Easton, Mass. (September 22) -- Assumption built a double-digit lead at one point in the second half and was driving for a late touchdown before a 98-yard interception return by Stonehill late in the fourth quarter put the Skyhawks ahead as Stonehill came away with a 26-24 win on Saturday night at W.B. Mason Stadium.

The Hounds got on the board first as senior tight end Scott Simonson (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) pulled down a two-yard touchdown in the left corner of the end zone for the 7-0 lead with 6:35 left in the first. Setting up that drive was a 51-yard reception by a wide open Adam Gruschow (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) that got the Hounds down into the red zone. Following a Skyhawk penalty that kept the drive alive on third down, the Hounds took the early lead for the fourth time in as many games this season.

The Hounds forced a three and out on the next Stonehill drive, the Skyhawks forced the first turnover of the game as Kevin Anderson picked off a pass from Bobby Jordan (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) and returned it 31 yards to inside the 10-yard line. Assumption's defense clamped down though and Stonehill's Steve Gryzwacz converted a 25-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game with 3:11 left in the quarter.

Stonehill took its first lead of the game with 9:45 left in the first half as Logan Meyer found Nate Robitaille in the back of the end zone for the 10-7 score. The touchdown capped a seven-play, 73-yard drive.

Late in the second, the Skyhawks attempted to punt from deep in their own end zone, but that punt was blocked by Mike Uva (Peabody, Mass./St. John's Prep) and downed at the 14-yard line for a first and 10 situation for the Hounds with nearly four minutes left. On fourth down from the 15, the Hounds attempted a fake field goal as holder Dan Conrad (Holden, Mass./St. Peter-Marian) found Simonson with a pass down to the one. The Hounds regained the lead as Matt Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass./Bridgton Academy) rumbled in from a yard out for the 14-10 edge.

Stonehill used a fake of its own as the Skyhawks got the ball out near midfield with a fake punt with under a minute left. After a 15-yard personal foul penalty by the Hounds helped get the Skyhawks even further into Assumption territory, Meyer found John Gomes with a 20-yard completion down to the one yard line with five seconds left. The Skyhawks converted that into a 20-yard field goal by Gryzwacz to make it a 14-13 margin heading to halftime. In the first period, the Hounds had seven penalties for 59 yards, including two that kept drives alive.

The Hounds extended the lead back into double digits in the third as Simonson pulled down a 42-yard pass from Jordan to cap a seven-play, 78-yard drive that took just 2:59 into the third. Beuchert added a 25-yard field goal late in the quarter and the Hounds appeared in control with a 24-13 lead.

Stonehill wasn't done in that quarter though as Gomes pulled down a 36-yard pass from Meyer to get things started, followed by a 27-yard touchdown catch by Robitaille to get within 24-20.

After a 29-yard pass from Jordan to Matt Pedone (Holden, Mass./Wachusett) got the Hounds down into the red zone with just over seven minutes left in the game, Jordan was picked off at the two yard line by Anderson. Anderson then returned the ball 98 yards up the far sideline for what proved to be the game-winning score.

Jordan finished the game with 211 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Simonson had six catches for 87 yards and a pair of scores. Uva finished the game with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick. Jon Wozney (North Haledon, N.J./DePaul Catholic) led the team with seven total tackles.

Assumption is back in action on Saturday, September 29 as the Hounds welcome American International to the Multi-Sport Stadium for their 2012 Homecoming Weekend. That game is set to begin at 1 p.m.

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