NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University football team went toe-to-toe with defending NEC Champion Central Connecticut State University in Saturday's Nutmeg State showdown, rallying back from multiple deficits before ultimately falling, 42–35, in overtime at Arute Field.
Final Score (O/T):
Sacred Heart 35
CCSU 42
Records:
Sacred Heart (4-2)
CCSU (3-3)
Top Performers:
Offense –
(QB)
Jack Snyder: Passing (17-27, 218 yds, 2 TD's) | Rushing (13 carries, 56 yds, 1 TD's)
(RB)
Trey Eberhart III: Rushing (14 carries, 83 yds, 1 TD) | Receiving (2 receptions, 15 yds)
(WR)
Payton Rhoades: 4 receptions | 48 yds | 1 TD
(WR)
Jason Palmieri: 3 receptions | 65 yds | 1 TD
Defense –
(DB)
Maximus Mongelli: 9 tackles | 1 pass break-up
(LB)
Kyle Hall: 8 tackles | 1.0-3 TFL/Yds
(DL)
Glory Stephen-Wangboje: 3 tackles | 0.5-1 TFL/Yds | 0.5/1 Sacks/Yds
How it Happened:
CCSU struck first late in the opening quarter with a short touchdown pass to take a 7–0 lead, then added two second-quarter field goals to build a 13–0 cushion.
Sacred Heart's offense responded behind a strong ground attack. Quarterback
John Michalski capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown to put SHU on the board.
After the Blue Devils extended the margin to 20–7, the Pioneers delivered a crucial score just before halftime. Quarterback
Jack Snyder engineered a nine-play, 75-yard drive in the final minutes of the half, finishing it off with a 22-yard strike to
Payton Rhoades to swing the momentum back to SHU and cut the deficit to 20–14 at the break.
The Pioneers carried that spark into the third quarter. Behind
Trey Eberhart III's physical running, SHU marched 60 yards on 10 plays. Eberhart powered in from nine yards out to give Sacred Heart its first lead of the afternoon, 21–20.
CCSU briefly regained the lead, but Sacred Heart again showed its resilience. Snyder answered with a 15-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 28–28 with just over six minutes remaining.
Even after the Blue Devils went back in front late, the Pioneers had one more rally in them. Snyder calmly led a 76-yard drive in the final two minutes, capped by a 37-yard touchdown strike to
Jason Palmieri with 59 seconds left.
Matt Kling's extra point brought the score even at 35–35, forcing overtime.
On CCSU's first play of the extra period, Olson delivered the dagger — a 25-yard touchdown strike to Elijah Howard for the game-winner, sending the Blue Devils to a 42–35 victory.
Up Next:
The Pioneers look to bounce back when they return home on Saturday, Oct. 11, hosting the Howard Bison at Campus Field. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
