FOOTBALL FALLS TO AMERICAN INTERNATONAL 42-20

SPRINGFIELD, MA- The Pace football team lost to the Yellow Jackets of American International College 42-20 in Northeast-10 Conference action this afternoon. The Setters drop to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the NE-10, while the Yellow Jackets remain unbeaten at 7-0 and 5-0 in conference play.

The Setters got on the board first as on the second offensive play of the game Ray Gregg (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) hit Rick Southard (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) for a 59-yard touchdown strike and an early 7-0 Pace lead.

American International responded with 21 unanswered points as their special teams had a pair of key plays for scores. Allen Bush blocked a Setter punt attempt and Brian Kelly scooped up the loose ball at the 20-yard-line and ran it into the end zone to tie the game at seven at the end of the first quarter. Kertis Hussey would return a punt 70 yards midway through the second quarter for a touchdown. Hussey had earlier in the quarter caught a 2-yard touchdown from quarterback Rob Parent.

The Setters would slice their deficit in half as Dean Trerotola (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) would hit Andrew Kulak (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) for a nine-yard touchdown, capping a 6-play, 65-yard drive with 5:33 left in the half. The Yellow Jackets came right back on their next possession as Parent once again found Hussey, this time for a 17-yard pass play to push the American International lead back to 14 at 28-14 at the break.

After trading possessions to open the second half, the Yellow Jackets extended their lead as Parent connected with Travis Poole from seven yards out for a 35-14 lead with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter.

The Setter defense would get Pace closer as John Induisi (Davie, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS) (Davie, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS) would intercept a Parent pass, returning it 49 yards for a touchdown, cutting the AIC lead to 35-20 at the end of the third quarter as the extra point try failed,

Parent would lead the Yellow Jackets down the field once again, tossing his fourth touchdown of the game as he hit Trevor Perryman for a two-yard score. American International's defense would keep the Setter offense off the board in the second half, limiting Pace to less than 100 yards of offense over the final two quarters.

Gregg tossed for 128 yards on 7-for-14 passing for one touchdown, while Trerotola completed 10-of-20 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown in relief. The Setter ground attack was limited to 10 net yards on the day. Justin Polanis (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) hauled in six passes for 44 yards.

Defensively, the Setters were led by Jonathan Jones (Dover, NH/Bridgton Academy) (Dover, NH/Bridgton Academy), who recorded a game-high 11 tackles, while Greg Brain (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) totaled eight tackles along with one interception.

The Setters return to action next Saturday, October 25 when the Owls of Southern Connecticut come to Pleasantville for a 12:00 pm kickoff at Pace Field in a Northeast-10 Conference game.