PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.– For the fourth time in program history, the Assumption University football team is the Northeast 10 Conference Champions. The Greyhounds went on the road and had nearly 300 yards on the ground for a 20-17 win at Pace University, Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
Score: Assumption University 20, Pace University 17
Records: Greyhounds (8-2, 7-0 NE10) | Setters (6-4, 5-2 NE10)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pace struck first, as Tray Mauney connected with Kyler Robinson for a 33-yard touchdown pass midway through the opening quarter, giving the Setters a 7-0 advantage. Assumption looked to respond on its ensuing possession, but the Greyhounds were unable to find the end zone in the opening 15 minutes.
The Greyhounds began to establish their rushing attack in the second quarter, marching 79 yards on 12 plays before
Luke Liborio connected on a 23-yard field goal with 6:07 remaining. Assumption threatened again before halftime, advancing deep into Pace territory, but the Setters held on fourth down to maintain a 7-3 advantage at the break.
Pace extended its lead early in the third quarter, as Marc Malandruccolo connected on a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-3. The Setters then capitalized on a turnover, as Jayson Chavous intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown, pushing the hosts' advantage to 17-3 with 8:28 remaining in the quarter.
Trailing by 14 points, Assumption responded immediately. Just 15 seconds later, Jean-Francois broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 17-10. The Greyhounds' defense followed with another stop, giving the offense an opportunity to continue its comeback.
Assumption needed just three plays to cover 48 yards on its next scoring possession, capped by a 13-yard touchdown run from Brochu with 5:35 remaining in the third quarter. Liborio converted the extra point, evening the contest at 17-17 and completing the Greyhounds' 14-point comeback in less than three minutes.
The Blue and White carried that momentum into the fourth quarter. After driving 50 yards on nine plays, Liborio connected on a 21-yard field goal just three seconds into the final frame, giving Assumption its first lead of the afternoon, 20-17.
With the championship hanging in the balance, the Assumption defense delivered. Pace threatened to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter, but
Jepthe Jean blocked a 45-yard field-goal attempt with 7:44 remaining, preserving the Greyhounds' three-point advantage.
The Greyhounds continued to lean on their rushing attack and defense in the closing minutes, keeping the Setters off the scoreboard , thanks to a interception in the endzone by
Jamari Blake to secure the 20-17 victory and the program's fourth Northeast 10 Conference Championship.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Brochu paced the Greyhounds with 154 yards and a touchdown, while Jean-Francois finished with 133 yards and a score. Together, the duo accounted for 287 of Assumption's 295 rushing yards.
- Owen Fitzgerald anchored the defensive effort with a game-high 14 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, while Manny Cox added eight tackles and 1.5 sacks. Donovan Munroe contributed seven tackles and a sack, while Chase Gouvin finished with seven stops.
- Assumption recorded five sacks and held Pace to 214 yards of total offense. Jamari Blake registered an interception, Jhensen Touze recovered a fumble, and Jean provided the crucial fourth-quarter field-goal block.
- Liborio finished a perfect 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts and converted both extra points, accounting for eight of Assumption's 20 points.
- This is the Greyhounds' fourth championship, joining the 2015, 2017, and 2022 teams, and just the ninth team to go undefeated in NE10 action, and the first since 2021.
- Owen Fitzgerald was named the Elite 24 recipient, as he will graduate with a Cybersecurity degree and a 3.804 GPA. He is the 11th winner in Assumption history, and just the second one in football (Patrick May, 2022).
- Assumption leads the all-time series 22-12.
UP NEXT
- NCAA Selection Show, Sunday, November 15, 8:00 pm
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