Hillburn, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Sprint Football team battled back from a four-point first half deficit to beat Chestnut Hill College 20-10 on Saturday afternoon at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn.

STAC closed out its 2021 campaign going 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the CSFL North Division, while Chestnut Hill ends their season with a 1-6 overall mark, and 1-2 in the CSFL South Division.

Prior to the team's season finale, the Spartans honored its graduating senior class; Kiel McKenzie, Javaughn Anderson, Nickolson Francois, Tyreke Smith, Shane Lucier II, Jaylin Best, Marquis Watson, Matthew Ehret, Angelo Medina, Eddie Bracey, James DeJesus and Ali Ajaz with on-field ceremonies, which included the athletes' families, teammates, coaches and college administrators.

STAC HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

• Mahki Matthews led the way with eight receptions for 77 yards receiving.
• Elionexis Lopez had three receptions for 62 yards and two scores.
• Bo Maroney had 18 rushes for 88 yards on the afternoon.
• Davion Hicks picked up 12 total tackles on the day (8 solo & 4 assisted), while Tyreke Smith finished his collegiate career with 7 total tackles (3 solo & 4 assisted).
• Quarterback Dennis Riordan completed 17 of 25 passes, for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Kiel McKenzie went 1-for-2 in pass attempts for 15 yards in his final game as a Spartan.
• Bo Maroney went 2-for-2 in field goal attempts, making tries of 28 and 32 yards.
• The Spartan defense core compiled 59 total tackles, two forced fumbles, one interception and two sacks in their win over Chestnut Hill.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

• Lonnie Cebulski opened the scoring for Chestnut Hill on the opening kickoff, an 86-yard return for a touchdown, making it 7-0.
• STAC got themselves on the scoreboard, with just over nine and half minutes remaining in the quarter, via a 28-yard Bo Maroney field goal to make it 7-3.

 
Second Quarter

• Chestnut Hill extended their lead to 10-3 on a 37-yard field goal by Hank Gallacher early in the second quarter.
• Bo Maroney's 32-yard field goal as time expired in the half, made it a 10-6 Griffin lead at the break.

 
Third Quarter

• Dennis Riordan found Elionexis Lopez for an 18-yard touchdown strike late in the third quarter to give STAC its first lead of the afternoon at 13-10.

 
Fourth Quarter

• The Spartans sealed the victory on another Elionexis Lopez touchdown catch, as Dennis Riordan would find Lopez in the back of the end zone on a seven yard connection with just over four minutes remaining in the game.