COLUMBIA, Ky.- The Ave Maria University football team faced one of its stiffest tests of the season early, as the Gyrenes battled No. 6 Lindsey Wilson University Saturday evening in Columbia, Kentucky. The Gyrenes fell 52-6 to the preseason favorites of the Mid-South Conference in the third all-time meeting between the two schools.
For a quarter, the Gyrenes had success against the national championship contender. The game got off to a solid start, as freshman Joshua Raphael - a local Southwest Florida product from South Fort Myers - returned the opening kickoff 51 yards into Lindsey Wilson territory. The Gyrenes picked up a first down and drove into field goal range, but saw their 48-yard attempt sail wide left.
After Lindsey Wilson kicked a field goal of their own to take a 3-0 lead, the Ave Maria offense put together a scoring drive, again sparked by a big play. On just his fifth collegiate pass attempt, quarterback Joseph Thole found Wesley From for a 50-yard pickup, putting the Gyrenes at the LWU 25. Six plays later, Jake Matigian made a 30-yard field goal, tying the score at 3 with 2:05 to play in the first quarter.
The second quarter, though, saw the Blue Raiders take control. Lindsey Wilson scored 28 points in the second quarter, thanks to two rushing touchdowns from Davontaye Saunders, and a pair of passing touchdowns from Tate Rice to Max Gainey. AMU's four full drives in the second quarter ended with two punts, a turnover on downs, and an interception.
Lindsey Wilson added three more scores in the third quarter before Ave Maria got back on the board to start the fourth, once again powered by the kickoff return unit. This time, it was Andrew Picard who got loose for the Gyrenes, returning the kick 68 yards to the LWU 30-yard line. Another seven plays later, Matigian put his name back on the scoresheet with his second field goal of the night, this one from 39 yards.
Matigian's field goal proved to be the final score of the night, as the game was called due to lightning with 10:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
In his first start, quarterback Joseph Thole threw for 101 yards, with Reggie McBride the team's leading target with four receptions. Javien Durham was the team's leading rusher with 29 yards. Sean Battle was the Gyrene leader on defense, logging eight tackles, including six solo stops, as well as a pass break-up.
The Gyrenes head back to Florida next week for the home opener, as Ave Maria battles Cumberland University on Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night. It is the third meeting between Ave Maria and Cumberland, with the Phoenix winning in 2018 and 2025. Kickoff between the Gyrenes and Phoenix, who were receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Gyrene Field in Ave Maria.
