LAKELAND, Fla. – On Saturday, Warner University football team returned to Sun Conference action with a home showdown with Ave Maria University. In dramatic fashion the Gyrenes held on for a 31-24 victory over the Royals at Vikings Stadium. The loss is the third in a row for the Royals (2-3) and their second in league play (0-2). The Gyrenes even their record at 2-2 and begin conference play at 1-0.
Darrin Davis, Jr. and Jeff Suarez, Jr. hooked up for a 56 yard touchdown throw and catch to open the scoring in the first half. The play capped off a six play, 65 yard drive in the first quarter. The Gyrenes came right back and tied the game in the second quarter after a 12 play, 68 yard drive that ended in a Dustin Roberts eight yard touchdown run.
Davis, Jr. and Suarez, Jr. hooked up again on the very next possession, this time in the second quarter for a 19 yard touchdown pass.
The Royals defense had a strong first half against Clayton Uecker and the Ave Maria offense. The Royals held the 6'6 quarterback to 113 yards on 31 plays through the first 30 minutes of the game. Uecker was 6-of-14 through the air for just 60 yards with one interception by
Patrick Moreland. They forced a punt or turnover on all but one Gyrene possession in the first half.
The Gyrenes made a change at quarterback to start the second half as Matthew Kreichman came off the bench and immediately sparked the Ave Maria offense as they took their opening possession and went 72 yards in 11 plays, mostly on the legs of Kreichman. Roberts scored his second touchdown of the game and the score was tied 14-14 with 9:25 left in the third quarter.
The Royals misplayed the punt attempt on their ensuing possession and the Gyrenes got the ball right back inside the Warner 15 yard line; two plays later the Gyrenes took the lead, 21-14, on a six yard touchdown pass from Kreichman to Thomas Zimmer.
After surrendering 14 straight points to start the third quarter, the Royals settled in on their next possession and went 85 yards in 11 plays. Davis, Jr. scored to tie the game on a one yard touchdown run up and over the pile on the goal line.
The Gyrene offense continued humming in the second half and they retook the lead to start the fourth quarter with a 26 yard field goal. Warner's
Angel Puente booted a 20 yard kick of his own on the ensuing Royals' possession and the game was tied fifth time on the day 24-24.
Following Puente's kick, the Gyrenes got the ball back with 6:19 to go in the game. With Kreichman under center the Gyrenes marched down the field picking up four first downs and eating up clock. With less than 40 seconds to go, Ave Maria scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 30 yard run by Kaleb Coffee.
The Gyrenes ensuing squib kickoff rolled to Byron Masoline at the Warner 36 yard line. Masoline scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 60 yards down to the Ave Maria 11 yard line with a 22 seconds left in the game. With no timeouts, the Royals completed one pass and got out-of-bounds at the three yard line. On the very next play, Davis, Jr. was sacked in the backfield and time expired before the Royals could down the ball to stop the clock sealing the Gyrenes' 31-24 victory.
Davis, Jr. finished the game 16-of-27 through the air for 214 yards and two touchdowns both the Suarez, Jr. He finished with four catches for 98 yards.
Jayvon Young also caught three balls for 46 yards.
Bryant Benton rushed 16 times and gained 76 yards to lead all rushers for the Royals.
Defensively,
Loronza Smith and
Travell Sherrod led the way with 10 tackles each in the game. Smith recorded one of Warner's two sacks in the game as well. The Royals were in the backfield a lot against the Gyrenes coming up with 10 tackles for loss.
Larry Faison had two himself for a loss of five yards.
Next week the Royals welcome Point University (Ga.) to Legion field in Lake Wales, Fla. for a 12 p.m. kickoff. In their first-ever meeting last year, the Royals won 37-7. To purchase tickets for next Saturday's game, visit
www.warnerroyals.com/tickets-
