Freshman HERBERT WOODARD runs wild in Hounds conquest of NE-10 rival Saint Anselm

September 15, 2007

FOOTBALL: Assumption 71, Saint Anselm 21

MANCHESTER, NH --- Freshman running back HERBERT WOODARD (Salem, NJ/Salem) rushed 20 times for 277 yards and tied a school record with five touchdowns as Assumption College defeated Saint Anselm College, 71-21, in a Northeast-10 Conference record-setting football game here SATURDAY at Grappone Stadium.

Woodard led the Greyhounds, now 1-2, 1-1, to an amazing 43-7 first-period lead scoring the game's first touchdown off left-tackle from 70 yards out on the first play of the game just 10 seconds in to the period. Senior JON EISELE (Lower Gwynedd, PA/Vermont Academy) kicked the first of seven conversions for a quick 7-0 lead. Eisele tied the Hounds' mark making seven-of-seven conversions also held by Tim Longden '03 vs. Mass. Lowell (11/4/00).

He is the third player in Greyhounds' history to score five touchdowns (and 30 points) in a single game (the first to do it one half) following Fran DeFalco '95 at UMass Lowell (11/6/93) (all rushing) and Kevin Clive vs. Sacred Heart (9/4/99). His 277 yards of all-purpose offense is the ninth-best total in Hounds' history.

The team set marks for most points in a game (71), half (57) and quarter (43), highest winning margin (50), most touchdowns (9) and most one-point conversions (8).

The Greyhounds so dominated the game they scored on 10 of their 14 possessions in the first half---all six in the first quarter. They rushed 14 times for 211 yards (208 by Woodard) in the first period alone.

After scoring on the game's first play it took just two plays to get the ball back as freshman safety KEITH BATES (Holden, MA/Wachusett) made his first career interception and returned it to the Hawks' 30. Woodard scored from there three plays later and Eisele kicked the conversion for a 14-0 lead with 12:21 left in the period.

The next series would end as Greyhounds' junior cornerback DAN HICKEY (Auburn, MA/Auburn) tackled the Hawks' punter ANDREW MARQUES (Manchester, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) for a 23-yard loss at the Hawks' 18 after a poor snap. A loss of 11 yards on a quarterback keeper by senior TAYLOR HUMPHREY (Lafayette, CA/Miramonte) and ensuing 26-yard pass to junior wide receiver JOEY FABIANO (Westwood, MA/Westwood) set the Hounds up at the two. Woodard scored from there and senior holder MATT KLASKIN (Norfolk, MA/Xaverian) made the best of bad center snap on the conversion scooting to the corner of the endzone for a two-pointer and a 22-0 advantage.

The Hounds would score again driving 70 yards in five plays as freshman LANCE MITCHELL (Boynton Beach, FL/Pope John Paul) capped the march with a five-yard off-right tackle run. Eisele converted for a 29-0 advantage. A 38-yard scamper around left end and a 31-pass to senior wide receiver JAKE BEERS (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury)---extending his consecutive game streak with at least one reception to 16---highlighted the drive.

A fumble recovery by freshman defensive tackle MATT CHALMERS (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy) at the Hounds' 48 set up the next score. Woodard rushed for 12 and 50 yards (after a 10-yard holding call) and Eisele kicked the conversion for a 36-0 lead.

Saint Anselm would then mount its first drive of the game going 59 yards in just six plays. Senior quarterback NICK BARESE (Braintree, MA/Braintree) rushed for 13 and 20 yards to start the march and finally found junior wide receiver RYAN DRAGO (Plymouth, MA/South) for the score from six yards out. Freshman placekicker DYLAN MC SPARREN (Portsmouth, RI/Portsmouth) made the conversion. And apparent interception by the Hounds' junior safety CHRIS MARTINO (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) was nullified by a pass interference call on the previous play.

On the ensuing kickoff sophomore DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) rambled 90 yards---the sixth time the Hounds have had a return of 90 yards or more---for a touchdown. It was the first kickoff returned for a score since Kevin L'Ecuyer '07 returned one 86 yards, also against Saint Anselm, September 20, 2003. Eisele kicked the conversion to make it 43-7.

The Hounds would continue the assault in the second period tacking on two more scores for a record-breaking 57-7 halftime advantage.

A short punt set the Hounds up at the Saint Anselm 46. Woodard would rush five times for 19 yards and Humphrey would find Canney for 18 yards and finally freshman MARCUS NICHOLS (Salem, NJ/Salem) on a seven-yard flair for his first collegiate score with 4:01 left. Eisele kicked the conversion.

A fumble recovery by junior linebacker MITCHELL WELCH (Southington, CT/Southington) set up the final score of the half---a 39-yard scamper by Woodard.

Mitchell scored from 11 yards out in the third period and freshman running back BRYAN DUKE (Mendon, MA/Nipmuc) ran five yards off left-tackle for the final score in the fourth period. Sophomore MIKE MC CORMACK (Glastonbury, CT/East Catholic) kicked both conversions.

A 21-yard quarterback keeper by Barese in the third period and a one-yard plunge, also by Barese, in the fourth period accounted for the final Hawk points.

GREYHOUND NOTES: the Greyhounds amassed 498 total yards including 380 rushing . . . they also held a huge 33:58 to 26:02 in time of possession . . . they converted eight-of-13 third downs . . . freshman quarterback JOSH RATACIK (Manchester, NH/Central) was four-for-four for 27 yards in his first collegiate action . . . freshman wide receiver MARK GATELY (Waltham, MA/Waltham) had three receptions for 19 yards (his first as a collegian) . . . senior defensive end JARED KELLY (Canton, MA/Xaverian) had 6-0--6 tackles with a quarterback sack, three tackles-for-loss and three hurries . . . senior cornerback MIKE O'NEIL (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) ended with 5-1--6 tackles . . .

NEXT WEEK: the Greyhounds host Northeast-10 Conference rival Bryant University SATURDAY at 1p.m. as part of Fall Homecoming (Alumni-Athletic Hall of Fame) . . .

200 YARDS RUSHING IN A SINGLE GAME

306 Billy DE MALIA at Stonehill, 10-14-00 (33-306)

286 Kevin CLIVE vs. Stonehill, 10-16-99 (42-286)

277 Herbert WOODWARD at Saint Anselm, 9-15-07 (xx-277)

241 Rich DANDINI at Providence, 10-17-87

239 Fran DE FALCO at Curry, 10-23-93 (23-239)

225 Rich DANDINI at Bentley, 9-13-85 (10-225)

223 Austin DAVIS at Iona, 10-22-05 (43-223)

213 Billy DE MALIA vs. Mount Ida, 11-14-00 (24-213)

210 Kevin CLIVE vs. Sacred Heart, 9-4-99 (28-210)

208 Austin DAVIS vs. Merrimack, 10-14-05 (46-208)

203 Fran DE FALCO at Mass.-Lowell, 11-6-93 (30-203)

202 Tony CORNIELLO vs. Stonehill, 11-11-89 (21-202)

200 Neild MONTGOMERY vs. M.I.T., 9-21-91 (24-200)

70 YARDS RUSHING IN A SINGLE CARRY

85 Roger LIESEGANG vs. Providence, 9-27-68 (TD)

83 Terry BIAFORE vs. Roger Williams, 10-4-86 (TD)

80 Chris ALLEGRO vs. Western New England, 9-23-95 (TD)

78 Fran DE FALCO vs. Mass.-Lowell, 11-6-93 (TD)

70 Glenn AYLWARD vs. Stonehill, 11-11-89 (TD)

70 Tom KANE vs. Bentley, 3-15-84 (TD)

70 Herbert WOODWARD at Saint Anselm, 9-15-07 (TD)

CLICK HERE for complete scoring summary