MISSOULA, Mont. — The Sacred Heart University football team showed grit and balance on both sides of the ball in a tough match-up against No. 3-ranked Montana on Saturday afternoon at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The Pioneers scored in three consecutive quarters and held the Grizzlies scoreless in the third, but ultimately fell 43–21 before a crowd of 26,147.
The Pioneers put together a balanced offensive effort with 340 total yards, including 214 through the air and 126 on the ground, while holding the Grizzlies scoreless in the third quarter. Sacred Heart also controlled possession for more than 33 minutes and committed zero turnovers in a disciplined performance.
Final Score:
Sacred Heart 21
#3 Montana 43
Records:
Sacred Heart (5-3)
#3 Montana (7-0)
Top Performers:
Offense -
(QB) -
Jack Snyder: Passing (20-26, 214 yards, 2 TD's) | Rushing (9 attempts, 2 yards)
(RB) -
Mitchell Summers: 18 attempts | 87 yards | 1 TD
(WR) -
Dean Hangey: 5 receptions | 51 yards | 2 TD's
(WR) -
Payton Rhoades: 6 receptions | 72 yards
Defense -
Ryan Palmieri: 9 tackles | 1.0/1 TFL-Yds
Nick Verbitsky: 5 tackles
Peter Schanne: 4 tackles | 1.0/5 TFL-Yds | 1 forced fumble
Aboubakare Dabo: 3 tackles | 1.0/3 TFL-Yds | 1.0/3 Sacks-Yds
How it Happened:
Montana struck quickly in the first quarter with three touchdowns to take a 22–0 lead after 15 minutes of play.
The Pioneers responded midway through the second when quarterback
Jack Snyder led a seven-play, 70-yard drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wideout
Dean Hangey and an extra point attempt from
Matt Kling to make it 22–7. The Grizzlies added another score just before halftime to carry a 29–7 advantage into the break.
Sacred Heart came out of the locker room firing, piecing together a 10-play, 75-yard drive that featured steady runs from running back
Mitchell Summers. The drive ended with Summers powering in from three yards out, followed by another extra point attempt from Kling, to trim the deficit to 29–14 early in the third quarter.
The Pioneers continued to battle in the fourth, grinding out a 16-play, 88-yard drive that chewed up more than nine minutes of clock. Snyder once again found Hangey, this time on a 14-yard touchdown connection, to bring SHU within eight, 29–21, with 6:46 remaining.
Montana responded with a pair of quick scoring strikes in the final minutes to seal the game. Still, Sacred Heart's defense held strong throughout much of the second half, limiting the Grizzlies' explosive offense to just two scores over the final 30 minutes.
Up Next:
The Pioneers enter their bye week before returning home to Campus Field on Saturday, November 1, to host New Haven. Kick off is scheduled for noon in Fairfield, Conn.
