SHU Game Notes | Wagner Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video (NEC Front Row)
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart football team is set to open up Northeast Conference play this Saturday with a road matchup at Wagner. The Pioneers have opened up the season with two strong victories over Lafayette and Bucknell, starting the season 2-0 for the sixth straight season. Wagner comes into the matchup at 1-2 on the young season, defeating Division II Bowie State, and falling on the road at Montana State and FBS Syracuse.
Coming off a bye last weekend, SHU's rushing attack and defense stifled the Bison in a 30-14 win. Jordan Meachum (178 yards) and Kevin Duke (104 yards) each tallied career-highs in rushing yards and added one touchdown apiece. The Pio defense held Bucknell to just 178 yards of total offense and came away with five sacks and three turnovers, including a 32-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Noel Hijazi. Sophomore Nathan Balthazard caught his first career touchdown to give SHU the lead for good on the opening drive of the second half, and Kevin Sears collected his second-career interception deep in SHU territory to thwart a Bucknell's scoring chance early in the third quarter.
Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Hameline Field on Staten Island, with a live stream available on NEC Front Row.
OPENING KICKOFF
• SHU is seeking its first three-game road winning streak since a four-game streak from Nov. 2015-Oct. 2016.
• SHU is seeking a 3-0 start for the fourth time in six years.
• SHU will look to start 2-0 on the road for the third time in six years.
• SHU is 5-4 over the last 10 seasons in games following a bye week (no bye in 2013).
• SHU is 3-7 in NEC openers over the last 10 seasons, including 1-6 against Wagner all-time in NEC-opening games.
STARTING OFF:
• Last time out at Bucknell on Sept. 8, the Pioneers' defense held Bucknell to 178 yards of total offense while forcing three turnovers and recording five sacks. The defense held Bucknell to just 3-of-16 on third downs.
• Through the first three weeks, SHU is holding opponents to 5-of-26 (.192) on third downs, good enough for fourth in the nation behind only Dartmouth (.083), N.C. Central (.143) and Tennessee State (.154). SHU and N.C. Central have both played two games, while Dartmouth and Tenn. St. have each played one.
• Sacred Heart was 4-for-4 on fourth down against Lafayette, but 0-for-2 at Bucknell. The Pios were the only team in the nation perfect on fourth downs in Week 1 (minimum four attempts).
• Sacred Heart is one of only eight teams in FCS with at least two defensive touchdowns through the first three weeks. SHU is the only one of those teams to have not played at least three games.
• SHU is one of 18 unbeaten teams remaining in FCS entering week four, and is the only undefeated NEC team.
SHU is sixth in the nation and No. 1 in the NEC in scoring defense (10.0 ppg), the only team in the NEC who has not surrendered at least 21 points in a game yet this season.
• The Pioneer offense ranks seventh in FCS and first in the NEC in time of possession, holding the ball for 34:24 per game.
• The Pioneers' 261 rushing yards per game ranks 14th in FCS and first in the NEC.
ABOUT SHU:
• Sacred Heart is one of only two teams in FCS (Illinois St.) that has not allowed a passing touchdown (minimum 2 games). Five additional teams have allowed zero touchdowns through their first game.
• Through the first three weeks, SHU is holding opponents to 5-of-26 (.192) on third downs, good enough for fourth in the nation behind only Dartmouth (.083), N.C. Central (.143) and Tennessee State (.154).
• SHU is fifth in the nation in red zone defense (50%), allowing only one TD and one field goal on four red zone trips.
• In the last four-plus seasons, SHU has held its opponent under 200 yards of total offense six times, most recently vs. Bucknell (178 yards-Sept. 8, 2018).
COLLECTING THE HARDWARE:
The Pioneers had two weekly award winners in Week 2, with Jordan Meachum earning NEC Offensive Player of the Week honors and Chris Agyemang winning NEC Defensive Player of the Week. Meachum rushed for a career-high 178 yards and one TD, while Agyemang recorded three TFLs and two sacks with one forced fumble.
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