Box Score THE BASICS
-Score: Assumption University 44, Saint Anselm College 35
-Records: Assumption (5-4, NE10 5-2), Saint Anselm (3-6, NE10 3-5)
-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Brian Kelly '83 Stadium)
-The Lead: The Assumption University football team defeated the Hawks of Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference action on Homecoming and Senior Day at Brian Kelly '83 Stadium on Saturday. The Greyhounds held a 17-14 advantage at halftime and went on to outscore the Hawks 27-21 in the second half for the final 44-35 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Greyhounds hopped on the board first with their first drive of the game. They used 52 rushing yards and 10 passing yards to give junior Patrick May (Boylston, Mass. / Tahanto Regional) a chance at a 30-yard field goal. May knocked down the kick for the 3-0 lead with 11:13 on the clock.
-Saint Anselm scored the first touchdown of the game with their first drive of the game. Sophomore quarterback, Drew Willoughby made three complete passes for a total of 49 yards and junior Vincent Wagner used a one-yard carry into the endzone for the 7-3 lead.
-The two teams traded defensive stops before the end of the first quarter as the Hawks held the 7-3 advantage heading into the second stanza. The visitors closed the first quarter gaining a first down on a two-yard rush by Wagner and started the second quarter with the ball on the Assumption 36-yard line. Saint Anselm used three rushing plays to gain 28 yards and Willoughby completed an eight-yard pass to junior Anthony Brown in the endzone to pull ahead 14-3 with 13:24 on the clock.
-Assumption put up their first touchdown of the game on their first drive of the second quarter. Junior quarterback, Jacob Cady (Saint Johnsbury, Vt. / Saint Johnsbury Academy) rushed for a total of 47 yards including a 10-yard run into the endzone for the touchdown. Senior Khaleed Exum-Strong (Norwichtown, Conn. / Norwich Free Academy / Trinity Pawling) added eight yards in carries to bring the Hounds within four at the 9:37 mark, 14-10.
-The Greyhounds made a defensive stop with the Hawks next five plays and regained possession at their own 45-yard line. Exum-Strong put up 34 rushing yards in the drive including a 10-yard run up the right side into the endzone for the 17-14 edge with 5:19 to go in the first half.
-Saint Anselm pulled ahead 21-17 with the opening play of the third quarter. Willoughby completed a pass to his classmate, Blaine Burkhalter who ran it 75 yards into the endzone for the four-point lead.
-Assumption used just six plays in their next drive to regain the lead with 11:49 to go in the third. Cady carried the ball 15-yards up the right side for the touchdown and the 24-21 edge.
-With 10:17 on the clock in the third, senior Jaque Sarnoff (Clearwater, Fla. / Calvary Christian) picked off a pass attempt by Saint Anselm to give Assumption back possession at the visitors 23-yard line. Exum-Strong rushed for seven yards and Cady used a one-yard carry into the endzone for the 30-21 lead.
-Saint Anselm pulled back within two with a touchdown at the 4:33 mark. Willoughby completed seven passes for a total of 75-yards gained in the drive as the visitors trailed, 30-28 in the third.
-Assumption used another interception during the first drive of the fourth quarter, this time by redshirt-junior Isaiah Huff (Windsor, Conn. / Milford Academy), who returned it for 48-yards, to the visitor's 15-yard line. Cady used a 12-yard rush in the endzone to put the Hounds up 37-28 with 11:41 to go in the game.
-Saint Anselm pulled within two with 5:08 to go with 11-plays capped off on a one-yard carry into the endzone for the touchdown as they trailed, 37-35.
-The Greyhounds tacked on their final touchdown of the game with 1:45 to go in the fourth quarter. They used six plays including 36 rushing yards by Exum-Strong in the drive. Sophomore Raekwon Washington (Waban, Mass. / Newton South) finished the drive with a 17-yard run into the endzone for the 44-35 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-Assumption rushed 48 times for a total of 283 yards gained. They put up 93 yards of passing yards, led by Cady who went 4-for-8 for 83 yards gained.
-Cady rushed 12 times for a team-leading 124 yards. Exum-Strong rushed 23 times for 112 yards gained.
-Junior Brevin Easton (Odenton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) made two catches for a total of 40-yards gained for the Greyhounds.
-Junior Jael Feliz (Tampa, Fla. / Alonzo High) led Assumption on defense with seven tackles.
UP NEXT
-Assumption finishes up the 2021 regular season at Bentley on November 13th in Northeast-10 action at 12:00 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
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