Saturday, August 31
Fairfield, Conn.
6:00 PM
Sacred Heart
0-1 , 0-0
15
vs
17
Delaware State University
1-1 , 0-0
1st quarter1st
2nd quarter2nd
3rd quarter3rd
4th quarter4th
FinalF
Delaware St.
0
7
0
10
17
Sacred Heart
3
3
3
6
15
Photo by: Josh Gee
Football Opens 2024 Season with Home Loss to Delaware State
8/31/2024 10:39:00 PM | Football
Xavier Leigh scores his first touchdown of the season
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University football team opened the 2024 season with a tough 17-15 home loss to the Hornets of Delaware State Saturday evening under the lights at Campus Field.
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 was unable to convert on the two-point attempt to tie the game with 1:53 remaining in regulation and could not secure the ball on the on-side kick attempt from Matt Kling.
Records:
SHU (0-1)
Delaware State (1-1)
Top Performers:
Offense -
(QB) - John Michalski: 12-23 (passing) | 104 yards | 11 attempts (rushing) | 84 yards
(RB) – Xavier Leigh: 14 attempts | 91 yards | 1 touchdown
(WR) – Ethan Hilliman: 9 receptions | 75 yards
Defense –
(DB) - Maximus Mongelli: 11 tackles (5 solo, 6 assists)
(LB) - Nick Verbitsky: 8 tackles (8 assisted)
(DL) - Nate Chandler: 5 tackles (3 solo, 2 assists) | 2.0/9 TFL/Yds | 2.0/9 Sack/Yds
How it Happened:
Sacred Heart kicked off the scoring at the 8:05 mark of the first quarter as Matt Kling put the ball between the uprights for the three-point advantage, 3-0. Solid defensive work from SHU and a missed field goal opportunity kept the Hornets off the scoreboard for the remainder of the frame.
Delaware State countered the Pioneers' field goal in the second quarter with a 41-yard touchdown pass, topped with the extra point, putting the visitors ahead by four, 7-3. Kling then struck again for the hosts, tallying a 41-yard field goal at 1:41 to make it a one-point game, 7-6, heading into halftime.
SHU's second lead of the game came in the third quarter when Kling nailed a 30-yard field goal attempt after the Pioneers recorded four first downs for the two-point lead, 9-7.
In the fourth quarter, the Hornets outscored the Pioneers 10-6, despite the hosts trimming the deficit to within two and getting the ball one more time with 1:26 left to secure the road victory.
Up Next:
The Pioneers return to Campus Field on Saturday, Sept. 7, to face Saint Anselm. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
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 was unable to convert on the two-point attempt to tie the game with 1:53 remaining in regulation and could not secure the ball on the on-side kick attempt from Matt Kling.
Records:
SHU (0-1)
Delaware State (1-1)
Top Performers:
Offense -
(QB) - John Michalski: 12-23 (passing) | 104 yards | 11 attempts (rushing) | 84 yards
(RB) – Xavier Leigh: 14 attempts | 91 yards | 1 touchdown
(WR) – Ethan Hilliman: 9 receptions | 75 yards
Defense –
(DB) - Maximus Mongelli: 11 tackles (5 solo, 6 assists)
(LB) - Nick Verbitsky: 8 tackles (8 assisted)
(DL) - Nate Chandler: 5 tackles (3 solo, 2 assists) | 2.0/9 TFL/Yds | 2.0/9 Sack/Yds
How it Happened:
Sacred Heart kicked off the scoring at the 8:05 mark of the first quarter as Matt Kling put the ball between the uprights for the three-point advantage, 3-0. Solid defensive work from SHU and a missed field goal opportunity kept the Hornets off the scoreboard for the remainder of the frame.
Delaware State countered the Pioneers' field goal in the second quarter with a 41-yard touchdown pass, topped with the extra point, putting the visitors ahead by four, 7-3. Kling then struck again for the hosts, tallying a 41-yard field goal at 1:41 to make it a one-point game, 7-6, heading into halftime.
SHU's second lead of the game came in the third quarter when Kling nailed a 30-yard field goal attempt after the Pioneers recorded four first downs for the two-point lead, 9-7.
In the fourth quarter, the Hornets outscored the Pioneers 10-6, despite the hosts trimming the deficit to within two and getting the ball one more time with 1:26 left to secure the road victory.
Up Next:
The Pioneers return to Campus Field on Saturday, Sept. 7, to face Saint Anselm. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
Team Stats
DSU
SHU
Total Yards
295
341
Pass Yards
150
104
Rushing Yards
145
237
Penalty Yards
25
35
1st Downs
15
20
3rd Downs
4
3
4th Downs
2
0
TOP
28:11
31:49
1st Quarter
DSU 0, SHU 3
SHU - Kling,Matt 34 yd field goal 12 plays, 58 yards, TOP 06:50
2nd Quarter
DSU 7, SHU 3
DSU - Tate,Kristian 41 yd pass from Adams,Marqui (Wilson,Nathan kick) 8 plays, 78 yards, TOP 04:13
DSU 7, SHU 6
SHU - Kling,Matt 41 yd field goal 11 plays, 54 yards, TOP 04:56
3rd Quarter
DSU 7, SHU 9
SHU - Kling,Matt 30 yd field goal 12 plays, 67 yards, TOP 04:37
4th Quarter
DSU 10, SHU 9
DSU - Wilson,Nathan 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 07:59
DSU 17, SHU 9
DSU - Sutton,Jaden 39 yd run (Wilson,Nathan kick), 5 plays, 69 yards, TOP 02:12
DSU 17, SHU 15
SHU - Leigh,Xavier 4 yd run (), 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 05:21
Game Leaders
CMP
12
TD
0
YDS
104
INT
2
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
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