WEEK 8 BATTLE WITH LEOPARDS

• The Sacred Heart University football team is gearing up for a crucial week eight road showdown against the Leopards of Lafayette College. This highly anticipated game is set to take place on Saturday, October 19, at 12:30 PM at Fisher Stadium in Easton, Pa. 
• As the Pioneers prepare for their ninth meeting with Lafayette, they do so with a 5-3 lead in the all-time series.

LAST TIME VS. LAFAYETTE
Date: 9/2/2023 at Campus Field
Score: Lafayette 19 | Sacred Heart 14
Brief Recap & Highlights: 

• Lafayette controlled the opening half, leading the Pioneers 13-7 after 30 minutes.
• A 17-yard rushing touchdown from Jalen Madison and a Sam Renzi extra point brought the Pioneers to within six, 13-7.
• After a scoreless third quarter, SHU made things interesting as Cade Pribula found the hands of Ethan Hilliam for the go-ahead touchdown, 14-13, with 11:41 left in the fourth. 
• Four minutes later, Lafayette responded with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Nahjee Adamsound to regain the lead, 19-14.
• SHU mounted a late drive into the red zone but ran out of downs before it could take the lead.
• Quarterback Cade Pribula finished 17-of-28 with 138 yards and a touchdown.
• Nick Foglia led the defensive unit with seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.

PIOS CLIPPED BY BISON
Score: Howard 21 | Sacred Heart 14
Brief Recap & Highlights:

• Showing their resilience, the Pioneers headed into the halftime break with a one-possession lead, 14-7, behind a pair of rushing touchdowns. 
• However, Howard surged back in the second half, scoring 14 unanswered points over the final two quarters to secure the home win. 
• The Pioneers' final attempt to even the score came on a third-and-nine. John Michalski threw the ball into the air before getting hit by a Bison defenseman. The ball found the hands of Elijah Ford, who made a diving catch in the endzone. The determination and effort in this play were evident, but unfortunately, the touchdown was called an incomplete pass.
• Jalen Madison and Xavier Leigh recorded both first-half touchdowns for the Pioneers.
• Myles Talley and Tyreke Brown led the defensive unit with 10 tackles each, while Brown recorded 0.5 tackles-for-loss.
• Marques Mason tallied the Pioneers' lone interception of the game. 
• Jordan Campbell picked up a fumble recovery. 

MAKING A DEFENSIVE STANCE
The Pioneers' defensive unit has been a force to be reckoned with, currently ranking within the top 20 in FCS in four different categories - 

• Passing Yards Allowed (5th-132.0)
• Redzone Defense (4th-.600)
• Scoring Defense (18th-20.3)
• Team Passing Efficiency (14th - 113.96)

MADISON MOVING THROUGH THE RANKS
Jalen Madison, a key player for the SHU football team, continues to make significant strides in his career. He currently ranks 10th in the career record books with 4.7 yards per carry behind 351 attempts. 

Madison has totaled 1,647 career rushing yards, a testament to his dedication and skill, following a 65-yard rushing performance against Howard last Saturday. The Stratford, Conn. native is also moving through the FCS rankings. The grad running back ranks within the top 25 in rushing yards (31st - 524). 

MICHALSKI CONTINUES TO SHOW VERSATILITY
Quarterback John Michalski's dynamic playstyle is not just a personal attribute but a game-changer for the Pioneers' offensive strategy. His ability to pass the ball, scramble, and run for extra yardage is reshaping the team's approach and keeping the audience intrigued. The sophomore's three rushing touchdowns in the last five games rank him third in scoring, along with running back Jalen Madison. 

Michalski's passing game is not just about his individual performance but also about the teamwork and coordination with his teammates. His 85-of-148 for 761 yards, with his longest throw coming against Georgetown when he connected with Kevin McGuire for the 49-yard pass on a 3rd and 13, is a result of this collective effort. To date, he has recorded three passing touchdowns, two of which were at the hands of Ethan Hilliman.

DYNAMIC DUO OF LEIGH AND MADISON
The Pioneers' backfield is a force to be reckoned with, led by the dynamic duo of Xavier Leigh and Jalen Madison. Their combined efforts have amassed over 990 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. A standout moment this season was their joint effort against Georgetown, where they accounted for an impressive 223 of the Pioneers' 264 rushing yards, showcasing the strength of their partnership.

LEIGH WITH THE CARRY
Xavier Leigh's four rushing touchdowns have positioned him as the Pioneers' leading touchdown scorer. He also ranks second on the team in scoring points with 24, just behind kicker Matt Kling. Leigh's 6.30 rushing yards per carry places him at a competitive 26th in FCS, and he has accumulated a total of 469 rushing yards this season, just 60 yards less than teammate Jalen Madison. 

THREE-HEADED BEAST
Looking down the field, the Pioneers have three wide receivers - Ethan Hilliman, Kevin McGuire, and Payton Rhoades - making crucial catches when needed. The trio accounts for 489 of the Pioneers' 778 receiving yards thus far. Hilliman leads the way with 225 yards on 27 catches with a position-high two touchdowns.

CHANDLER, BROWN SACKING THE COMPETITION
Nate Chandler and Tyreke Brown are two Pios who cannot stop any team's offensive line. Chandler, who currently ranks within the top 25 in FCS in sacks (21st- 0.79), has 5.5 sacks for a loss of 21 yards, while Brown follows close behind with 3.5 sacks for a loss of 14 yards. Their performance has contributed to the team's overall defensive success, with the Pioneers ranked 49th in FCS in team sacks (2.00).

TALLEY AND VERBITSKY LEAD THE DEFENSE
Myles Talley and Nick Verbitsky, two of the many defensive stars on this Pioneers' team this season, have formed a formidable partnership. Their combined efforts have resulted in a total of 77 tackles, including 32 solo and 45 assisted, two interceptions, three quarterback hurries, and a fumble recovery. Verbitsky's relentless push through the opposing team's offensive line has resulted in a 0.5 tackle-for-loss. 

PICK EM
Defensive back Ryan Moore has been a game-changer for the Pioneers' defense, recording an interception against Delaware and Norfolk State this season. His performance has earned him the 33rd spot in FCS for interceptions per game, with a commendable 0.3. In addition to his interceptions, Moore has contributed significantly with 18 tackles, one forced fumble, and two pass break-ups.

THE KICK IS GOOD!
Matt Kling has made his presence known this season on special teams for the Pioneers. He currently leads the team with 32 points behind seven field goals and 11 extra points.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Ryan Palmieri has been serving as the Pioneers' primary kick returner. He is averaging 21.1 yards a run, ranking 44th in FCS. He has totaled 190 yards behind nine attempts and recorded a season-high 83 kick return yards against Delaware State. 

HERRARA ENTERING THE GAME
Junior Cruz Herrera has made several notable appearances this season, demonstrating his adaptability as a quarterback for the Pioneers. The junior transfer has shown his versatility with the ball, accumulating a 66.7 completion percentage after going 4-for-6 over his two appearances. On the ground, he has totaled 36 rushing yards on eight attempts. 

PIOS STOP NORFOLK STATE ON FAMILY WEEKEND
Score: Sacred Heart 10 | Norfolk State 3
Brief Recap & Highlights:

• The Pioneers wasted no time asserting their dominance in the first quarter. A 36-yard Matt Kling field goal put the hosts up by three, 3-0, with 1:43 left on the clock.
• The second quarter saw the Pioneers extend their lead to double-digits, 10-0, after the hosts put together an 80-yard drive that resulted in a Michalski rushing touchdown, followed by a Kling extra point.
• Coming out of the halftime break, the Spartans were ready to turn the tide, trimming the deficit to within seven, 10-3, after a field goal from Grandin Wilcox. 
• Norfolk State continued to grind offensively and threatened the Pioneers by finding themselves in the red zone, but three straight incomplete passes ended the Spartans' rally and secured the Pioneers' win. 
• The Pioneers' defensive unit, working in perfect harmony, kept the Spartans off the scoreboard until the third quarter by forcing the visitors to go for a 55-yard field goal. 
• SHU's defense also tallied three sacks for a loss of eight yards, an interception, a forced fumble, and broke up a pair of passes.
• SHU's offense finished the afternoon with 243 total yards behind 184 rushing and 59 passing yards, respectively. 
• Quarterback John Michalski recorded the Pioneers' lone touchdown of the afternoon and extended his season total to three rushing touchdowns.

SHU FALLS TO DELAWARE
Score: Delaware 49 | Sacred Heart 0
Brief Recap & Highlights: 

• The Pioneers suffered their second straight road loss of the season against the Blue Hens of the University of Delaware. 
• Jalen Madison accounted for 30 of the Pioneers' 51 rushing yards.
• Ethan Hilliman posted a team-leading four catches after being targeted seven times by John Michalski.
• Tyler Jameson finished with a team-high seven tackles, while Isaiah Bishop collected five tackles and 2.0 tackle-for-loss.
• Ryan Moore tallied an interception for the Pioneers. 

PIOS COME UP SHORT TO STONEHILL
Score: Stonehill 35 | Sacred Heart 21
Brief Recap & Highlights:

• Stonehill controlled the opening quarter, outscoring the Pioneers 14-0, thanks to two touchdowns from Jarel Washington and Chase Miller.
• Sacred Heart finally got on the scoreboard as Jalen Madison recorded a 23-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit in half, 14-7, with 8:57 left on the clock.
• The Skyhawks closed the quarter by scoring two additional touchdowns, giving them a 28-7 advantage at the half.
• Neither team could not score until the 2:54 mark of the third when John Michalski held onto the ball and ran into the endzone for the two-yard touchdown.
• On the next Pioneer drive, Michalski found the hands of Hilliman, who then pushed through three defenders and found himself in the endzone, earning the visitors six points. From there, Kling secured the extra point and made it a one-possession game, 28-21, with 1:44 on the clock. 
• Unfortunately, SHU could not stop Stonehill's Zavion Woodard from recording the 31-yard rushing touchdown that put the game out of reach for the visitors, 35-21.
• The Pioneers were led offensively by three different scorers – Michalski, Madison, and Hilliman.
• Madison recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. 
• Matt Kling went 3-for-3 in extra-point attempts.
• Defensively, Myles Talley finished with a team and season-high nine tackles.
• Caleb Dennis and Nate Chandler led the Pioneers with a sack each for a total loss of seven yards. 

BACK-TO-BACK FOR MADISON
Running back Jalen Madison recorded another solid offensive performance for the Pioneers last Saturday at Stonehill, tallying his second straight 100+ rushing yard game. 

Against the Skyhawks, Madison finished with 110 yards behind 20 carries while also collecting an additional 24 yards on three receptions. He also has recorded back-to-back rushing touchdowns for the Pioneers, increasing his season total to two and career total to 10. 

FOOTBALL SHUTS DOWN GEORGETOWN
Score: Sacred Heart 40 | Georgetown 14
Brief Recap & Highlights:

• A nine-yard rushing touchdown from John Michalski and a six-yard touchdown pass from Logan Lyson gave the Pioneers a 13-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter. 
• The second quarter saw the Hoyas battle back to within one, 14-13, following a nine-play, 71-yard drive, but a turnover by the visitors gave the Pios the edge needed to close out the quarter. 
• With 66 yards to go and only 1:11 to do it, the Pios wasted no time marching down the field and finding themselves in the red zone. Hilliman brought in a lofted pass by Michalski in the back of the endzone, giving SHU a 20-14 advantage with 25 seconds remaining in the half.
• The Pioneers' defense was ready and waiting, as Myles Talley picked off Georgetown's QB Danny Lauter with 15 seconds on the clock, setting up a Matt Kling 21-yard field goal as time expired to send SHU into halftime up 23-14.
• Georgetown was held scoreless for the remainder of the game, while the Pioneers scored an additional 17 points to put the game out of reach for the Hoyas.
• Leigh stole the show in the third quarter as he found paydirt on a 37-yard carry up the middle, juking a defender in the process, to stretch the margin to 30-14.
• Jalen Madison got his chance to shine in the fourth, breaking an 84-yard run up the middle and scoring on the next play after being tripped up at the two.
• Leigh recorded his third straight game with a touchdown, while Lyson, Madison, and Michalski tallied their first of the season. 
• On the defensive side of the ball, Myles Talley recorded four tackles, a fumble recovery for 19 yards, and an interception for 25 yards. 
• Along with Talley, Nick Verbitsky registered an interception and collected four tackles. 
• Teammate Ryan Moore also served as a defensive threat, tallying a team-high nine tackles and a forced fumble. 
• Isaiah Bishop recorded the Pioneers' lone sack of the afternoon for a loss of five yards.

WHAT A CATCH!
Ethan Hilliman's amazing endzone catch against the Georgetown Hoyas landed him at No. 1 on Sports Center's Top 10 and earned Best Catch. 

With 66 yards to go and only 1:11 to do it, the Pios wasted no time marching down the field to end the half. The first two plays of the drive led to 16 yards for Sacred Heart before Michalski found Hilliman with a back-shoulder strike that the senior turned into a 44-yard gain. 

Hilliman's heroics were not done with the long catch-and-run, as he brought in a lofted pass by Michalski in the back of the endzone, just tapping his right toe in bounds for a circus touchdown to give SHU a 20-14 advantage with 25 seconds remaining in the half.

PIOS EARN FIRST WIN OF 2024
Score: Sacred Heart 10 | Saint Anselm 3
Brief Recap & Highlights:

• The Pioneers opened the scoring in the second quarter. The hosts put together a 7:15 drive that resulted in a 29-yard field goal from Matt Kling with one minute left on the clock. 
• SHU then capitalized on a mishandled snap by the Saint Anselm punter, putting the Pioneers in prime position with four seconds remaining in the half. 
• The next play saw Xavier Leigh push through the Hawks' defensive line for the three-yard touchdown with no time on the clock.
• Saint Anselm countered the Pioneers' final drive of the game with a pair of plays that could have resulted in a comeback tie, but the Pios' defense held firm to help secure the win. 
• With Saturday's win, Coach Mark Nofri earned his 70th career win after taking over the reins in 2012. 
• John Michalski earned his first collegiate win as a Pioneer after going 10-of-16 with 86 passing yards to go along with 81 rushing yards behind 17 attempts. 
• Tyreke Brown and Maximus Mongelli paced the defense with a team-high six tackles, while Brown recorded 1.0 sacks for a loss of five yards. 
• Leigh posted his second straight touchdown of the season and finished with 40 yards on 12 attempts. 

NOFRI COLLECTS 70TH CAREER WIN
Following the Pioneers' win against the Saint Anselm Hawks, Head Coach Mark Nofri, who took over the program in 2012, collected his 70th career win. 

DEL STATE TOPS SHU IN HOME OPENER
Score: Delaware St 17 | Sacred Heart 15
Brief Recap & Highlights:

• Trailing 17-9 in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers put together a 5:21 scoring drive that resulted in a four-yard rushing touchdown from Xavier Leigh to trim the deficit to within two, 17-15. 
• However, SHU could not convert the two-point attempt to tie the game with 1:53 remaining in regulation and could not secure the ball on Matt Kling's on-side kick attempt.
• John Michalski went 12-for-23 with 104 passing yards and recorded 11 rushing attempts for 84 yards. 
• Kling finished the evening 3-for-3 in field goal attempts.
• Leigh tallied the Pioneers' first touchdown of the season.
• Nate Chandler led the defensive unit with two sacks, while Tyreke Brown and Stanley Dennis II posted a sack apiece. 

BRIEF LOOK AHEAD TO 2024
The Pioneers, in their first season as an FCS Independent, begin 2024 with three straight home games against Delaware State (August 31), Saint Anselm (September 7), and Georgetown (September 14). The Pioneers then close out September with road games against Stonehill (September 21) and the University of Delaware (September 28). 

October opens with a home date against Norfolk State (October 5) before a two-game road stint with Howard (October 12) and Lafayette (October 19). One week later, the Pioneers resume play on the road against Mercyhurst (October 26). SHU's final season home game comes against LIU (November 9). 

The Pioneers finish the season with an away game against Merrimack (November 16).

OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
Head football coach Mark Nofri announced his 2024 team captains at the end of spring camp. Tyreke Brown, Marques Mason, Myles Talley, Jalen Madison, and Payton Rhoades, all of whom have demonstrated exceptional skills and leadership, have earned that honor.

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE COACHING STAFF
Over the summer break, SHU football head coach Mark Nofri announced new additions and appointments to his 2024 coaching staff. 

DeMarcus White, Mike Kennedy, Kyle Wiggins, and Nate Marr have joined the Pioneers. White will serve as the new safety coach, while Kennedy will be the new coach for outside linebackers. Wiggins will take over as the corners coach, and Marr will serve as the Director of Football Operations/Recruiting Coordinator. 

Kevin Duke, who previously coached the outside linebackers, has transitioned to quarterback coach. Doubling up on his duties is Pat Saporito, who will oversee both special teams and wide receivers for the Pioneers. 

WELCOME TO PIONEER FOOTBALL
The SHU coaching staff was busy during the off-season, signing 27 players, including 14 offensive players, 12 defensive players, and one special teams player. 

Ten of the 27 players are transfers from Bates College, Iowa Central Community College, Sierra University, Monmouth University, Florida State University, Trinity (CT), Youngstown State, the University of Rhode Island, Rutgers University, and the University of San Diego. 

SHU, MERRIMACK PLAY FOR THE YANKEE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Sacred Heart and Merrimack jointly announced on August 21 that their football programs will compete for The Yankee Conference Championship presented by LEONA on November 16 at Merrimack. 

Scheduled for a noon kickoff at Duane Stadium, the winner will be crowned as The Yankee Conference Champion and claim possession of the historic trophy.

Originally formed in 1946 and later transitioning to a football-only league in 1976, The Yankee Conference consisted of various members spanning the New England to Mid-Atlantic region competing at the Division I-AA level, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

CHESTNUT RE-SIGNS WITH THE TENNESSEE TITANS
Former SHU standout Julius Chestnut re-signed with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year contract. Chestnut joined the Titans before the 2022 season. 

Chestnut first caught the attention of NFL teams during the spring season of 2021 when he finished third in the Walter Payton Award voting after leading the FCS with 205.2 all-purpose yards per game and a program-record 171.0 rushing yards per game. A consensus First-Team All-American, he finished his career second in school history with 3,467 yards, and his 34 touchdowns are third all-time.

CHESTNUT SECURES SPOT ON 53-MAN ROSTER FOR TITANS
After a strong preseason performance, Julius Chestnut earned a spot on the Tennessee Titans' 53-man roster. 

In his first two NFL campaigns, Chestnut carried the ball nine times for 12 yards and caught three passes for 41 yards. He has also returned 10 kickoffs for 215 yards. He was a reserve on the Titans for the first three games last season but was placed on injured reserve on September 26 and missed the final 14 games.

LAST SEASON RECAP
The Pioneers finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 2-9 and a NEC mark of 2-5.

SHU's first win of the season came on the road against NEC foe Saint Francis (Pa.). With the game tied at 34-34, following a Red Flash touchdown, 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. 

The Pioneers' next win came on Senior Day, when they topped Central CT State by a final score of 31-24, snapping a five-game losing skid. SHU was led offensively by Malik Grant, who tallied two rushing touchdowns, while defensive back Maximus Mongelli recorded a career-high 13 tackles.

Sacred Heart had six NEC All-Conference bids, including a pair of First Team selections. Linebacker, team captain DeAndre Byrd, and defensive back Arsheen Jiles earned placement on the First Team All-NEC list. Four Pioneers were named to the Second Team All-NEC list, including defensive linemen and team captains Tyreke Brown and Carson Primrose, defensive back Mike-Lee Joseph, and kicker Sam Renzi.

Byrd also was recognized by the New England Football Writers Association as being named to the All-New England Team. The Lawrenceville, Ga. native finished with a team-leading 79 tackles behind 31 solo and 48 assisted stops.

ON DECK
The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, October 26, when they return home to Campus Field to host the Lakers of Mercyhurst at 12:00 PM.