Stonehill holds off Assumption, 20-14, in Northeast-10 Conference football thriller

September 7, 2007

STONEHILL 20, ASSUMPTION 14

WORCESTER, Mass. --- It was a game of missed opportunities for Assumption College.

Stonehill College opened its new season under new coach Robert Talley and escaped with a 20-14 Northeast-10 Conference victory FRIDAY night at the Multi-Sports Stadium.

The Greyhounds had the ball on the Stonehill 14 with 1:23 left, the second straight drive which ended on the doorstep of the endzone. The Skyhawks senior linebacker MIKE DE BYE (Burlington, MA/Burlington) ended the drive with an interception at the seven. The previous drive ended with an incomplete pass in the endzone also on a fourth-down play.

The Greyhounds got a solid defensive effort from sophomore linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins), who had 15 tackles (7 solo) for the second straight game. Sophomore wide out DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) caught 10 for 105 yards and now has 19 receptions for 266 yards in two games.

Stonehill moved to a 7-0 lead taking advantage of a bad punt snap resulting in their drive starting at the Assumption 20. Freshman running back EDDIE VACHON (Newton, MA/Blair Academy) did all the work rushing first for nine yards and then untouched for 11 more and the first TD of the game. Senior SEAN DONAHUE (Plymouth, NH/Plymouth Regional) kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

On their next possession the Skyhawks drove 39 yards in nine plays and Donahue kicked a 37 yards field goal with no time remaining to make it 10-0. Two rushes by junior JEFFERY PAYNE (West Haven, CT/Notre Dame) for 21 yards and Vachon added two more for 24 yards to highlight the short march.

Stonehill would then take the opening kickoff of the second half --- an apparent onside kick recovered by freshman up-man JOE FORTE (Everett, MA/Everett) at the Hounds 44. Junior quarterback CRUZ PARSONS (Signal Hill, CA/Long Beach Poly) fired a 44-yard slant pass to sophomore wide out DAVID PRINGLE (West Haven, CT/Westminster) for the score. Donahue's conversion made it 17-0.

In the third period the Hounds drove 28 yards in five plays after a short punt out of the endzone. Freshman KYLE JOHNSON (Tualatin, OR/Tualatin) rushed twice for 23 yards and sophomore JAY YOUNGBLOOD (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) finished the march with a two yard slant with 5:26 remaining. Senior JON EISELE (Lower Gwynedd, PA/Vermont Academy) kicked the conversion.

The Hounds defense would then make a key stop as Stonehill drove the ensuing series 64 yards in eight plays to the 12. A touchdown saving tackle by senior MIKE O'NEIL (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) forced the Skyhawks to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Donahue and a 20-7 advantage.

The Hounds then made it interesting as the fourth period started.

Junior quarterback TAYLOR HUMPHREY (Lafayette, CA/Miramonte) completed passes of 9 yards to sophomore tight end MATT THIBEAULT (Fitchburg, MA/Fitchburg/Worcester Academy), 17 yards to sophomore wide out DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) and then two to senior wide out BRIAN CAREY (Tyngsboro, MA/Tyngsboro) for eight yards and the final 35 yards for the score. Eisele's conversion made it a six-point game, 20-14.

The Greyhounds are at Saint Anselm College next SATURDAY, while the Skyhawks host Pace FRIDAY. Both are Northeast-10 Conference games.

CLICK HERE for complete scoring summary