PACE FALLS TO ASSUMPTION 34-26 

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - Senior tailback Nathaniel Ford (Queens, NY/Jamaica) (Queens, NY/Jamaica) rushed for a pair of touchdowns, while quarterback Ray Gregg (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) tossed for two scores in the Setters 34-26 loss to the Greyhounds of Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference action this afternoon. The Setters fall to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the NE-10, while the Greyhounds improve their record to 3-2 and 2-1 in conference play.

Pace would strike first as they got a 61-yard kickoff return from Eric Ortega (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) into Assumption territory. Four plays later, Ford would cross the goal line on a one-yard score for a 7-0 Setter lead. The Greyhounds wasted little time in responding as in their second offensive play of the day, quarterback Andrew Kupec (Wyckoff, NJ) hit Mark Gately (Waltham, MA) for a 64-yard connection to tie the score at seven.

After holding the Setters to a three-and-out on their next possession, Assumption used a nine minute, 15-play, 52-drive capped off by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Kupec to David Canney (Templeton, MA). The Setters would answer on their next possession with a 13-play, 83-yard drive that took six minutes that culminated with a 14-yard pass play with Gregg hitting Desmond Hinds (Stamford, CT/Stamford High/Iona College) (Stamford, CT/Stamford/Iona College). The Setters would fail on the two-point conversion and trailed 14-13 at the break.

Kupec would toss a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, hitting Canney and Gately both on a seven-yard touchdowns as the Greyhounds would take a 27-13 lead into the final quarter.

The Setters would battle back as Gregg would lead Pace down the field, hitting Ortega for 41 yards on a second and 17 play to get the Pace offense down to the Greyhound 12-yard line. Three plays later, Ford would scamper in to the end zone untouched to slice the Assumption lead to 27-20 with 12:13 left in the game. On the ensuing possession, Kupec would find Gately on a 49-yard touchdown strike to put the Greyhounds back up 34-20 at the 9:52 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Setters would not quietly as Gregg would connect with Jason Washington (Bronx, NY/Mamaroneck HS/Iona College) (Bronx, NY/ Mamaroneck/Iona College) on a 22-yard pass play to get into Greyhound territory. Washington would rush for 18 yards on the drive, while Andrew Kulak (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) would catch a pair of passes with the second going for a 13-yard touchdown to pull Pace back to 34-26 with 7:09 left in the game.  

Assumption would go three-and-out but the Setters next offensive ended on downs with a fourth down sack with 3:55 remaining. A Marvin Taylor (Newtown, CT/UConn) (Newtown, CT/UConn) interception two plays later gave the Setters renewed hope but it was not to be for Pace as Assumption would force the Setters' drive to end on down with 1:20 left in the game.

For Pace, Ford rushed for 75 yards on the ground, Gregg tossed for 208 yards on 20-for-35 passing. Kulak led the Setters with five receptions for 52 yards, while Washington totaled three catches for 52 yards. Ortega finished with two receptions for 53 yards on the day. On defense, Andrew Lipski (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place/Iona College) (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place/Iona College) tallied a game-high 11 tackles (seven solo), with two for losses. Greg Brain (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) chipped in with nine total tackles.

For Assumption, Kupec tossed a school record five touchdowns on 25-for-31 passing, while Herb Woodard (Bridgeton, NJ) was limited to 68 yards on the ground. Canney led all receivers with 11 catches foer 124, while Gately finished with four receptions for 137. Dustin Zitzman (Pinellas Park, FL) led the Greyhound defense with 10 tackles.

Pace returns to action on Saturday, October 10 when the Setters travel to Easton, MA for a Northeast-10 Conference match-up against Stonehill College set for a 1:00 pm kickoff. Watch the Setters in action next week via Pack Network on www.northeast10.tv.