Box Score THE BASICS
-Score: Assumption College 40, Stonehill College 32 – 2OT
-Records: Assumption (5-2, NE10 4-1) Stonehill (4-2, NE10 3-1)
-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Multi-Sport Stadium)
-The Lead: The Assumption College football team battled their way to a 40-37, double overtime, Northeast-10 Conference victory on Saturday afternoon during Homecoming. The Greyhounds and the Skyhawks both scored touchdowns during the first overtime possessions before first year Patrick May (Boylston, Mass. / Tahanto Regional) made a 34-yard field goal and senior Mac-Brian Nkongchu (Worcester, Mass. / Saint John's) grabbed an interception in the endzone on Stonehill's next attempt to secure the 40-37 final.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Skyhawks got on the board with their first drive of the game. Sophomore Justin Felder rushed for a total of 24 yards in the 11-play, 62-yard drive, including a two-yard carry into the endzone for the visitors. Senior kicker, Matt Haite made the extra point for the 7-0 advantage with 9:58 to go in the first quarter.
-Assumption responded with their very next possession. Senior Doug Santos (Peabody, Mass. / Peabody Veterans Memorial) started the drive with a 12-yard carry to bring the Hounds to the Stonehill 47-yard line, and a first down. His classmate, Khaleed Exum-Strong (Norwichtown, Conn. / Norwichtown Free Academy / Trinity Pawling) added seven rushing yards before first year quarterback Jordan McAfee (Peabody, Mass. / Everett) snuck his way into the endzone with a six-yard run for the score. May made the extra point to help the Hounds tie the game at seven.
-Stonehill continued the back-and-forth scoring when junior quarterback Anton Stoneking connected with senior Andrew Jamiel for a 65-yard touchdown pass and the 14-7 lead at the 5:21 mark in the first. The Hounds closed out the quarter with a two-yard carry into the endzone by Exum-Strong to close the gap to 14-13. McAfee threw for 55 yards and rushed for an extra three to lead Assumption down the field.
-After a 14-play drive for 53 yards, Haite knocked down a 38-yard field goal to extend the Skyhawk's lead to 17-13, early in the second quarter. Just over halfway through the quarter, Felder started a drive for Stonehill with a 49-yard carry to the Assumption 50-yard line. Stoneking threw for 39 yards and rushed for another four for the score and the 24-13 advantage heading into the halftime break.
-Assumption came out of the locker rooms strong with a touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter. Santos rushed for 29 yards in the drive while McAfee threw three complete passes for a gain of 56 yards. McAfee connected with first-year Brevin Easton (Odenton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) on a second and 14 play for a first down. He later found junior Kyle Sonnie (West Roxbury, Mass. / Catholic Memorial) upfield for 11 yards and another first down. McAfee completed the drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Sonnie and May made the extra point as the Hounds pulled within four, 24-20.
-Stonehill kept their offense going with a seven-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a one-yard sneak by Stoneking for the touchdown (30-20). May came up with a 34-yard field goal before the end of the third to bring Assumption within seven.
-The Hounds started the fourth quarter with a quick touchdown. Exum-Strong rushed for 23 yards, and following and illegal procedure call on the Skyhawks that brought the Hounds to the Stonehill four-yard line, McAfee carried the ball the rest of the way to tie the game at 30-30. The rest of the quarter remained scoreless as the two teams headed into the first overtime period.
-Assumption opted to start on defense and the Skyhawks used an eight-yard pass from Stoneking to senior Casey Gervais to pull ahead 37-30. The Hounds responded with a 23-yard connection between McAfee and Sonnie to force a second overtime. May made the 34-yard field goal to put the Hounds up 40-37 before Nkongchu grabbed a pass out of Stonehill's hands to secure the 40-37 final victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-Assumption finished with 442 total yards of offense while holding the Skyhawks to 363 yards of offense. The Hounds gained 260 yards passing and 182 yards rushing. Stonehill finished the day with 231 passing yards and 132 rushing yards.
-The Skyhawks gained 22 first downs throughout the game while Assumption finished with 19 first downs.
-Stonehill was 16-for-33 (48.4%) in passing attempts and Assumption was 19-for-29 (65.5%).
-McAfee finished the day with 19 completions out of 29 passing attempts (65.5%). He gained a total of 231 passing yards and nine rushing yards while adding two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Santos led the running game, gaining 69 yards on 21 carries. Exum-Strong finished the day with 54 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. Sonnie grabbed five passes from McAfee for a total of 99 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Hounds in receiving. Easton added another five catches for 69 yards.
-May finished 2-for-2 in field goal attempts and 4-for-5 in extra point attempts, adding 10 points in the victory for Assumption. Senior Seamus Wallace (Pawcatuck, Conn. / Stonington) punted five times for a total of 195 yards and pinned two within the opposing 20-yard line. His longest punt was 62 yards. Junior Isaiah Huff (Windsor, Conn. / Milford Academy) returned one kickoff for 77 yards.
-Stoneking finished 16-for-33 (48.4%) in passing attempts for the Skyhawks, scored two touchdowns and threw two interceptions. Felder led Stonehill's rushing game with 155 yards in 32 carries and one touchdown. Stoneking added another 23 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns. Jamiel grabbed six passes for 117 yards and one touchdown in the setback.
-Haite was 1-for-2 in field goal attempts and 4-for-5 in extra points attempts to add seven points for Stonehill. Senior Kyle Cantalupo punted four times for 152 total yards and two within Assumption's 20-yard line. Haite made six kickoffs for 384 yards and three touchbacks.
-Junior Sam Athy led the Stonehill defense with 13 total tackles and one tackle for a loss of a yard. His classmate, Xavier Jones added six tackles, one forced fumble, and two pass break-ups. The Skyhawks finished with 68 total tackles, two sacks for a loss of 11 yards, and on forced fumble.
-The Assumption defense was led by junior Antoine Williams (Springfield, Mass. / Springfield Central) who put up 11 tackles and one pass break-up. Nkongchu added eight tackles, three pass break-ups and one interception. The Hounds finished with 69 total tackles including four for a loss of eight total yards. They had two interceptions, one from Nkongchu and one from junior Carlins Platel (Everett, Mass. / Everett).
UP NEXT
-Assumption has a bye weekend next weekend and are back in action at home on November 9th. They will host New Haven for Senior Day at 1:00 p.m.
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