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.
