WATERBURY, Conn. –  It was a similar situation to a week ago for Post University Football in a tight, down-to-the-wire matchup with the game on the line. Playing host to Pace University for their first-ever Northeast-10 Conference matchup, the Eagles overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter and had a chance to ice the game but were unable to do so.

After being unable to get one more first down to run out the clock, a 27-yard field goal with under 30 seconds left by senior kicker Dylan Squillacioti would be the difference maker as Post's final drive stalled out in what would be a 23-21 home loss for the Eagles.

THE BASICS

Post University 21, Pace University 23

Post University (1-2, 0-1 NE10)

Pace University (1-2, 1-0 NE10)

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Post stalled on the opening drive of the game, the Setters quickly made their way down the field for the first score of the game which was a 16-yard grab from senior wide receiver Tyreek Smith from senior quarterback Ah-Shaun Davis to put Pace ahead by a score, 7-0. But a few drives later, the Eagles answered back with a quick two-play, 80-yard drive in just 34 seconds after it culminated in a 74-yard touchdown grab from junior quarterback Malakai Taylor to junior wide receiver Josh Tracey to even things up at seven all.

Answering the call to big plays in a game that featured many of them, Davis hooked up with Smith again in the second quarter, this time on a 75-yard strike that gave Pace the lead before the half, 14-7. Earlier in the second frame, both teams would throw interceptions in a quarter that saw four total starting with back-to-back picks from senior defensive back Eliot Porter for the Setters followed by sophomore defensive back Jalen Russell's pick on the goal line to give the Eagles the ball back.

Two drives later, junior cornerback Antwan Walden joined the pick party with one of his own, but the drive would stall on a fourth-and-one from the Pace 21-yard-line in which the Eagles were unable to convert on. In the final drive of the first half for Post, sophomore quarterback Tyler Phommachanh would get picked near the end zone by junior defensive back Shawan Gresham before Pace knelt out the clock in the first half.

The Setter lead would balloon to 13 points, 20-7 as the teams entered the early part of the fourth quarter with the Eagles needing a rally to take their first conference game of the season. The Post rally would start up immediately after the second field by Squillacioti when Tracey took the kickoff to the house for a 91-yard return and then on a trick play, Post converted the two-point conversion to graduate wide receiver Anthony Gambino to pull within five, 20-15.

Less than six minutes later, freshman running back Adonis White gave Post their first lead of the game on a 24-yard pass from Phommachanh with 7:06 to go in regulation, but the two-point conversion failed, keeping it at a 21-20 game and Pace needing just a field goal to take the lead back. After forcing a quick three-and-out with 5:44 left, the Eagles would need to just try running out the clock in spite of Pace still having three timeouts in their belt to use.

After converting on a third-and-one, the Setter defense stood up Post on the next set of downs while using up two of their timeouts to force sophomore kicker/punter Aden Caine to boot the ball to the 12-yard-line of Pace with 2:17 left to play. Methodically and quickly working down the field, Davis got the Setters in field goal range for Squillacioti to connect on his 27-yard field goal attempt to give Pace the lead back by two, 23-21, with still 28 seconds to play.

Two first downs for the Eagles got them just outside of field goal range but Taylor's fumble which was recovered near the line of scrimmage as time expired by graduate defensive lineman Daniel Forster sealed the deal on another last-second loss for Post, this time at home in conference play, 23-21. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• The 74-yard touchdown catch from Malakai Taylor to Josh Tracey in the first quarter tied the program record for the longest touchdown reception in program history – Broghean McGovern completed a 74-yard touchdown pass to Taji Blizzard at Southern Connecticut State University on November 5th, 2022
• With 148 receiving yards in the game, Josh Tracey recorded the second-most receiving yards in program history for a single game behind his own mark of 163 yards set against West Virginia Wesleyan on August 31st this year
• Josh Tracey had 268 all-purpose yards giving him the second-most in program history behind himself at number one with 311 yards earlier this year against West Virginia Wesleyan 
• Isaiah Emmanuel had 25 rushing attempts for 72 total yards in the game – The 25 rushing attempts were the second-most in program history behind his 35 attempts last weekend against Lake Erie College
• Joshua Tracey's 91-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter is the second-longest return in program history behind his own mark set this year of 95 yards against West Virginia Wesleyan
• Michael Gabettie tied for the second-most tackles in a single game alongside five other Post University players today with 12 in the game – Gabettie holds the all-time record at 18 tackles against Franklin Pierce last season
• With 40 rushing attempts as a team, that was the second-most in program history for a single game by Post University after setting the record last week against Lake Erie College with 51 attempts – The 137 total rushing yards are the fourth-most all-time for the team and 335 total yards of offense are the third-most ever

 
WHO'S NEXT
Post University will head on the road for a pair of games starting next week on Friday night against Assumption University at 6:00 PM. The two teams faced off during the Eagles' inaugural season at the Division II level at Municipal Stadium when the Greyhounds were victorious by a 65-21 final score.