FOOTBALL ENDS SEASON WITH THREE-STRAIGHT WINS, BEATS SAINT MARY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After a rough start to the season, Avila football won its final three games of the year after defeating Saint Mary on Saturday at The Z, 32-24. Strong special teams play and a solid offensive attack helped Avila to secure the win on Senior Day.

Avila got on the scoreboard for the lone points of the first quarter thanks to a 39-yard field goal from Juan Delgado-Medina. A missed field goal attempt by the Spires kept the Eagles with a 3-0 lead at the start of the second quarter.

However, on its first drive of the second, Saint Mary knocked in a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.

Avila used its first big play of the day to score on the next drive.

Facing a fourth-and-eight inside Saint Mary territory, QB Eli Williams hit Caleb Perry in stride for a one-handed catch as the freshman took the pass 35 yards to the house to increase Avila's lead to 10-7.

The ensuing kickoff saw something a bit unusual from the Eagles.

Evan Pollard forced a Spires fumble on the kickoff and the ball was recovered by Perry who took it back to the end zone.

Back-to-back plays, back-to-back touches by Caleb Perry, back-to-back Avila touchdowns.

Eagles held a 17-3 lead midway through the second quarter.

Saint Mary missed a field goal attempt on the following drive and Avila did not answer in their final first-half possession as the Eagles held the 14-point lead going into the locker rooms.

Set up by a 45-yard run from Raymond Webster on second down, Saint Mary connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass three plays into the second half to make the second half competitive.

Less than 80 seconds into the third quarter, Avila's lead shrunk to 17-10.

An Avila missed field goal attempt was followed up by an unsuccessful Saint Mary fake punt, giving the Eagles great field position as time ticked down in the third quarter.

Five plays into the next drive, with the help of a facemask penalty on the Spires, Eli Williams found Kenneth Culpe in the back of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown reception. Avila held a 23-10 lead.

The Avila defense forced another Saint Mary turnover on downs and two plays after taking over, Mecoast Vaughn took an end-around 55 yards for another touchdown. Avila held a 30-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The ensuing drive saw the Spires drive down the field to score, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown reception.

The PAT attempt saw another big Avila play.

Xavier Pinckney blocked the Spires attempt and scooped the block to returned it more than 80 yards for an Avila two-point return. A three-point swing saw the Eagles hold a 32-16 lead.

Saint Mary recovered an onside kick and the Spires put together another long drive that resulted in a score, cutting Avila's lead to 32-16.

The Spires' luck would run out there, as the Eagles recovered the next onside attempt and ran the clock out on the game and the season, picking up the win.

With the win, Avila matched last season's win total and look to carry the momentum into the 2025 campaign.

The Eagles put up 341 yards of total offense on Senior Day, with three different players recording 50 or more rushing yards. Eli Williams threw for two scores in addition to his 73 yards on the ground. Running back Quentin Curtis led the Eagles with 91 yards rushing. Jay Wright, in addition to his two-point return, led Avila with 10 tackles.