SHU Game Notes | Penn Game Notes | Live Video (NEC Front Row) | Live Stats | Radio: 91.5 WHRT | Coach Nofri Show: Week 6
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart football team will return home for the first time in over a month this Saturday when they welcome Penn to Campus Field. The game will be part of homecoming weekend at Sacred Heart, and will also serve as the team's breast cancer awareness game. It will be the first-ever matchup between the Pioneers and the Quakers. Both teams are coming off their first defeats of the season last week against Ivy League foes, with SHU falling by 19 at Cornell and Penn dropping a 37-14 decision at Dartmouth.
OPENING KICKOFF
• Sacred Heart ranks fourth in FCS in passing defense (136.8 ypg) and 12th in total defense (287.0 ypg).
• SHU is seeking a 2-0 start at home for the fifth time in the last six years.
• SHU will look to start 4-1 for the fourth time in the last six years.
• SHU is 3-3 against the Ivy League in the Nofri era (since 2012).
STARTING OFF:
- Sacred Heart is coming off its first loss of the season at Cornell, 43-24.
- After only allowing 34 points through their first three games, SHU surrendered 36 in the first half to Cornell.
- Junior Ed Cuddahy, first-year Lucas Nunez and sophomore Jake Radic each scored their first-career touchdowns at Cornell.
- SHU turned out a season-low 153 yards rushing and allowed season-highs of 263 yards on the ground and 161 yards receiving in the Cornell loss.
- On Sept. 22, the Pioneers dominated on offense, defense and special teams and took down Wagner 41-14 in the team's NEC opener.
- SHU's defense has held its opponents under 300 yards of offense.
SHU ranks in the top 20 in all of FCS in several categories:
No. 4 - Passing Yards allowed (136.8)
No. 6 - Passing Efficiency Defesne (95.40)
No. 12 - Total defense (287.0)
No. 13 - 4th down conversion percentage (.750)
No. 19 - Scoring Defense (19.3)
No. 18 - Time of posession (32:39)
No. 19 - Red Zone defense (.70)
URSTING ONTO THE SCENE:
Several first-year players had breakout games at Wagner on Sept. 22.
Naseim Brantley made his collegiate debut and made 3 receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns, earning NEC co-Rookie of the Week honors.
First-year Lucas Nunez took the opening kickoff back 94 yards, setting up SHU's first touchdown two plays later. He added two catches for 46 yards on offense
First-year Troy Holland had a pair of catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, the first two receptions of his career.
BEWARE OF AGYEMANG:
Junior defensive end Chris Agyemang ranks sixth in the nation in sacks per game (1.25). Penn's Cooper Gardner ranks fifth 1.33 sacks/game.
Agyemang also ranks 11th in the nation with 1.9 tackles for a loss per game (7.5 total).
DOING DOUBLE DUTY:
Junior RJ Trimble-Edwards has seen action on both offense and defense in multiple games this season. At Wagner, he scored a 3-yard touchdown as a receiver on offense in the second quarter, then later recording a sack on defense in the third quarter.
Sacred Heart has come away with an interception in 47 of its last 59 games, with the Cornell game the only game this season without an INT.
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