FOOTBALL SNAPS NINE-GAME LOSING STREAK IN
WIN OVER SAINT ANSELM
POLANIS RUNS FOR PAIR OF TOUCHDOWNS IN WIN
PLEASANTVILLE, NY - Sophomore Justin Polanis (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) rushed for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Pace football team snapped its nine-game losing streak, defeating the Hawks of Saint Anselm 20-9 at Pace Field this afternoon. The Setters improve their record to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the Hawks remain winless at 0-3 and 0-2 in the NE-10.
The Setter defense delivered the first points of the game as graduate Ricky McCollum (Newburgh, NY/Washingtonville) took an interception 50 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Pace lead. The Pace offense started a solid drive late in the first quarter, continuing into the second as the Setters would drive 49-yards in 13-plays capped off by Polanis' first score of the day from a yard out. Two key plays on the drive was a Saint Anselm 15-yard face mask penalty as well as a crucial 22-yard completion from quarterback Ray Gregg (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) to Richard Pinck (Hamburg, NJ/Vernon) on fourth and 17 to set the Setters up at the Hawk 11-yard line. Polanis would score four plays later.
The Hawks would rally following a solid punt return from Corey Williams, putting Saint Anselm at the Pace 37-yard line with 4:38 left in the first half. Dylan McSparren would put the Hawks on the board seven plays later with 1:44 left in the half, connecting on a 34-yard field goal to cut the Setters lead to 14-3 at the half.
Both teams would punt on their opening drives of the second half and then the defenses would trade interceptions. The Setters' Greg Brain (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) would end the Hawks second drive in the third quarter, setting the Pace offense deep in Saint Anselm territory. Pace's offense stalled but elected to go for a first down on fourth and five from the Hawk 30-yard. Gregg's pass on the play was intercepted and returned 70 yards for a touchdown. The snap on the extra point was fumbled and a pass attempt failed, giving the Setters a slim 14-9 advantage midway through the third.
The defenses held tough over the rest of the third quarter and most of the final quarter before the Setters put the game away with late in the fourth quarter. With just over three minutes remaining, Pinck would return a Saint Anselm punt 27 yards, setting up the Setter offense at the Hawk 25-yard-line. Gregg would hit Mike LaStella (Closter, NJ/Northern Valley Demarest) for a 20-yard completion and two Polanis runs, the final one from four yards away for the touchdown, iced the game for the Setters and gave Pace their first win of 2007.
Gregg had a solid day, tossing for 99 yards on 9-for-17 passing and one interception, while Polanis had 36 carries for 72 yards and the two short TD runs. Pinck hauled in a pair of catches for 36 yards, while also returning five punts for 56 yards. The Setter defense had a busy day, forcing six Hawk turnovers, as McCollum had a pair of interceptions, while Brian Schuster's (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) interception ended the Hawks final drive of the day with 1:36 left in the game.
Defensively, Joe Streany (Croton, NY/Croton) led the Setters in tackles, totaling 12, while Michael LaMonica (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) recorded nine, including two for losses and a quarterback sack. Ernst Turnier (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) had a solid game, tallying five tackles, forced and recovered a fumble, while pitching in a pair of sacks on the day. The Hawk offense was limited to 139 yards on 64 offensive plays.
The Setters return to action when they travel to Smithfield, RI
for a Northeast-10 Conference game against Bryant University on
Saturday, September 29 for 1:00 p.m. kickoff. The Hawks will host
the Pioneers of C.W. Post next Saturday.