THE BASICS
-Score: Pace University 35, Assumption College 32
-Records: Assumption (4-2, NE10 3-1), Pace (4-2, NE10 3-1)
-Location: Pleasantville, N.Y. (Pace Stadium)
-The Lead: The Assumption College football team was edged by the Setters of Pace University in a nail-biting Northeast-10 Conference battle on Saturday afternoon. The loss broke a four-game winning streak for the Hounds, who now sit at 3-1 in the NE10, while the Setters improve to the same record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Setters used their first drive of the game to take an early 7-0 lead. Senior quarterback Carlton Aiken started the drive with a 13-yard rush to the 33 yard line. Jhalen Bien-Aime put up 17 rushing yards before senior Darius Jones carried the ball the final 50 yards for the score. Senior Pat Davis made the extra-point attempt to complete the three-play 80-yard drive with 12 minutes on the clock in the first quarter.
-Pace continued the offensive push in the first quarter with a 39-yard carry into the endzone by Aiken for the 14-0 lead. The Hounds used a 31-yard field goal from first year Patrick May (Boylston, Mass. / Tahanto Regional) just before time expired in the first to get three points on the board.
-Assumption used another field goal from May, this time from 35 yards out, to close the gap to 14-6 midway through the second quarter. Sophomore Joseph Kellum (Mt. Laurel, N.J. / Lenape Regional) rushed 35 yards in the last three plays of an Assumption drive to score their first touchdown of the game and bring the Hounds within two going into the halftime break (14-12).
-The Setters used the first drive of the third quarter to extend their lead back to eight. Aikin started the drive with a 52-yard rush to the Assumption 32 yard-line. Bien-Aime added 16 rushing yards including a three-yard carry into the endzone and Davis made the extra-point to put Pace up, 21-12. Aikin connected with senior tight end Phyll Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown pass and the 28-12 lead heading into the final quarter.
-The Hounds came alive again in the fourth with an early four-yard rush from first year quarterback, Jordan McAfee (Peabody, Mass. / Everett) to complete an eight-play, 75-yard drive in the first three minutes. After a defensive stop by the Hounds, senior Doug Santos (Peabody, Mass. / Peabody Veterans Memorial) found his way into the endzone with a nine-yard carry. May made the extra point to bring Assumption back within three (28-25) with just over eight minutes to play.
-Assumption made two more defensive stops before taking their first lead of the game. Senior Khaleed Exum-Strong (Norwichtown, Conn. / Norwichtown) rushed for 25 yards in the final two plays of the drive to score his first touchdown of the game and give the Hounds the 32-28 advantage with just 1:39 to play.
-The Setters responded quickly with another passing touchdown from Aiken, this time connecting with Jones, for the 35-32 final victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-Assumption finished with 412 yards of offense while Pace put up 476. The Hounds collected 229 passing yards and 183 rushing yards and the Setters finished with 95 passing yards and 381 rushing yards.
-McAfee completed 14 of 28 passing attempts for 229 yards on the day. Exum-Strong led Assumption's rushing game with 71 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. Santos followed with 63 yards on 12 rushes and one touchdown. Senior Tighe Beck (Wakefield, Mass. / Wakefield Memorial) made two catches for 63 yards for the Hounds.
-May went 2-for-2 in field goal attempts and 1-for-1 in extra point attempts to add seven points on the day.
-Aiken completed nine of 18 passing attempts for Pace for 95 total yards. He also led the team in rushing with 22 carries for 180 yards and a touchdown. Trey Hodge made two catches for 56 yards for the Setters.
-Pat Davis was 5-for-5 in extra points attempts for the hosts.
-Junior Antoine Williams (Springfield, Mass. / Springfield Central) led Assumption defensively with 10 total sacks on one sack for a loss of two yards. Senior Egan Bachtell (Stow, Mass. / Nashoba) had nine tackles including one for a loss of four yards. The Hounds finished with a total of 69 tackles, including six for a loss of 26 total yards, and two sacks.
-Sophomore Dustin Huseinovic led the Setters' defense with 12 tackles, two for a loss of 18 yards, and one sack. Junior Harrison Moran Fernandez finished the day with 11 tackles for Pace and one for a loss of 11 yards. The Setters finished with 68 total tackles and two sacks.
UP NEXT
-The Hounds travel to American International next Saturday, October 19th for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m.
STAY CONNECTED
- For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.