PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – In their season opener, the Pace University football team defeated East Stroudsburg in decisive fashion, 31-16, in a game that never felt that close.
 
Within one minute and twelve seconds of game time Pace was ahead 14-0.
 
Graduate student Ramir Tann-Davis (Paterson, N.J./Paterson Eastside) took the opening kickoff 92 yards to the house in a repeat of last season's second half opening score against the Warriors.
 
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Leonardo Lopez (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) forced and recovered a fumble deep in East Stroudsburg territory. Three plays later, graduate student Carlton Aiken (Gibbstown, N.J./Paulsboro) threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior Teddy Harper (East Orange, N.J./Depaul Catholic) in the endzone.
 
Two Ben Franchino (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) field goals before the half put the Blue & Gold up 20-3 going into the break.
 
Coming out of the locker room, the Setters' defense caused two consecutive three-and-outs, allowing Harper to strike again, hauling in a pass up the middle which he took all the way into the endzone for an 86-yard score.
 
The East Orange, N.J., native made his first game as a Setter a memorable one, racking up 145 receiving yards to go along with the two touchdowns receptions.
 
Defensively, senior linebacker Evan Townsend-Henry (Norwalk, Conn./King) recorded the team's lone sack as well as a forced fumble, and five tackles, one of nine Setter players to notch at least three tackles.
   

Pace is back in action next Saturday at Bentley.

The season-opener coincided with Football Alumni Day and Pleasantville Community Day. Community Day Setter Starter partners included Inside Press, Inc., Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, Inc. and Boundless Nutrition. 
 
For all information regarding Pace University Athletics, log on to www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), Twitter (@PaceUAthletics) and Instagram (@PaceAthletics).