MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University football team defeated St. Thomas 37-20 on Saturday afternoon. The Gyrenes jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first seven minutes and never looked back.
 
Ave Maria opened the game with a 99-yard kick-off return by Dimitrius Hirsch to put AMU in front 7-0. It was the first kick-off return for a touchdown in school history.
 
A couple possessions later, the Gyrene took advantage of a fumbled punt by St. Thomas and scored one play later on a eight-yard touchdown run by Kristian Marks.
 
The Bobcats got the scoring started in the second quarter with a score and missed extra-point to make it 14-6. AMU responded with a 6-play, 44-yard drive capped by a Derek McCormick 32-yard field goal. Later in the second quarter, Marks found Kevon O'Connor for a four-yard touchdown pass to extend the Gyrene lead to 18, 24-6.
 
After a 33-yard touchdown pass from Marks to Joshua Alexander to start the third, McCormick hit on field goals of 52 yards and 55-yards to give AMU a 37-6 lead. St. Thomas scored late in the third to make it 37-13. The Bobcats added a score in the fourth to make it 37-20.
 
The Gyrenes had 132 yards rushing and 279 yards of total offense. St. Thomas finished with 286 yards of total offense.
 
Marks finished 14-of-20 for 147 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
 
Isaac Cornewell ran for 56 yards on 16 carried while Quino Mauricette ran eight times for 38 yards. O'Connor had six receptions for 50 yards and a score while Alexander had four receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Gyrene had a balanced effort defensively with four players recording four or more tackles. Jalyn Robinson had three tackles and two sacks. Sterling Curran had an interception and two pass breakups.
 
Derek McCormick was three-for-three on the night on field goals, connecting on attempts from 32, 52, and 55 yards.
 
The Gyrenes return to action next Saturday when they host Faulkner (Ala.). Prior to the 5 p.m. kick-off, AMU will recognize its graduating senior class.