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FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fresh off a come-from-behind victory at Stetson last week, the Sacred Heart football team hosts the Valparaiso Crusaders at Campus Field Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Pioneers trailed by eight points at halftime against the Hatters last Saturday, but scored 12 unanswered points for the 18-14 win. SHU's defense, led by NEC Defensive Player of the Week Kevin Barry, held Stetson to 35 yards of total offense in the second half. Barry finished the game with a career-high 13 tackles and three tackles for loss, adding a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. CJ Parvelus also had a career-high in tackles with 10.
Offensively, SHU had 399 yards of total offense against the Hatters with 227 yards rushing. Ose Imeokparia led the Pioneers with 112 yards on 13 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown on an 80-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. He was named NEC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for the second time in his career. Imeokparia also won the award last season after rushing for 119 yards and three touchdowns at Valparaiso.
This is the second meeting between SHU and Valpo on the gridiron. The Pioneers won last season's meeting against the Crusaders 56-3 at Brown Field. SHU had 526 yards of total offense while holding Valparaiso to 235 yards. RJ Noel was 22-for-34 passing for 272 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score. Defensively, the Pioneers forced five turnovers including three interceptions. Barry had of the interceptions and added seven tackles and two sacks. Parvelus led SHU with eight tackles.
Picked to finish tenth in the PFL this season, Valparaiso opened the season last week with a 50-13 loss at #8/10 Illinois State. Kellen Hughes had nine tackles and a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Redbirds, earning PFL Defensive Player of the Week honors. Jake Simpson shared Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making two field goals. The Crusaders were 1-9 in 2015, going 1-7 in the PFL. Valpo returns a pair of Honorable Mention All-PFL performers in fullback Griffin Norberg and defensive back J.J. Nunes.
