Pace Paw Print

Media Credit: Alex Pandolfi Ernst Turnier and Setters teammates celebrate after his first of two interceptions.

Nov. 3, Pleasantville- For the first time since 2003, Pace met up with their Westchester county rival the Gaels of Iona College on Pace Field. Unfortunately for the Setters they could not come out on top in the "Battle of Westchester County" as they lost 34-3.

Even in a losing effort, members of the Setters football tried putting up a good fight on both sides of the ball.

Senior linebacker Ernst Turnier showed his fight by totaling 15 tackles and snagging two very important inceptions during Pace's time of need in the game.

Turnier had this to say reflecting on his performance, "As a senior I'm trying to make big plays to help us win. Being a senior I felt I had to step up in certain situations."

Turnier was not the only player on Pace's defense to give a good performance. Senior linebacker Joe Streany led the game with 16 total tackles bringing his season total to 136. Streany has now put himself with close striking distance of Pace's single season tackle record of 142. The record was set in 1994 for by alumnus Brian Pirone.

One the offensive side of the ball senior quarterback Adam Headley completed 12 passes on 32 attempts for 160 yards with two interceptions thrown. Freshman fullback Kerim Tulun led the Setters running the ball with 21 yards on nine carries. Senior wide receiver Richard Pinck leads in receiving catching five passes for 73 yards.

Both schools were quiet to begin this Westchester battle, until Iona's second drive of the game. Iona took their time driving the ball down the field and tiring out Pace's defense.

The Gaels sophomore fullback Caesar Sanchez ended the drive when he punched in a one yard touchdown run giving Iona a 7-0 lead.

In the very beginning of the second quarter the Gaels were ready to attack again with the ball on Pace's eight yard line.

When the Setters looked like they were down and out, Iona's sophomore quarterback Nick Rossetti threw a darting ball into the end zone that was picked off by Turnier for his first of two interceptions in the game.

On Iona's next offensive drive Rossetti would get his revenge when he launched a 23 yard pass to junior Tim Mastrino adding six points onto Iona's lead making the score 13-0, which hold until halftime.

The Gaels senior kicker Chris Lofrese would miss the extra point for this touchdown.

The Setters would try to prevent Iona from extending this lead, but to no avail. With a little over eight minutes left in the third quarter senior running back Rudy Arcara would cash in the third touchdown of the game for the Gaels giving them an even more commanding 20-0.

Things kept looking grimmer as the time kept ticking. At the start of the fourth quarter the Setters' defense was backed up by their own end zone once again.

This time senior quarterback Dustin Croick would gun it to junior fullback Craig Sutera, tagging on another touchdown giving the Gaels a 27-0 lead.

Coming into this game the Pace football team did not put a point on the scoreboard for three straight games. Sophomore Josh Trumper would not allow Iona to give Pace their fourth straight shutout.

With a little over eight minutes left in the game, Trumper made a booming 39 yard field goal which would bring Pace's deficit to 27-3 and prevented the shutout.

Pace's field goal celebration would not last long as Iona would take the ball up the field one more time.

Croick would add on one more touchdown pass when he fired the ball off for 23 yards to senior DeMarcus White which created the eventual final score of 34-3, winning the "Battle of Westchester County."

Pace falls to an overall record of 1-9 while the Gaels improve to 7-2 on their season. This is Iona's twelfth win all-time against Pace. The Setters have ten wins against the Gaels in the all-time series.

The Setters football team will face off against Northeast-10 Conference rival Assumption College on Nov. 10 at noon for Senior Day and the finale of the 2007 season.

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