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PIONEERS v. SHARKS

• The Sacred Heart University football team looks to bounce back as the Pioneers travel to Brookville, N.Y. to face the Sharks of LIU in a Northeast Conference (NEC) road showdown.  
• This is the sixth meeting between the two teams with SHU holding a 3-2 advantage over the Sharks. 
• The last time the two teams squared off was back on Nov. 19, 2022, as the Pioneers nearly pulled off a double-digit comeback in the last game of the season against LIU
• The opening kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. Fans can catch all the action live on NEC FrontRow.  

LAST TIME VS. LIU
FINAL SCORE (11/19/22): LIU 37 | Sacred Heart 34
KEY HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Sacred Heart miscues in the third quarter allowed the Sharks to score 16 unanswered points. 
• SHU turned the ball over twice inside its 10-yard line and allowed a safety as LIU took a 37-10 lead with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter.
• The SHU comeback started with a 12-yard Malik Grant touchdown – his second score of the game - then Rob DiNota hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass from Cade Pribula to close the gap to 37-24.
• On the next LIU drive, Arsheen Jiles came through with an intercept that set up SHU at the LIU 22-yard line. 
• Two plays later Pribula hooked up with Garrett Lynn for a 19-yard score. 
• Following an LIU 3-and-out, SHU tacked on a Sam Renzi 30-yard field goal to cut the lead to 37-34, but the Pioneers could not get on the board with their final two drives.

GAME RECAP VS. MERRIMACK

• Sacred Heart could not hold onto the lead as the Merrimack Warriors scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Pioneers, 17-7, on Family Weekend.
• The Pioneers broke open the scoring at the 5:55 mark of the first quarter as Arsheen Jiles scored the first touchdown of the game after recovering a Merrimack fumble at the SHU 38. 
• Jiles returned the ball for a 62-yard touchdown, which resulted in his first of the season.
• Shortly after, Merrimack trimmed the deficit to within four, 7-3, following a 26-yard field goal from Lliam Davis with 3:08 left in the quarter.
• It turned into a defensive battle between the Pioneers and Warriors. Both teams were unable to capitalize offensively until the fourth quarter when Merrimack scored 14 points off a pick-six by Tre Jordan III and a 45-yard rushing touchdown from Donovan Wadley to push the advantage to 10, 17-7.
• The Pioneers' final rally of the game came on a Warriors' second and eight as a forced fumble and recovery from Ernest Howard ignited the sidelines and allowed the offense to go back to work.
• However, Sacred Heart was unable to capitalize, falling to the Pioneers, 17-7.
• Jalen Madison finished the afternoon with 40 yards behind 10 carries, while Malik Grant recorded 12 carries for 37 yards. 
• Ernest Howard led the defensive attack with 13 tackles (4 solo, 9 assist) to go along with 1.0/2 TFL/yds, 0.5/2 Sack/yds, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. 
• Nick Foglia also served as a defensive threat after tallying 11 tackles behind one solo and 10 assisted to go along with 1.0/3 TFL.Yds and 0.5/2 Sack/Yds. 

NEC STANDINGS ENTERING WEEK 5

DEFENSE CONTINUING TO SHINE IN NCAA RANKINGS (as of 10/5)
The Pioneers' defensive unit continues to shine within the NCAA rankings as the team currently ranks within the top 20 in six categories - 

• passing yards allowed (1st - 99.4)
• team passing efficiency (4th - 96.29)
• third down conversion percentage (10th - 0.288)
• fumbles recovered (12th - 5)
• kick return (15th - 16.00)
• defensive touchdowns (18th - 1)

PIONEERS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS (as of 10/5)
Three Pioneers - Jon Moccia, Bayo Gbowu, and Ernest Howard - are currently ranked with the top 20 in three different categories - 

• Moccia (10th - 324 combined kick returns)
• Gbowu (3rd - 2 fumble recoveries)
• Howard (3rd - 2 fumble recoveries)

GRANT RUSHING TO THE TOP
Malik Grant now has a career rushing total of 3,017, which ranks him fourth all-time behind Ed Pricolo, who has a total of 3,052 rushing yards. Grant is just 35 yards shy of tying Pricolo and 36 yards shy of moving up to third all-time in rushing yards. 

The grad running back is also tied for sixth all-time with 28 touchdowns behind 24 rushing and four receiving. He is currenlty tied with Marvin Royal and just two shy of tying Keshaudas Spence, who has 30.

RENZI TABBED NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK (9/25)
For the first time in his career, Sam Renzi was named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week. 

Renzi was on point in Sacred Heart's thrilling 37-34 road victory against Saint Francis, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra point attempts. 

The senior kicker racked up 13 points after converting two 40-yard field goals, including the game-winner that lifted the Pioneers to victory, and one from 44 yards out.

RENZI LIFTS PIONEERS TO VICTORY OVER SFU
FINAL SCORE: Sacred Heart 37 | Saint Francis 34
Key Highlights:

• Despite the a game-tying touchdown from the Red Flash, the Pioneers maintained their composure offensively, moving the ball from the SHU 45 to the SFU 23 over the final 2:20 to set up Sam Renzi for the game-winning field goal with two seconds left on the clock.
• Jalen Madison kicked off the scoring for the Pioneers after recording his fourth straight rushing touchdown in the first quarter. 
• A Payton Rhoades touchdown and a pair of field goals from Renzi gave the visitors a 20-17 lead heading into halftime.
• Sacred Heart's largest lead came in the third as Rob McCoy threw a perfect pass to LJ Haskett to build on the Pioneers' halftime advantage, 27-17.
• The fourth quarter began with Saint Francis tying the game thanks to a 26-yard field goal from Mac Plummer, but a four-yard rushing touchdown from Malik Grant and a Renzi extra point put the visitors back on top, 34-27.
• DeAndre Byrd led the defensive unit for the second game of the season after tallying a season-high nine tackles, behind three solo and six assisted tackles, while pushing the Red Flash back four yards on 2.0 tackles-for-loss.
• Tyreke Brown finished with a total of six tackles behind two solo and four assisted.
• Jordan Campbell recorded the lone interception on the day for the Pioneers. 
• The Pioneers' defense forced the Red Flash to go 3-of-13 in third down conversions, while holding the offense to only one rushing touchdown.

PIONEERS FALL IN NEC OPENER TO WAGNER
FINAL SCORE: Wagner 17 | Sacred Heart 10
Key Highlights:

• Trailing 17-0 heading into the fourth quarter, SHU broke through on offense, tallying seven quick points on a rushing touchdown from Jalen Madison and a Sam Renzi extra point. 
• Madison's touchdown kept the momentum in favor of the Pioneers as a Renzi field goal trimmed the deficit seven, 17-10, with 2:32 left on the clock.
• Madison has scored a rushing TD in all three games, while Malik Grant tallied a season-high 135 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards.
• A late roughing the kicker call against the Pioneers sealed a Seahawks' road victory, their first of the season.
• Tyreke Brown led the defensive unit with seven tackles behind two solo and five assisted to go along with 2.5 TFL/13 yards. 
• The duo of DeAndre Byrd and Bayo Gbowu also served as defensive threats for the Pios as the pair finished with six tackles each.

PIONEERS DROP ROAD CONTEST TO GEORGETOWN
FINAL SCORE: Georgetown 27 | Sacred Heart 10
Key Highlights:

• The Pioneers suffered a 27-10 road setback to the Hoyas of Georgetown University Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Cooper Field.
• With 4:02 left in the first stanza, Sam Renzi cut the deficit to within four, 7-3, after putting the ball between the pipes for the 34-yard field goal. 
• SHU's offense went to work in the second quarter and managed to battle back to within four, 14-10, following a 27-yard rushing touchdown from Jalen Madison and a Renzi extra point.
• Malik Grant led the red-and-white with 80 rushing yards behind 11 attempts, while Madison finished closed behind with 49 rushing yards on six attempts.  
• Carson Primrose and Myles Talley led the defensive attack with six tackles each, while Arsheen Jiles, Quinn Hart, Maximus Mongelli, and DeAndre Byrd finished with five tackles each.
• Jiles also added a force fumble, a strip sack, and a pass break up to his stat line against the Hoyas. 
• Bayo Gbowu recorded both of SHU's fumble recoveries. 
• The Pioneers' defense held the Hoyas to only a field goal in the third quarter following a two-hour lightning delay. 

PIONEERS HOME OPENER VS. LAFAYETTE
FINAL SCORE: Lafayette 19 | Sacred Hear 14
Key Highlights: 

• Despite outscoring Lafayette in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers fell short to the visiting Leopards under the lights at Campus Field in their home opener.
• A 17-yard rushing touchdown from Jalen Madison and a Sam Renzi extra point brought the Pioneers to within six, 13-7, with 1:28 left in the second quarter. 
• SHU's Ethan Hilliman made things interesting by making an impressive, 11-yard reception from a Cade Pribula throw to put the Pioneers ahead 14-13 with 11:41 left on the clock.
• DeAndre Byrd and Nick Foglia led the defensive attack with a combined 16 tackles (4 solo, 12 assisted).
• Foglia also recorded a team-high 1.5 sacks for a total loss of 12 yards.

GRANT NAMED TO EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL 1,000 LIST
Preseason awards for Malik Grant (Bronx, N.Y.) started with the running back being named to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 list. 

ALL-NEC PRESEASON 
The Pioneers had four selections to the preseason team, one on the offensive and three on the defensive side of the ball. 

• Malik Grant (RB)
• Ernest Howard (LB) and DeAndre Byrd (LB)
• Arsheen Jiles (DB)

WATCH OUT, HERE COMES GRANT
Preseason accolades kept rolling in for Malik Grant as the fifth year running back was named Third Team All-American by Stats Perform and was added to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List. 

Grant has earned preseason All-American honors by Stats Perform for the second year in a row, while being named to the Payton Watch List for the third time in his career.

OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
Head football coach Mark Nofri named his captains for the 2023 season - 

• Graduate students DeAndre Byrd and Rob McCoy
• Seniors Tyreke Brown and Carson Primrose

IN THE NEC PRESEASON POLL
Sacred Heart was picked to finish third, along with Duquesne, in the eight-team league. Defending champion Saint Francis earned five first-place votes to be tabbed as the preseason favorite for 2023. Merrimack earned two first-place votes to be tabbed second, while the Dukes and Pioneers rounded out the top three.

COACH EDWARDS PROMOTED TO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
In December of 2022, Coach Nofri announced the promotion of Darin Edwards to defensive coordinator. 

The past two seasons the Pioneers have had one of the top passing defenses in the country, ranking in the top three of yards allowed. Sacred Heart has also been one of the best scoring defenses. 

NOFRI ADDS THREE MEMBERS TO COACHING STAFF
Sacred Heart University head football coach Mark Nofri has added four members to his coaching staff. Joining the Pioneers is Nigel Madison, Ernesto Purnsley, Zuril Hendrick, and Kevin Woodring.

BRIEF LOOK AHEAD TO 2023
The 2023 schedule features five home games and a full seven-game Northeast Conference slate. 

The new schedule is also highlighted by road games against intrastate foes Yale and UConn, the defending Ivy League champs and a FBS Bowl qualifier.

PIOS VS. DUQUESNE GAME ON ESPN+
The home football game scheduled on Oct. 28 against the Dukes of Duquesne University will be aired on ESPN+. 

SHU has won five NEC titles over the last decade, while the Dukes have captured four conference crowns during that same time frame.

CHESTNUT CONTINUES TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN PROS
Julius Chestnut signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans to provide depth to the running back rotation. He appeared in six games as a rookie in 2022, recording nine rushing attempts for 12 yards, three receptions for 41 yards while returning 10 kickoffs for 215 yards. 

Chestnut continues to make a strong case for himself once again through the preseason. Over three games, he recorded 29 carries for 174 yards and five receptions for 58 yards. He also tallied one rushing and two receiving touchdowns. 

As announced by the Titans this week, Chestnut claimed a spot on the 53-man roster for the upcoming 2023 season. The last Pioneers to play in the NFL was Jon Corto who signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills and played from 2007-11.

SOKOL, DIRENZO EARN NFL PRESEASON SPOTS
Fellow SHU alums Josh Sokol and J.D. DiRenzo also made appearances in the NFL preseason with the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers. 

LAST SEASON RECAP
Sacred Heart finished the 2022 season with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-4 mark in NEC action. 

The Pioneers won four of their first six games, but lost four of their final five contests, including an overtime setback against Duquesne and a three-point loss to LIU to wrap up the season.

FOLLOW LIVE

• Pioneer fans can find the latest news, scores, and highlights as well as up-to-the-minute breaking news or schedule changes at the Official Website of SHU Athletics. 
• Follow the Pioneers at @SHU__FB on Twitter and @shufb_ on Instagram.
• All the Pioneers' home and NEC contests can be seen live at NECFrontRow.com
• Live Stats are also available at sacredheartpioneers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

ON DECK
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, Oct. 14 as the team travels to New Haven, Conn. for a non-conference clash with Yale. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.