FOOTBALL FALLS TO SAINT MARY ON HOMECOMING

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Putting up a much stronger offensive showing, Avila football could not score enough to keep up with Saint Mary on Saturday afternoon at The Z, falling to the Spires, 48-19.

On the Eagles opening drive of the game, the Avila offense stalled in the red zone and kicker Juan Delgado-Medina converted from 24 yards out to give Avila a 3-0 lead.

The KCAC rivals traded punts on each of their next two possessions.

To start the second quarter, Saint Mary found the end zone on a three-yard rush before missing the PAT. The Spires held a 6-3 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, Delgado-Medina made his second field goal of the game – this time from 48 – to knot the game up at 6-6.

Neither team was able to find the end zone before halftime as the teams entered the break tied up.

Coming out of the locker room, the Spires used strong play from all three units to put the game out of reach.

On its third play in the second half, USM found pay dirt with a 68-yard touchdown pitch and catch to go up eight.

Two plays later, Avila's Duce Taylor threw a pick-six to Saint Mary's Michael Graham to extend the Spire lead to 21-6.

Saint Mary added another touchdown in the third and one more to start the fourth quarter to go up 34-6.

Avila's Kasaun Graham ran it in from 13 yards out to open the fourth quarter to bring the scoreline closer, but USM answered back push its lead to 41-12.

After another Avila interception, the Spires scored the final touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff Ameer Willingham returned the kick 72 yards to the USM four-yard line to put the Eagles in prime position.

Quentin Curtis wasted no time and found the end zone on a four-yard rush to bring the score to 48-19.

From there, Saint Mary would run out the clock and sent Avila to 0-4 on the season.

Quentin Curtis (70 yards, touchdown) and Kasaun Graham (27 yards, touchdown) paced the way for the Eagles on the ground. Adavian Bankston's 80 yards through the air were a team-high for Avila. 

The Eagles are back in action next Saturday, at Sterling before returning to The Z on October 4 against Southwestern at 1 PM.

(photo credit: Victoria White)