The Pace University football team was defeated by East Stroudsburg University on Thursday night, falling by a 31-12 final at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

The Setters jumped in front early thanks to a defensive stand on the opening possession. A forced miscue in the end zone resulted in a safety just twelve seconds into the game, giving Pace a 2-0 lead.

Moments later, the Blue and Gold struck again. After a 29-yard connection from quarterback Ethan Coady to Kyler Robinson, running back Anthony Robinson broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run. With Marc Malandruccolo adding the extra point, Pace held a 9-3 advantage midway through the first quarter.

The Warriors responded in the second frame, capitalizing on two short-yardage touchdowns to move in front, 17-9, at halftime.

The Setters clawed back in the third quarter when Ali Seidou recovered a fumble deep in Warrior territory, setting up Malandruccolo's 26-yard field goal that trimmed the deficit to 17-12. The Pace defense also forced a turnover late in the quarter, as Jamison Isaac registered his first interception of the season.

Despite the push, East Stroudsburg pulled away in the fourth quarter with a pair of rushing scores to seal the result.

Robinson finished the night with a team-high 70 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Coady and fellow quarterback Ah-Shaun Davis combined for 100 yards through the air, with Elijah Temple, Michael Tales, and Kyler Robinson leading the receiving corps. Defensively, Travis Osterhout recorded 11 tackles, while Ibrahim Diallo and Suliman Pitts each notched tackles-for-loss.

With the loss, Pace moves to 0-2 on the season. The Setters will now prepare for another road contest next Saturday, September 13, when they travel to Franklin Pierce University for a 6:00 p.m. NE10 kickoff.