IONA RALLIES LATE TO DOWN PACE 30-26
SETTERS SURRENDER 24 UNANSWERED POINTS IN FINAL QUARTER

NEW ROCHELLE, NY- The Pace football team dropped a stunning 30-26 loss to the Division I FCS Gaels of Iona College in non-conference action at Mazzella Field. The Setters are handed their first loss of the season, falling to 3-1 overall, while the Gaels improve to 2-2 on the season.

Both defenses played a major role in the game as the teams combined for 10 punts over the first two quarters. The Setter defense forced the first major break in the game in the waning minutes of the second quarter. The Gaels offense would drive down to the Pace 18-yard-line with under three minutes left in the half. Jonathan Jones (Dover, NH/Bridgton Academy) (Dover, NH/Bridgeton Academy) would intercept a Warren Smith pass and return it 85 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Setter lead, which Pace would take into the break.

The Gaels would get the ball to start the second half but on their first play from scrimmage, Lee Robinson (New Milford, CT/New Milford) (New Milford, CT/New Milford) would force the Gaels' Nick Rossetti to fumble and Dan Robinson (Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Regional) (Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Regional) would recover it on the Iona 11-yard-line. Four plays later, Eshawn Armstrong (Middletown, NY/Milford Academy) (Middletown, NY/Milford Academy) would cross the goal-line on a two-yard touchdown run to give the Setters a 13-0 as the extra point was blocked.

Iona would capitalize on a Setter miscue as Pace would fumble at midfield giving the Gaels prime field position. Joe Muraglia would run it in from three-yard out to slice the Setter lead to 13-6 as the extra point failed. The Setters would bounce back as on the ensuing kickoff Pat Olcholvy (Islip, NY/Islip) returned it 63 yards to the Iona 11-yard-line. The Gaels defense would hold strong and the Setters would settle for a 31-yard field goal from Ali Mourtada (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) for a 16-6 lead heading into the final quarter.

This time it was the Setter defense to hold Iona to a three-and-out possession, forcing the Gaels to punt. The Setters put the ball in the hands of Nathaniel Ford (Queens, NY/Jamaica) (Queens, NY/Jamaica) for three consecutive rushes, with the final one being a 45-yard run to the end zone, giving the Setters a 23-6 lead with 14:16 left in the game. Mourtada would tack on a 32-yard field goal with 11:13 to go in the game for a seemingly insurmountable 26-6 Setter lead.

Iona would turn the ball over on a fumble after driving down the field to the Setter three-yard-line. The Gael defense held the Setters to three plays forcing a punt. The snap sailed over Mourtada's head and kicked out of the end zone for a safety slicing the lead to 26-8.

Following the free kick, the Gael offense would pass on eight of the nine plays of their possession with the final completion being a 15-yard touchdown strike from Smith to Tim Mastrino to cut the lead to 26-15 with 5:36 left in the game.

The Setter offense would go three plays before Ray Gregg (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) would throw an interception, giving the Gaels the ball on the Pace 40-yard-line. Iona would strike fast as Smith would hit Jeffrey Miller on a 24-yard pass and Mastrino for a 15-yard touchdown connection. Smith would then connect with Nick Groth on a fade to the corner of the end zone to slice the Setter lead to a mere three points at 26-23 with 3:52 left in the game.

Pace would go three and out on their next possession, forcing another punt for the Setters. Iona's Ant Tumbarello would break through the offensive line, blocking Mourtada's punt attempt and recovered in the end zone by Patrick Campbell, giving the Gaels their first lead of the game at 30-26 with 1:59 left in the game

The Setters were not done yet as Gregg would lead Pace down field. Gregg would hit Olcholvy, who broke a few tackles, gaining 40 yards before being tripped up at the Iona 33-yard-line. Gregg would hit Eric Ortega (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) on an 11-yard pass play and Justin Polanis (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) for 12 more yards setting up the Setters at the Gaels 10-yard-line with under a minute to go. With time running out on the Setters, Gregg would throw into the end zone but Iona's Matt McGuire would end the Pace comeback attempt with an interception at the two-yard-line, returning it out to the Iona 37-yard to seal the game for the Gaels.

For Pace, Gregg tossed for 164 yards on 13-for-30 passing, while throwing a season-high four interceptions. Olcholvy hauled in four catches for 75 yards, while Ortega totaled four receptions for 35 yards. On the ground, Ford finished with 86 yards on 12 carries and one score, while Armstrong totaled 57 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown.

On defense, the Setters recovered six Iona fumbles, while recording a pair of interceptions and four sacks on the day. Brian Schuster (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) led the Setters with nine tackles and one sack on the afternoon. L. Robinson forced three fumbles, while D. Robinson recovered a pair of fumbles. Greg Brain (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) posted eight tackles

The Setters return to action next Saturday, October 4 when they play host to Northeast-10 Conference foe Merrimack College in a pivotol conference battle set for 12:00 pm kickoff at Pace Field in Pleasantville.