AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University football team fell just short on Saturday afternoon, losing 35-34 to the Cumberland University Phoenix. The Gyrenes twice led by 13 points, but 14 fourth quarter points from the visiting Phoenix proved to be the difference.

A fumble on Cumberland's first drive of the game set up Ave Maria's opening score of the contest. Kobi Bowers recovered the Phoenix fumble, and on the next play, Will Tate found Joshua Alexander for a 41-yard touchdown pass. The Gyrenes missed the extra point, and held a 6-0 lead.

After a 50-yard touchdown pass from Dezmon Huntley to Denarius Toliver gave Cumberland the lead, the Gyrenes would score on back-to-back possessions to open up a 20-7 advantage. Tate ran in from 12 yards out to cap a nine play, 75 yard drive to put Ave Maria back in front. Then, after a blocked punt, the Gyrenes scored on the final play of the first quarter on a ten-yard touchdown run from Quino Mauricette.

Cumberland scored the lone touchdown of the second quarter, trimming the Ave Maria lead to 20-14 at halftime. Telvin Rucker logged 23 of his 71 yards on a touchdown run up the middle, pulling the Phoenix within six points with 10:42 to go in the first half.

The Phoenix again took the lead less than three and a half minutes into the second half after the teams traded three-and-outs to start the quarter. On a reverse, Toliver raced down the right sideline for a 67-yard touchdown run, giving Cumberland a 21-20 lead with 11:32 to play in the third quarter.

Ave Maria retook the lead just five plays later, scoring on Will Tate's second touchdown pass of the day. A 75-yard drive was capped off when Tate dropped a perfect pass to Kevon O'Connor, who led the Gyrenes with four catches for 114 yards. Then, with 3:06 to play in the third, Tate recorded his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, plunging into the endzone from five yards out to increase the AMU lead to 34-21.

Two touchdowns in the fourth quarter allowed Cumberland to rally for the victory. The Phoenix began the quarter on a two-yard touchdown run from Huntley just 43 seconds into the frame. The game-winning touchdown came with 2:32 to play, as a ten-play, 77 yard drive ended with another two-yard run from Huntley. Two AMU attempts to rally in the final 150 seconds were unsuccessful. 

Tate put together one of the best games of his career offensively, throwing for 216 yards and running for another 83. Quino Mauricette added another 82 yards for the Gyrenes, who ran for 174 yards on the day. Brady Stockard and Sterling Curran led the AMU defense with eleven tackles each.

Ave Maria plays their final game outside the Sun Division next Saturday with a roadtrip to Reinhardt University. Kickoff in Waleska, Georgia against No. 7 Reinhardt is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.