Box Score Highlights
The Sacred Heart University football team dropped a 36-20 decision to visiting non-conference foe Bucknell University on Campus Field. The loss is the first of the season for the Pioneers, 3-1, while the Bison remain undefeated at 3-0.
J.D. Roussel (Pawtucket, R.I.) moved into a tie for the Pioneers career interception record with his interception of R.J. Nitti late in second quarter, setting up a Chris Rogers quarter. It is Rouser's third interception of the season and the 15th of his career.
Bucknell moved its opening drive to the SHU 17 yard line, before the Pioneer defense stiffened and forced a 35-yard field goal attempt Derek Maurer (Piscataway, N.J.) missed wide left. The Pioneer offense took over the ball and drove 80 yards over the next 2:07 and capped by a 42-yard touchdown strike from RJ Noel (Lowell, Mass.) to Tyler Dube (Southington, Conn.) for a 7-0 advantage.
Sacred Heart forced Bucknell three and out in three of its next four possessions, but were unable to score themselves until midway through the second quarter. Dube returned a Maurer punt 26 yards to the Bucknell 30 yard line and seven plays later Rogers put through a 24-yard field goal for a 10-0 Pioneers advantage.
Bucknell found the end zone on the next possession, when on third-and-10, Nitti found Bobby Kaslander for a 65-yard touchdown. The Bison took the lead on their next possession, with the scoring strike coming on a 38-yard pass from Nitti to Will Carter (Moreland Hills, Ohio). The score remained 14-7 Bison until the Rogers field goal as the half came to a close.
The Bison scored all 16 points of the third quarter, with a C.J. Williams one-yard touchdown run, following a 60-yard interception return from Clayton Ewell (Springfield, Pa.), giving Bucknell a 20-13 edge after a missed PAT. Nitti found Carter for a 55-yard touchdown strike with 5:52 to play in the third and Maurer converted a 45-yard field goal with 2:03 to play to make the advantage 30-13. Kaslander caught a 19-yard pass from Nitti with 9:05 to play to put the Bison ahead 36-20. Dube rounded out the scoring for SHU with his second touchdown catch of the game, a 24-yard pass from Noel.
Noel finished 16-31 for 197 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions. He also compiled 46 yards rushing on the afternoon. Keshaudas Spence (Roxbury, Mass.) led the Pioneers with 52 yards rushing on 18 carries. Dube made five catches for a game-high 91 yards and two scores for the Pioneers.
Nitti finished 18-31 with four touchdown passes and one interception, finishing with 271 yards passing. CJ Williams (Cockeysville, Md.) was the top target, making five catches for 33 yards, while also leading the Bison with 49 yards on the ground on 22 carries, with a score. Carter made three catches for 91 yards while Kaslander also had three catches, for 88, yards, and both scored two touchdowns.
Kevin Barry (River Edge, N.J.) and Troy Moore (Worcester, Mass.) each had nine tackles on the afternoon, with one TFL for Barry and 0.5 TFL for Moore. Roussel finished with the interception and four tackles, while Connor Candito (Shrewsbury, Mass.) recorded eight tackles, with two TFL's, and 1.5 sacks. Lee Marvel (Newtown, Pa.) had a game-high 12 tackles, nine solo, for the Bison, while Ewell finished with 10 tackles and two interceptions.
The Pioneers have a bye next weekend, before heading to the University of Delaware on October 4 for a 3:30 p.m. contest.
