MIAMI — The Ave Maria Rugby team clinched the Florida Collegiate Conference Division 2 South Division Saturday beating the Florida International Panters 29-7. The Gyrenes are the inaugural winners of the South Division, with the Florida Rugby Union increasing Division 2 from three teams to eight between the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Noah Gordon distinguished himself on the wing, scoring four of the Gyrenes' five tries and earning himself a well-deserved Man-of-the-Match. Ave Maria converted on two of the tries to get up to their 29 points.

FIU converted on their only try for their seven points.

With the win, Ave Maria ends the regular season with a 5-1 record and first in the South Division. Milenia Atlantic finished with a 5-1 record as well, but the Gyrenes have the tiebreaker since MAU was forced to forfeit a match against the Gyrenes earlier in the year.

As South Division Champions, the Gyrenes will play in the State Championship against the winner from the North Division. The North is still up for grabs between the North Florida Ospreys and the Eckerd Tritons. The Ospreys are currently in first place with a 4-0-1 record. If they win or tie in their match Saturday against Embry Riddle, they will clinch the division. If UNF loses to Embry Riddle and Eckerd beats Florida State, then the Tritons will move into first place and win the division.

No matter who they play, the Gyrenes will be the road team in the championship game, either traveling to St. Petersburg or Jacksonville.

The FCC D2 Championship is set for April 12. The winner then goes on to the National Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana in May and gets promoted to Division 1.