Pace Football Edged by Millersville in Season-Opener, 21-20

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University football team was defeated in its season opener on Thursday night by a score of 21-20 to Millersville University. How it Happened *The Marauders battled back from a 17-7 halftime deficit to take a 21-17 lead with 3:54 left in the third quarter. *The Setters lessened the deficit mid-way through the fourth quarter courtesy of a 44-yard Pat Davis (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) field goal. *Pace's defense followed the three points with a stop at midfield with less than two minutes on the clock. *The Blue and Gold would then go on a drive to set up a game-winning 42-yard field-goal attempt with six seconds on the clock. Davis' boot would miss wide left to end the game. *Pace quarterback Carlton Aiken (Gibbstown, N.J./Paulsboro) used his legs to provide both of Pace's touchdowns in the first half. He first ran in from 17 yards out in the first quarter while his 8-yard scamper with 40 seconds left in the second gave the Setters a 10-point halftime lead Inside the Numbers *Aiken led the Blue and Gold's offense on Thursday night, accounting for more than 300 yards of total offense. Besides the scoring plays, he did most of his damage through the air. The senior finished the night 27-of-43 for 236 yards. *Graduate student Trey Hodge (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) served as Aiken's top receiver, hauling in seven passes for 105 yards. Senior Darius Jones (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) also nabbed seven catches for 61 yards. *Senior Isaiah Williams (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) helped out in a pair of turnovers on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive back grabbed an interception in the second before forcing a key fumble into the end zone in the fourth. *Jalen Martinez (Methuen, Mass./Brooks) served as Pace's top tackler with nine, while Joe Mendez (Old Bridge, N.J./Manalapan), Isaiah Walker (White Plains, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac), and Nasier Givens (Orange, N.J./Oran