
Pioneers Tame Bears 21-7
9/18/2021 5:09:00 PM | Football
SHU scores 21 unanswered points on its way to victory.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After giving up a score on the first drive of the game, the Sacred Heart University defense turned in a dominant performance to lead the Pioneers to victory on Saturday. The Pioneers scored 21 unanswered points to defeat Morgan State, 21-7, at Campus Field.
Records:
Sacred Heart: 2-1
Morgan State: 0-3
Top Performers:
Malik Grant (SHU) 125 yards, 1 TD, 25 carries
Marquez McCary (SHU): 17-of-26, 193 yards, 1 TD, 1 Rush TD
Chris Outterbridge (SHU) 7 tackles
Up Next:
The Pioneers go on the road next week to take on Dartmouth at 1 p.m.
Of Note:
The Bears took advantage of a good return on the opening kickoff and went 55 yards in eight plays for the opening score. After that, Morgan State didn't make it into the Sacred Heart redzone the rest of the game.
Morgan State was limited to 251 yards of offense, compared to 341 by the Pioneers. The Sacred Heart defense also forced a pair of turnovers and blocked a punt.
The Pioneers answered the MSU touchdown with a scoring drive of their own. Malik Grant moved the sticks with a 14-yard reception on 3rd-and-11, then quarterback Marquez McCray scored from nine yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
For the second time in three games, the Pioneers scored right before the half. SHU got the ball with 3:21 and picked up big chunks of yards on a 16-yard pass from McCray to Rob DiNota then a 20-yard strike to Troy Holland. McCray connected with DiNota again and his second effort got the ball across the goal line with only one second left in the half.
SHU put the game out of reach thanks to an 89-yard drive that chewed up over five minutes in the third quarter. McCray kept the drive alive when he scrambled for five yards on a 4th-and-4. Grant plowed in from three yards out to ice the game.
Grant had the best game of his SHU career, rushing for a personal-best 125 yards and a score. DiNota hauled in six catches for 61 yards.
Records:
Sacred Heart: 2-1
Morgan State: 0-3
Top Performers:
Malik Grant (SHU) 125 yards, 1 TD, 25 carries
Marquez McCary (SHU): 17-of-26, 193 yards, 1 TD, 1 Rush TD
Chris Outterbridge (SHU) 7 tackles
Up Next:
The Pioneers go on the road next week to take on Dartmouth at 1 p.m.
Of Note:
The Bears took advantage of a good return on the opening kickoff and went 55 yards in eight plays for the opening score. After that, Morgan State didn't make it into the Sacred Heart redzone the rest of the game.
Morgan State was limited to 251 yards of offense, compared to 341 by the Pioneers. The Sacred Heart defense also forced a pair of turnovers and blocked a punt.
The Pioneers answered the MSU touchdown with a scoring drive of their own. Malik Grant moved the sticks with a 14-yard reception on 3rd-and-11, then quarterback Marquez McCray scored from nine yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
For the second time in three games, the Pioneers scored right before the half. SHU got the ball with 3:21 and picked up big chunks of yards on a 16-yard pass from McCray to Rob DiNota then a 20-yard strike to Troy Holland. McCray connected with DiNota again and his second effort got the ball across the goal line with only one second left in the half.
SHU put the game out of reach thanks to an 89-yard drive that chewed up over five minutes in the third quarter. McCray kept the drive alive when he scrambled for five yards on a 4th-and-4. Grant plowed in from three yards out to ice the game.
Grant had the best game of his SHU career, rushing for a personal-best 125 yards and a score. DiNota hauled in six catches for 61 yards.
Team Stats
MSU
SHU
Total Yards
252
341
Pass Yards
131
193
Rushing Yards
121
148
Penalty Yards
40
35
1st Downs
12
19
3rd Downs
6
6
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
26:28
33:21
1st Quarter

MSU 7, SHU 0
MSU - Kimbrough,Romel 1 yd run (Akubuo-Onwuemek kick), 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:52

MSU 7, SHU 7
SHU - McCray,Marquez 9 yd run (Renzi,Sam kick), 13 plays, 85 yards, TOP 7:02
2nd Quarter

MSU 7, SHU 14
SHU - DiNota,Rob 6 yd pass from (Renzi,Sam kick) 9 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:20
3rd Quarter

MSU 7, SHU 21
SHU - Grant,Malik 3 yd run (Renzi,Sam kick), 12 plays, 89 yards, TOP 5:26
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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