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: 8-4Â
#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.
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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.
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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.Â
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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.
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McCoy added a 39-yard run to top the team with 62 yards, followed by
Malik Grant at 59 and Chestnut chipped in 55.
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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.
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