SALISBURY, Md.- The Ave Maria University football team faced their biggest challenge of the season to date on Saturday, facing an NCAA Division III Tournament qualifier in Salisbury University on the road. The Gyrenes could not stop the Seagulls' vaunted triple option offense, and were hurt by four turnovers in a 42-14 defeat in Maryland.

Ave Maria head coach Joe Patterson said the experience of playing a postseason-tested team such as Salisbury will pay dividends as the Gyrenes head into the most important part of their schedule: Sun Conference play.

"The value derived from this loss will be measured two months from now in November," Patterson remarked. "Everything that leads up to conference play is seen through that lens."

Salisbury marched into Ave Maria territory on each of their first three drives, but interceptions from Wiktor Kuroczycki and Nick Maroon held the Seagulls to just seven points on those drives. On Ave Maria's third drive, the Gyrenes went 55 yards in eight plays, and tied the score at seven on a six-yard run from Quino Mauricette. 

On Salisbury's next drive, Zachary McGhee sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble, which was recovered by John Suran. Ave Maria took advantage of the Seagulls' third turnover, taking a 14-7 lead on a touchdown run from Bryan Stiemke with 4:40 remaining in the first half.

From there, though, it was all Salisbury. The Seagulls would score on their next drive to tie the score at 14 before halftime, then added two touchdowns in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to pull away from the Gyrenes. AMU couldn't get any momentum going on offense either, with the team's nine second half drives ending in three punts, three interceptions, and three turnovers on downs.

Salisbury's triple option offense saw ten total players combine for 482 rushing yards. 23 of Salisbury's 26 first downs on the day came on the ground, with the hosts averaging nearly nine yards per carry. Two Seagull quarterbacks completed just four total passes, with almost just as many (three) intercepted by the Gyrenes. 

Joshua Jenkins was a bright spot offensively for the Gyrenes, as the Honorable Mention All-American hauled in eight receptions for 88 yards, accounting for nearly half of AMU's passing yards. Bryan Stiemke also had a successful day, running for 61 yards on just eight carries, good for 8.7 yards per carry. Brian Galasso was Ave Maria's defensive leader, totalling ten tackles with seven solo stops while also adding an interception. Maroon also had an interception for AMU, and added seven total tackles, with one coming behind the line of scrimmage. 

Ave Maria's first bye week of the 2022 season is next week, giving the Gyrenes two weeks to prepare for the start of Sun Conference play. League play opens for AMU on the first night of October, which will see the Gyrenes host the Southeastern University Fire at Gyrene Field. Kickoff on Ave Maria Parish and Knights of Columbus Night is set for 7:00 p.m. in Ave Maria.