Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
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Saint Anselm
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Pioneers Win Season Opener Over Saint Anselm 43-19
9/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Led by 249 yards passing and four total touchdowns from quarterback RJ Noel, the Sacred Heart football team won its season opener at Campus Field Saturday night 43-19 over the Saint Anselm Hawks.
Noel completed 19 of 34 passes and also ran for two touchdowns. Tyler Dube had eight receptions 155 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Kellen Sperduto led Sacred Heart with 13 tackles. Matt Ilalio had 11 tackles including a sack for a safety. Dylan Ackerson had 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Sacred Heart outgained Saint Anselm (0-1) 402-289.
The Pioneers make their first trip ever to the state of Indiana next week, taking on Valparaiso on September 12 at 2 p.m.
First Quarter
- 8:53 to play – 7-0 SHU: Noel runs in for one-yard touchdown. Dube caught a 29-yard pass to get SHU to the one yardline.
- 0:58 to play – 10-0 SHU: Alec Finney kicks a 30-yard field goal to cap 15 play, 54-yard drive that took 6:23 off the clock.
Second Quarter
- 9:53 to play – 10-3 SHU: Saint Anselm gets on the board with a 27-yard field goal by Shayne Grayson.
- 8:12 to play – 12-3 SHU: After Jamie Ross pinned Saint Anselm inside the five yardline with a 64-yard punt, Ilalio sacks Saint Anselm quarterback Yianna Gavalas in the end zone for a safety.
- 2:33 to play – 18-3 SHU: Noel finds Moses Webb for a 40-yard touchdown.
- 0:12 to play – 18-6 SHU: Another Saint Anselm field goal makes the score 18-6 before halftime.
Third Quarter
- 10:24 to play – 18-13 SHU: The Hawks open the second half with a 13 play, 70-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Elad Covaliu.
- 8:57 to play – 20-13 SHU: Sacred Heart gets its second safety of the night as a bad snap goes out of the end zone.
- 8:16 to play – 27-13 SHU: The Pioneers follow up the safety with a 46-yard touchdown reception by Dube.
- 3:40 to play – 29-19 SHU: Saint Anselm scores on a 20 yard touchdown pass from Gavalas to Ryan Monette. Connor Caveney blocked the point-after attempt, which Khaamal Whitaker returned for two points.
Fourth Quarter
- 12:10 to play – 36-19 SHU: Noel's second rushing touchdown puts the Pioneers up by 17.
- 3:02 to play – 43-19 SHU: Nate Chavious scores on a two-yard touchdown rush to cap an 11-play, 78 yard drive.
Game Notes
- In his last three season openers, RJ Noel is 56-of-99 for 640 passing yard and five touchdowns while rushing for another 208 yards and three scores.
- Sacred Heart had three different two-point scoring plays (2 safeties and a defensive PAT)
- Matt Ilalio and Dylan Ackerson had career-highs in tackles and sacks.
Team Stats
STA 0, SHU 7
SHU - Noel,RJ 1 yd run (Finney,Alec kick), 6 plays, 40 yards, TOP 2:40
STA 0, SHU 10
SHU - Finney,Alec 30 yd field goal 15 plays, 54 yards, TOP 6:17
STA 3, SHU 10
STA - Shane Grayson 27 yd field goal 15 plays, 62 yards, TOP 5:59
STA 3, SHU 12
SHU - Ilalio,Matt 4 yd safety
STA 3, SHU 18
SHU - Webb,Moses 40 yd pass from Noel,RJ (Finney,Alec kickfailed) 6 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:44
STA 6, SHU 18
STA - Shane Grayson 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:21
STA 13, SHU 18
STA - Elad Covaliu 3 yd run (Shane Grayson kick), 13 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:29
STA 13, SHU 20
SHU - TEAM 0 yd safety
STA 13, SHU 27
SHU - Dube,Tyler 46 yd pass from Noel,RJ (Finney,Alec kick) 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:41
STA 19, SHU 27
STA - Ryan Monette 20 yd pass from Yianni Gavalas (Shane Grayson kickblocked) 5 plays, 27 yards, TOP 1:38
STA 19, SHU 29
SHU - Whitaker,K. 98 yd PAT return
STA 19, SHU 36
SHU - Noel,RJ 3 yd run (Finney,Alec kick), 5 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:34
STA 19, SHU 43
SHU - Chavious,Nate 2 yd run (Finney,Alec kick), 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 5:29
