LAKELAND, Fla.—A stretch of 31 consecutive points helped Ave Maria knock off Southeastern 34-10 in a Mid-South Sun Division contest.
The Gyrenes (2-4) limited the Fire to just three first downs and 37 total yards in the second half.
Southeastern took a 7-3 lead with 8:59 left in the second quarter on an eight-yard touchdown pass from
Cooper Jones to Jarred Romaelle. Ave Maria answered on the following drive with a five-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Will Tate to Joshua Jenkins to regain the lead. The Gyrenes extended the advantage to six at the break with a 25-yard field goal with 18 second left in the second quarter.
The Fire went three-and-out on three of their first four possessions of the third quarter and had another end in an interception. AMU got touchdown runs from Charles Philias and Tate, and another 26-yard TD grab by Jenkins to lead 34-7 to start the fourth.
SEU got on the board with a 37-yard field goal by
Tristan Connell with 7:13 remaining.
Jones finished the game 14-of-35 for 137 yards and a touchdown and was sacked three times.
Wendell Harris Jr. was the top receiver for SEU with four catches for 70 yards.
Marc Viechec had a career-high 13 tackles and a pass breakup on defense.
Aaron Walton added 10 stops and a breakup.
Jonah Paulsgrove punted nine times, averaging 40.3 yards per punt with a long of 57 and four coming to rest inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
The Fire return to action next Saturday at sixth-ranked Keiser for a 5 p.m. start.
