PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Playing through rainy and windy conditions, Pace University Football controlled all three phases Saturday afternoon, forcing four turnovers and scoring 44 points in a 44-3 victory over Saint Anselm College at Northwell Stadium. The Setters improved to 2-2 overall and opened Northeast 10 Conference play at 1-0.
Pace established control on a 10-play, 78-yard opening touchdown drive. Tray Mauney capped the march with an eight-yard run before connecting with Gary Wilkins for a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Ethan Lopez added a three-yard score following a London Campbell interception, helping send the Setters into halftime ahead 21-3.
Pace broke the game open after the break. The defense produced a safety early in the third before the offense put together a 14-play, 75-yard drive that consumed more than nine minutes. Lopez finished it with his second rushing touchdown, this time from 11 yards out.
Just 20 seconds later, Suliman Pitts intercepted a Saint Anselm pass and returned it 17 yards. On the next play, Mauney found Jhamier Howard for a 43-yard touchdown to push the advantage to 37-3.
Joe Fleming completed the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. When the final whistle blew the Blue and Gold secured an impressive 44-3 victory.
Mauney finished 19-of-29 for 254 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Howard totaled 76 receiving yards and a touchdown on two catches, while Wilkins caught six passes for 49 yards and a score. Lopez led the rushing attack with 51 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.
The Setters finished with 399 yards of offense, including 296 through the air, and controlled possession for exactly 40 minutes. Pace also went a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone.
Defensively, Pace held Saint Anselm to 169 total yards and just 61 on the ground. Pitts, Campbell and John Eubanks each recorded an interception, while Nathen Choute recovered a fumble forced by Sven Chuppa. Pitts led the defense with seven tackles and two tackles for loss.
The Setters return to action next Saturday, Oct. 3, when they travel to Waterbury, Conn., to face Post University at 1:00 p.m.
