Nov. 16, 2002

Final Stats

FAIRFIELD, CT - Junior quarterback Joe Kroells (Burbank, CA) threw three touchdown passes, and the Sacred Heart defense led by senior Kayode Mayowa's (Providence, RI) four sacks held Iona to just ten yards of total offense, to lead the Pioneers to a 30-3 win over the visiting Gaels in the 2002 finale for both teams.

The Pioneers sacked Iona quarterbacks a school-record 12 times for a total loss of 106 yards. Sacred Heart, which finished 7-3 and winners of four straight, also forced the Gaels into three fumbles and three interceptions.

Iona, which finishes its season 5-6, got the first points of the contest on a 23-yard field goal by Spencer Callahan with 5:38 to go in the first quarter. The score was made possible by Caleb Reddick who recovered a fumble on a punt return by SHU's Pete Athans at the Pioneer 12.

Sacred Heart evened the score at 3-3 on a 31-yard field goal by senior Tim Redican (Meriden, CT) with :13 left in the period. The Pioneers took the lead midway through the second when senior Doug Geoffrey took a lateral from Marlon Ward on a hook-and-ladder pass play, and ran in the final five yards for the touchdown.

The Pioneers took a 16-3 lead into the intermission when Kroells found Sean Macauley (Clinton, CT) for a 13-yard TD. SHU hit paydirt on the first play after junior Brian Pawlowski (Branchburg, NJ) picked up a fumbled snap by Iona punter Callahan and returned it seven yards to the 13.

Kroells threw his third TD pass of the contest with 8:02 left in the third quarter. This time he found sophomore Steve Clayton (Pontiac, MI) streaking down the right sideline for a 35-yard score to up the Pioneer lead to 22-3.

Senior Blake Neri (Dover, NH) put the Pioneers up 28-3 when he picked up a fumble by Iona QB Billy Brieden when he was sacked by Mayowa, and took it in ten yards for his third defensive touchdown of the season.

Sacred Heart would get on the board once more when Pawlowski blocked an Iona punt in the end zone that sailed outside the endline for a safety.

The final score meant that the Pioneers extended their streak to 16 quarters without allowing a touchdown by the opposition.