Links: Game Notes | Tickets | Live Stats | Live Video
OPENING KICKOFF
- The 2023 season begins on Saturday for the Sacred Heart University football team, as the Pioneers host the Leopards of Lafayette College as its home opener at Campus Field.
- This is the eighth meeting between the two teams with SHU holding a 5-2 advantage, despite falling 6-0 to the Leopards last fall.
- SHU is 7-4 in season openers, which included a six-game winning streak, under head coach Mark Nofri.
- Overall, the Pioneers are 13-11 in season openers in the Division I era (since 1998).
- The opening kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Fans can catch all the action live with Randy Brochu and Freddie Coleman on the call at www.NECfrontrow.com.
LAST TIME VS. LAFAYETTE
FINAL SCORE (9/3/22): Lafayette 6 | Sacred Heart 0
KEY HIGHLIGHTS: Sacred Heart was stopped three-straight times from the one-yard line in the final seconds against Lafayette. The Pioneers limited the Leopards to 113 yards of total offense with only eight passing yards. Sacred Heart also got interceptions from
Lamar Evans in the second quarter and another from
Nick Foglia in the third period.
PIONEERS DEFEND THEIR TURF
- Playing in front of the home crowd has always been an advantage for the Pioneers, particularly in the home opener.
- Under Coach Nofri, the Pioneers have posted a 36-19 overall record at Campus Field, while also going undefeated, 11-0, in home openers.
- Last season, the Pioneers came out victorious in their home opener, defeating Dartmouth in overtime. Ernest Howard (Absecon, N.J.) intercepted the ball on a fourth down to seal the comeback victory.
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. Running back Malik Grant (Bronx, N.Y.), linebackers Howard and Byrd, and defensive back Arsheen Jiles (Montclair, N.J.) represented the Pioneers on the preseason team.
WATCH OUT, HERE COMES GRANT
- Preseason accolades kept rolling in for Malik Grant (Bronx, N.Y.) 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
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 FOUR MEMBERS TO COACHING STAFF
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, Sept. 9 for a road game at Georgetown. Game time is set for 12:30 PM.
