LAKE WALES, Fla. --- The Ave Maria football team suffered their second Mid-South Conference Sun Division loss of the season on Saturday afternoon, falling to Warner 41-27 in Lake Wales, Fla. The Gyrenes move to 5-4 overall and to 3-2 against divisional opponents.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, the Gyrenes got on the board first with a 20-yard touchdown run by Charles Philias to cap a three-play, 49-yard drive. After the extra-point, AMU was in front 7-0 with 13:37 to play in the half.
 
A couple drives later, Warner connected on a 74-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Blair to Freddy Robinson to cut into the Gyrene lead. A missed PAT kept AMU in front 7-6.
 
On the ensuing drive for Ave Maria, Quino Mauricette had a 53-yard rush to set the Gyrenes up at the Warner 16-yardline. Three plays later, Kristian Marks found Kevon O'Connor for a 14-yard TD pass.
 
With 16 seconds remaining in the first half, Warner's Blair rushed nine yards for a touchdown to cut the Blue and Green lead to 14-13 at the break.
 
After the Gyrenes fumbled the opening kick-off of the second half, Warner capitalized on the mistake and drove 36-yards on six plays for a touchdown to take a 20-14 lead.
 
A Derek McCormick 35-yard field goal brought AMU to within three. On the Royals' next drive, Warner extended their advantage to 10 on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Blair to Keon Brown.
 
With 1:09 remaining in the quarter, Derek McCormick connected on a 43-yard field goal to bring the Gyrenes within a touchdown, 27-20, heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Warner scored to open the fourth to extend their lead to 14. AMU responded with a 7-play, 67-yard drive capped by a Quino Mauricette four-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 34-27 in favor of the Royals.
 
The Royals converted two third downs, including a third and 13, on their next possession to find the endzone on an 11-play, 72-yard drive to take a 41-27 lead.
 
An interception ended AMU's next drive and Warner was able to run out the clock.
 
The Gyrenes finished with 236 rushing yards and 428 yards of total offense. Warner totaled 498 yards of offense, 191 on the ground and 307 in the air.
 
Marks finished 17-of-24 for 181 and a touchdown and ran for 79 yards. He had two interceptions.
 
Mauricette had 90 rushing yards on 12 attempts and a touchdown. Philias ran the ball eight times for 57 yards and a score. O'Connor finished with a team-best five receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Kobi Bowers had 10 total tackles to lead AMU. Dylan Bryan had eight tackles, a tackle for a loss and an interception. Connor Jewel also had eight tackles. Savohn Hunt had seven tackles and a blocked kick.

Ave Maria concludes the regular season on Saturday when they travel to 10th-ranked and unbeaten Keiser. The game will kick-off at 5 p.m. in West Palm Beach, Fla.