-yard kickoff return by Warner put the Royals in scoring position, the Gyrene defense had to make one final stand which they did to secure the 31-24 win.
 
Matthew Kreichman led the Gyrene offense, completing five-of-seven pass attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown. He also ran nine times for 75 yards. Clayton Uecker completed 6-of-14 passes for 60 yards.
 
Kaleb Coffee ran the ball 10 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also had two receptions for a team-high 52 yards. Dustin Roberts had eight carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Anfernee Martin led the Blue and Green's defensive efforts with 11 total tackles. Reshard Allen added 10 tackles and an interception. Austin Cole had seven total tackles including 2.5 for a loss with one sack.
 
Brandon Leon was a perfect four-for-four on PAT attempts and made his only field goal attempt, a 26-yard effort in the fourth quarter. He also had four punts for 142 yards, a 35.5 average. Brandon Butry had six kickoffs for an average of 56 yards.
 
Ave Maria outgained Warner 332-326. The Gyrenes had 200 rushing yards compared to 112 by the Royals.
 
The Gyrenes return to AMU Football Field next week when they welcome Concordia (Ala.) for a 12 p.m. kickoff.