AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Football team opened their home season Saturday night against the Cumberland Phoenix. The game did not go as planned for the Gyrenes as they fell 31-10. Ave Maria matched Cumberland in the second half but couldn't overcome a three-score deficit the Phoenix built in the first half.
After an empty first quarter for both teams, the Phoenix opened the game wide open with three straight drives in the second quarter ending in a touchdown. Sandwiched between the three drives was a three-out and a lost fumble for the Gyrenes, who had trouble getting anything started in the first half. Ave Maria logged just two first downs in the opening two quarters and had three three-and-outs.
Towards the end of the first half, the Gyrenes started to move the ball. Taking over with just 26 seconds remaining on the clock, Ave Maria marched 27 yards down the field, with all of the yardage coming through the air. With five seconds left, Ave Maria found themselves in plus territory and just enough time to throw the ball deep, but an incomplete pass ended the drive.
The Gyrenes went into the break down 21-0.
Ave Maria got the ball to start the second half and made the most of it. Starting at their own 15 yard line, the Gyrenes need just two plays to score the first touchdown of the season. The drive started with quarterback Joe Thole connecting with Wesley From for a quick 7-yard pass. Thole then unloaded a deep shot down the sideline to a streaking Mitchel Soltau, who made a couple of would-be tacklers miss and dove into the end zone for a 78-yard pass touchdown. Not only was it the first touchdown of the year for Ave Maria, but it is the first passing touchdown for freshman Thole and the first career touchdown for sophomore Soltau.
With the deficit down to two scores and the momentum on the Gyrenes' side, Ave Maria went into their bag of tricks and pulled out an onside kick that no Phoenix player was expecting. Kicker Jeremy Burch topped the football and sophomore Joseph Pomnean fell on in it right after it crossed the obligatory 10 yards.
The Gyrenes stalled for the first few plays of the drive following the onside kick and the punt team trotted out onto the field. Cumberland thought they were safe from another trick play on back-to-back kicks, but that was not the case. Burch received the snap and then rushed seven yards to get the first down and keep the drive alive for the Gyrenes.
Unfortunately, the drive ended in a missed field goal, but the Phoenix offense didn't take the field until 10:52 in the third quarter.
On the ensuring Cumberland drive, the Phoenix moved the ball across midfield but stalled out around the Ave Maria 40-yard line. Hoping to get some momentum back, Cumberland decided to go for it on fourth-and-4. However, the Gyrene defense came up with a huge stop as senior Elijah Douge logged the only sack of the night to force a turnover on downs.
After another three-and-out, both teams traded long drives that ended in field goals. Cumberland drove 60 yards in 14 plays to kick a 37-yard field goal and Ave Maria drove 52 yards in 12 plays to kick a 28-yard field goal.
With the margin remaining at 14 points, time was growing short for the Gyrenes. The forced a three-an-out following their field goal, but an interception ended the following offensive drive for the Gyrenes. Cumberland marched down the field and scored the final touchdown of the night to ice the game at 31-10.
Thole was the leading passer for the Gyrenes, completing 12 of 25 passes and throwing for 158 yards and one touchdown. Senior Ty Keller got into the game in the second half and completed the first pass of his collegiate career. Keller with 3-for-7 for 28 yards. Freshman Domenico Berlingieri made his collegiate debut on the final drive for the Gyrenes.
Javien Durham was the leading rusher for the Gyrenes, netting 23 yards on nine carries. As a team, Ave Maria netted just 19 yards against a stingy Cumberland defense.
Soltau was the leading receiver for the Gyrenes, hauling in four passes for 109 yards. It is the first time a receiver has logged 100 or more yards since Josh Jenkins turned in 123 yards against Florida Memorial in 2023. Logan Howard matched Soltau with four receptions for 36 yards.
On defense, the Gyrenes logged five tackles for a loss, including the lone sack from Douge. The secondary logged four pass breakups from four different players.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 0-2 on the season.
The Gyrenes are one the road for their next game as they travel to Fort Lauderdale to take on the Fort Lauderdale Eagles. It will be the first true road game against the Eagles for the Gyrenes, as UFTL forfeited the inaugural meeting in Fort Lauderdale in 2022. The Gyrenes are 3-0 in games actually played on the gridiron. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from the east coast of Florida and the game will be streamed live on Fort Lauderdale's YouTube channel.
