Photo Gallery | Game Highlights

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Trailing 24-0 to Penn early in the third quarter, the Sacred Heart football team ripped of 27 unanswered points to take the lead, but the Quakers answered with a touchdown with just over one-minute remaining to stun SHU 31-27 on homecoming on Saturday afternoon.

Grad student Aaron Donalson gave the Pioneers their first lead, 27-24, with 9:54 remaining by knocking away a shovel pass, scooping it up and returning it 21 yards to paydirt. He also chipped in five tackles, including two for a loss and one sack. Sophomore Chris Outterbridge recorded a game-high 14 tackles for SHU.

Senior tailback Jordan Meachum rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Naseim Brantley led the Sacred Heart receiving corps with four receptions for 75 yards. Junior RJ Trimble-Edwards had two catches for 67 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown reception. Senior quarterback Kevin Duke finished 11-for-21 passing for 189 yards, one touchdown, one interception and 70 yards rushing.

Penn was led by running back Karekin Brooks who ran 28 times for 191 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Ryan Glover went 15-of-20 for 162 yards a pair of touchdowns and Christian Pearson had two scores on 104 yards receiving.

Special teams played a big role in the game, with Penn blocking two SHU field goal attempts, as well as an extra point on the go-ahead score.

FIRST QUARTER

• Penn started fast, scoring on their first drive on a 12-yard run by Brooks to cap a six-play, 83-yard series.
• SHU started the game with two straight three-and-outs before picking up a pair of first downs on their second possession, before being forced to punt.

SECOND QUARTER

• Penn took a 10-0 lead exactly two minutes into the second quarter on a 51-yard field goal by Jack Soslow.
• SHU answered with a drive that took them just outside the red zone, including a fourth down conversion on a defensive holding penalty. Josh Freiria came on to attempt a 44-yard field goal, which was blocked by Penn's Taheeb Sonekan.
• The Quakers upped the lead to 17-0 with exactly six minutes remaining until halftime on a 20-yard pass from Glover to Pearson, capping a 73-yard drive in just 2:47.
• SHU responded with its longest drive of the half, going 57 yards to get into the red zone. Freiria came out to attempt a 33-yard field goal in the closing seconds, but was rejected once again by Sonekan, keeping the score 17-0 going into the locker room.
• Penn outgained SHU 240-133 in the first half, including 137-34 clip on the ground.

THIRD QUARTER

• Penn started the second half the same way as the first, scoring on their opening drive to take a 24-0 lead at the 11:59 mark on a three-yard run by Abe Willows.
• Sacred Heart began its comeback on its next drive, marching 79 yards on just five plays. Duke hit Brantley for a 48-yard completion on second down, and Meachum finished it off on the next play with a nine-yard score, stretching the ball across the goal line to make it 24-7 at the 10:37 mark.
• Penn marched right back up the field, but missed wide left on a 33-yard field goal attempt.
• Sacred Heart followed with a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Duke scrambled for a career-long 46 yard run to set up first down at the Penn 23. Three plays later, Meachum broke off a 17-yard scoring run to cut the deficit to 24-14 with 3:38 to go in the third.
• SHU's defense followed with a quick three-and-out, helped by a first down sack from Chris Agyemang and Mike Wilen. On the second play following the punt, Duke stepped up and launched one deep down field, hitting Trimble-Edwards in stride for the 53-yard touchdown to make it a three-point game, 24-21, with 1:30 to go in the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Penn kept their offense on the field for a 4th-and-4 attempt from the SHU 37-yard line in the opening minutes of the fourth, but Brendon Slade broke up the pass attempt to force the turnover on downs.
• SHU punted after a three-and-out and picked up one first down before facing third-and-nine from their own 40. Glover tried to pitch it to his running back, but Donalson broke through the line, batted the pitch away, scooped it up and returned it 21 yards to the end zone, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and giving SHU its first lead of the game. The extra point attempt was blocked, keeping it 27-24 with 9:54 remaining.
• The teams traded two empty possessions apiece, including a Penn interception at midfield with 6:41 on the clock. The SHU defense ensured the turnover didn't hurt, forcing a turnover on downs thanks to fourth-down pressure from Robert Steffe and Donalson.
• Penn took over once again with 3:13 remaining, and drove 87 yards in just two minutes, scoring the winning touchdown on a 10-yard pass to a wide-open Pearson with 1:19 left.
• Penn sealed the win by forcing a turnover on downs, spoiling SHU's comeback bid.

The Pioneers will face Dartmouth on the road next Saturday in their final non-conference game of the season. Kickoff in Hanover, N.H. is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.