Lam finishes with 238 total yards, scores two touchdowns as Skyhawks defeat Assumption
Kearns, Jr. rushed for two touchdowns, matching the program's single-season and career records. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
EASTON, Mass. (November 10, 2018) – Stonehill College turned in four strong quarters of play to send its senior class out on a winning note with a 31-20 triumph over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference football action on Senior Night at Timothy J. Coughlin, '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium tonight.
Senior quarterback James Lam capped his collegiate career with 238 total yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead Stonehill to the season-ending victory. He rushed the ball 16 times for 68 yards and two scores, while completing 12-of-22 passes for 170 yards through the air. He also placed three pooch punts inside the Assumption 20-yard line, two of which were inside the ten, with his final one downed inside the one late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Lam led a Skyhawks offense that controlled possession at 40:10, with 437 total yards, including 290 on the ground.
Junior Brian Kearns, Jr. rushed for over 100 yards for the third time this season, finishing with 101 yards on 26 carries and a pair of touchdowns. His two touchdown rushes give him 12 for the season, matching the program's single-season record set by Eddie Vachon '11 in 2010, and 24th in 28 career games, matching Vachon's career record as well. Kearns, Jr. is tied for second in program history with 26 total touchdowns scored, eight shy of Vachon's mark, and finishes the year two scores shy of Vachon's single-season record of total touchdowns (14). Kearns, Jr. will enter his senior year with 1,987 career yards, having finished the year with 961 yards – the fourth-highest single-season total in program history.
Junior Andrew Jamiel caught four passes for 78 yards, finishing the year with 2,583 career receiving yards heading into his senior year.
Lam posted 238 total yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the offense. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
Sophomore Nate Bresson led a Stonehill defense that forced five turnovers and held the NE10's top scoring offense 17 points and 100-yards under its season average with six tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks for a loss of 13 yards, a forced fumble and QB hurry. Junior Ryan Shuts added five stops (four solo), an interception and fumble recovery, while sophomore Sam Athy recorded five tackles (three solo) and an interception and fumble recovery.
Senior Deonte Harris single-handedly kept Assumption in the game with 222 all-purpose yards, 153 of which came on three kickoff returns, and two touchdowns. He also added three receptions for 69 yards and one of those two scores. Freshman Joseph Kellum added nine carries for 70 yards.
Senior Bryce Jacob led the Assumption defense with 16 tackles (six solo), including 0.5 for a loss of two yards. Senior Joe Kim added 12 tackles (five solo), while classmate Elijah Riley totaled ten stops (four solo), including 1.0 for a loss of a yard and 0.5 sacks.
Quick plays helped Assumption answer Stonehill scores through most of the first three quarters, but the Skyhawks grabbed the lead for good with Kearns, Jr.'s second one-yard touchdown run of the night with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter, only four plays after the Greyhounds had scored on only two plays after a 44-yard field goal by Stonehill junior Matt Haite. Kearns, Jr.'s touchdown was set up by a 48-yard Lam pass to Jamiel on second and nine from the Assumption 49.
Bresson totaled six tackles, a sack and forced fumble for the Skyhawks defense. (PHOTO BY SportsPix) |
Assumption was able to add a 29-yard field goal from sophomore Jacob Tondel before the end of the quarter, but Stonehill was able to stretch its lead to two scores for the first time in the fourth. Lam capped a 12-play, 70-yard scoring drive with an eight-yard keeper up the middle for his second touchdown of the day. The defense did the rest, forcing a fumble on Assumption's next possession, and Athy snared the final turnover of the night with an interception after a lengthy Skyhawks drive ate up over four minutes of clock before Lam's final pooch punt of the night was downed inside the one.
Lam opened the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run 1:03 into the second quarter, but Harris answered by collecting the ensuing kickoff a yard deep in the end zone and returning it 100 yards up the middle for a touchdown. Kearns, Jr.'s first touchdown of the night, with 3:58 to play in the first half, pushed Stonehill back in front, but a 28-yard Tondel field goal had the Greyhounds within 14-10 at the half.
Haite restored the one-touchdown lead for Stonehill (17-10) midway through the third quarter, but Assumption pulled even again as postgrad Mark Monks connected with Harris for a 40-yard touchdown pass two plays later.
Stonehill finishes its season with a 2-8 record overall, including 2-7 in the NE10, while Assumption wraps up at 6-4 overall and 6-3 in the NE10.
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