SPRINGFIELD, MA- Freshman kicker
Jan Strzelecki booted four field goals as the Pace Football team fell to the American International Yellow Jackets in Northeast-10 action 58-19 on Saturday afternoon. Strzelecki's four field goals are the most by a single player in the 2000s era and the most since Rich White kicked three against Stonehill College on September 8, 2000.
With the loss, Pace falls to 0-10, 0-9 in NE-10 play, while the Yellow Jackets improve to 8-2, 8-1 in conference action.
The Setters were impressive on the opening drive of the game as senior quarterback
Brian Beeker guided the offense to an early score. He was a perfect 6-for-6 on a drive that led to a Strzelecki's first field goal. Following three and outs by both teams, the Yellow Jackets got on the board with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Arduino to Stephan Davis for a 7-3 lead.
On the Setters next drive, Beeker connected with junior
Kyle Johnson for a 31-yard completion to set up the offense in the red zone. Pace cut the deficit to one after Strzelecki knocked in another field goal, this one from 29 yards. American International would respond however as Arduino and Davis connected on 27 yard touchdown pass to take a 14-6 lead at the 11:05 mark.
Pace answered on their ensuing possession with their first touchdown of the game. Beeker hooked up with freshman wide receiver
Kyle Vadis for a 33-yard gain midway through the drive to place the ball at the AIC seven yard line. Junior
Valentino Miles capped off the drive with a one yard touchdown plunge to pull the Setters to within a point at 14-13. The next Yellow Jacket possession, Arduino and Davis connected on 10-yard touchdown pass, the third of the game by that duo. After a Pace fumble deep in their own zone, the defense stiffened to hold AIC to a field goal attempt Hulsey drilled from 24 yards out to give the Yellow Jackets a 24-13 lead.
The Pace offense continued its positive first half momentum as they Beeker led the Setters on another scoring drive late in the second quarter. The Setters started a drive at their own 33-yard line with 1:55 remaining in the half and Beeker started the drive with a pass connection to senior
Ransford Quarrie on a swing pass that went for 52 yards. The Setters settled for Strzelecki's third field goal of the game from 24 yards out to cut the lead to 24-16. On their ensuing possession, AIC attempted a 4th-and-2 from the Pace 32 yard line, but the Pace defense held strong sacking Arduino to force the turnover on downs. The Setters got the ball back with 33 seconds left in the half and Beeker hit Vadis for a key 27-yard completion to put the Setters into field goal range. Strzelecki kicked in his fourth field goal of the contest as time expired and Pace entered the locker room at halftime down 24-19.
The Yellow Jackets added to their first half lead as they found the end zone five times in the second half, including a pair by the defense.
For the Setters, Beeker tossed for 276 yards on 26-for-44 passing. Johnson hauled in eight receptions for 85 yards while senior
Corey Reeder added eight catches for 55 yards. Vadis totaled four catches for 53 yards, while Miles added a rushing touchdown. Defensively, freshman linebacker
Matthew Corrie led the way with 10 tackles and a sack, while junior defensive back
Jamir Gee chipped in nine tackles.
Strzelecki's four field goals gives the Setters six on the season, tying the 2005 and 2008 teams in field goals for a season with six.
The Setters return to action on Saturday, November 15 when they travel to Southern Connecticut during Northeast-10 Weekend. The Setters and Owls will kick off at 3 pm on the campus of Southern Connecticut. Â
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