WEST HAVEN, Conn. – In a battle of two of the top teams in the Northeast-10 Conference, the Pace University football team fell just short at the University of New Haven on Saturday afternoon, 28-21. Both Pace and the Chargers now sit at 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the NE10 this season.
After trailing 28-7 at halftime, Pace's defense fueled a comeback across the game's final 30 minutes. The Setters outscored New Haven, 14-0, after the break, but came up just one score shy.
Senior quarterbacks Carlton Aiken (Gibbstown, N.J./Paulsboro) and Brandon Simmons (Willingboro, N.J./Holy Cross Academy) each threw touchdown passes on the day. Aiken also carried the ball across the goal line on a 13-yard touchdown scamper.
Leading receiver for the Blue and Gold, Darius Jones (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), eclipsed 100 yards for the second time this season while posting a career-high 10 receptions.
The Setters' two touchdown passes were both caught by sophomore Ramir Tann-Davis (Paterson, N.J./Paterson Eastside), the second of which cut the New Haven lead to 28-21 with 3:08 remaining in the game.
Following his performance against New Haven on Saturday, Tann-Davis passed teammate and fellow receiver Jones as the NE10 leader in touchdown receptions for 2019. Tann-Davis sits atop the conference with five while Jones holds the No. 2 spot with four.
Defensively, Jalen Martinez (Methuen, Mass./Brooks) and Hemyer Hernandez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grand Street Campus) led the way for the Blue and Gold. Martinez piled up a team-high 10 tackles, while Hernandez picked up 1.5 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss.
Up Next
The Setters will return home next week to take on Assumption College on Saturday Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for noon at Pace Stadium.
