STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The ground game was working for the Sacred Heart University football team on Saturday at Wagner. The Pioneers snapped a three-game losing streak thanks to a 38-28 Northeast Conference victory at Hameline Field.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-5, 3-3 NEC
Wagner: 1-9, 1-5 NEC

Statistical Leaders:
Malik Grant: 165 yards, 20 carries, 2 TDs
Rob McCoy: 200 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INT, 105 rushing yards, 1 TD

Up Next:
The Pioneers wrap up the season next Saturday at 12 p.m. against LIU at Campus Field.

Of Note:
Sacred Heart rushed for 350 yards – its most since a 376-yard performance in the 2021 regular season finale at LIU – thanks to 165 yards from Malik Grant and 105 from quarterback Rob McCoy.
 
For the second time this season, SHU produced over 500 yards of total offense as it had the 551-to-322 advantage.
 
McCoy made his first start and accounted for over 300 yards of total offense. He threw for 200 yards, including a touchdown, and scored on the ground as well.
 
Big plays by the Sacred Heart ground game were the difference in the second half. Midway through the fourth quarter, Jalen Madison scampered 47 yards to put SHU up 17-7.
 
After Wagner crossed the goal line, McCoy pushed the margin back to double digits with a career-long 72-yard touchdown run. Two minutes after the Seahawks answered with a score, Grant produced the eventual winning touchdown on a 64-yard dash. 
 
On the ensuing drive, Terron Mallory returned an interception to the Wagner one-yard line and Grant punched it in to ice the game.
 
SHU dominated the Seahawks in the first half, outgaining them 285-124, but didn't punch it across the goal line until right before halftime. On 4^th & 2 from the WC four-yard line, McCoy found Grant out of the backfield for the score.
 
The SHU defense was in the Wagner backfield all game, racking up 10 tackles for a loss. DeAndre Byrd led the way with six stops while Mallory and Myles Talley had five each.