THE BASICS:

- Score: Assumption 31, Kutztown 28

- Records: Assumption (1-0) Kutztown (0-1)

- Location: Kutztown, Pa.

- The Lead: Senior Dylan Oxsen (Plymouth, Mass. / Plymouth South) rushed for 34 yards in the final 90 seconds of regulation to put the Hounds in field goal position for senior Cole Tracy (Camarillo, Calif. / Newbury Park). Tracy then connected on a 24-yard attempt with just 18 seconds remaining and the defense forced a sack on the final play of the game to give the team a 31-28 victory over Kutztown on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- The Hounds scored on their second possession of the game as Oxsen scampered through the defense for a 66-yard score with 9:59 left in the first. Tracy made the extra point for the 7-0 lead. Midway through the first, Kutztown forced a fumble at the Assumption 49-yard line. Three plays later the Golden Bears capitalized as Craig Reynolds made his way through the Assumption line for a 38-yard touchdown to even the score 7-7.

- Early in the second, the Hounds went on a six-play drive all the way inside the five-yard line. After getting stuffed on first and second down, Marc Monks (Annandale, N.J. / North Hunterdon) found Deonte Harris (Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) for the five-yard score and 14-7 advantage with 11:24 remaining.

- Reynolds brought Kutztown back again on its next possession. This time he scored from 43 yards out on a second and ten to tie the score 14-14.

- On the ensuing kickoff, Harris took the ball from the Assumption three-yard line straight through the defense, for a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown. Senior Andrew Benson (East Bridgewater, Mass. / East Bridgewater) picked off a pass at the Kutztown 35 to stall a drive while Ray Sarkodieh (Worcester, Mass. / St. Peter Marian) and Chris Caraballo (Staten Island, N.Y. / Monsignor Farrell) combined for a nine-yard sack on the final play of the half.

- Kutztown evened the score up once again midway through the third as Colin DiGalbo scored on a five-yard run. Assumption answered with a seven-play drive in just 2:31 which culminated with a beautiful pass from Monks to Ashton Grant (Manchester, Conn. / Manchester / East Coast Prep) over the top of the defense.

- The Golden Bears wouldn't go away and evened the score at 28-28 with 9:24 in the fourth. Monks was picked off and the ball was returned all the way to the three-yard line, as a diving Monks made the tackle. Three plays later DiGalbo tossed a five-yard score for the equalizer.

- Kutztown had a chance to take a three-point lead in the final four minutes,  but missed wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt. Neither team could score on its next drive, though Assumption got the ball back with 1:25 on the Kutztown 40 after a 31-yard punt return by Harris.

- Oxsen rushed for 24 yards on first down to get to the 16 and two plays later made it all the way down to the three-yard line before being pushed out. The Hounds ran down the clock to 21 seconds and on second down Tracy sent a 24-yard field goal attempt though the uprights for the 31-28 lead. Following the ensuing kickoff, the defense earned a sack to secure the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Assumption had 19 first downs and 356 yards of offense, while limiting Kutztown to 278 yards and just 118 through the air. The Hounds were also 7 of 16 on third down while the Golden Bears were only 5-for-19.

Monks finished the game 24 of 41 for 215 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, while Grant caught 11 passes for 136 yards and one score. Harris had eight receptions for 45 yards and finished with 182 all-purpose yards. Oxsen rushed for a career-best 144 yards on just 16 attempts with one score.

- Defensively, Levi Fancher (Beacon Falls, Conn. / Woodland Regional) recorded a team-high 12 tackles, including three sacks. Joe Kim (Edison, N.J. / Edison) added nine tackles while Benson had seven stops with two pass breakups and one interception. As a team the Hounds had five sacks.

- DiGalbo went 17 of 30 for 118 yards and one touchdown through the air. Reynolds was a one-man offense for Kutztown as he totaled 335 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns on 133 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards and 168 yards on returns.

QUOTE FROM THE COACH:

"We'll take it. As a group we had too many missed opportunities but that often happens in the first game of the season. From players to coaches we have a lot of improving to do and we will make sure we evaluate ourselves critically and take the necessary steps. It's a win though, so we'll first enjoy it before we do anything I just said." - Head Coach Bob Chesney

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