The Ave Maria University football team came up short in their final home game of the season, losing 21-7 to the visiting Skyhawks of Point University. It was the final game in Ave Maria for 22 senior Gyrenes, and the final Sun Conference game for AMU, who will merge into the Mid-South Conference next season.
 
Point scored the only two touchdowns of the first half, both of which were aided by big plays. In the first quarter, a 75-yard pass from Rashad Louie to Darius Blackmon set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Louie to Dominique Moore with 3:15 to go in the opening frame. Then, a second quarter fumble started Point at the Ave 28 yard line, leading to a touchdown strike to Jarquez Alexander from seven yards out. The scores accounted for Point's 14-0 lead at halftime.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, Ave Maria mounted a 14-play drive to get on the board. The drive culminated on fourth-and-goal from the one, when replacement quaterback Bob Orban crossed the goal line on a QB sneak. Orban's rushing score pulled the Gyrenes within 14-7 with
8:22 to go.
 
However, Point put the game away with a lengthy drive of their own.
The Skyhawks drained 5:30 off the clock in nine plays, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run from Marquez Jackson. The Gyrenes drove into Point territory, but could not score as the game came to a close.
 
The Gyrenes primarily kept the ball on the ground, amassing 45 carries to just 19 pass attempts. Ave's leading rusher was Richardson Charles, who averaged over five yards per carry with 46 yards on nine touches.
Nelson Stone, who saw time as a quarterback, ran 14 times for 35 yards. Orban, who came into the game late in the second quarter, was
7-for-15 for 80 yards in his final game in Ave Maria.
 
Ayshad Thornton led the defensive effort with 11 tackles and a pass break-up. Senior Andres Figueroa added nine tackles, one for a loss and three solo stops.
 
Point was similarly run-heavy, led by quarterback Louie. The sophomore ran for 112 yards and threw for another 164. He also was the receiver on a 37-yard pass.
 
Ave Maria finishes the 2016 season next Saturday, as the Gyrenes travel to Newport News, Virginia for a contest with the Builders of The Apprentice School. The Builders boasted a 4-4 record entering Saturday's action.