NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – A potential winning drive for the Sacred Heart University football team came up just short in Merrimack territory. The Pioneers lost a 31-25 decision to the Warriors on Saturday at Duane Stadium.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 4-3, 2-1 NEC
Merrimack: 6-2, 4-0 NEC

Statistical Leaders:
Marquez McCray: 315 yards (20-of-37), 1 TD, 1 INT
Malik Grant: 97 yards, 12 carries 
Rob DiNota: 120 yards, 6 receptions, 1 TD

Up Next:
Sacred Heart returns home to face Saint Francis next Saturday at 12 p.m.

Of Note:
The Pioneers forced Merrimack to punt and took over at their own 21-yard line with 1:57 to play. SHU got the ball to the Warriors' 24-yard line but quarterback Marquez McCray was sacked and on the next play wide receiver LJ Haskett could not get out of bounds as time expired.
 
Sacred Heart's first half scoring consisted of 43 and 32-yard Sam Renzi field goals. 
 
A pick-six pushed the Merrimack lead to 21-6 just 52 seconds into the second half but the Pioneers came back with two-straight scores. McCray hooked up with Kenneth Womack for a 68-yard score then on the next drive called his own name from two-yards out to cut the margin to 21-20.  SHU converted a 4^th & five with a 22-yard pass to Rob DiNota.
 
On the ensuing drive Sacred Heart got its first lead of the game on safety as Payton Rhoades blocked a punt and it rolled out of the endzone for a safety. 
 
After a 68-yard Malik Grant run put the ball inside the Merrimack two yards line, the Warriors held the Pioneers to a 20-yard Renzi field goal.      
 
The Warriors would score 10-straight points to take the 31-25 lead. Unfortunately, a missed fourth quarter field goal by the Pioneers required SHU to go for a touchdown on the last drive.
 
McCray threw for over 300 yards for the second game in a row with DiNota hauling in a career-high 120 yards. Grant just missed hitting the century mark with 97 yards rushing on just 12 carries.