WORCESTER, MASS. - Fifth year
Justin Villanueva (Lowell, Mass.) recovered a fumble for a touchdown while junior
Rio Ferguson (Northborough, Mass.) rushed for a score as the Saint Anselm College football team picked up a huge road win over nationally-ranked No. 21 Assumption University on Saturday, 14-0. It is the first win for the Hawks against a nationally-ranked opponent in program history. Saint Anselm now sits in first place in the Northeast-10 Conference standings.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm is back home for the next two games, first hosting Pace University on Saturday, October 28th at 1:00 p.m. before hosting Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, November 4th at 12:00 p.m. Both games will be played at Grappone Stadium.
Score: Saint Anselm 14, Assumption 0
Records: Saint Anselm (5-3, 4-1 Northeast-10); Assumption (5-2, 3-1 Northeast-10)
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Brian Kelly '83 Stadium)
Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
Attendance: 843
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Most of the game was battled out in the trenches, as poor weather conditions shut down the passing game for both teams.
- The first quarter involved numerous punts back and forth. With 1:10 remaining in the opening quarter, senior Devin Wood (Merrimack, N.H.) sent a punt away to Greyhound return man Roderick Boyd. Junior Thomas Hoffman (Essex, Vt.) forced Boyd to fumble the football and fifth year Justin Villanueva scooped it up and brought it back six yards for the opening score of the game.
- After getting the ball back early in the second quarter, the Hawks were stopped on fourth down and long at the Greyhound 30-yard line. Three plays later, senior captain Will Klein (Abington, Mass.) picked off Assumption quarterback Chris Donahue for his first interception of the season to give Saint Anselm possession once again.
- Junior Patrick Carroll (Stafford, Va.) attempted a 25-yard field goal on the ensuing Saint Anselm drive, but his kick was blocked by Assumption's Joe MacDougall.
- Neither side would generate any offense for the remainder of the half and the Hawks headed into the locker room with a 7-0 lead at halftime.
- Saint Anselm doubled their lead late in the third quarter with junior Rio Ferguson (Northborough, Mass.) rushing for an 11-yard touchdown. Junior Bowen Lewis (Austin, Texas) rushed for a 22-yard pickup on the previous play.
- The Hawks defense continued to shut down the Greyhound offense, and with three minutes remaining, senior Aidan Daly (Braintree, Mass.) strip sacked Donahue at his own 33-yard line. Fifth year Max Tempchin (Silver Spring, Md.) recovered the loose ball for the Hawks.
- Saint Anselm successfully ran out the clock and held on for their fifth win of the season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm held a 166-73 advantage in total yards of offense.
- Neither side gained a single yard in the passing game with extremely rainy conditions.
- Lewis led the way for Saint Anselm with 19 carries for 72 yards, while Ferguson added 49 yards on 13 carries to go along with the lone offensive score of the game.
- Tempchin led the Hawks on defense with 13 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Daly and junior Austin Spille (Austin, Texas) were also credited with one sack apiece.
- This marked the seventh ever win for Saint Anselm over Assumption in 25 all-time meetings.
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