WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University football team took the 16th-ranked team in the nation to the absolute limit on Saturday, but fell one score short in a 27-21 loss to the Keiser University Seahawks in West Palm Beach. The Gyrenes got into Keiser territory in each of their final two drives, but a fourth down stop and a turnover snuffed out AMU's chances for what would have been the program's highest-ranked win in school history.

Head coach Joe Patterson said the Gyrenes' effort was beyond reproach, and could very easily have led to an upset of the Seahawks.

"The effort throughout was beautiful," Patterson said. "We made key plays in each phase of the game to put ourselves in a position to win."

Ave Maria made an early statement, marching 75 yards on nine plays on the game's opening drive. On the opening drive, the Gyrenes didn't get to third down until the final play, which saw quarterback Andrew Lege find Quino Mauricette for an 18-yard strike. The catch was Mauricette's first receiving touchdown in his five years at Ave Maria, and put the Gyrenes up 7-0 less than four minutes into the game. 

Keiser would score on their first two drives to take a 10-7 lead, but AMU used a sudden change to retake the lead early in the second quarter. After a Roman Newkirk punt pinned the Seahawks at their own 14, the Gyrenes forced a fumble that was recovered by Brunel Desinor, giving Ave Maria first and ten at the 21. Four plays later, Kristian Marks plunged in from six yards out to put the lead back in the Gyrenes' possession at 14-10.

As was the case in the first half, Keiser answered Ave Maria's lead with two consecutive scores, this time back-to-back touchdowns before the halftime break, sending the Seahawks to the half with a 24-14 lead.

Scoring was much more at a premium in the second half, with AMU scoring seven points and Keiser managing just three. Keiser took a 27-14 lead on the first drive of the second half, thanks to Chase Gagnon's second field goal of the night. 

The Gyrenes answered on the next drive, cutting the Keiser lead to six points. Ave Maria's mammoth 15 play, 72 yard drive included three conversions on fourth down, with the first being a fake punt completed from Roman Newkirk to Matt Coury. After failing to convert on three straight three downs, the Gyrenes finally cashed in on the fourth, as Andrew Lege found Darius Sawyer for a 14-yard score to make it 27-21.

AMU got the ball three times in the final 18 minutes, but could not find the winning score. The Gyrenes punted on the second play of the fourth, but got it back after a Keiser missed field goal. AMU proceeded to drive 74 yards in nine plays, but failed on a fourth and one attempt from the Keiser six, giving the Seahawks the ball back with 6:09 left.

KU ran four minutes off the clock, but gave the ball back to the Gyrenes with 2:10 to play. Lege ran once and completed three straight passes to get AMU into Keiser territory. However, the final completion was stripped by Keiser's Jaelin Willis and recovered by the Seahawks, allowing Keiser to run out the clock. 

Andrew Lege threw for over 300 yards for the first time in his career, tossing for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Quino Mauricette had over 100 all purpose yards with 60 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving on a team-high seven receptions. Defensively, Nate Hyman was the Gyrene leader with ten total tackles, including one stop for loss.

Patterson said the importance of the game, for both teams, was felt from the opening kickoff to the final play.

"Snap after snap after snap, there was a tremendous intensity to the game," Patterson remarked.

Ave Maria is back on the road next week, looking to ensure a winning season against the Lions of Florida Memorial University. Kickoff in Miami Gardens next Saturday is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.