Box Score DeLAND, Fla. – The Sacred Heart football team scored 12 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Stetson Hatters 18-14 in the season opener Saturday night at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
The Pioneers outgained Stetson 399-295, rushing for 227 yards. SHU's defense held the Hatters to 35 yards in the second half and 5-of-16 on third down for the game. Senior linebacker Kevin Barry had a career-high 13 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a key forced fumble in the fourth quarter. Ose Imeokparia rushed for 112 yards and the go-ahead touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. RJ Noel was 16-for-34 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Trailing 14-6 at halftime, SHU (1-0) closed to within two with 1:20 to play in the third quarter. On 3rd-and-goal from the Stetson 17-yardline, Noel found Andrew O'Neill in the endzone to make the score 14-12. However, the two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. After forcing Stetson (0-1) to punt, the Pioneers started the fourth quarter with the ball at their own 20 yardline. On the first play of the drive, Imeokparia ran to the right and past the Hatters defense to go 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. With the score 18-14, Sacred Heart once again went for two but was stopped. The SHU defense forced three three-and-outs in the fourth quarter to make the lead hold up for the win.
The Pioneers open their home slate on Saturday, Sept. 10 with a 1 p.m. game against the Valparaiso Crusaders at Campus Field.
First Quarter
5:18 to play – Stetson 7, SHU 0: The Hatters open the scoring with a four-play, 45-yard drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Cole Mazza.
2:20 to play – Stetson 7, SHU 6: Byron Barney scores his first career touchdown on a 34-yard reception from Noel. Stetson blocks the PAT to stay in front.
Second Quarter
2:51 to play – Stetson 14, SHU 6: Donald Parham makes a diving catch for a 22-yard touchdown reception to give Stetson an eight-point lead.
Third Quarter
1:20 to play – Stetson 14, SHU 12: Noel finds O'Neill for a 17-yard touchdown pass to get the Pioneers within two. Noel was 7-for-10 on the drive, including a 22-yard completion to Moses Webb on 4th-and-9 from the Stetson 25.
Fourth Quarter
14:38 to play – SHU 18, Stetson 14: Imeokparia scores on an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play of the quarter to give the Pioneers the lead. SHU was held out of the end zone on the two-point conversion for a second time.
9:51 to play – After forcing a three-and-out, SHU drives 54 yards to the Stetson 20. Alec Finney's 36-yard field goal is missed. The senior did put two punts inside the 20 in the quarter.
2:23 to play – Barry sacks Stetson quarterback Gavin DeFilippo, forcing a fumble that he recovers himself.
0:43 to play – Stetson gets one last chance to drive and win the game. However, the Pioneers defense forces a turnover on downs when the Hatters stall at their own 24 yardline.
