Senior Andrew Lesko (53) and freshman Jareed Gaines (26) led a Stonehill defense that held Pace to just 62 rushing yards. PHOTO BY Jennifer Stanwick.

Stonehill Stifles Pace, 34-14

Skyhawks score in all three phases to clinch first NE-10 win

Boxscore 

"Young Skyhawks take wing, soar to football win"
by Jay N. Miller, Brockton Enterprise

EASTON, Mass. (October 10, 2009) - Stonehill College notched its first conference win of the season with a 34-14 victory over Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference football action on Easton Appreciation Day at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon.

Stonehill scored in all three phases of the game, with touchdowns on special teams, offense and defense, in picking up its second win of the season. The Skyhawks produced a balanced offensive effort in compiling 252 yards of total offense with 127 coming on the ground and 125 through the air. Pace posted 229 total yards - just 90 in the first half as the Setters trailed 27-7 at the break - with just 62 rushing and 167 passing.

Sophomore quarterback Danny Sagan (Blairstown, N.J./Blair Academy) returned after missing the last four and a half games due to injury to complete 10-of-21 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 11 carries for 21 yards and a score. Junior running back Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass./Blair Academy) totaled 114 all-purpose yards with 15 carries for 41 yards to go with 47 yards on four receptions with a touchdown and three total returns for another 26 yards. Sophomore Oscar Alvarez (Framingham, Mass./Cushing Academy) caught four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Danny Sagan made his return to the Stonehill lineup and tossed two touchdowns and ran for another today. PHOTO BY Jennifer Stanwick

Freshman Jareed Gaines (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) led the strong defensive effort for Stonehill with a season-high 13 tackles (seven solo), including a sack for a loss of six yards. Senior Andrew Lesko (Florence, Mass./Northampton) added ten stops (eight solo) with five for a loss of 37 yards, including two sacks for a loss of 18, a forced fumble and pass breakup.

Junior Steven Good (Green Harbor, Mass./Marshfield) also totaled ten tackles (seven solo) with an interception and tackle for loss while senior defensive lineman Clark Leger (Waltham, Mass./Trinity Catholic) made six stops, four for a loss of 20 yards including two sacks for a loss of 16. Senior Greg Sanzari (Centerport, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and sophomore Stephan Neville (Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough) each chipped in with interceptions, Sanzari raced his back 23 yards for a touchdown.

Stonehill held Pace's leading rusher senior Nathaniel Ford (Queens, N.Y.) to just 11 yards on 12 carries - 76 under his season average. Senior tight end Andrew Kulak (Wolcott, Conn.) caught six passes for 51 yards, while junior Jason Washington (Bronx, N.Y.) had five carries for 37 yards and a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Ray Gregg (Stony Point, N.Y.) and redshirt freshman Joe Romanick (Slidell, La.) combined to complete 16-of-18 passes for 167 yards and three interceptions with no touchdowns. Romanick, who completed 8-of-18 passes for 85 yards, also had 12 carries for 15 yards and a score.

Senior Greg Brain (Westtown, N.Y.) led the Pace defense with seven tackles (six solo), a forced fumble and recovery and an interception that he returned 30 yards to set up the Setters second touchdown. Senior Mike LaMonica (Beachwood, N.J.) also posted seven stops (six solo), while grad student Andrew Lipski (Miller Place, N.Y.) had seven tackles (five solo), three for a loss of 19 yards including two sacks for a loss of 15.

Both teams failed to get a first down on their opening drives and Stonehill appeared to do the same on its second, but sophomore Jordan Smith (Northfield, N.H./Bishop Brady) took the direct snap on the punt on fourth and six at the Pace 45 and ran it all the way for a touchdown for the opening score 5:17 into the opening quarter. 

Sophomore WR Oscar Alvarez is congratulated in the end zone by teammate Jeremy Roberts after his ten-yard touchdown catch that sealed today's win. PHOTO BY Jennifer Stanwick.

The Skyhawks took advantage of a 12-yard Pace punt that was downed at the Setters 38 as Sagan connected with Vachon on the first play for a 38-yard touchdown pass with 1:00 to play in the opening quarter. It marked Sagan's first career touchdown toss. Senior Brendan Gorey (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) missed the extra point attempt - snapping a string of 31-straight conversions for the kicker.

Stonehill extended its lead to 20-0 with 4:25 left in the half when Sagan capped a five-play, 76 yard drive with a one-yard plunge. Sagan hit Alvarez with a 52-yard pass on the second play of the drive to put the Skyhawks down at the Pace 16, before he put the ball down and rushed 12 yards to the Setters one to set up the score.

Sanzari picked off a Gregg pass on the Setters second play of the ensuing drive and ran it back 23 yards for a touchdown to put Stonehill up 27-0 with 4:05 left in the half. It marks the Skyhawks first interception return for a touchdown since Mike DeBye ran one back 35 yards for a score at Assumption College on September 4, 2005.

Pace got on the board with its next possession as Washington capped a four-play, 65-yard drive with a 34-yard touchdown run with 2:05 left in the half. Gregg collected an 18-yard carry on second down to put the ball in Stonehill territory. The Setters drew within 27-14 with 2:33 left in the third quarter when Brain picked off a Sagan pass at the Stonehill 32 and returned it 30 yards to the two. After a one-yard run for Washington and a Skyhawks penalty, Romanick scored from inches away.

Stonehill had a quick answer to the score as Sagan hit Alvarez on a fade from ten yards out on first and goal with 14:16 left in the fourth. Sagan set up the play with runs of nine and 18 yards during the six-play, 44-yard drive.

Pace's next drive stalled on downs at the Stonehill 17 and after a Skyhawks punt, the Setters drove to the Skyhawks 26 before Romanick was picked off by Neville at the nine to end another long drive and all but seal the win.

Stonehill (2-4, 1-3 NE-10) is back in action next Saturday when it visits Southern Connecticut State University, preseason favorites in the Northeast-10, at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks are back home the following Saturday, October 24, to host Saint Anselm College on Alumni Weekend at 1 p.m. Pace (0-6, 0-4 NE-10) hosts Bentley University next Saturday for homecoming at 1 p.m.