WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The Pace University football team moved to 2-2 this season with a 21-20 defeat at the University of New Haven on Saturday afternoon.
Inside the Numbers
Junior quarterback
Dan Anerella (Old Bridge, NJ/Manalapan) tossed a career-high three touchdowns while running back
Jhalen Bien-Aime (Dorchester, MA/Bridgton Academy) piled up 131 yards on the ground. Sophomore
Phyll Thomas (New London, CT/Bridgton Academy) finished the night with three catches for 32 yards and two touchdowns.
Pace's secondary put together five pass break-ups while freshman
T'khi Wood-Smith (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) recorded his first-career interception.
Matthew Corrie (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) led the team with 12 tackles and a forced fumble. Junior cornerback
Jasheem Banks (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North) also forced a fumble, to go along with six tackles.
As a team, Pace exceeded New Haven in total yardage (337), first downs (21), and time of possession (34:51), while running 15 more plays than the home team.
How it Happened
Pace jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half courtesy of Anerella touchdown throws to Thomas and
Darius Jones (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty). Thomas' four-yard score came mid-way through the first quarter while Jones snagged a 14-yarder at 11:45 of the second.
New Haven was able to get back into the game at the very end of the first half, tallying a pair of touchdowns in the final 1:04 of the second quarter. Chargers' quarterback Ryan McCarthy threw both scores, sandwiched around a quick three-and-out for the Setters. New Haven seized a bit of momentum as the teams went into the locker rooms at 14-14.
The home team would go on to take a seven-point lead on another passing touchdown with 7:57 remaining in the third quarter.
The Setters climbed back in the fourth with yet another Anerella-to-Thomas connection, cutting the score to 21-20. Pace's ensuing point-after attempt was blocked with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Blue and Gold would get their hands on the ball one more time in regulation as Corrie forced his third fumble of the season with a little under three minutes left.
Taking over at its own 39-yard line, the Pace offense was able to move it to the New Haven 30 with 20 seconds on the clock. Facing a fourth down and three, the Setters' 47-yard field goal missed wide right.
Up Next
The Setters are back home next Saturday for matchup against Bentley at noon.
