THE BASICS

- Score Assumption 35, Southern Connecticut State 13

- Record: Assumption (3-0, 2-0 NE-10), Southern Connecticut State (1-2, 1-1 NE-10)

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

The Lead: No. 17 Assumption took advantage of two turnovers in the first quarter to jump out to a 21-0 lead after one period and stretched their lead to 28-0 early in the second before grinding out a 35-13 victory over Southern Connecticut State on Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Assumption scored on their third drive of the game, going 40 yards in four plays, the final of which Marc Monks (Annandale, N.J. / North Hunterdon) rifled a pass to Ashton Grant (Manchester, Conn. / East Coast Prep) on a slant route, and he weaved between defenders and into the endzone for a 7-0 lead at 7:28.

- The defense then forced a three-and-out, highlighted by a Ray Sarkodieh (Worcester, Mass. / St. Peter Marian) sack, setting up good field position for the Hounds. They capitalized and Monks found Grant down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown and 14-0 advantage.

- On SCSU's first offensive play following the Assumption touchdown, Nick Valenti (Troy, N.Y. / Troy) knocked the ball out of quarterback Robert Nittolo's arms as he was scrambling, allowing Anthony Libby (Middleton, Mass. / Sacred Heart) to pounce on it at the Owl 21-yard line. Dylan Oxsen (Plymouth, Mass. / Plymouth South) rushed four straight times to power it into the endzone for the 21-0 advantage.

- Grant and Monks connected on a 55-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 28-0, though SCSU got on the board before halftime with a four-yard run by Nittolo.

- Oxsen scored his second touchdown of the contest with 13:47 left in regulation to make it a 35-6 advantage, though Nittolo was able to connect with Kendall Thomas for a 34-yard touchdown in the final six minutes for a 35-13 score.

- Assumption didn't let the Owls get any closer as they churned out a nine-play 72 yard drive, taking the ball all the way to the SCSU three-yard line before time expired behind the impressive running of freshman Doug Santos (Peabody Mass. / Peabody Veterans Memorial). Santos tallied 66 of the 72 yards, on seven carries to close the contest out.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

- The Hounds controlled the game on the ground in the second half, holding the ball for 19:03 minutes and rushing for 177 yards. They finished with 270 yards on 44 carries to average 6.1 yards per attempt. Alex Shain (Sanford, Maine / Sanford) surpassed the 100-yard barrier with 115 yards on 19 carriers while Santos added 94 yards and Oxsen contributed 51 yards. Its the team'sthird straight game over 200 yards rushing.

- Conversely, the Assumption defense held the Owls to just 77 yards rushing and 153 total yards of offense on 56 plays. They averaged 2.7 yards per play overall and just 2.3 yards per rush with their longest rush of the day being only nine yards. SCSU also went just 1 of 13 on third down while getting sacked five times.

- Monks finished the day 13-for-22 on the evening for 174 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His primary target was Grant, who had five receptions for 119 yards and those three scores. Deonte Harris (Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) added five catches for 28 yards.

- Valenti was in the backfield all night for the Hounds, recording six tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.0 sacks. Levi Fancher (Beacon Falls, Conn. / Woodland Regional) added nine stops  with one sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss, while Joe Bruno (Old Forge, Pa. / Old Forge) had four tackles, 1.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss.

- Cornerback Bakari Blunt (Mt. Pleasant, S.C. / Dean College) added five tackles, one pass breakup and one blocked kick.

- Nittolo finished 7-for-22 for 76 yards and one interception, with 34 of those yards coming on a touchdown to Kendal Thomas. Devante Jenkins caught a pair of passes for 13 yards.

- Eli Parks led SCSU with 35 rushing yards on nine carries, while Vochan Fowler chipped in 12 carries for 23 yards.

- Michael Serisano led the Owl defense with 14 tackles, while Kayjuan Bynum and Jhaaron Wallace each had nine stops.

UP NEXT

- The 17th-ranked Hounds take to the road next week when they face Merrimack on Saturday at 1 pm.

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