SOUTHFIELD--Donald Dillon forced a fumble with 1 minute and 26 seconds remaining that gave the Lawrence Tech defense its third takeaway of the night, securing the Blue Devils 21-19 non-conference comeback win Saturday over visiting Ave Maria at Blue Devils Stadium. The Gyrenes from Florida were playing their season opener while LTU improves to 1-1.

Lawrence Tech will have a bye week and return to action on Sept. 16 against St. Francis (Illinois) in crossover conference contest at home, with a 12:10 kickoff.

How it Happened

• On the first play of Ave Maria's last possession, Andrew Lege completed a short pass to his receiver when Snyder dislodged the ball and John Webster recovered the fumble at the visitors 25-yard line. The Blue Devils then ran out the clock to avenge their close 26-25 defeat at AMU last season.
• Lawrence Tech took the lead for good at the 10:29 mark of the third quarter when Jalen Wallace hauled in an 80-yard touchdown toss from Alex Osman to put the Blue Devils up 14-13.
• Osman hooked up with Jaden Rembert for a 7-yard score to pad LTU's lead to 21-13 with 6:15 to go in the fourth quarter.
• The Gyrenes closed to within 21-19 less than 3 minutes later when Lege found Brock Summers in the end zone from 2 yards out, but the two-point conversion failed.
• The teams traded scores in the second quarter. LTU went up 7-6 on D'Vaun Bentley 73-yard TD reception from Ricardo Marble Jr. at the 10:11 mark. The Gyrenes went back in front 13-7 with 38 seconds left in the half as Lege connected with Joshua Jenkins on a 20-yard pass play.
• Ave Maria drew first blood with a Lege 6-yard TD pass to Roman Newkirk with 35 seconds left in the first quarter, capping a 15-play, 65-yard drive in 6:01 time of possession.

Lawrence Tech Highlights

• Osman, a freshman quarterback, made his first start of the season by completing 11 of 15 passes for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns
• Wallace led LTU with three receptions for 101 yards, while Jaden Rembert contributed six grabs for 46 yards.
• Andrew Perkins III led all defensive players with 15 total tackles including six solo, while Webster had 10 (7 solo) and Ze'Veon McDonald, nine (4). Devon Isaac added two sacks for 15 yards among five total stops and a forced fumble.

Ave Maria Highlights

• Lege was 27 for 46 for 287 yards, three TDs and two interceptions
• Donald Chester led all rushers with 68 yards on 15 carries.
• Jenkins led all receivers with 12 catches and 157 yards
• Shane O'Brien led the AVM defense with six tackles and eight total, while Triston Schultz had five tackles (7 total) including three sacks