MANCHESTER, N.H. - Nasir Robinson rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown to lead Pace University to a 23-16 road win over the Saint Anselm College football team on Saturday afternoon. The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Hawks.

UP NEXT:

• Saint Anselm concludes the 2023 regular season at home next weekend on Saturday, November 4th. The Hawks host in-state rival Franklin Pierce University from Grappone Stadium at 12:00 p.m. as part of Senior Day and Homecoming Weekend.

Score: Saint Anselm 16, Pace 23
Records: Saint Anselm (5-4, 4-2 Northeast-10); Pace (3-6, 2-4 Northeast-10)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Grappone Stadium)
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
Attendance: 861

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It did not take long for Pace to get on the scoreboard, as the Setters punched in a touchdown just over one minute into the game. Following a 16 yard carry by Robinson on the second play from scrimmage, Tyreek Smith caught a shovel pass from quarterback Aidan Kennedy and brought it 57 yards to the endzone for the opening score of the game.
• The Setters got the ball back with 6:44 remaining in the quarter after a Hawks punt. On the first play of their ensuing drive, Robinson was tackled in the backfield by fifth-year Justin Villanueva (Lowell, Mass.), who also jarred the ball loose on the tackle. Senior Jake Nadeau (Rutland, Mass.) recovered the fumble and ran it back 16 yards to give Saint Anselm possession starting at the Pace 11 yard line.
• On third down and six yards to go inside the 10 yard line, junior quarterback Anthony Santino (Woodbridge, N.J.) scrambled left and found senior Mike Tellier (Braintree, Mass.). The tight end caught the ball on the run and extended it inside the pylon, good for his first touchdown of the season. Junior Patrick Carroll (Stafford, Va.) kicked the extra point through the uprights to tie the game, 7-7.
• On their next offensive series, Pace orchestrated a nine play, 51 yard drive in just over four minutes that culminated in a successful 42-yard field goal by Dylan Squillacioti to put the Setters in front, 10-7, just before the end of the first quarter.
• Saint Anselm got a drive going into Pace territory on their next offensive possession, but on fourth down and six from the Setter 29 yard line, Santino's completion to junior Will Twadell (Marblehead, Mass.) came up a yard short and the Hawks turned it over on downs.
• The Setters stalled out on their next drive and punted it back to the Hawks. Aiden Laurange kicked it 55 yards to junior Brandon Potts (Bowie, Md.), but the Hawks return man muffed punt. Christ McGuire recovered it to set Pace up at the Saint Anselm 20 yard line at 9:15 of the second quarter. The Hawks defense would hold the Setters to just three points as Squillacioti came on to kick a 28-yard field goal to put Pace up, 13-7.
• The Hawks got the football back in great field position at the Setter 42 yard line courtesy of a 53-yard kickoff return by junior Najei Snyder (Deltona, Fla.). However, Santino was picked off in the endzone a few plays later, giving Pace the football back with five minutes left in the half.
• Saint Anselm regained possession with 55 seconds remaining before halftime and drove all the way down to the Pace 17 yard line, setting up a 34-yard field goal by Carroll to cut the deficit to 13-10 heading into the locker room.
• The Hawks received the second half kickoff and took their first lead of the game just two minutes into the third quarter. Santino linked up with junior Carson Goda (Bradenton, Fla.) for a 28-yard touchdown pass to put the Hawks ahead, 16-13. The extra point try was blocked by the Setters.
• Pace put together a 12 play, 49 yard drive on their next possession, but were stopped on fourth down and one at the Hawks six yard line thanks to a clutch tackle by fifth-year Taylor Pawelkoski (Bradenton, Fla.).
• Saint Anselm got some much-needed breathing room on the next play with junior Rio Ferguson (Northborough, Mass.) picking up 49 yards on the ground on the next play from scrimmage. However, the Hawks were similarly stopped on fourth down and one on the Pace 40 yard line a few plays later.
• Pace drove down the field and once again ended their drive with a Squillacioti field goal, this time from 41 yards away, to tie the game at 16-16 at the start of the fourth quarter.
• Saint Anselm was forced to punt on their next drive, giving Pace the ball back with ten minutes remaining in the game. The Setters picked up several chunk plays from Robinson and Smith on the drive, eventually setting them up inside the Hawks five yard line. Robinson would punch it in on the ground from two yards out to give Pace the lead, 23-16.
• The Hawks could not find the game-tying score on two separate possessions with less than seven minutes to go and the Setters held on for the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Pace held a 332-275 advantage in total yards of offense.
• Saint Anselm won the passing battle, totaling 168 yards compared to 148 for Pace.
• The Setters dominated on the ground, totaling 184 rushing yards on 48 attempts. The Hawks rushed 25 times for 107 yards.
• Goda led the way for Saint Anselm with 10 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, while Santino threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns as well. Tellier caught his first touchdown of the season and second career score for the Hawks.
• Pawelkoski led the Hawks on defense with eight total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.
• This marked the 26th ever meeting between Saint Anselm and Pace, with the Hawks falling to a 16-10 overall record against the Setters.

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