PITTSBURGH – Given all the uncertainty of whether it would have a season or not, the Sacred Heart University football team was glad to be on the field for the first time in 16 months, but the Pioneers are not happy with the results. SHU started the abbreviated Northeast Conference slate with a 30-27 loss at Duquesne on Sunday.

Records:
Duquesne: 1-0, 1-0 NEC
Sacred Heart: 0-1, 0-1 NEC

Top Performers:
Julius Chestnut (SHU): 22 carries, 168 yards, 2 Rush TD, 2 Rec TD
Marquez McCray (SHU): 13-22, 169 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 14 carries, 58 yards
Chris Outterbridge (SHU) 14 tackles, 3 TFL
Robert O'Donnell (SHU) 9 tackles

Up Next:
Sacred Heart returns to Campus Field on March 14 to take on LIU at 1 p.m.

Of Note:
Running back had another monster day as he rushed for 168 yards while catching a pair of passes for 41 yards. The Bowie, Md. product scored all four of SHU's touchdowns.

Sacred Heart was in a hole early as Duquesne scored on the opening kickoff. Joe Mischler hit Cyrus Holder with a 32-yard touchdown.

On Duquesne's next possession, a holding penalty negated a long run. Then on the ensuing play Lamar Evans stripped the ball and SHU took over at the Dukes' 46-yard line. Nine plays later Julius Chestnut plunged into the end zone from three yards out. The touchdown was set up on a 22-yard pass from Marquez McCray to Troy Holland on third and 15. 

With under five minutes left in the half, Duquesne looked like it was going to put a third touchdown on the board, but the Sacred Heart defense held the hosts to a field goal. 

The Pioneers made it a 17-12 game going into the half when Chestnut scored for the second time as he ran past the DU defense for a 58-yard touchdown.

The Dukes added a touchdown and field goal in the third quarter to go into the final frame up 27-12. 

Chestnut found paydirt for the third time in the fourth quarter as he caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from McCray. SHU got the ball back with 1:32 remaining and pulled within three points as Chestnut scored a career-high fourth touchdown on a 32-yard pass then plunged in for the two-point conversion. SHU could not recover the on-side kick.

Sacred Heart was its own worst enemy, committing 11 penalties for 125 yards. SHU also struggled to get the Dukes off the field on third down as the hosts converted 9-of-14 opportunities.