Senior Brendan Gorey kicked three field goals, including a career-best 45-yarder to put Stonehill in front for good midway through the fourth quarter at Assumption tonight.

Three Gorey field goals and 73-yard fumble return for score by Gaines leads Skyhawks to second-straight win

Boxscore 

WORCESTER, Mass. (October 30, 2009) - Stonehill College posted its second-straight win in dramatic fashion with a 22-14 decision over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference football action at Multi-Sport Stadium tonight.

Freshman Jareed Gaines (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) scooped up a fumble and raced 73-yards for a touchdown with 33-seconds left to seal the victory for Stonehill after two second half field goals from senior Brendan Gorey (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) had given Stonehill the lead. Gorey kicked three field goals in the win for Stonehill, including a career-best 45-yarder with 7:15 to play in the fourth quarter to give the Skyhawks a 15-14 lead. He also converted from 25 and 31 yards.

Junior running back Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass./Blair Academy) led Stonehill with eight carries for 124 yards, including a career-long 69-yard touchdown carry in the first quarter. He finished with 151 all-purpose yards, adding two catches for 11 yards and 16 total return yards. Freshman wide receiver John Gomes (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable) caught a season-high eight passes for a season-high 148 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Danny Sagan (Blairstown, N.J./Blair Academy) was 12-for-16 for 161 yards, while adding 34 yards on 13 carries.

Gaines finished with ten tackles (six solo), including two for a loss of seven yards, the fumble recovery, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. Freshman Kevin Anderson (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet) intercepted three passes to go with four tackles (three solo), while sophomore Matthew Ianucci (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) finished with eight stops (three solo), one for a loss of a yard and a blocked field goal attempt in the fourth quarter.

Junior Eddie Vachon carried the ball eight times for 124 yards, including a career-best 69-yard touchdown run.

Stonehill limited the NE-10's leading rusher junior Herbert Woodard (Bridgeton, N.J./Salem) to just 46 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 39 yards. Junior quarterback Andrew Kupec (Wyckoff, N.J./Indian Hills) finished 21-for-39 for 248 yards and three interceptions, with classmate Mark Gately (Waltham, Mass./Waltham) catching six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Dustin Zitzman (Pinellas Park, Fla./Dixie Hollins) led Assumption with 13 tackles (two solo), including 1.5 for a loss of nine yards, a forced fumble and recovery and QB hurry. Junior Keith Bates (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) added nine tackles (three solo), including 1.0 for a loss of two yards and a quarterback hurry.

Assumption was driving on Stonehill, trailing 15-14, when Kupec was sacked and fumbled on first and ten from the Stonehill 27. The Greyhounds had just converted on a fourth and six to keep the drive alive. Gaines scooped up the fumble and returned his second fumble recovery for a touchdown this season.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Gaines for excessive celebration after the touchdown allowed Assumption good field position. After Stonehill's extra point attempt and kickoff, the Greyhounds started at midfield with 27-seconds left. Kupec completed passes to Woodard for 20 yards to the Stonehill 30 on first down and then found Gately at the five on third and ten with a 25-yard completion. However, time expired as Kupec raced to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball on first down to send Stonehill off with the victory.

Assumption scored on its first offensive play from scrimmage after sophomore Pat Jordan (Marlton, N.J./Saint Joseph's Prep) picked off a pass from Stonehill sophomore Tim Morrison (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial) and returned it 34 yards to the Skyhawks 26. Senior David Canney (Templeton, Mass./Narragansett Regional) connected with Gately for the 26-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option for a 7-0 Greyhounds lead 3:07 into the game. 

Freshman Jareed Gaines led the defense with ten tackles and returned his second fumble return for a touchdown this season.

Gorey kicked a 31-yard field goal to pull the Skyhawks within 7-3 with 5:20 left in the opening quarter. Vachon put the Skyhawks in front (9-7) with a career-best 69-yard touchdown run down the left side with 3:11 remaining in the opening quarter on third and two on their next possession. Gorey's extra point attempt was blocked.

Anderson's third interception on Assumption's first drive of the second half set up a 26-yard field goal attempt by Gorey, but it was pushed wide left. The Greyhounds answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a two-yard run by Woodard to regain the lead 14-9 after the extra point. Woodard collected 30 of his 46 yards for the night on the drive.

Stonehill drew within 14-12 with Gorey's 25-yard field goal with 1:36 left in the third quarter when a six-play, 73-yard drive stalled at the Assumption eight. Sagan engineered the drive by completing three of four passes for 63 yards, including a 54-yard toss to Gomes, and added a rush for ten yards.

The Skyhawks took the lead with Gorey's career-best 45-yard field goal at the end of a nine-play, 59-yard drive with 7:15 remaining in the fourth. Vachon had a 42-yard rush on second and ten from the Skyhawks 14 to the Assumption 44, and Morrison completed a 14-yard pass to sophomore Philip Coriaty (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) to set up the field goal try.

Assumption drove to the Stonehill 17 on its next possession, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by sophomore Cory Kemps (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) was blocked by Ianucci to preserve the Skyhawks lead with 4:08 to play.

Stonehill (4-5, 3-4 NE-10) closes out its season next Saturday, November 7, when it hosts rival Bentley University for Senior Day on Family Weekend at the College at noon. Assumption (5-4, 4-3 NE-10) travels to American International College next Saturday at 1 p.m.