Zitzmann breaks career tackle mark as Hounds down A.I.C.

Assumption 34, American International 7
    SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- Senior linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins) had 10 tackles to set a career mark for tackles (414), junior running back HERBERT WOODARD (Bridgton, NJ/Salem) rushed 23 times for 100 yards and junior wide receiver DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) caught eight passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns to lead Assumption College past American International College, 34-7, in Northeast-10 Conference football here SATURDAY at R.J. Abdow Field.
    The win improved the Greyhounds overall record to 6-4 (5-3 in the conference) under returning coach CORY BAILEY and their first six-win season since 1995.  They are among the most improved teams in the nation after struggling last season at 1-9.
    Zitzmann, the only player in Greyhound history with three 100-tackle seasons finished the season with 45-68--112 tackles and became the career leader eclipsing Bill Guilfoil (1990-92, 94) who finished his Hall of Fame career with 275-134- 409.  He also put the finishing touch on a superb career by tying the Greyhound mark for the longest interception return for a touchdown with a 99-yard scamper to halt an 11-play, 84-yard march by the Yellow Jackets with the Greyhounds ahead 20-7 on the third play of the fourth period.  Freshman placekicker CORY KEMPS (Carmel, IN/Carmel) kicked the conversion for a 27-7 advantage.  Zitzmann’s former teammate Chris Martino (2005-08) returned an interception 99 yards at Southern Connecticut (11/1/08).
    A fumble recovery by the Jackets junior linebacker TERRANCE HOLLEY (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) at the Greyhound nine set the stage for the first score of the game early in the second period.  Postgraduate quarterback SHANE MURPHY (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) found senior wide receiver KERTIS HUSSEY (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) on a nine-yard touchdown slant.  Junior placekicker DAN BASSANI (Naples, FL/Naples) kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
    Two series later the Greyhounds finally got on the board.  Junior quarterback ANDREW KUPEC (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hill) completed four passes on the eight play, 68-yard drive.  He found Canney for 11 and 14 yards and finished with a pair to senior wide receiver JOHN BARKER (Avon, MA/Xaverian) for five and 16 yards, the latter for Barker’s second touchdown of the season.  The conversion attempts was blocked by Holley leaving the score at 7-6.
    On their next series the Greyhounds drove 60 yards on nine plays to move in front, 13-7.  Woodard rushed twice for 12 and 10 yards and Kupec finally found Canney on a 10-yard scoring strike.
    In the third period a 55-yard Kemps punt buried the Yellow Jackets inside their own 10. A short return punt then set the Greyhounds up for another Kupec-to Canney touchdown, this one for 26 yards and a 20-7 lead after the Kemps conversion.
    Zitzmann’s long interception return and a 17-yard touchdown run by Woodard made the final 34-7.

    GREYHOUND GAME NOTES:   the team set a season record with 309 points and scored over 30 points six times . . .
    junior running back HERBERT WOODARD (Bridgeton, NJ/Salem) finished the season with 1,175 yards (fourth-best in Hounds history) on 223 carries with a record 17 rushing touchdowns and a record 18 overall touchdowns.  He also tied the season mark with seven 100-yard rushing games (previously accomplished by Austin Davis in 2005).  He now has 546 carries for 2,691 yards and 12 career 100 yard games with 33 rushing touchdowns (36 overall) and a record 108 points this season and 216 points in his career.
    junior wide receiver DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) caught eight passes for 90 yards to finish his season with 59 receptions for 778 yards and nine touchdowns.  In his three-year career he has 153 receptions (just five short of the career mark of Jake Beers (2004-07) for 1,966 yards (just 100 yards short of Eric Mauer’s (1997-00) career mark of 2,066 yards and 15 touchdowns (second.  Canney now has 96 career points.
    junior quarterback ANDREW KUPEC (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hill) completed 162-of-259 for 1,828 yards (second only to Taylor Humphrey’s 2,204 yards in 2007) and 15 touchdowns.  His completion percentage of .625 is a team single season record.