LAKE WALES, Fla - The Royals hosted the Ave Maria Gyrenes on Senior night as the Royals played their last home game of the season.

After a defeating loss to St. Thomas Bobcats last week the Royals decided to make a stand and win their last game on their home turf as we celebrate the Seniors of the 2023 Football season. Tonight we celebrate the Seniors: Jake Lozinski, Zach Little, Michael Reynolds, Spenser Heusinkveld, Xavier Bryce Holiday, Kyle Metiam, Kayoni Griggs, Gunnar Kolberg, De'Queze Fryer, Aaron Belt, Cohen Begue, Clyde Holland, and Dalton Kobylarczyk as they lead the Royals on their last outing on this field. The first points of the night come in the first drive. The Gyrenes hit the ground running and caught the Royals defense sleeping earning themselves a quick 7 points with 12:26 mins left in the 1st Quarter. The Royals offense came to play. Tonight, leading in the quarterback position was Evans Eshbach who had an incredible night leading this Royal offense gets the team in position with 4 mins left in the 1st quarter for a Field Goal kick by Dillon Hubbard making it from 37 yards getting the Royals on the board. Soon after Gyrenes answered back with a Field Goal of their own bringing the score at the end of the 1st 10-3. Entering the 2nd Quarter the Royals offense gained some momentum after some amazing stops from the Royals defense and began to capitalize on their opportunities. The first points in the 2nd came from the Royals with 10:17 on the clock Senior RB Kyle Metiam finds the open gap and rushes in the red zone to get the Royals a 4 yard TD run and tie the game back up at 10-10. Yet again as the Quarter continues the Royals give the Gyrenes room to breathe as they capitalize in the red zone with a 4 yard run to bring the score 16-10 after a missed field goal. Before the Quarter closes out RB D'Shawn Trowers finds a gap open scoring a 5 yard rush for a Royal's touchdown bringing the score 17-16. With 1 minute left on the clock the Royals defense extended the lead with a beautiful interception from Kavon Martin returning it 39 yards TD to extend the lead 24-16. The Gyrenes are not making it easy for the Royals as they get good field positions on the Kickoff Return and flags with 6 seconds left finish with a field goal leaving 24-19. With a good lead going into the Half the Royals momentum did not seem to slow down as they came back on the field with full intent on winning the game, the Gyrenes had no intention in letting them have it as the 3rd Quarter of play commence and the Gyrenes take the lead back from the Royals. As the Gyrenes stop the Royals on their first drive they come out and capitalize with 11:53 on the clock the Gyrenes score on a 7 yard run bringing the Gyrenes back into it 26-24. As things seemed to begin to slow down the Royals QB Evans Eshbach makes an amazing pass to D'Shawn Trowers who makes an incredible pass to bring the Royals back in the game with 4 minutes left in the with the Royals leading 31-26. Just like the rest of the game the Gyrenes had an answer for the Royals previous TD answering back with a TD of their own to close out the 3rd Quarter with a 15 yard TD pass bringing the score heading into the 4th Royals 31 Gyrenes 32. Evans Eshbach did not stop as he found open man Damarray Jones for a 7 yard pass bringing the score 37-32. After that the Royal defense kept the Gyrenes from touching the end zone. To seal the deal Dillion Hubbard knocks down a 22 yard field goal ending the night for the Royals 40 Gyrenes 32. The Royals take their first conference win and leave their home field with a win moving their record for the season 4-5 looking to go .500 for the season against their Rival Webber Warriors. 

INSIDE THE MATCH: Warner University vs Ave Maria
FINAL: Royals 40 , Gyrenes 32
RECORDS: Royals (4-5, 1-5), Gyrenes (4-5, 2-4)

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Evans Eshbach: Went 20-34 of the night passing for 247 Yards and 2two TD's tonight
• Clyde Holland: Led the Royals on the ground tonight with 16 Attempts rushing for 84 Yards tonight
• Evens Valcourt: Led in Receiving yards with nine Receptions for 119 yards
• Dillon Hubbard: Knocked down two crucial fields goals out of the three, keeping the Royals in the game with the longest coming from 37 yards
• Deshauwn Alleyne: Led the defense in tackles with four solo,and five assisted for a total of nine tonight
• Kavon Martin: Made a phenomenal pick six to bring the Royals back into the game returning in 39 yards.

UP NEXT:
The Royals will take on their rivals Webber International University for a Cross Lake Rivalry game for the last game of the regular season  Saturday, November 11 at 1:30pm.