The BASICS

-Score: Assumption University 32, Pace University 21

-Records: Assumption (1-2) (1-0 NE10), Pace (0-3) (0-1 NE10)

Location: Worcester, Mass (Brian Kelly '83 Stadium)

The Lead: The Assumption University Greyhounds continued their 2021 season at home on Saturday afternoon, putting up points in every quarter and outlasting Pace University's strong running offense to secure their first victory of the campaign. The first half was a back-and-forth battle with big plays on both sides, sending Pace into the locker room at halftime with a 21-19 lead. The Assumption defense stood strong and didn't allow any points in the second half, allowing the offense to go to work and tire the Setters defense with a balanced game plan and a big play in the fourth quarter to secure the win. The Greyhounds hit the road next Saturday to face Stonehill College at 6:00pm.    

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Assumption started the scoring in the first quarter at 7:17 when junior Quarterback Jacob Cady (Saint Johnsbury, VT./Saint Johnsbury Academy) came on as a quick substitute and immediately made an impact getting a big 28 yard rush to put the Hounds at the Pace 30 yard line. After an offside on the defense and a 10 yard rush, senior running back Khaleed Exum-Strong (Norwichtown, Conn. / Norwich Free Academy / Trinity Pawling), powered through the defense on the right side to put the Hounds on the board first with his first touchdown on the year. 

-The second quarter was a back and forth battle with Pace immediately chipping away at the Assumption defense with a drive that consisted of 8 rushes and 1 pass eventually scoring when graduate student QB, Carlton Aiken was forced out of the pocket and scrambled his way down through the right side of the field for a Setters touchdown. Pace then went for a two point conversion and converted when Aiken found Ramir Tann-Davis in the endzone to put Pace up 8-7. 

-Assumption responded immediately with keeping the ball on the ground with another big gain from Cady and then senior quarterback Easton Turner (Ashburn,Va. Stone Bridge) connected with Brevin Easton (Odenton, MD/Archbishop Spalding) for a 36 yard touchdown pass to put the Hounds ahead.

-On their next possession, Pace continued the ground game using four rushing plays for 70 yards capped off by a 13 yard run by Kashmier Jackson to put Pace ahead yet again. 

-Assumption responded yet again driving down the field and finishing the drive when Turner found senior wide receiver Vincenzo DiCarlo (Hazlet, N.J./ Raritan) for his first collegiate touchdown reception. 

-This time Pace used the aerial attack to power this drive, throwing 5 times and rushing twice with the scoring play coming when Aiken found Lamar Moore for an 11 yard score right before the half, sending the Setters into the locker room with a 21-19 lead. 

-The beginning of the third quarter was a defensive battle with both teams exchanging possessions. Assumption finally capitalized when Exum Strong scored his second touchdown of the day, this time a 21 yard rush up the right side of the field and powering through the Setters defense. 

-Much like the third quarter, the fourth quarter saw the defenses stand strong and force multiple punts from both sides. In the beginning of the fourth, defensive back Isiah Huff secured his second interception of the season. 

-The very next play after the interception, Junior quarterback Jordan McAfee (Peabody,Mass./Everett) found Easton on a quick slant route across the middle of the field and Easton turned up the field and took it all the way to the endzone to put Assumption up and create the final score of 32-21. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Assumption had 536 yards of total offense, 161 from passing and 375 from rushing. Senior quarterback Easton Turner (Ashburn, Va. / Stone Bridge) was 5-12 with two touchdown passes and McAfee was 1-1 for 80 yards and one touchdown. Exum-Strong had 17 rushing attempts for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Easton had two catches for 116 yards and two TDs.  

-Pace had 353 total yards of offense, with 232 rushing yards and 121 passing. Carlton Aiken was 5-11  throwing for one touchdown and rushing 11 times for 129 yards and scoring a touchdown as well.  Kashmier Jackson had 12 rushes for 53 yards and a touchdown as well. 

-Defensively for the Hounds, junior Jael Feliz (Tampa, Fla. / Alonzo High) had 11 tackles (eight solo and three assists) while senior Anthony Laramee (Shrewsbury, Mass. / Shrewsbury) had seven tackles (four solo, three assists). 

UP NEXT

-The Hounds travel to Stonehill next Saturday at 6:00pm for a Northeast-10 Conference matchup. 

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