THE BASICS

- Score: LIU Post 19, No. 15 Assumption 18

- Record: LIU Post (5-0, 4-0 NE-10), Assumption (4-1, 3-1 NE-10)

- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Multi-Sport Stadium)

The Lead: No. 15 Assumption gave up a touchdown in the final six minutes of regulation and came up short on its final two drives as LIU Post escaped with a 19-18 victory to improve to 5-0 on the and a perfect 4-0 in the Northeast-10 on a soggy Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Neither team could do anything on offense in the early going, but LIU Post broke through to take a 3-0 lead at 8:39 on 40-yard field goal by Joey Tolgysesi.

- The Pioneers extended their lead to 6-0 on a 45-yard attempt just 1:43 into the second quarter, after Charles Reid (Westampton, N.J. / Rancocas Valley Regional) snuffed out a screen pass for a six-yard loss on a third down from the 22-yard line.

- Assumption finally moved the ball inside the LIU Post 40-yard line, but a fumble at the 14-yard line kept the home team off the board and gave the Pioneers back the ball. The defense forced a punt though to give the Hounds good field position.

- The team final capitalized as Marc Monks (Annandale, N.J. / North Hunterdon) hit Ashton Grant (Manchester, Conn. / East Coast Prep) down the sidelines for a 36-yard touchdown on third down to put Assumption in front 7-6.

- On the ensuing kickoff, Andrew Martorella (Wantagh, N.Y. / Wantagh) surprised the Pioneers with an onside kick, allowing DJ Hernandez (Manchester, Conn. / Manchester) to catch the ball on the near sideline at the 50. The Hounds took advantage of the short field and Cole Tracy (Camarillo, Calif. / Newbury Park) extended the lead to 10-6 with 4:02 left in the half.

- LIU Post responded with a 10-play drive covering 75 yards over the next three minutes to grab a 12-10 lead on a one-yard run by Malik Pierre with just 1:02 remaining. Harrison Murphy (Whitinsville, Mass. / Northbridge / Bates) came through the line to block the kick and keep it a two-point game.

- The defenses didn't allow any points on the board in the third quarter and it was Assumption who struck first in the fourth. On third and goal, Monks found Brandon Swain-Price (Stoughton, Mass. / Stoughton) on a quick slant and the receiver bobbled the ball before securing it for the touchdown with 9:27 left in the contest. Monks then found Dylan Oxsen (Plymouth, Mass. / Plymouth South) in the corner of the endzone for the two-point conversion and 18-12 lead.

- Once again the Pioneers responded, driving from their own 34-yard line to the two-yard line, before Michael Hartgrove went in from two yards out to tie the contest 18-18. Assumption was unable to block the extra point as LIU Post took a 19-18 lead with just 5:14 remaining.

- Assumption was forced to punt from its own 22 on its next possession, but the defense held the Pioneers to a three-and-out. Tolgyesi through dropped a punt down to the one-yard line, leaving the Hounds with a long field and just 2:09 left.

- On the final drive, Assumption was down to a 4-and-10 from the one, when Monks connected with Grant for a 13-yard gain. The Hounds got the ball down to their own 43 yard line with 18 seconds left, before three straight incompletions ended the comeback attempt.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Assumption was outgained for the first time this year, as LIU Post had 376 yards to 335 for the Hounds. The Pioneers owned an impressive edge on the ground, 185-72, while limiting Assumption to just 2.5 yards per rush.

- Monks threw for 263 yards in the contest and two touchdowns, but went just 20-for-48 while getting intercepted twice. Conversely, Jeff Kidd went 21-for-40 for 191 yards and zero touchdowns, but he did rush 18 times for 64 yards and multiple first downs.

- Oxsen led the rushing attack with 26 yards on 13 attempts while Doug Santos (Peabody Mass. / Peabody Veterans Memorial) had 22 yards on six rushes. Mike Pierre paced the visitors with 62 yards and one touchdown on 15 attempts.

- Tolgyesi was a difference-maker for LIU Post, making field goals of 40 and 45 yards, as well as averaging 39.0 yards per punt on his nine kicks. He put five of the nine inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 53.

- Grant led Assumption with 110 all-purpose yards and one touchdown. The junior caught five passes for 94 yards and had one punt return for 16 yards. Dave Call (Springville, N.Y. / Saint Francis) added three catches for 66 yards, including a 34-yard reception while falling out of bounds.

- Andrew Benson (East Bridgewater, Mass. / East Bridgewater) was all over the field for Assumption's defense as he totaled a career-best 20 tackles. He had 1.5 stops for a loss and two pass breakups – one of which was nearly intercepted. Kyle Contreras (Wappingers Falls, N.Y. / John Jay / East Coast Prep) added 14 tackles while Jarrod Casey (Milford, Mass. / Bridgton Academy) had ten stops.

UP NEXT:

- Assumption returns to action on Friday when the team travels to face Bentley at 7 pm, looking to go to 4-1 in the NE-10.

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