ATLANTA, Ga. - In the first meeting between Clark Atlanta and Ave Maria, it was the home Panthers picking up the first win from CAU Panther Stadium since the season-ending game of the 2014 season; 37-13.

THE GAME
Score: Clark Atlanta 37, Ave Maria 13
Records: Clark Atlanta (2-2), Ave Maria (0-4)
Date: Sept. 24, 2016 | 6:00 pm Kickoff
Location: CAU Panther Stadium | Atlanta, Ga.
Series: 1st Meeting | CAU leads 1-0

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Clark Atlanta drove the length of the field on the opening drive, covering 75 yards in 11 plays, resulting in a touchdown pass from Johnathon McCrary to Yeshua Muata from three yards out. the PAT from Carlos Saldana made the score 7-0 with 8:55 remaining in the first quarter.

Ave Maria struck right back with a trick play on the first snap - a tailback pass - that connected for the 75 yard scoring play. The point after was wide left and had the CAU advantage, 7-6.

The next Panther drive put seven points on the board as McCrary found Trenton Earl on the 34-yard scoring pass. Saldana added another PAT to make the lead 14-6 with 6:59 left in the first quarter. The drive covered 61 yards in just four plays.

CAU scored a third touchdown in the opening quarter with Matthew Daniels scoring his fourth rushing touchdown of the season from 12 yards. Saldana connected for his third PAT of game to move the CAU advantage to 21-6 with 3:21 left in the first quarter.

McCrary capped a seven play, 53 yard drive with the quarterback keeper at the goal line before the Saldana kick. The drive took just 3:05 and put the advantage to 28-7.

On the first play of the drive, Darrell Fambro stripped the ball carrier for the Gyrenes and recovered the bal. Three plays later Saldana added the 27 yard FG. CAU led 31-6 with 12:21 left in the first half.

A sack by Xavier Lewis on third down ended the ensuing drive for AMU before forcing the third Gyrene punt of the game. Lewis has a sack in back-to-back games after being involved in one last week at Ft. Valley.

Clark Atlanta tallied 305 yards of offense in the first half on 39 snaps on the way to the 31-6 lead. The Panther defense held the opposition to 110 yards on 25 snaps.

The third quarter began with each team swapping punts. On the second AMU extended a drive with a fake punt and also utilizing a fumbled fair catch by the Panthers before scoring on a touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 31-13.

Fourth quarter scoring saw Saldana connect on another FG, this time from 33 yards, with 10:20 left to play to extend the Panther advantage to 34-13.

After a missed FG by the Panthers, CAU got two sacks in three plays from Lewis to force the Gyrene punt with less than five minutes to play.

Saldana added one more FG, this time from 25 yards capping a 6 play 38 yard drive that took 3:49 off the clock.  Saldana ended the day going 3-for-4 on FG attempts.

OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
McCrary had his best day behind center at CAU, going 18-for-31 for 282 yards and two scores to go with one interception. He added 11 rushing yards on four carries.

Earl entered the day with eight receptions in three games had seven receptions for 121 yards and one score.

Jaha McCray and Daniels each toted the ball 12 times, with McCray rushing for 67 yards and Daniels gaining 42 yards.

DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Harding Harper and Detavion Galmer led the Panther defense with five stops apiece.

The CAU defense registered 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

TEAM NUMBERS
CAU won the battle of first downs, 21-9, along with the outgaining the opposition, 420-164.

Both teams were flagged for double-digit penalties with Clark Atlanta being called for 12 penalties resulting in 103 yards.

The defense held Ave Maria to 1-for-13 on 3rd downs.

UP NEXT
The Panthers remain at home and will face the neighbors from the Atlanta University Center - the Morehouse Maroon Tigers. The game will be Oct. 1 at 4:00 p.m. Morehouse claimed the victory in 2015, 23-13; CAU leads the all-time series 49-36-3. Ave Maria becomes the 63rd different school that Clark Atlanta has faced in football.