FMU Looking To Build On First Win, Travels To Ave Maria Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (1-7, 0-3) at Ave Maria University Gyrenes (3-5, 2-1)
When: Saturday, October 30, 2021
Where: Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, Fla. | Gyrenes Field
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2020, Loss 6-42
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Momentum is an intangible thing. But when you have it, it can be the deciding factor that leads to very substantial results.

Florida Memorial University hopes that it has created some momentum with its historic first win of the season this past week as it travels to Ave Maria University this weekend for a showdown with the host Gyrenes Saturday at Gyrenes Field.

Fans willing to make the 90-minute northwest drive will be able to attend the game, which is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets will be available for purchase at the gate. Saturday's game will also be streamed live via Ave Maria and will be able to be viewed for free.

For all the firsts that FMU achieved this past weekend in its 41-17 win over Union College (Ky.) – the team's first victory in 63 years – if the Lions are able to knock off the Gyrenes Saturday it will be the team's first and longest winning streak; the team's first road win; and its first win over a Mid-South Conference Sun Division opponent.

Success for the Lions (1-7, 0-3 Mid-South Conference Sun Division) seems to be tied to its running game. In games this season where Florida Memorial has looked its best, it's been when the team has been able to establish its running game. FMU racked up a modern-era program record 318 rushing yards, led by freshman running back George Young's career and program high 123 yards.

Eight different Lions logged rushing attempts as the team also net new mark for most rushing first downs in a game (15) and highest team yards-per-carry average (7.1 yards) in a single game.

Having a productive ground game made life easier for FMU's freshman quarterback Demarcus McEachern, who made his second career collegiate start this past week against Union. With the opposing defense loading up to try to stop the run, McEachern was given bigger passing windows – which he took advantage of to the tune of an 8-for-14 day with 170 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Lions' defense benefitted from the increased offensive production as well. Able to play while protecting a lead, FMU's defense tied a modern-era program for sacks in a single game (5) and tied its record for interceptions in a game (3).

Ave Maria (3-5, 2-1) will likely present a different challenge to Florida Memorial than Union did. The Gyrenes dropped its game against No. 25 St. Thomas University this past weekend (a 45-10 drubbing) but had won their previous two games – at Southeastern University and against Webber International University – by a combined score 62-23.

The Gyrenes' offense is centered in its passing attack. Senior quarterback Will Tate has thrown for 1,470 passing yards and 13 touchdowns this season while maintain an average quarterback rating of 135.

Florida Memorial's defense has struggled to keep pass-heavy teams in check this season, but the Lions' defensive backs have shown – especially this past week – that they are an opportunistic group that will force turnovers with presented the chance.

One of the biggest factors for FMU will be the play of McEachern. The Gyrenes will likely "load up the box" and line up with or blitz an extra defender near the line of scrimmage – meaning the Lions' receivers will probably see a solid amount of single coverage from the AMU defensive secondary and it'll be McEachern's job to make the throws to those pass catchers.

Florida Memorial head football coach Tim "Ice' Harris Sr. said that his team had been waiting for a game where "everything clicked" and the team would "pop", because he knew the program would be able to ascend once it finally got a taste of victory.

"We did a good job this past week of staying together and getting positive plays from all three facets of the game," Harris said. "We enjoyed the first win on that day, but we had to go back to work preparing for face a good Ave Maria University team."

"We just have to keep working because we don't want that win to be a 'one-hit wonder'," Harris said.

Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | Twitter: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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Players Mentioned

#2 George Young: RB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#17 Demarcus McEachern: QB; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 George Young
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RB

#17 Demarcus McEachern
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: QB

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#2 George Young

#17 Demarcus McEachern

Players Mentioned

#2 George Young

#17 Demarcus McEachern