PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Sacred Heart University football team saw its second half comeback attempt fall just short on Saturday afternoon, as the Pioneers lost a hard-fought 28-24 decision at Duquesne. In a game that carried major implications for the Northeast Conference championship and FCS Playoffs, Sacred Heart (6-4, 4-1 NEC) suffered its first loss of the season in NEC play, while Duquesne improved to 7-3, 4-1 NEC.

Senior running back Jordan Meachum rushed for 174 yards on 29 carries, first-year Julius Chestnut added 131 yards on 10 carries and grad student Kevin Duke rushed for 29 yards, with each having one touchdown.

Duquesne totaled 380 yards of total offense, nearly identical to SHU's 378. The Pioneers outrushed the Dukes 341-254. Defensively, Noah Provenzano posted a game-high 13 tackles and had two forced fumbles, helping to lead a defense that finished with eight tackles for a loss. Jayden Jordan collected eight tackles, including two for a loss. Kevin Sears and Chris Agyemang each had a fumble recovery, while Aaron Donalson and Omar Fraser each had a sack with Fraser adding a forced fumble.

A victory for SHU would have clinched its fourth NEC championship in program history, and the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The Pioneers can still earn a share of the conference title and a spot in the FCS Playoffs with both a win in next week's regular season finale against Saint Francs U., and a Central Connecticut victory over Duquesne.

FIRST QUARTER

• Duquesne got off to a fast start, returning the opening kickoff 76 yards to the SHU six-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Daniel Parr scrambled four yards up the middle for the score to make it 7-0.
• On their second drive, Duquense moved the ball across midfield, before Hines took a handoff up the middle and broke through the line and exploded 32 yards to pay dirt, putting Duquesne up by two scores at the 6:18 mark.
• Each team was forced three-and-out on its next possession, before SHU moved the ball to just shy of midfield, before they were forced to punt for the third time in as many possessions.
• Duquesne outgained SHU 101-51 in the opening quarter, including 83-51 on the ground.

SECOND QUARTER

• Facing a 3rd-and-9 from their 16-yard line to being the second quarter, Duquesne converted with a 19-yard pass on the sideline following a QB scramble. But, the SHU defense knuckled down once again on the next sequence to force their second straight punt.
• Chestnut took a handoff, cut right and then burst downfield ahead of everyone for a 71-yard touchdown run to get SHU within 14-7 at the 7:40 mark. The score was Chestnut's fourth touchdown run of at least 62 yards in the last three games, and SHU's sixth TD run on the first play of a drive over the last three games.
• Following a short kickoff, Duquesne answered quickly, going 57 yards on five plays over 1:48. The score came on a 36-yard pass from Parr to Kellon Taylor with 5:46 remaining, giving the Dukes' their two-touchdown lead back.
• After a solid return by Chestnut, Meachum carried for 13 yards on the first play to move the ball to the Duquesne 48 before Noah Gettman came out to punt and dropped his third kick of the half inside the 20 at the 11-yard line.
• Duquesne moved the ball across midfield in the final minutes, before Fraser came away with a sack and forced fumble. Agyemang fell on the ball to give SHU the turnover at their own 48 with 44.5 seconds left.
• SHU was unable to convert the turnover into points and were forced to punt after three plays, and went into the half down 21-7.

THIRD QUARTER

• SHU opened up the second half with a strong statement, marching 64-yards, all on the ground, over nine plays in 3:20 to score a touchdown and get back within seven. Meachum finished off the drive with a one-yard plow up the middle on third-and-goal at the 11:36 mark. Chestnut highlighted the drive with five carries for 44 yards.
• Much like the first SHU touchdown, Duquesne had the immediate answer, embarking on a five-play, 63-yard drive of their own to go back up 28-14 at 9:16 of the quarter. Daquon Worley finished the drive with a one-yard run.
• Sacred Heart had the answer, getting within a touchdown once again at the 5:17 mark after a three-yard run by Duke, who faked the handoff before rolling out to his left untouched and into the end zone. Duquesne carried the 28-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Duquesne converted a 4th-and-5 play from the SHU 28 for a six-yard gain right at the end of the third quarter. They then faced third and goal from the 13-yard line, when Donalson rushed from the left side and came away with a huge sack for a loss of 11 yards to the 24-yard line. Duquesne then attempted a 41-yard field goal, which sailed wide left.
• SHU received new life once again on its subsequent drive as Gettman drew a roughing the kicker penalty while punting after SHU was stopped on 3rd-and-1. Meachum picked up a first down three plays later with a six-yard run. Duke then carried for 16 yards to the Duquesne 12. SHU then faced a 4th-and-5 from the seven-yard line, and called out Gettman who connected on a 24-yard field goal from the left hash to make it a 28-24 game with exactly eight minutes remaining.
• Provenzano forced a fumble on the ensuing Duquesne drive, but the Dukes' fell back on top of it at the SHU 37.
• SHU's defense turned in another third down stop and forced a 34-yard field goal from the left hash, but the holder fumbled the snap, and the loose ball was eventually fallen on by Sears at the Duquesne 35-yard line.
• Kezio Snelling caught a 12-yard pass on 3rd-and-15 at the SHU 42-yard line. SHU kept the offense on the field to go for it with 1:17 remaining, but Duke's pass to the right was batted down at the line, resulting in a turnover on downs.
• SHU used its final two timeouts after consecutive runs by Duquesne, before AJ Hines bulldozed his way to a first down on 3rd-and-1 to put the game on ice.

Kickoff in next Saturday's regular season finale at Campus Field vs. Saint Francis U. is set for 12 p.m. on NEC Front Row.