AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria football team picked up its first win of the season on Friday night, outlasting St. Andrews 35-33. The Gyrenes overcame three turnovers and a 13-point deficit less than five minutes into the game for the win.
 
It was a rough start for the Gyrenes against the Knights of St. Andrews. On the third offensive play from scrimmage for AMU, a low snap went through quarterback Will Tate's hands and into the endzone where it was recovered by St. Andrews for a touchdown. After a three-and-out and a short punt by the Gyrenes, the Knights went 52 yards in five plays for a touchdown to take a 13-0 lead.
 
Ave Maria got on the board on their next drive, going 66 yards on nine plays capped off by a Tate to Alex Shoop 11-yard touchdown pass.
 
Back-to-back scores by Christian Przybysz and Charles Philias on touchdown runs of one yard and five yards, respectively, gave Ave Maria their first lead of the game at 21-20 with 5:51 to play in the first half.
 
After St. Andrews scored in the final minute to retake the lead, the Blue and Green responded with a 2-play, 59-yard drive to go ahead 28-26. The Gyrenes started at the 35 thanks to a St. Andrews kickoff that went out of bounds. Tate started the drive with a 51-yard pass and catch to Daniel Burke. Philias finished the drive for AMU with an eight-yard rush into the endzone.
 
The Knights found the endzone on their first three drives and three of their first four drives. On the other side, AMU had a fumble and punt on their first two drives before scoring on their next four drives to take a 28-26 lead into halftime.
 
Each of the teams first possessions of the second half ended in punts. On the Gyrenes punt from their own 15-yard line, a low snap ended in Devyn McCormick taking an 11-yard loss. The play set up a five-yard touchdown run by St. Andrews to put them ahead 33-28.
 
Later in the third quarter, Kobi Bowers had his first of two interceptions on the night to set up the Gyrene offense at the St. Andrews 48-yard line. Five plays later, Tate hit Kevon O'Connor for a 36-yard touchdown pass to give AMU a 35-33 lead.
 
Neither team would score in the final quarter and a half. With AMU running out the clock, a Gyrene fumble gave St. Andrews the ball with 1:18 to play in AMU territory. After a huge sack by Savohn Hunt set up third and 14 from the AMU 43, an incomplete pass and then an interception by Bowers sealed the win.
 
Tate, making his first appearance this season, was 15-of-28 passing for 222 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Philias ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. The top receiver for AMU was O'Connor with six catches for 79 yards and a score.
 
On the defensive side, Hunt led AMU with 10 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. Bowers had six tackles, two interceptions and a pass break up. Jayden Flores had eight tackles including a team-best six solo tackles.
 
Derek McCormick averaged 61.7 yards on six kickoffs, including two touchbacks. Devyn McCormick averaged 37.2 yards on five punts with a long of 50.
 
Ave Maria hits the road for the first time in 2019 next weekend when they take on Bluefield College in Virginia. The game will be a 6 p.m. kickoff.
 
Head Coach Joe Patterson on teams resilience:
 
"We put ourselves in a lot of tough situations tonight. Last week we executed very well and lost, this week we didn't execute well and won, but the resilience was there both weeks. Tonight, we gave St. Andrews some really short fields a few times. We went from having I think our best special teams performance in three or four years to one of our worst. Its one of those deals, it's a team game. We had some guys come through, some individuals at the end made some big plays. I'm really proud of how the team rallied."
 
Head Coach Joe Patterson on play of running back Charles Philias:
 
"Anytime a running back has a good game, you know it was a team effort. The offensive line did a good job and a couple of those plays Charles just willed it, he's got very strong legs and is just very tenacious."