Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio (SacredHeartPioneers.com)
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After an open week, the Sacred Heart football team returns to the gridiron Saturday when it travels to Cornell for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Pioneers (4-1) are coming off their first loss of the season, 1 45-20 defeat at Wagner on October 1 to open Northeast Conference play. RJ Noel tied a career-high with 327 passing yards while attempting a career-high 52 passes. Byron Barney had a career-high 103 receiving yards as Moses Webb and Andrew O'Neill each caught touchdown passes. Nate Chavious became the second Pioneer to return a kickoff 99 yards for a score as well.
Saturday will mark the second time Sacred Heart will face the Big Red. The Pioneers won last season's meeting at Campus Field 31-6. Noel was 15-for-22 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Dube became the second Pioneer to have over 200 receiving yards in the game, catching nine passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. He also threw a touchdown pass. SHU held Cornell to 66 rushing yards and forced two turnovers with five sacks. James Rentz led the defense with 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
The Pioneers remain in the top-20 in the nation in six different statistical categories. SHU is fifth in sacks (3.6 per game), sixth in sacks allowed (0.6 per game), and sixth in scoring defense (17.8 points per game). The SHU offensive line has allowed just three sacks this season, and no sacks in the last two games. On the flip side, SHU has had 16 sacks in the last four games. Individually, cornerback Khaamal Whitaker is sixth in the country in passes defended at 1.8 per game.
Cornell (3-1) also enters Saturday coming off its first loss, a 29-13 defeat at Harvard. The Big Red opened the season with wins over Bucknell, Yale, and Colgate. Quarterback Dalton Banks leads the Ivy League in passing, averaging 294.2 yards per game with nine touchdowns. Running Back Chris Walker is third in the Ivy League in rushing with 77.5 yards per game. Cornell is fourth in the Ivy in scoring at 25.8 points per game.
