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PIONEERS WELCOME DUKES ON HOMECOMING WEEKEND

• Looking to snap a four-game losing streak, the Sacred Heart University football team returns to Campus Field after a three-game road skid to host the Dukes of Duquesne University on Homecoming Weekend.
• The Dukes enters Saturday's game with an 3-0 undefeated record in NEC play, while boasting a 4-3 overall record. 
• Duquesne owns a 13-6 advantage against the Pioneers in the all-time series.
• The opening kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. at Campus Field in Fairfield, Conn. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+. 

LAST TIME VS. DUQUESNE
FINAL SCORE: Duquesne 35 | Sacred Heart 28 (OT)
Key Highlights: 

• For the first four quarters, Sacred Heart had to answer every time Duquesne scored.
• Marquez McCray hit Kenneth Womack for a 14-yard score with 1:22 remaining in regulation to tie the game, 28-28.
• Duquesne got the ball first in overtime and scored on an eight-yard Billy Lucas run.
• During its overtime possession, SHU had 3rd & 1 from the Duquesne 16, but was stopped on consecutive runs to end the game. 
• Womack had his second 100-yard game in the last four outings, pulling in 123 yards and the touchdown. Running back Malik Grant had 119 total yards with 87 on the ground and 32 in the air.

DEFENSE CONTINUING TO SHINE IN NCAA RANKINGS (as of 10/25)
The Pioneers' defensive unit continues to shine within the NCAA rankings as the team currently ranks within the top 15 in five categories - 

• passing yards allowed (1st - 100.2)
• team passing efficiency - defense (3rd - 102.73)
• kick return defense (10th - 16.11)
• third-down conversion percentage - defense (11th - 0.318)
• total defense (13th - 301.1)

PIONEERS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS (as of 10/25)
Four Pioneers - Jon Moccia, Sam Renzi, Bayo Gbowu, and Ernest Howard - are currently ranked in the top 10 in two different categories - 

• Moccia (9th - combined kick returns)
• Renzi (9th - field goals per game)
• Gbowu (4th - fumble recoveries)
• Howard (4th - fumble recoveries)

GRANT RUSHING TO THE TOP
Malik Grant now has a career rushing total of 3,184, which ranks him third all-time behind former teammate Julius Chestnut, who has a total of 3,605 rushing yards. 

The grad running back is also sixth all-time with 29 touchdowns behind 25 rushing and four receiving. He is currently just one shy of tying Keshaudas Spence, who has 30.

MADISON NAMED TO THE NEC PRIME PERFORMERS LIST
After a stellar performance on Saturday against Stonehill, senior running back Jalen Madison was named a Northeast Conference (NEC) Prime Performer.  

Madison helped the Pioneers amass over 200 yards on the ground with his first 100-plus rushing yard performance of the season in Sacred Heart's double-overtime defeat to Stonehill on Saturday. The senior compiled 110 yards on 20 carries in the road game.

NEC STANDINGS ENTERING WEEK 9

School	NEC	Overall	Streak
Duquesne	3-0	4-3	W2
Merrimack	3-1	4-3	W3
Stonehill	2-2	3-4	W1
SFU	2-2	2-5	L1
Wagner	2-2	2-5	L3
CCSU	1-2	3-4	W1
LIU	1-2	1-6	L2
Sacred Heart	1-4	1-7	L4

FOOTBALL EDGED BY STONEHILL IN OVERTIME THRILLER
FINAL SCORE: Stonehill 22 | Sacred Heart 19
Key Highlights: 

• Sacred Heart broke the tie in the second overtime following a 25-yard field goal from Sam Renzi, but the Skyhawks' offense proved too much for the Pioneers as Corbett rushed up the middle for the game-winning touchdown.
• The Pioneers' lone touchdown of the game came from Malik Grant, who rushed up the middle for his second touchdown of the season, on a first and goal. 
• Renzi finished the afternoon with 13 points after going 4-for-5 in field goals and 1-for-1 in extra point attempts. 
• The Pioneers' defensive unit had five guys finish with seven tackles, while Nick Foglia registered a sack for a loss of nine yards and Arsheen Jiles posted an interception. 
• Cade Pribula concluded the afternoon with 87 passing and 34 rushing yards, respectively, as well as went 7-of-18 in the pocket. 

FOOTBALL STOPPED BY YALE
FINAL SCORE: Yale 31 | Sacred Heart 3
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• On its first drive of the afternoon, Yale scored a touchdown on a first and 10 at the SHU 40 and converted on the extra point attempt for the early advantage, 7-0.
• The second quarter saw the Bulldogs' lead grow to 21 as the hosts tallied a rushing and passing touchdown, respectively.
• Sacred Heart's first and only afternoon points came in the third quarter when Sam Renzi put the ball between the uprights for the 19-yard field goal.
• The Bulldogs closed out the fourth quarter scoring an additional 10 points to secure the home win.
• Jalen Madison finished with 92 yards behind 15 carries, while Malik Grant carried the ball 17 times for 58 yards.
• Carson Primrose recorded a team-high seven tackles, a forced fumble, 1.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sack.

PIONEERS CLIPPED BY SHARKS
FINAL SCORE: LIU 23 | Sacred Heart 13
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Trailing 14-0 to the Sharks midway through the second, Sacred Heart cut the lead in half, 14-7, as Cade Pribula connected with LJ Haskett in the end zone for the 13-yard touchdown, and Sam Renzi secured the extra point attempt.
• The Pioneers closed out the first half by trimming the deficit to within four, 14-10, as Sam Renzi put the ball between the uprights as time expired. 
• Two and a half minutes into the third, LIU scored its third touchdown of the day, pushing its advantage to 10, 20-10, before a field goal by the hosts made it a 23-10 score.
• Sacred Heart's final score of the game came in the third quarter following a 32-yard field goal from Renzi.
• Jordan Campbell finished with a team-high 10 solo tackles, while DeAndre Byrd and Ernest Howard recorded eight and seven tackles, respectively. 
• The duo of Tyreke Brown and Campbell forced a combined three fumbles for the Pioneers. 
• Cade Pribula went 15-of-29 with 151 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also finished with 53 rushing yards on 15 carries. 

FOOTBALL TRIPPED UP BY WARRIORS
FINAL SCORE: Merrimack 17 | Sacred Heart 7
Key Highlights:

• The Pioneers broke open the scoring at the 5:55 mark of the first quarter as Arsheen Jiles scored the first touchdown after recovering a Merrimack fumble at the SHU 38. 
• Shortly after, Merrimack trimmed the deficit to within four, 7-3, following a 26-yard field goal from Lliam Davis with 3:08 left in the quarter.
• Both teams could only capitalize offensively in the fourth quarter when Merrimack scored 14 points off a pick-six by Tre Jordan III and a 45-yard rushing touchdown from Donovan Wadley to push the advantage to 10, 17-7.
• Jalen Madison finished the afternoon with 40 yards behind 10 carries, while Malik Grant recorded 12 carries for 37 yards. 
• Ernest Howard led the defensive attack with 13 tackles (4 solo, 9 assist) to go along with 1.0/2 TFL/yds, 0.5/2 Sack/yds, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. 
• Nick Foglia also served as a defensive threat after tallying 11 tackles behind one solo and 10 assisted with 1.0/3 TFL.Yds and 0.5/2 Sack/Yds. 

RENZI TABBED NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK (9/25)
For the first time in his career, Sam Renzi was named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week. 

Renzi was on point in Sacred Heart's thrilling 37-34 road victory against Saint Francis, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra point attempts. The senior kicker racked up 13 points after converting two 40-yard field goals, including the game-winner that lifted the Pioneers to victory, and one from 44 yards out.

RENZI LIFTS PIONEERS TO VICTORY OVER SFU
FINAL SCORE: Sacred Heart 37 | Saint Francis 34
Key Highlights:

• Despite the a game-tying touchdown from the Red Flash, the Pioneers maintained their composure offensively, moving the ball from the SHU 45 to the SFU 23 over the final 2:20 to set up Sam Renzi for the game-winning field goal with two seconds left on the clock.
• Jalen Madison kicked off the scoring for the Pioneers after recording his fourth straight rushing touchdown in the first quarter. 
• A Payton Rhoades touchdown and a pair of field goals from Renzi gave the visitors a 20-17 lead heading into halftime.
• Sacred Heart's largest lead came in the third as Rob McCoy threw a perfect pass to LJ Haskett to build on the Pioneers' halftime advantage, 27-17.
• The fourth quarter began with Saint Francis tying the game thanks to a 26-yard field goal from Mac Plummer, but a four-yard rushing touchdown from Malik Grant and a Renzi extra point put the visitors back on top, 34-27.
• DeAndre Byrd led the defensive unit for the second game of the season after tallying a season-high nine tackles, behind three solo and six assisted tackles, while pushing the Red Flash back four yards on 2.0 tackles-for-loss.
• Tyreke Brown finished with a total of six tackles behind two solo and four assisted.
• Jordan Campbell recorded the lone interception on the day for the Pioneers. 
• The Pioneers' defense forced the Red Flash to go 3-of-13 in third down conversions, while holding the offense to only one rushing touchdown.

PIONEERS FALL IN NEC OPENER TO WAGNER
FINAL SCORE: Wagner 17 | Sacred Heart 10
Key Highlights:

• Trailing 17-0 heading into the fourth quarter, SHU broke through on offense, tallying seven quick points on a rushing touchdown from Jalen Madison and a Sam Renzi extra point. 
• Madison's touchdown kept the momentum in favor of the Pioneers as a Renzi field goal trimmed the deficit seven, 17-10, with 2:32 left on the clock.
• Madison has scored a rushing TD in all three games, while Malik Grant tallied a season-high 135 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards.
• A late roughing the kicker call against the Pioneers sealed a Seahawks' road victory, their first of the season.
• Tyreke Brown led the defensive unit with seven tackles behind two solo and five assisted to go along with 2.5 TFL/13 yards. 
• The duo of DeAndre Byrd and Bayo Gbowu also served as defensive threats for the Pios as the pair finished with six tackles each.

PIONEERS DROP ROAD CONTEST TO GEORGETOWN
FINAL SCORE: Georgetown 27 | Sacred Heart 10
Key Highlights:

• The Pioneers suffered a 27-10 road setback to the Hoyas of Georgetown University Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Cooper Field.
• With 4:02 left in the first stanza, Sam Renzi cut the deficit to within four, 7-3, after putting the ball between the pipes for the 34-yard field goal. 
• SHU's offense went to work in the second quarter and managed to battle back to within four, 14-10, following a 27-yard rushing touchdown from Jalen Madison and a Renzi extra point.
• Malik Grant led the red-and-white with 80 rushing yards behind 11 attempts, while Madison finished closed behind with 49 rushing yards on six attempts.  
• Carson Primrose and Myles Talley led the defensive attack with six tackles each, while Arsheen Jiles, Quinn Hart, Maximus Mongelli, and DeAndre Byrd finished with five tackles each.
• Jiles also added a force fumble, a strip sack, and a pass break up to his stat line against the Hoyas. 
• Bayo Gbowu recorded both of SHU's fumble recoveries. 
• The Pioneers' defense held the Hoyas to only a field goal in the third quarter following a two-hour lightning delay. 

PIONEERS HOME OPENER VS. LAFAYETTE
FINAL SCORE: Lafayette 19 | Sacred Hear 14
Key Highlights: 

• Despite outscoring Lafayette in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers fell short to the visiting Leopards under the lights at Campus Field in their home opener.
• A 17-yard rushing touchdown from Jalen Madison and a Sam Renzi extra point brought the Pioneers to within six, 13-7, with 1:28 left in the second quarter. 
• SHU's Ethan Hilliman made things interesting by making an impressive, 11-yard reception from a Cade Pribulathrow to put the Pioneers ahead 14-13 with 11:41 left on the clock.
• DeAndre Byrd and Nick Foglia led the defensive attack with a combined 16 tackles (4 solo, 12 assisted).
• Foglia also recorded a team-high 1.5 sacks for a total loss of 12 yards.

GRANT NAMED TO EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL 1,000 LIST
Preseason awards for Malik Grant (Bronx, N.Y.) started with the running back being named to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 list. 

ALL-NEC PRESEASON 
The Pioneers had four selections to the preseason team, one on the offensive and three on the defensive side of the ball. 

• Malik Grant (RB)
• Ernest Howard (LB) and DeAndre Byrd (LB)
• Arsheen Jiles (DB)

WATCH OUT, HERE COMES GRANT
Preseason accolades kept rolling in for Malik Grant as the fifth year running back was named Third Team All-American by Stats Perform and was added to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List. 

Grant has earned preseason All-American honors by Stats Perform for the second year in a row, while being named to the Payton Watch List for the third time in his career.

OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
Head football coach Mark Nofri named his captains for the 2023 season - 

• Graduate students DeAndre Byrd and Rob McCoy
• Seniors Tyreke Brown and Carson Primrose

IN THE NEC PRESEASON POLL
Sacred Heart was picked to finish third, along with Duquesne, in the eight-team league. Defending champion Saint Francis earned five first-place votes to be tabbed as the preseason favorite for 2023. Merrimack earned two first-place votes to be tabbed second, while the Dukes and Pioneers rounded out the top three.

COACH EDWARDS PROMOTED TO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
In December of 2022, Coach Nofri announced the promotion of Darin Edwards to defensive coordinator. 

The past two seasons the Pioneers have had one of the top passing defenses in the country, ranking in the top three of yards allowed. Sacred Heart has also been one of the best scoring defenses. 

NOFRI ADDS THREE MEMBERS TO COACHING STAFF
Sacred Heart University head football coach Mark Nofri has added four members to his coaching staff. Joining the Pioneers is Nigel Madison, Ernesto Purnsley, Zuril Hendrick, and Kevin Woodring.

BRIEF LOOK AHEAD TO 2023
The 2023 schedule features five home games and a full seven-game Northeast Conference slate. 

The new schedule is also highlighted by road games against intrastate foes Yale and UConn, the defending Ivy League champs and a FBS Bowl qualifier.

PIOS VS. DUQUESNE GAME ON ESPN+
The home football game scheduled on Oct. 28 against the Dukes of Duquesne University will be aired on ESPN+. 

SHU has won five NEC titles over the last decade, while the Dukes have captured four conference crowns during that same time frame.

CHESTNUT CONTINUES TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN PROS
Julius Chestnut signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans to provide depth to the running back rotation. He appeared in six games as a rookie in 2022, recording nine rushing attempts for 12 yards, three receptions for 41 yards while returning 10 kickoffs for 215 yards. 

Chestnut continues to make a strong case for himself once again through the preseason. Over three games, he recorded 29 carries for 174 yards and five receptions for 58 yards. He also tallied one rushing and two receiving touchdowns. 

As announced by the Titans this week, Chestnut claimed a spot on the 53-man roster for the upcoming 2023 season. The last Pioneers to play in the NFL was Jon Corto who signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills and played from 2007-11.

SOKOL, DIRENZO EARN NFL PRESEASON SPOTS
Fellow SHU alums Josh Sokol and J.D. DiRenzo also made appearances in the NFL preseason with the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers. 

LAST SEASON RECAP
Sacred Heart finished the 2022 season with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-4 mark in NEC action. 

The Pioneers won four of their first six games, but lost four of their final five contests, including an overtime setback against Duquesne and a three-point loss to LIU to wrap up the season.

FOLLOW LIVE

• Pioneer fans can find the latest news, scores, and highlights as well as up-to-the-minute breaking news or schedule changes at the Official Website of SHU Athletics. 
• Follow the Pioneers at @SHU__FB on Twitter and @shufb_ on Instagram.
• All the Pioneers' home and NEC contests can be seen live at NECFrontRow.com
• Live Stats are also available at sacredheartpioneers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

ON DECK
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 4 as the team returns to Campus Field for an afternoon bout against the Blue Devils of Central CT State. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.