Worcester, Mass. (October 4) -- A late Assumption rally on Friday night came up just short as the University of New Haven football team held off the Hounds for a 21-18 final in Northeast-10 Conference action on Family Weekend at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

Assumption opened the scoring with 7:21 left in the first half as sophomore James Ward (New Haven, Conn/Wilbur Cross) capped off a six-play, 88-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run for the 7-0 lead. The Chargers got on the board early on in the second quarter as sophomore Courtney Mashood pulled down a 27-yard touchdown pass from senior Ronnie Nelson to make it a 7-6 margin with 12:38 left in the opening half. The extra-point try was blocked though and the Hounds took the one-point lead into the halftime break.

In the third, the lone points came on a 17-yard touchdown reception from Nelson to Michael Flacco, followed by a New Haven two-point conversion to make it a 14-7 score with 6:47 left in the third. Assumption clawed back to within four at 14-10 on a 27-yard field goal from senior Tad Beuchert (Danvers, Mass./St. John's Prep) in the opening minute of the fourth before Nelson extended the Charger lead into double digits for the first time at 21-10 with 11:50 left.

Assumption was not done though as junior Matt Heriveaux (Everett, Mass./Malden Catholic) scored from four yards out up the middle to cut the lead back down to one possession at 21-16. The play was set up by a blocked kick from senior Mike Uva (Peabody, Mass./St. John's Prep), with the ball going out of bounds at the four yard line.

On the ensuing two-point try, senior Bobby Jordan (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) found senior All-American Scott Simonson (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) in the left side of the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 21-18 margin.

Assumption did get the ball back with 1:42 left at its own nine yard line following a New Haven punt, but the Hounds threw an interception on the next play to clinch the game for the Chargers.

Heriveaux led the Hounds ground attack with a career-high 126 yards, while Simonson pulled down six passes for a team-best 79 yards. Heriveaux was the team leader in receptions as well with seven as he piled up 62 receiving yards for 187 all-purpose yards in the game. Jordan completed 19-of-29 passes for 175 yards as well.

Mike DeCaro led New Haven with 67 rushing yards, while Nelson completed 16 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Moshood was the team's leading receiver with five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Mike Bates (Holden, Mass./Wachusett) paced the Hounds defense with 12 total tackles, including eight solo stops to go along with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble.

With the loss, Assumption drops to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the Northeast-10, while New Haven improves to 4-1 overall and is a perfect 4-0 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Friday, October 11th as the Hounds travel to Manchester, New Hampshire for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Saint Anselm College.

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