MONTGOMERY, Ala.- The Ave Maria University football team rallied to within one score entering the fourth quarter, but eventually dropped a 35-13 decision to Faulkner University on the road in a Mid-South Conference Sun Division contest.
Faulkner took the lead mere seconds into the game, as Michael Watkins returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown after just 13 seconds. The kickoff return was the start of a 21-point first quarter for the Eagles.
Less than three minutes later, Faulkner added to its lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Nicholas to Reagan Amos. Nicholas completed all four of his pass attempts on the drive. The Faulkner quarterback added his second passing touchdown of the day with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter, finding Jacob McCrary for a four-yard score. The touchdown capped off a 12-play drive that took over five minutes, the longest scoring drive for either team.
Trailing 21-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Gyrenes got on the board in the first minute of the second quarter. After Ave recovered a Faulkner fumble, Will Tate led the Gyrenes down the field, and capped off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown scramble on third down. Tate's second rushing score of the season, and the ensuing extra point, pulled AMU within 21-7 with 14:18 to play in the second quarter.
A big defensive play brought the Gyrenes within one score in the third quarter. Ramsey Bennett scooped up a Faulkner fumble and returned it 70 yards for an AMU touchdown. It was Bennett's second touchdown of the season, as the defensive back also returned a blocked kick for a touchdown against Cincinnati Christian. A missed extra point kept the score at 21-13 with 6:38 remaining.
The Eagles put the game away in the fourth quarter, as a rushing touchdown from Kawon Bryant and a touchdown pass from Nicholas to Alex Pina-Rhoden supplied the final 35-13 margin.
Offensively, Randy Schroeder led Ave Maria with 144 yards through the air. His leading target was Traylyn Jackson, who recorded career highs with five catches and 52 receiving yards. Tate was AMU's leading rusher, gaining 50 yards on nine carries to go with his touchdown. Ayshad Thornton led Ave in tackles with eight solo stops. Early in the third quarter, Jordan Barrow tied the Ave Maria single-season record with his fifth interception of the season.
The Gyrenes, who now possess a 1-1 divisional record and a 2-3 mark overall, remain in Sun Division play next week. Ave Maria heads north to Lakeland for a matchup with the Warner University Royals. The game, which is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff, will be played at Vikings Stadium on the campus of Lakeland Christian School, which has served as the home stadium for the Royals in the first part of this season.
