AVE MARIA, Fla. - In week five of the college football season, Warner University defeated Ave Maria University 17-7 on the road on Saturday.  The Royals pick up their second Sun Conference victory of the year and are now 2-1 in league play and 2-2 overall.  The Gyrenes, who were picked to win the inaugural Sun Conference Championship, drop to 0-4 on the year and 0-1 in league play.

The Royals made a statement in their very drive against the Gyrenes going 74 yards in six plays.  On the very first play from scrimmage, Bryant Benton took the handoff from quarterback Darrin Davis, Jr. and scampered 69 yards down to the Gyrenes' five yard line.  Three plays later the Royals faced a fourth and goal situation.  Following a timeout, Leslie Young punched it in from one yard out to give the Royals an early 7-0 lead.

The Gyrenes responded with a long drive of their own going 65 yards in 16 plays.  The Gyrenes converted two fourth down plays on the drive and scored on a 16 yard touchdown pass.

On the Gyrenes' next possession, Warner defensive lineman Terrance Belle stepped in front of Clayton Uecker's pass attempt for the game's first turnover.  Belle returned the interception six yards to the Royals' 36 yard line.

The Royals' offense made the most of the opportunity going 35 yards in eight plays setting up a 45 yard field goal try for kicker Brian Abrams.  Abrams connected on the attempt giving Warner a 10-7 lead and the longest field goal in school history.  The Royals carried their 10-7 lead into halftime.

To start the second half, the Royals' defense was put in a tough spot after a Warner miscue on fourth down gave the Gyrenes the ball at the Warner 10 yard line.  After holding for three plays, the Warner defense forced a 20 yard field goal attempt.  On the attempt, Warner's Dekivious Crawford came off the edge, blocked the kick and scooped up the loose ball taking it 85 yards for the touchdown.  The block is the second in as many weeks for the Royals' special teams who blocked a PAT attempt in last week's game against University of Faith and returned it for the two-point safety.

Ave Maria had the ball for five more drives following the blocked field goal but the Warner defense kept the Gyrenes out of the end zone including a turnover on downs inside the five yard line. 

By the numbers:

·         As a team the Royals tied a season-high with 44 rush attempts.  Bryant Benton rushed the ball 12 times for a team-high 83 yards. 

·         Leslie Young scored the Royals' lone offensive touchdown and finished the game with 22 yards rushing on nine carries.

·         Quarterback Darrin Davis, Jr. was 8-for-17 through the air for 99 yards.  He also rushed 12 times for 56 total yards.

·         Defensively, linebacker Rashodd Hadley led the team with 10 total tackles including one for loss.

·         Greg Hawthorne and Larry Faison both finished with eight total tackles sharing a sack between them.

·         The Royals' defense forced a turnover for the fifth straight game with the interception by Terrance Belle.  On the season, the Royals have forced 12 turnovers (eight fumbles & 4 interceptions).

Next week the Royals head north to West Point, Ga. for their fourth Sun Conference game of the season against Point University.  The Skyhawks and Royals will kickoff at 12 p.m.