On an eventful afternoon in Ave Maria, the Ave Maria University football team was toppled by the No. 23 Fire of Southeastern University, 62-19, at Gyrenes Field. The game was marked by a pair of delays in the first half- one of 35 minutes when the Gyrene sideline was invaded by a swarm of bees. There was also a lightning delay late in the second quarter of more than an hour.
 
Each of the game's first four touchdowns were scored by the visitors from Lakeland,  and three of the four touchdowns came from more than
60 yards out. The Gyrenes got on the board early in the second quarter, when Matthew Kreichmann scrambled away from Southeastern pressure and found DeAndre Brown for an 18-yard touchdown pass after John Preyer recovered a Fire fumble.
 
Just over five minutes later, the Gyrene special teams got the crowd buzzing with a touchdown of their own. Brian Byrd recovered a blocked punt, and returned it 15 yards for a Gyrene touchdown. A missed extra point kept the score at 27-13 with 8:38 to go in the half.
 
Southeastern scored twice more, including a touchdown just 17 seconds after the Ave Maria blocked punt. In the final minute of the first half, the Gyrenes completed their half of the scoring with another big play. Kreichman tossed a 77-yard strike to Byrd, giving Ave their third touchdown of the quarter. The Fire also scored before the half, and put two more touchdowns on the board in the fourth quarter to account for the final score.
 
Ave Maria's passing attack accounted for over 100% of the team's total offense, as Kreichman and initial starting quarterback Matthew Houghtaling threw for 137 yards and the two touchdowns. The Gyrenes'
leading rusher was Nate Cameau, and Byrd wound up as the leading receiver on the strength of his 77-yard touchdown reception.
 
Defensively, Ayshad Thornton recorded nine tackles, including two for a loss, to pace the Gyrenes. Savohn Hunt had three tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks.
 
Southeastern's offense was led by Jonathan Pearce, who threw for 217 yards with three touchdowns. Running back Jarrel Reynolds also added
126 yards on the ground, including a touchdown run. Michael Wheary had four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Ave Maria will head on the road for the next two weeks, beginning with a contest in Babson Park against Webber International University.
After the two road games, the Gyrenes will host Senior Day against Point on November 5. The opening kickoff is scheduled for noon in Ave Maria.