Pace Upsets Saint Peter's in Home Finale

JERSEY CITY, NJ (November 4, 2005) - The Saint Peter's College Peacocks (1-8) dropped their seventh straight contest this evening, falling to the Pace University Setters (3-7), 38-27 in front over of more than 2,000 spectators at Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City, NJ. Scott Bonnono was 23-34 for 309 yards and two touchdowns. John Bond and Carl Cowart each had more than 100 receiving yards, as Bond caught eight passes for 181 yards and Cowart caught seven passes for 116 yards.

Pace won the toss and took the football to begin the game. The Setters then went on a six play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Reuben Sullins to give Pace a 7-0 lead with 12:53 to play in the first quarter. Saint Peter's and Pace then each traded possessions. The Peacocks got the ball on their next possession and were driving down the field, when Bonnono threw an interception to Jarrett Foster, who rumbled down the field for a 78-yard touchdown run to give Pace a 14-0 lead. That would be the last time that the Setters would score in the first half, as Saint Peter's took over from there.

On the Peacocks next drive they went 80 yards in 11 plays that culminated in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Bonnono to Cowart with 12:48 to play in the first half, making the score 14-7. On Pace's next possession, Salic Wigfall blocked the Setters' punt attempt and Mike Chatman recovered the punt at the Pace 45 yardline, giving them great field possession. The Peacocks needed just three plays to convert as Shaun Puluse ran the ball 37 yards for a Saint Peter's touchdown. The extra point was missed and Pace still led 14-13 with 10:28 to play in the half.

Saint Peter's again held Pace on their next possession and got the ball back with 5:01 to play in the first half at their own 15 yardline. The Peacocks then went on a nine-play, 85-yard drive that lasted 4:41 and ended in a two-yard touchdown run by Puluse. Bonnono then connected with Brandon Edmonds to convert the two-point attempt and give Saint Peter's a 21-14 lead with :30 seconds to play.

The Peacocks scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter and went on to take a 21-14 lead into the break. Bonnono went 8-13 for 140 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Bond caught five balls for 97 yards, while Cowart made two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Puluse carried the ball 14 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Pace quarterback Mike Timmerman was 5-9 for 47 yards and an interception. Dan Khahaifa made two catches for 29 yards and Sullins ran the ball eight times for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Saint Peter's took the second half kickoff and had their punt attempt blocked, with the Setters' Jim Padcun recovering the football in the endzone for a Pace touchdown. The Setters had their extra point attempt blocked and the Peacocks still led 21-20 with 13:11 to play in the third quarter. Saint Peter's failed to convert on their next possession, giving Pace the football. The Setters went on a 14-play, 66-yard drive to took 8:16 and ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Timmerman to Khahaifa. Pace then converted on the two-point attempt as Mitchell Backus found Lee Robinson in the back of the endzone to make the score 28-21 Setters. The quarter ended with the same score.

Pace then continued a drive that started in the third quarter after a Sean Mayers fumble and converted into six points as Backus ran the ball four yards for a Pace touchdown. They added the extra point and led 35-21 with 13:28 to play in the fourth. Saint Peter's got back in the game as they went on a four-play 73-yard touchdown drive that took just 37-seconds and ended with 14-yard touchdown pass from Bonnono to Bond. The Peacocks missed the extra point and Pace led 35-27 with 9:29 to play. After a big kick return by the Setters, Pace needed to travel just half the field and got three points on a 25-yard field goal by Luigi Casale to make the score 38-27 with 3:08 to play in the fourth quarter. The Peacocks got the ball back and tried to drive down the field, but did not have enough time and clock ran out, making the final score Pace 38, Saint Peter's 27.

Puluse ended the game with 14 rushes for 91 yards and two touchdowns for Saint Peter's. On the defense, Will Mitchell made 10 tackles, one for a 2-yard loss. John Robinson, Lansley Charles-Pierre and Terrance Wright each had eight tackles for the Peacocks. Timmerman ended the game 10-15 for 69 yards and a touchdown for Pace. He also ran the ball 13 times for 75 yards. Khahaifa made three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. Sullins ran the ball 22 times for 114 yards and a touchdown.