PLEASANTVILLE, NY- Matt Tarpley (Plymouth, MN/Wayzata/Univ. of Mississippi) (Plymouth, MN/Wayzata/Univ. of Mississippi) capped his final home game in a Pace uniform with five receptions for 112 yards and a pair of trips to the end zone as the Setters fell to the Hawks of Saint Anselm College 63-33 in Northeast-10 Conference action at Pace Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Setters fall to 0-10 on the season, while the Hawks improve to 1-9 overall and 1-8 in conference play.
The first half was a back and forth battle as both teams combined for 56 points in the first 30 minutes. Yianni Gavalas got the Hawks on the board on their opening possession of the game with a touchdown pass. Antwan Washington (Belle Glade, FL/Glades Central) (Belle Glade, FL/Glades Central) answered on Pace's ensuing possession as he connected with Tarpley for a key 34-yard connection to put the Setter offense in striking distance at the Saint Anselm 14-yard line. Four plays later, Washington ran it in from three yard out to tie the score at 7-7.
Saint Anselm answered later in the opening quarter as Gavalas tossed his second score of the day to put the Hawks back ahead at 14-7. Keith Charles added a rushing touchdown for Saint Anselm early in the second for a 21-7 lead. The Setters offense responsed as Washington connected on a 31-yard pass play for Cameron Davis (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL/Providence) (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL/Providence) and later in the drive for 24-yards to Julian Bonilla (Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) (Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) down to the Hawks one-yard line. Three plays later, Washington scored to pull the Setters to within 21-14.
The Hawks scored on their next possession as Gavalas threw his third score of the afternoon. Pace answered on their next drive as Washington had a key 17-yard run for a first down on a third-and-ten play. Later in the drive, Washington connected with Tarpley for 23 yards for the senior's first score of the day. Saint Anselm added a score right before the half and led at the break 35-21.
The Setters closed the gap to start the second half as Delaney Wallace (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) rushed for 23 yard on the first play from scrimmage, while Washington connected with Bonilla for 15 yards on a key third down play. Washington connected with Luiz Ribeiro (White Plains, NY/White Plains) (White Plains, NY/White Plains) for 24 yards to pull to within one score at 35-27.
Saint Anselm added to their lead as Gavalas tossed a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, while Charles rushed for another score. Gavalas added a late touchdown. The Setters scored early in the fourth quarter as Washington hit Tarpley for six yards out for Pace.
For the Setters, Washington completed 21-of-34 passes for a career-high 397 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 68 yards and a pair of scores. Tarpley finished with a season-high in yards with 112 and two trips to the end zone. Davis also topped 100 receiving yards as he totaled four receptions for 108 on the day. On defense, Tyler Owens (Salem, NJ/Salem) (Salem, NJ/Salem) led the Setters with 12 tackles, 2.5 for losses and added a sack. Joseph Roman (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) finished with eight tackles, 2.5 for losses and also blocked an extra points
Saturday's game was Senior Day as five of the Pace Football seniors was recognized for their careers with the Setters in a pre-game ceremony.
The Setters are on the road for next weekend's Northeast-10 Championship weekend. Pace travels to the #7 seed LIU Post Pioneers on Saturday, November 16 for a 12 pm kick-off.
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