Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart Pioneers ensured their third consecutive winning season on Saturday, defeating the Wagner Seahawks 45-17 at Campus Field on Senior Day.
The Pioneers closed the season 6-5 and 3-3 in the Northeast Conference. Wide Receiver Tyler Dube closed his career by taking two more Sacred Heart records. Dube caught a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to make him the Pioneers' all-time leader in touchdowns with 38. He also had 96 receiving yards to give him 1,160 yards, a new Sacred Heart single-season record. Dube holds the career receiving yards record with 3,206 yards.
Sacred Heart (6-5, 3-3 NEC) broke a 17-17 halftime tie with 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. Nate Chavious scored two of his three rushing touchdowns in the third to give the Pioneers a 38-17 lead. The Sacred Heart defense forced two turnovers in the second half to hold Wagner (1-10, 1-5 NEC) scoreless in the second half.
Chavious rushed for a career-high 130 yards and three touchdowns. RJ Noel was 16-for-23 passing for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Seniors accounted for all three touchdown receptions as Brandon Robertson and Jackson King both had scores. Kellen Sperduto led the Pioneers' defense with 10 tackles. James Rentz had seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. Connor Caveney had 1.5 sacks as Connor Candito also had a sack.
Wagner (1-10, 1-5 NEC) was outgained 403-261 on the day. Quarterback Alex Thomson was 13-for-23 for 153 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked five times. Otis Wright ran for 92 yards and a touchdown.
FIRST QUARTER
5:19 to play - WAG 3, SHU 0; The Seahawks go on a 59-yard drive that stalls at the Sacred Heart 10 yardline. Bryan Maley converted a 27-yard field goal for the first points of the game.
1:22 to play – SHU 7, WAG 3; Sacred Heart answers the Wagner field goal with an 11-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. Noel hit King for a five-yard touchdown pass.
SECOND QUARTER
10:21 to play – SHU 14, WAG 3; The Pioneers open the second quarter with a 13-play drive that Chavious capped off with a one-yard touchdown run.
9:09 to play – SHU 14, WAG 10; Otis Wright rushed 50 yards for a touchdown to get the Seahawks within four.
5:19 to play – SHU 17, WAG 10; Chavious returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to give Sacred Heart the ball at the Wagner 48. The Pioneers drove 34 yards before Finney kicked a 31-yard field goal.
0:45 to play – WAG 17, SHU 17; Thomson connected with Andre Yevchinecz on a 16-yard touchdown pitch-and-catch to punctuate an 83-yard drive that tied the game before halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
13:29 to play – SHU 24, WAG 17; Chavious rushed for 57 yards on the first Pioneer drive of the second half, scoring his second touchdown on a one-yard plunge to put Sacred Heart back in front.
8:55 to play – SHU 31, WAG 17; The Pioneers got the ball back when Phil Paulhill forced a Wagner fumble on its previous possession. Noel threw his second touchdown pass of the game on a five-yard strike to Robertson.
0:53 to play – SHU 38, WAG 17; Moses Webb picked off Thomson to give Sacred Heart the football on the Wagner 31. Chavious scored his third touchdown on a seven-yard run.
FOURTH QUARTER
5:53 to play – SHU 45, WAG 17; Dube sets the Sacred Heart career touchdown record with a two-yard touchdown reception from Noel. It was the 34th time Noel and Dube combined for a touchdown during their careers.
- In the final minute, Shane Scambray threw a five-yard pass to Dube to give Dube the single-season receiving yards record.
