Box Score AVE MARIA, Fla.- After digging out of an early 14-point deficit, the Fire were unable to hang on to their second half lead, falling to Ave Maria 38-35.
The Gyrenes (2-5, 1-1 TSC) scored the first 14 points of the game before Demonta Blunt got Southeastern on the scoreboard with a 1-yard touchdown run with 13:27 to play in the second quarter. After forcing a punt on the next drive, the Fire tied the game on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Johnathan Pearce to DeVonte Mack with 10:46 to go in the quarter.
"It took the offense a moment to get started as it has before, but once they started clicking, they were clicking fast," said acting head coach Richie Marsh, who led the team in the absence of coach Keith Barefield, who missed the game after having a precautionary medical procedure.
Ave Maria regained the lead on a 30-yard field goal, but the Fire were able to take their first lead of the game on the ensuing drive on a 3-yard touchdown run by Pearce, giving the Fire (4-2, 2-1 TSC) a 17-14 advantage. The Gyrenes answered with a 9-yard touchdown run with 1:29 to play in the half, but the Fire pieced together a 4-play, 66-yard drive in 46 seconds that culminated in an 18-yard touchdown run by Jarrell Reynolds to take a 28-24 lead at the intermission.
The third quarter saw the Gyrenes take a 31-28 lead after an 11-play, 60 yard drive chewed up 5:45. Southeastern answered with Reynolds' second touchdown run of the game from 25-yards out, giving the Fire a 35-31 lead.
A 33-yard field goal with 1:10 to go in the third put the Gyrenes up for good 38-35.
The Fire had a chance to tie on a 33-yard field goal attempt with 13:57 left in the contest, but missed wide right. Their last chance came on their final drive of the game, getting the ball to the Gyrene 26-yard line, but the hosts came up with two key sacks, and a fourth down pass fell incomplete.
"We had to get off the field, and couldn't on defense, and we had to keep some drives going on offense and weren't able to," said Marsh of the fourth quarter. It was the first fourth quarter this season the Fire did not score.
The Gyrenes outgained the Fire 593-500, running 13 more plays than the Fire. Ave Maria found a large part of their success in the running game, finishing the day with 246 yards on 50 carries.
Pearce led the Fire offense, completing 19-of-36 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown. Mack finished with four catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Jake Archer caught five passes for 66 yards. Reynolds became the first 1,000 yard rusher in program history, carrying 21 times for 153 yards, scoring twice.
Southeastern resumes Sun Conference play next Saturday at home against Point at 7 p.m.
