By Jeff Gold • The Journal News


As difficult as a 1-10 season is for everyone involved, there is one indisputable positive: It can't really get any worse (OK, yes, an 0-11 season would have been worse).

But really, there is only one direction to go.

Pace's football team had this situation last year. The offense, in particular, was awful. Pace was shut out five times -including one stretch of an almost unfathomable three straight games - and scored seven or fewer points three other times.

"Basically, I felt like we had no chance," said quarterback Ray Gregg, who played for North Rockland in high school. "We were getting beat up pretty bad."

How things have changed in a year. Pace is 3-0 this season, its best start since 1982. Its last two wins have been dramatic, with the Setters scoring go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

"We believe we are going to win and that we're a very difficult opponent," Gregg said. "When teams step on the field with us, they will feel it."

After Pace won its first game, 27-20 over Assumption, Gregg provided some heroics in a week-two, 28-24 win over Stonehill. Gregg hit receiver Pat Olcholvy with a 21-yard touchdown pass with 1.7 seconds left in the game. Gregg was named Northeast-10 and ECAC offensive player of the week after that win.

This past week, Gregg led a come-from-behind, 15-14 win over St. Anselm. Pace trailed 14-3 at the half before going on a 97-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Gregg then scored on a 1-yard run with 3:40 left in the game for what stood up as the winning score after Pace blocked a field goal in the final minute.

"Everything is really going well for this team right now and I think it's just going to continue to get better," Gregg said.

Another big contributor for Pace has been Riedrick Alceus, a former North Rockland star who has rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown.

Pace's next step is a game at Iona at 1 p.m. Saturday. Iona is 1-2.