Stonehill stops Assumption, 22-14, in Northeast-10 football

October 30, 2009

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Freshman cornerback JAREED GAINES (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) was the defensive standout and junior running back EDDIE VACHON (Newton, MA/Blair Academy) the offensive standout as Stonehill College defeated Assumption College, 22-14, in a Northeast-10 Conference football game FRIDAY night at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

Gaines recorded a team-high 6-4--10 tackles with two tackles-for-loss, a breakup, two pass pressures and a fumble recovery and subsequent touchdown run of 73 yards, while Vachon rushed eight times for 124 yards and a touchdown. Senior placekicker BRIAN GOREY (West Islip, NY/West Islip) kicked three field goals including the game-deciding 45-yarder with 7:15 left in the fourth period.

The Greyhounds were led by senior middle linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins) recorded a game-high 2-11--13 tackles to become just the second Greyhound to go over the 400 mark for a career (153-251--404) and needs just five to tie career-leader Bill Guilfoil '94 (275-134--409) in the team finale next week at American International (Saturday, 1 p.m. kickoff). Zitzmann also shared a quarterback sack, had 1.5 tackles-for-loss, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had one pass pressure. He also went over the 100-tackle mark for the season (44-59--103)---the first player in Greyhound history with three 100-tackle seasons.

The Greyhounds are now 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the conference, while Stonehill improves to 4-5 and 3-4.

Junior running back HERBERT WOODARD (Bridgeton, NJ/Salem) had a subpar 46 yards however scored one touchdown to eclipse the individual career scoring mark he co-held with Fran DeFalco '94 (204) and now has 210 and also became the first Greyhound to score 100 points (102 to date) in a single season.

Assumption opened the scoring in the first period taking advantage of the second career interception (and subsequent 34-yard return to the Stonehill 26) by sophomore defensive back PAT JORDAN (Marlton, NJ/Saint Joseph's Prep). On the first play, senior wide receiver DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) tossed a 26-yard scoring strike (his second career touchdown pass) to junior wide receiver MARK GATELY (Waltham, MA/Waltham). Freshman CORY KEMPS (Carmel, IN/Carmel) kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead. Gately finished with six receptions for 100 yards---his second 100-yard receiving game this season.

Gorey buried the Greyhounds with a 43-yard punt to the Assumption four later in the period. After a short punt and a nine-yard return by Vachon to the 30, the Skyhawks capped a short drive with a 31-yard Gorey field goal.

Vachon scampered 69 yards on the next series to give Stonehill the lead, 9-7, however Hound junior defensive end COREY BLACKWOOD (Springfield, MA/Science Tech) blocked the conversion point.

The Skyhawks had a golden opportunity go by-the-boards in the third period after freshman defensive back KEVIN ANDERSON (Topsfield, MA/Masconomet) intercepted at the Greyhound 34. Gorey however was wide left with a 26-yard field goal attempt and the Hounds subsequently drove 80 yards in 12 plays to retake the lead.

Junior quarterback ANDREW KUPEC (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hills) (21-for-39, 248 yards) was 5-for-5 on-the-drive for 49 yards and converted a third and-one himself with a sneak. He found junior wide receiver MARCUS NICHOLS (Salem, NJ/Salem) for 12 yards, Canney for 13 yards and Woodard for 15 yards to highlight the march. Woodard's 17th touchdown of the season (and Kemps conversion) made it 14-9 with 5:30 left in the period.

Gorey would kick a 25-yard field goal with 1:36 left in the period to draw the Skyhawks closer at 14-12. A 54-yard pass completion from sophomore quarterback DANNY SAGAN (Blairstown, NJ/Blair Academy) to freshman wide receiver JOHN GOMES (Hyannis, MA/Barnstable) put Stonehill in scoring position. Gomes finished with eight receptions for 148 yards.

With just over seven minutes left Gorey kicked a 45-yarder to regain the lead for the Skyhawks. A 42-yard scramble by Vachon was the highlight play in the nine-play, 59-yard drive.

The Greyhounds then had two straight offensive opportunties stymied by the Stonehill defense.

After sophomore PAUL PEREZ (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) returned a kickoff to the 45-yard line, Kupec went to work. First a 24-yard pass to Gately and then a 12-yarder to senior wide receiver JOHN BARKER (Avon, MA/Xaverian) brought the ball to the 19. Sophomore defensive back MATTHEW IANUCCI (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) blocked Kemps attempt at a go-ahead 35-yard field goal.

After a short punt, the Greyhounds threatened again. After completing a fourth-and-six first-down conversion pass to Barker for 13 yards, Kupec was sacked by Gaines who forced a fumble and scooped up the loose ball racing 73-yards for a the clinching score.

GREYHOUND GAME NOTES: the Greyhounds broke their season record for points and now have scored 275 points breaking the old mark of 265 set in 11 games in 2000 . . . senior middle linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins) now has 153-251--404 career tackles just behind current leader Bill Guilfoil (1990, 92-94), who finished with 275-134--409 . . . the 153 initial contacts is now ninth on the Greyhound list and the 251 assists is first having broken the mark of Chris Grogan (2002-05) of 221 (the only two over 200!) . . . he has had seven games with 10-or-more tackles this season with 20 his high mark (Southern Connecticut) . . . he was ranked seventh nationally last week in tackles . . . senior wide receiver DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) has 51 receptions for 688 yards and seven touchdowns this season . . . in his career he now has 145 receptions for 1,876 yards and 13 touchdowns . . . only Canney and Jake Beers (2004-07) have had two 50-reception seasons in a career . . . Canney had 62 in 2007 . . . with 145 career catches he trails only Beers (158) on the all-time list . . . he is one of three with two 600-yard receiving years (Mauer and Beers) . . . his 1,876 career yards trails only Beers (1,950) and Mauer (2,166) . . . his seven TD catches this season are second only to Mauer (2000) and Fabiano (2008), both of whom had eight . . . his 13 career TDs is second only to Mauer (18) . . . he has scored 84 points in his career in a bid to become the sixth 100-point performer behind Woodard (204), DeFalco (204), Mauer (130), Dan Matthews (108, 1993-96) and Bill DeMalia (104, 2000-01) . . . junior quarterback ANDREW KUPEC (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hills) completed 21-for-39 for 248 yards . . . his fifth 200+ yard effort this season . . . his season totals are now 145-for-233 for 1,664 yards and 12 touchdowns . . . his completion percentage (.622) is the best in Hound history . . .

SENIOR NIGHT: before the game head coach CORY BAILEY and Associate Athletics Director PETER GARDULA presented medallions to seniors participating in their final home game: linebacker COLLIN MIYADI (Concord, CA/Bereen Christian), wide receiver JOHN BARKER (Avon, MA/Xaverian), defensive back BERNARD SCOTT (Saint Petersburg, FL/Admiral Farragut), middle linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins), guard NICK CANTRELL (Portland, ME/Deering), guard NICK NYCZ (Dracut, MA/Dracut) and tackle TERRY STANFORD (Hackensack, NJ/Ridgefield Park). Also singled out were senior student assistants JON DRISCOLL (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) and VIN COLASURDO (Portland, OR/Lincoln) and sports medicine aide CLARE MENAPACE (Kennebunk, ME/MacAuley)

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