MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University football team used their second consecutive 300-yard passing day and a historic performance from wide receiver Joshua Jenkins to roll past the Florida Memorial Lions, 44-27, Saturday afternoon at Betty T. Ferguson Stadium in Miami Gardens. The win kept Ave Maria unbeaten all-time against the Lions, and ensured a winning percentage of above .500 for the first time since 2018.

Ave Maria head coach Joe Patterson said all three Ave Maria units did their part to earn a fifth win of 2022.

"All three phases of the game had some moments of brilliance," Patterson said.

The Gyrenes found themselves in an early hole on Saturday, as the host Lions raced out to a 14-3 lead by scoring on each of their first two drives. AMU's third drive, which carried into the second quarter, led to the Gyrenes' first touchdown. Kristian Marks found Michael McGrath from four yards out, capping a drive of 55 yards that included a fake field goal conversion on fourth and three.

AMU then scored ten points in the final five minutes of the first half to take the lead going into the break. The first scoring drive was a 12-play effort, ending in a 27-yard field goal from Brendan Clark. In the closing moments of the first half, Andrew Lege hit Joshua Jenkins for a 38-yard touchdown with five seconds left, sending Ave Maria to halftime with a 20-17 lead.

Florida Memorial got the ball back to start the second half, driving into Ave Maria territory before Brunel Desinor blocked the Lions' field goal attempt. The blocked kick set up the Gyrenes in FMU territory, and Quino Mauricette ran in from ten yards out just three plays later to stretch the Gyrene lead to 27-14. 

FMU answered with a touchdown of their own, but the Lege-Jenkins connection pushed the Gyrenes' lead back to two scores. Taking over at their own 34 after recovering an FMU fumble, AMU moved 66 yards on four plays, including a 15-yard Jenkins catch and a 32-yarder into the endzone. A 28-yard pass from Lege to Jenkins on the next Gyrene drive would eventually lead to a 46-yard field goal from Kieran O'Neil, pushing Ave Maria's lead to 37-21.

The Lions would make one final effort to get back in the game, returning an interception for a touchdown to trim the Gyrene lead to 37-28. However, the Gyrenes all but put the game away on the next drive, draining four and a half minutes off the clock before Joshua Marion scored on a 17-yard run, supplying the game's final score of 44-27.

Jenkins made program history in the win, as his 174 receiving yards were the most in a single game in Ave Maria history. He also scored his 14th receiving touchdown in his two years on campus, setting the career program record in the category.

"Josh Jenkins is a special talent," Patterson remarked. "He's so consistent and reliable, and yet every time he touches the ball can turn into something special."

Elsewhere, Andrew Lege threw for 300 yards for the second consecutive week, completing 24 of his 36 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Quino Mauricette eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground, logging 113 yards and scoring once. The defensive leader for the Gyrenes was Brian Galasso, who was all over the field to the tune of 15 total tackles.

The Gyrenes conclude the regular season at home next week, and can record the second-best record in program history with a win over the Warner University Royals. It will be Sponsor Appreciation and Senior Night at Gyrene Field, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.