Box Score FAIRFIELD, CT (September 29, 2012) – Sacred Heart sophomore running back Keshaudas Spence (Dorchester, MA) rumbled his way to 123 yards rushing to help lead the Pioneers to a 34-21 win over Central Connecticut State on "Homecoming" Saturday afternoon on Campus Field. The win was the first for the Pioneers and the first for interim head coach Mark Nofri.
The Pioneers (1-3, 1-1 NEC) intercepted CCSU's quarterbacks three times on the way to the win. R-Junior Luke Wischnowski (West Chester, PA) was called into action with starter Tim Little (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ) out with illness and responded by completing 12-of-16 passes including a touchdown. Wischnowski opened the game completing 10-straight passes.
SHU opened up a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter and built that lead to 24-3 at the half. Senior Kevin Eckel (Haverford, PA) took the opening kick-off 49-yards to set the Pioneers up for what would be a nine-play drive for the game's first points. Junior Greg Moore (Newark, NJ) capped it off on third and goal from the one plunging in off right tackle.
Wischnowski gave the Pioneers a 14-0 lead thanks to his first career touchdown pass with 11:40 left in the second quarter. On a third and 13 at the CCSU 15-yard line, Wischnowski hooked-up with senior Rock Tate (Lantana, FL) who beat a defender on his way to the endzone.
CCSU (0-5, 0-2 NEC) got their first points on the next drive on a Juan Duque 27-yard field goal but SHU quickly answered and tacked 10 more points before the half. Spence bolted up the left sidelines on a 34-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left to make it 21-3.
Senior linebacker Niko Sierra (Longmeadow, MA) set up the next SHU score, blocking a punt and giving the Pioneers the ball on CCSU 48-yard line. Sophomore Chris Rogers (Cazenovia, NY) pounded a 17-yard field goal through at the halftime horn for a 24-3 lead. Rogers hit his second field goal with 8:15 left in the third, a 20-yarder, to make it 27-3 SHU.
R-Sophomore J.D. Roussel (Pawtucket, RI) put the stamp on the Pioneers victory with a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter. Junior linebacker Justin Sexton (Murrieta, CA) and Sierra both each grabbed an interception in the win.
Sierra posted 13 tackles, two for losses, matching r-senior Tyler Foehr's (Florence, NJ) 13 tackles. Sexton posted 12 tackles to lead a defense that held CCSU to just nine-of-20 on third down.
Spence ran the ball 10 times and averaged 12.3 yards per carry in the win as the Pioneers piled up 174 yards on the ground as a team.
The Pioneers are right back at home on Campus Field next Saturday, October 6th when they play host to the Wagner Seahawks. Kick-off is at 1:00 pm and the game will be broadcast live throughout Connecticut on CPTV Sports.
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