Football Topped by LIU on Senior Day

Saturday, November 9

Fairfield, Conn.

12:00 PM

Sacred Heart

4-6 , 0-0

LIU

3-7 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

LIU

Sacred Heart

Photo by: Greg Vasil

11/9/2024 4:43:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Ethan Hilliman tallied the Pioneers' lone touchdown of the afternoon

By: Samantha Carey

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University football team closed out its home portion of the 2024 schedule on Saturday afternoon with a 28-7 setback against the LIU Sharks on Senior Day at Campus Field.

Before kickoff, head coach Mark Nofri and the football program honored its 23-member senior class: Jordan Campbell, Matt Coladonato, Michael Costigan Jr, Eric Cotton, Joe Dixon III, Trey Eberhart III, Luca Ferreira, Will Fox, Matt Garrett, Blaise Heshler, Eli Jordan, Will Klenk, Matt Kling, Ryan Lain, Xavier Leigh, Kevin McGuire, Maximus Mongelli, Gianni Principato, Ethan Rodriguez, Evan Scribner, Jake Sokol, Tim Suk, Jake Walsh, and Jake Walton.

Records:
Sacred Heart (4-6)
LIU (3-7)

Top Performers:
Offense –
John Michalski: Passing (16-31, 104 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) | Rushing (9 attempts, 27 yards)
Jalen Madison: 10 attempts | 38 rushing yards
Ethan Hilliman: 3 receptions | 29 yards | 1 touchdown
Payton Rhoades: 3 receptions | 39 yards

Defense –
Marques Mason: 9 tackles
Maximus Mongelli: 7 tackles | 1 forced fumble | 1 pass breakup
Isaiah Bishop: 4 tackles | 1.5/8 TFL-Yds
Tyreke Brown: 4 tackles | 1.5/3 TFL-Yds | 1 interception

How it Happened:
The Sharks controlled the opening quarter, outscoring the Pioneers 21-0 behind three rushing touchdowns from three different players – Ethan Greenwood, Ludovick Choquette, and Michael Love.

The second quarter was a defensive battle between the Pioneers and Sharks, as neither team was able to find the back of the endzone. Brown highlighted the quarter for the Pioneers by recording his first interception of the season and returned the ball for seven-yards. The visitors were on top at the half, 21-0.

Sacred Heart came out of the halftime break with a vengeance, forcing LIU to punt on its first drive of the quarter while the hosts moved up the field and into the red zone for the first time of the day. On a first and 10 at the LIU 20, Michalski found the hands of Hilliman for the 20-yard touchdown to put the Pioneers on the board followed by a Matt Kling extra point for the 21-7 score.

On LIU's next drive, the Pioneer defense fed off the Hilliman touchdown as Jordan Campbell and Maximus Mongelli forced a double fumble, a rare and impactful play in football, and the fumble recovery from Quinn Hart to get the Pioneers the ball back.

Sacred Heart's offense could not keep the momentum going. The Sharks forced the hosts to punt and then scored an additional touchdown on the ensuing drive to put the game out of reach, 28-7.

The fourth quarter saw the Pioneers put together two strong offensive drives but were unable to secure the late comeback and fell to the Shark in their home finale.

Up Next:
Sacred Heart concludes the 2024 regular season next Saturday, November 16, with a road contest against Merrimack College. The Pioneers and Warriors will compete for the Yankee Conference Championship presented by LEONA in North Andover. Scheduled for a noon kickoff at Duane Stadium, the winner will be crowned the Yankee Conference Champion and claim possession of the historic trophy.