RINDGE, N.H. (October 2, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University football team fell to the Assumption University Greyhounds on Saturday afternoon in an overtime thriller by a 35-28 margin at Sodexo Field, marking the first overtime contest in Ravens football program history.  The victory elevates Assumption to 2-1 on the season, as the Ravens fall to 0-5 in a hard-fought defeat.

The Ravens had Bryce Macina (Syracuse, N.Y.) under center, with the junior quarterback going 12-20 on the day, throwing for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Macina also rushed 19 times for 52 yards and a touchdown. The Greyhounds countered with Easton Turner, with the junior going 13-20, throwing 103 yards and one score, while rushing for four times for six yards and one touchdown.

Franklin Pierce started with the ball and put in a strong drive, but a late-drive sack pushed the Ravens out of field goal range and forced a punt. Assumption would score on the ensuing possession on a Khaleed Exum-Strong rush. The Ravens countered on the next drive, with Macina keeping it himself and rushing five yards for the score. The point-after try would be blocked by Assumption's Brandon Santell, in a play that set the stage for a thrilling conclusion.

Both teams would again trade touchdowns in the second quarter- Assumption through a Brevin Easton reception and Franklin Pierce through sophomore Conner Baldasaro's (South Yarmouth, Mass.)  19-yard catch and run. Senior Morgan Smith (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) would take over PAT duties for the Ravens after the block and made no mistakes, going 2-for-2. The half would end with the Ravens down 14-13 in a tight affair, with the shortest drive of the half spanning nine plays and each drive ending in a touchdown.

Both teams would be forced into a pair of possession losses to open the second half. Assumption would go three-and-out twice, with the Ravens doing so once and turning the ball over on downs once.

Franklin Pierce would break the deadlock, with Macina finding junior receiver KJ Lewis (Reisterstown, Md.) on a 55-yard touchdown reception to shrink the Greyhounds' lead to one. Turner of Assumption would rush the ball in on a later drive to give Assumption a 28-20 lead as regulation began to wind down.

What would follow from the Ravens would be one of their longest and best drives of the season, as 14 of Franklin Pierce's next 17 plays would be rushing plays from the trio of Macina and juniors EJ Burgess (Pearland, Texas) and K.O. Gaskin (Lynn, Mass.). The drive would span 17 plays, 75 yards and just over eight minutes of game-time, ending with a touchdown reception in the back left corner by senior Nathan Selby (Cambridge, Vt.) with 18 seconds showing on the game clock.

After three timeouts, one from the Ravens followed by a pair of Greyhound stoppages, Macina would find sophomore Tyvarius Daniels (Springfield, Mass.) while on the run from a defender to convert the 2-point try and force overtime.

Assumption would need just five plays to score. The Ravens would march the ball inside the 10, but were ultimately held on fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line, as Assumption's defense put up a final stand and secured the victory.

The Ravens are off next weekend, before travelling to Pace University on Saturday, October 16 for more conference action. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.