AVE MARIA, Fla. (October 31, 2020) - St. Thomas University (STU) Football (2-3, 1-2 MSC) earned their second win of the season, and first win against Ave Maria University (2-2, 1-1 MSC) in program history on Saturday night. The Bobcats defeated the Gyrenes 24-13 behind a dominant defensive effort.

STU began the game with the ball, as C'Quan J'nopierre returned the opening kick-off 22-yards. The first Bobcat possession totaled 15-yards, as St. Thomas was forced to punt and flipped field position. The Mid-South opponents traded punts until the Bobcats started their third possession of the game. Starting on the Bobcat 34-yard line, Robert Armes (22 carries/141 yards/1 TD) rushed four consecutive times and totaled 22-yards to get St. Thomas to mid-field. STU was stopped on fourth down inside the Gyrene's 25-yard line, but the third St. Thomas drive totaled 44-yards. After the St. Thomas defense forced yet another Ave Maria punt, Armes broke off a 48-yard rush, bringing the Bobcats inside the red-zone for the first time on the evening. Bry'yon Jones (14 carries/87 yards) followed with a 15-yard scamper to put STU within five-yards of the end-zone. Tyler Thomas (9/22; 68-yards/ 2 TDs) found Zachary Valcarcel (3 catches/15-yards/2 TDs) from four-yards out to get STU on the scoreboard first. 

AMU was able to cross mid-field into Bobcat territory for the first time in the second quarter, but the STU defense held firm, forcing a turnover-on-downs at the 35-yard line. Jones totaled 50-yards on the next possession for St. Thomas, including a 31-yard run, as STU scored on consecutive drives. Thomas found Valcarcel from four-yards out once again, as the Bobcats extended the lead to 14-0 over the Gyrenes with 5:23 remaining in the first half. In the final minutes of the second quarter, Devin Phillips sacked the AMU quarterback, which forced Ave Maria to call a timeout before fourth down. On the ensuing punt, Kenan Jean blocked the ball and it went out-of-bounds at the Gyrene 10-yard line with 18-seconds remaining. Thomas attempted three chances at the end-zone for his third touchdown of the quarter but was unable to covert. Billy McConnel made a 31-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into halftime with STU leading 17-0.

Ave Maria drove down the field to start the second half, but ultimately missed out on points as the 44-yard field goal attempt went wide-left. On the next drive, STU was forced to punt as the defense returned to the field after just six-plays. After AMU converted a first down, Sidney Porter recorded an interception to get the Bobcats back the ball near mid-field. St. Thomas punted once again, and AMU started their possession on the 20-yard line. Porter added his second interception in back-to-back drives, once again giving STU positioning at mid-field. The third quarter ended with St. Thomas on the Ave Maria two-yard line, facing a second-and-goal. Armes capitalized, scoring a touchdown and extending the STU advantage to 24-0.

Ave Maria drove down the field and scored their first touchdown of the game on a three-yard pass, but failed to convert a two-point conversion; However, the Gyrenes recovered an onside kick and began their next possession on their 46-yard line. AMU's running back scored from 39-yards out, and the Gyrenes made the extra-point to make the game two possessions at 24-13. St. Thomas needed a drive to take time off the clock, STU was forced to punt following a sack and 2:37 of time of possession. Facing a third-and-13, Michael Torrence broke through the offensive line and sacked the Gyrene quarterback at the 22-yard line, which forced a punt. STU ran out the clock, as Thomas completed the win in victory formation, taking a final knee to end the game with a 24-13 win for STU.

The Bobcats take on Warner University on Saturday, November 14, for Homecoming at Monsignor Pace High School. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m.

-STU-