In the final game of the 2013 football season, Pace fell to LIU Post by a score of 62-28 on Northeast-10 Championship Weekend.
With this loss, the Setters end the year with a 0-11 record, continuing their losing streak, as they have not had a winning season for the past few years.
LIU Post finishes the season with a losing record as well at 5-6.
The Pioneers got on the board first, as quarterback Matt Brennan made an 11 yard pass to wide receiver Michael Richardson, making it 7-0.
The Setters were able to tie the game later in the quarter as junior quarterback Brenton Beeker made a two yard pass to wide receiver Matt Tarpley. (pacesettersathletics.com)
But the Pioneers pulled away in the second half as they scored three touchdowns plus a three point field goal in order to take the lead.
“The defense had trouble in the 2nd quarter, giving them the lead into the 2nd half,” said Beeker, who completed 18-of-39 passes for 122 yards in Saturday’s game.
The Setters were able to score back-to-back touchdowns towards the end of the third quarter however with touchdowns from running back Jashon Dawson as well as defensive back Michael Petrizzo.
“We came out strong in the 3rd quarter as a team to pull us to a 20 point deficit giving us some momentum,” Beeker said.
That momentum came from Petrizzo’s interception, something that Coach Dapolito described as a “much needed spark.”
That spark was contained by the Pioneers though, as they handed the Setters another loss to end the season, but sophomore Brian Fitzgibbon that with the season over, the focus needs to be put on getting better for next season.
“It’s tough (in reference to having a winless season) but we’re focused on next season and getting better as a team” Fitzgibbon said, who is majoring in accounting. “My teammates played hard this season, we just have to focus on getting healthy and getting better for next season.”
But for a team that hasn’t been able to win a game for the past two seasons, it might not be that simple.
“In the end, we lacked gaining explosive plays on offense and limiting the explosive plays against us on defense” Dapolito said.