WORCESTER, Mass. (Sep. 30) -- After three disappointing losses to open the season, the Saint Anselm football program put together its best effort Saturday afternoon and were rewarded with a 21-11 victory that allowed the entire team - starting with Head Coach Geoff Harlan - to heave a sigh of satisfaction while sending sighs of disappointment to an Assumption Homecoming weekend crowd of 2,469.

"This was definitely a win we needed as a program," said Harlan. "We came and played our most complete game this season. Every area responded to the challenge, from offense to defense to special teams."

The defense, in fact, rose to a particularly high occasion in taking advantage of a handful of Greyhound (2-3 overall, 1-2 EFC) miscues that led to a season high four interceptions which ultimately allowed the Hawks to withstand Assumption's 326 total yards on offense.

Justin Peledge, Rhett Darak (Londonderry), Ryan Sullivan and Jim Ward all picked off Assumption quarterback Chad Charges, with Ward's - which came at an important point in the third quarter leading to Saint Anselm's game breaking third touchdown - proving to be the most pivotal.

"It was the most complete we played defensively in the secondary this season," said Harlan about the Hawks four picks. "We have had a propensity to give up a big play at least once each game this season. Today, our linemen were forcing the Assumption offense a little better and our defensive backs were responding, coming up with big plays of their own."

The Hawks (1-3 overall, 1-2 EFC) defense was paced by 12 tackles from Ryan Gazzola, while Shaun St. Onge added nine and Matt Savino added eight including two sacks. "I was pleased with how our up linebackers performed," added Harlan. "It was a better performance than what we had seen of late."

Saint Anselm also seemed to find a running game that had been painfully absent in their three previous starts. Saint Anselm finished with 178 yards on the ground on 41 carries, led by a balanced attack from Jon Turner (16 carries, 53 yards) ,Javius Broxton (five carries, 44 yards), and Kevin Ridgely (seven carries, 33 yards).
Quarterback Keith Comeau was good enough when he had to be, finishing the day 12-25 with a touchdown and led the charge with an impressive first quarter drive. Saint Anselm finished with 264 yards of total offense.

Charges finished 16-33 overall with a touchdown for 207 yards.

On Saint Anselm's third series of the game, Comeau took Saint Anselm from their own 10 the length of the field, using a steady mix of patient short passes and solid running, including 29 yards on six carries from Ridgely. The drive consumed 15 plays over 5:49 and ended with Comeau finding Deerfield, NH native Travis Pelletier with seven yard floater to the back corner of the Hounds end zone.

"That drive really put us in gear," said Harlan. "Keith showed a lot of confidence and we were able to execute well, controlling the ball. It was a good scoring drive."
Assumption took advantage of their own opportunities to cut into the lead in the second quarter. After Stan Benjamin sacked and forced a Comeau fumble at the Saint Anselm 26, Charges drove Assumption to the Hawks eight. But with four chances at the end zone, the defense held Assumption to three straight one yard gains and the Greyhounds were forced to settle for a field goal.

"That series was also important," said Harlan. "The defensive line held very well. To keep a team like Assumption out of the end zone when they have a first and goal at the eight gave us a lot of confidence."

Saint Anselm's special teams also got into the act, taking the wind out of Assumption late in the second quarter when Jeff Farragher took an Assumption punt from his own 20, broke off two tackles and found daylight, racing 80 yards for a 14-3 lead.

"Our special teams came through there as well," said Harlan. "There was some good blocking and Jeff did a great job finding the open spots."

Midway through the third quarter, Saint Anselm extended the lead to 21-3, again taking momentum from a turnover.

On second and 13 at the Assumption 14, Charges was picked off by Ward at the Assumption 20. Ward returned the ball for an apparent score, but the play was called short by a Hawks illegal block. Despite nullifying the score, the Saint Anselm offense went to work and quickly got the touchdown back as Turner banged in from a yard out, ending a short nine play drive.

Assumption finally found its bearing in the fourth, ending with Charges finding Rob McCoy from 28 yards out with 1:35 to play, ending a six play, 68 yard drive.
The Greyhounds followed with an onside kick attempt, but Saint Anselm recovered and ran out the clock.

Harlan reiterated what he and his coaching staff had talked about in preparing for the game, saying that his Hawks were able to stick to the game plan and properly execute.

"We thought that coming into the game, we needed to keep their offense off balance. Chad Charges is an exceptional quarterback so we knew we needed to focus on him and keep him moving. Our line did a good job of that. I think the defense accomplished what it set out to do."

The Hawks defense was paced by 12 tackles from Ryan Gazzola, while Shaun St. Onge added nine and Matt Savino added eight including two sacks.

Harlan was quick to also point out, however, that one win doesn't make a season, even if it did allow everyone to breathe a bit after putting up the first win in Eastern Football Conference standings. Harlan was already beginning to think about next week's home opponent, Pace University, and about mental mistakes that Saint Anselm had committed at this game - to the tune of 14 penalties.

"We still have a lot to work on," said Harlan. "We had far too many penalties on offense and made some mental mistakes. Pace is a tough opponent. If we want to win two straight, we'll need to come back with a stronger focus. You're not going to win a lot of games allowing 14 penalties."