Box Score

Postgame Press Conference

The Sacred Heart University football team scored on each of its first four drives en route to a 52-13 Northeast Conference victory over visiting Robert Morris University.  The win improves the Pioneers to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Colonials fall to 0-6 on the year and 0-1 in NEC action.

Sacred Heart scored on each of its first four drives, jumping out to a 28-0 lead with 2:31 still to play in the first quarter.  The Pioneer amassed 631 yards of total offense on the afternoon, while the defense allowed only 291.

RJ Noel (Lowell, Mass.) completed his first seven passes on the afternoon, finishing a season-best 19-24 for 295 yard and three touchdown strikes.  Tyler Dube (Southington, Conn.) was on the receiving end of seven of those passes, for 108 yards and his eighth touchdown reception of the season. Dube also had a touchdown on the ground. Keshaudas Spence (Roxbury, Mass.) ran for a game-high 91 yards and scored one of four Pioneer rushing touchdowns.

Noel went 4-4 passing on the opening drive, leading the Pioneers on an eight-play, 91-yard drive that was finished with a four-yard scoring pass to Dube. Noel was 3-3 on the second drive, completing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Sean Bell (Medford Lakes, N.J.) to cap the six-play, 69-yard drive to make it 14-0.

After an incompletion to open the third drive, Noel completed three of his next four passes, as the Pioneers drive 70-yards on eight-plays, capped by a five-yard TD reception by Pat Casey (Berlin, N.J.).  The Pioneers fourth drive lasted one play, when Dube took the double reverse 40-yards for the 28-0 advantage, with 2:31 remaining the first period.

Robert Morris go on the board with the next drive, when Derik Abbott found Justin Kempka with a one-yard scoring pass.  Chris Rogers (Cazenovia, N.Y.) gave SHU a 31-6 lead with his 21-yard field goal on the next drive.  Two drives later Bell scored for the Pioneers on a two-yard run to make the score 38-6 heading into the intermission.

The Pioneer defense recorded six sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, recovered a fumble and blocked a punt.  James Rentz (St. Augustine, Fla.) led the way with a team-best 10 tackles in the game, including 3.5 sacks, as well as a forced fumble. Kevin Barry (River Edge, N.J.) recorded nine tackles, 1.5 for a loss and a sack, while Gordon Hill (Sicklerville, N.J.) finished with seven tackles and a TFL.  TaMaric Wilson (Alexandria, Va.) and Sam McCain (Jamison, Pa.) each had an interception and Troy Moore (Worcester, Mass.) recovered a fumble.

The SHU defense forced a three-and-out from Robert Morris to open the second-half. The offense took the ball and marched 54 yards in nine-plays, over 3:56, with Spence finding the end zone for a one-yard score, to give the Pioneers a 45-6 lead. Abbot found Nic Lamica for a 20-yard TD completion with just under 6:00 to play in the fourth quarter for the Colonials second score.  Jalyn Croom (Tallahasse, Fla.) wrapped-up the scoring two drives later, carrying the ball four times for 55 yards and a one-yard TD score.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, October 18 when they travel to Duquesne University.  Game time is set for Noon.