Pioneers Fall 13-10 to #24 Holy Cross in FCS Playoffs

Saturday, November 27

Worcester, Mass.

12:00 PM

Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics

8-4 , 6-1

Holy Cross

10-2 , 6-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Sacred Heart

Holy Cross

Pioneers Fall 13-10 to #24 Holy Cross in FCS Playoffs

11/27/2021 4:03:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Crusaders score in final seconds of the game.

WORCESTER, Mass. – A 35-yard touchdown pass by Holy Cross in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter ended the postseason run for the Sacred Heart University football team. The Pioneers lost, 13-10, to the Crusaders on Saturday at Fitton Field.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 8-4
#24 Holy Cross: 10-2

Performers:
Julius Chestnut (SHU) 55 yards, 17 rushes
Malik grant (SHU) 59 yards, 14 rushes
DeAndre Byrd (SHU) 8 tackles

Of Note:
Noah Gettman booted a 33-yard field goal to put the Pioneers up, 10-3, just three minutes into the fourth quarter.

After a Holy Cross field goal cut the lead to 10-6, SHU was stopped at the HC 34-yard line and forced to punt. The Crusaders converted a fourth down and a 3-and-17 before quarterback Matthew Sluka found Jalen Coker at the goal line and he fell into the endzone for the winning score.

Sacred Heart took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards for the score on a five-yard run by Rob McCoy. Julius Chestnut had 34 yards rushing on the drive and Marquez McCray connected with Kenneth Womack on a 35-yard pass on third and eight.

Neither team could generate much offense with the Crusaders holding a 177-78 advantage in the air. SHU limited Holy Cross to nearly a third of its scoring average. The Pioneers outgained Holy Cross, 158-111, on the ground.

McCoy added a 39-yard run to top the team with 62 yards, followed by Malik Grant at 59 and Chestnut chipped in 55.

Next fall the Pioneers go for their third-straight Northeast Conference title but will have to fill several holes on both sides of the ball.