Manchester, N.H. (November 15, 2003)— James Ward (Westerly, R.I./ Westerly) tied the Saint Anselm College single season record for tackles (91) and Derek DiMartino (Amherst, N.H./ UMass Amherst) rushed for 101 yards as the Hawks defeated Pace University, 24-12, in a Northeast-10 Conference game played at Grappone Stadium on Senior Day.
The win was the third straight for Saint Anselm, which ends the season at 3-7 overall, 2-7 in Northeast-10 Conference play while Pace falls to 2-8 overall, 2-7 in conference play. The win was also the third straight over Pace, and the Hawks remained perfect on Senior Day games at 5-0 all-time.
Playing amidst 30 MPH winds all game, Pace took a 6-3 lead into halftime. The Setters got on the board with just 57 seconds remaining in the first half on a 12-yard scamper by Mike Timmerman ( Saddle Brook ,
N.J.
). The Setters drove 65 yards on 12 plays in the drive that was aided by 35 yards in Saint Anselm penalties.
On the ensuing kickoff, Saint Anselm got the ball on its own 43 yard line and marched 28 yards in 57 seconds to get on the board via a Michael Garcarz (New Britain, Conn./ New Britain) 47-yard field goal as time expired in the half. The field goal gave him 10 on the season (16 attempts, long of 47) to expand on his single season record.
In the second half, it was all Saint Anselm as the Hawk defense took over for the third straight week. The Hawks allowed just three rushing yards (17 carries) and 83 total yards in the half, while scoring a trio of touchdowns to take a 24-6 lead before a late Pace touchdown closed the gap.
The Hawks took the lead for good with 10:14 to play in the third quarter on a perfectly thrown 24-yard strike from Shane Dinagen (Harrisville, R.I./ Burrillville) to Mike Donoghue (Newbury, N.H./ Kearsarge). The Hawks then delivered a crushing 15-play, 90-yard drive at the end of the third quarter, capped by a 34-yard run by Kevin Ridgley (Amesbury, Mass./ Amesbury). The Hawks converted on four straight third down plays in the drive to take a 17-6 lead.
With the Hawks defense commanding the game, Saint Anselm put the game away with 9:55 to play in the fourth on a nine-yard run by DiMartino run. The junior finished the day with his ninth rushing touchdown and third straight 100-yard game of the season, with 101 yards on 24 carries.
Pace added a touchdown with 1:13 to play in the fourth on a 17-yard pass from Timmerman to Dan Sullivan (Levittown, N.Y.) to cap a 16-play, 89-yard drive but Ridgley recovered an onside kick as the Hawks closed things out.
Ridgley finished the day with 87 yards on 10 carries and Dinagen passed for 96 yards on 11-of-21 passing. Ward needed 10 tackles to tie the school's single season mark, set by Geoff Raby '03, and he got exactly 10 (6 solo) with 3.0 for a loss and one sack. Brian Sundell (N. Easton, Mass./ Oliver Ames) led the Hawks with 14 total tackles (8 solo). The Hawks held Pace to 61 rushing yards on the day and had five sacks to set a team record with 33 on the year.
Ramon Montague (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Setters with 12 total tackles. Timmerman finished the day 14-for-23 for 134 yards through the air and 17 yards on the ground (14 carries).
