LEBANON, Tenn. — The Ave Maria Football team traveled to the Volunteer State for the first time in program history to take on the Cumberland Phoenix for their second game in the Sun Conference-Mid South Challenge. Saturday unfortunately did not go the Gyrenes' way though, as they fell to the Phoenix 55-7.

The Gyrenes were kept out of the end zone in the first quarter while the Phoenix scored two touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead.

Ave Maria scored their lone touchdown of the night at the start of the second quarter, capping a 14-play drive that started at the end of the first. Reggie McBride punched the ball in with a seven-yard rush, scoring the first touchdown of his collegiate career.

The Gyrenes forced a turnover on downs on the next Cumberland drive and got the ball near midfield. Ave Maria was close to capturing the momentum of the game, but a fumble just a couple of plays later handed the ball back to the Phoenix.

Cumberland scored a touchdown on their final two drives of the half to make the score 28-7 going into the break.

In the third quarter, Cumberland added 20 more points to their lead.

The Gyrenes had a chance to stop the bleeding on their second drive of the half, moving the ball nearly 70 yards into the red zone. However, Ave Maria was stopped on a 4^th and 3, forcing a turnover and keeping them off the board. That was the Gyrenes' last time across the 50-yard line.

Cumberland added one more touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Logan Howard led most of the offense for the Gyrenes, going 8-for-14 for 58 yards from the pocket and rushing for another 49 yards.

Wesley From had the longest reception of the night, hauling in a 30-yard pass at the end of the first quarter that set the Gyrenes up nicely for the touchdown in the second quarter. Drew Mabrito, DJ Van Horn and Joey Audia tied for the team lead with two receptions.

Defensively, James Kingsbury led the team with 10 tackles. Aiden Holmes and Randy Russ accounted for the two tackles for a loss the Gyrenes recorded.

With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 0-2.

The Gyrenes are back home at Gyrene Field on September 20 for their next game as they play host to the Fort Lauderdale Eagles. It will be the fourth every meeting between Ave Maria and Fort Lauderdale, with the Gyrenes having won the first three matchups. The Eagles are 0-3 to start the season, having lost all three games to other Sun Conference teams. The game has been designated as the Hometown Heroes Game as Ave Maria will celebrate the military, veterans and first responders. The game is also the finale of a triple header on the Ave Maria campus with the Women's Soccer and Volleyball teams also hosting home games. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.