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Winners of two in a row, the Sacred Heart University football team plays its third-straight home game when it takes on Stonehill at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Pioneers (3-2 overall, 1-0 NEC) haven't taken on the Skyhawks (3-0, 1-0) since both schools were in Division II as members of the Eastern Football Conference. In its first season as a Division I program, Stonehill has won all three of its contest, including its first versus a Division I opponent when it beat Duquesne.

OPENING KICKOFF

• Winners of its last two games, the Sacred Heart football team is back at Campus Field to face Stonehill following a bye week.
• In its last outing, the Pioneers defeated Norfolk State, 31-14. 
• This is the first meeting between the Pioneers and Skyhawks since the 1996 season. Under head coach Mark Nofri, Sacred Heart is 18-16, including 2-9 during Nofri's first season, when playing an opponent for the first time. 
• In its first season as a NCAA Division I program, Stonehill is 3-0 and 1-0 in the NEC after 24-20 decision over Duquesne.
• Following a career-high 10 tackles and an interception to seal the victory, linebacker Robert O'Donnell was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week on October 3. It's the first honor of his career. 
• After back-to-back 100-yard games, Malik Grants is second in the NEC and is 33rd in the NCAA at 80.6 yards per game.
• Sacred Heart's pass defense is tops in the FCS, allowing 98.2 yards per game. The Pioneers are also second in team passing efficiency defense (78.76) third in interceptions (9)