BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University football once again made its biggest plays in the game's biggest moments, scoring with less than two minutes to play to knock off Webber International University by a 31-27 score in Babson Park Saturday afternoon. The win marked AMU's second one-score victory of the season, and moved the Gyrenes to 1-0 in Sun Conference play.

Ave Maria head coach Joe Patterson said that while there is plenty for the Gyrenes to improve upon down the stretch, AMU's effort led them to a massive SUN victory.

"Once you get to conference play, every game is critical," Patterson said."The effort was great today even when the execution wasn't; the players had set the goal to 'empty the tank,' and they certainly did."

After Webber scored the first touchdown of the game, the Gyrenes answered with 17 consecutive points, primarily thanks to a pair of big plays. AMU first got a 36-yard field goal to cut the Webber lead to 7-3. Two plays later, senior defensive back Nick Maroon intercepted Webber's Cody Braden, and returned the pass 36 yards to give Ave Maria the lead.

The score would remain 10-7 until late in the second quarter. With 2:28 to play, Ave Maria had the ball on their own five, but it took the Gyrenes just three plays to find the endzone. Two runs from Quino Mauricette totalled 26 yards before Andrew Lege found Roman Newkirk for a 69 yard touchdown strike, giving Ave Maria a 17-7 lead they would take into the halftime break. 

The third quarter nearly passed without a score, but a touchdown run from the Warriors on the final play of the frame sent the game to the fourth with a 17-14 Gyrenes lead. The Gyrenes answered that Webber score with one of their own, as Lege led an eight play, 65 yard drive to re-extend the lead to two scores. The capper was a 21 yard run from tailback Bryan Stiemke, putting Ave Maria up 24-14 with 12:25 remaining in the game. 

Webber would not go quietly, scoring two touchdowns in the fourth to take a 27-24 lead with just 3:42 remaining. After a punt return gave the Warriors the lead, AMU's Roman Newkirk responded by taking the ensuing kickoff back to the Gyrene 44 yard line, setting up the final Ave Maria drive.

In that final drive, Lege completed both of his pass attempts, and the running back duo of Mauricette and Stiemke ran for 33 yards on five carries. The last carry came on third-and-four from the eight, and Stiemke barreled his way through several Webber defenders to find paydirt, giving Ave Maria a 31-27 lead.

The Warriors were able to drive to the Ave Maria 28-yard line on the final drive of the game, but AMU forced four consecutive Webber incompletions to seal the win in the league opener.

Patterson added that the Gyrenes battled through tough moments against the Warriors, which will likely serve them well in the season's final four games.

"I thought we showed poise through some moments of adversity," Patterson remarked. "It's a victory that we can build upon."

In his first collegiate start, Andrew Lege completed 15 of his 22 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown. Quino Mauricette was the feature back for AMU, toting the ball 30 times for 130 yards, while Stiemke added 59 yards on ten carries. Mauricette was also Lege's favorite target, as the tailback pulled in four catches. Mostly thanks to his long touchdown catch, Roman Newkirk logged 100 receiving yards on the day. Defensively, the Gyrene leader was Triston Schultz, who had three tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception.

Ave Maria now begins preparation for Homecoming, which will see the nationally ranked St. Thomas University Bobcats come to Gyrene Field. The Sun Conference tilt is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. next Saturday at Gyrene Field.