Stonehill runs past Greyhound football, 31-7, in Northeast-10 Conference action

October 18, 2008

Stonehill 31, Assumption 7

EASTON, Mass. --- Stonehill College scored 31 unanswered points after giving up a first-period score en route to a 31-7 win over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference football here SATURDAY at W.B. Mason Field.

The Greyhounds drove 53 yards in just six plays on their first possession to take an early lead. Sophomore running back HERBERT WOODARD (Salem, NJ/Salem) finished the march with a nifty 18-yard run off right tackle and freshman plackicker ZACK OKOLOWITCZ (Cranston, RI/Cranston West) added the conversion for a 7-0 advantage 4:12 into the first period.

Sophomore quarterback JOSH RATACIK (Manchester, NH/Central), who completed an amazing 19-of-26 passes for just 106 yards in the game, found sophomore wide receiver DOMINIQUE PRICE (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) for eight yards, Woodard scampered for nine and three yards on back-to-back carries and then Ratacik connected with postgraduate tight end JAKE LONGENECKER (Fernandina, FL/Manchester West, NH) for 10 yards and then with Woodard for five yards before the score.

The Skyhawks came right back marching 56 yards in six plays as senior running back JEFF PAYNE (West Haven, CT/Notre Dame) capped the march with a three-yard off-tackle touchdown run. Junior placekicker BRENDAN GOREY (West Islip, NY/West Islip) tied the game with the conversion kick with 7:14 left in the period. Skyhawks' senior quarterback CRUZ PARSONS (Signal Hill, CA/Long Beach Poly) found senior wide receiver CHRIS PALMER (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara) for 42 yards to the Assumption nine to set up the score. Payne scored on his third straight rush.

Stonehill scored a pair of touchdown in the second period and 10 points in the third.

After the Greyhounds failed on a fourth-down conversion, Stonehill drove 77 yards in 12 plays---their longest drive of the game---capped by a sophomore running back EDDIE VACHON (Newton, MA/Blair Academy) three-yard run up-the-middle. Gorey's conversion made it 14-7.

Parson completed a 10-yard pass to Payne and then a 31-yarder over-the-top to the Assumption 34 on a third-and-nine play to highlight the drive. A 20-yard pass-and-run to junior wide receiver DAVID PRINGLE (West Haven, CT/Westminster) set up the score.

The Skyhawks scored again with 57 seconds remaining in the half as Parsons dove in from a yard out. He completed a pass for 35 yards to Palmer and then scampered 19 yards on his own to highlight the march. Gorey again converted to make it 21-7.

The Greyhounds' Okolowitcz was wide left on a career-long 41-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half. A 30-yard kickoff return by freshman MITCH RAIOLA (Bristol, RI/Mount Hope), a 13-yard keeper by Ratacik and two Ratacik-to Price hookups for eight and nine yards put the Greyhounds in position for the field goal attempt.

Senior linebacker GREG SANZARI (Centerport, NY/Saint Anthony's) intercepted Ratacik to set up the next score---a 27-yard field goal by Gorey. A fumble recovery by junior lineman ANDREW LESKO (Florence, MA/Northampton) set up the final score---a 27-yard Parsons-to-junior wide receiver COREY WRIGHT (Hookset, NH/Manchester Central) touchdown pass. Gorey's conversion accounted for the final.

GREYHOUNDS NOTES: sophomore quarterback JOSH RATACIK (Manchester, NH/Central) completed 19-of-26 passes for 106 yards . . . sophomore wide out DOMINIQUE PRICE (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) caught six passes for 50 yards . . . senior wide receiver JOEY FABIANO (Westwood, MA/Westwood) caught six passes for 20 yards . . . he now has 99 career receptions (1,063 yards) and should become the FOURTH Greyhound with 100 career receptions next week . . . sophomore running back HERBERT WOODARD (Salem, NJ/Salem) rushed 14 times for 71 yards and caught five passes for 16 yards . . . he now has rushed for 1,452 yards just 10 yards behind Dan Matthews (1993-96) in seventh-place in Hounds' annals . . . he also has 108 points with ties Matthews for sixth place . . . senior safety CHRIS MARTINO (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) led all tacklers with 8-2--10 and now has 137-128--265 for his career . . . junior linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins) ended with 2-5--7 tackles and now has 102-171--273 in his career . . .

NEXT WEEK: the Greyhounds host American International College Saturday (October 25) at 1 p.m. The game can be viewed on ASSUMPTIONGreyhounds.TV brought to you by the Pack Network live with Chris Fama bring all the play-by-play.

CLICK HERE for Assumption-Stonehill box score