Saturday, September 13
Brookville, N.Y.
12:00 PM
Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
2-1 , 0-0
24
at
21
LIU
1-2 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Sacred Heart
0
7
7
10
24
LIU
7
7
7
0
21
Photo by: Reese D'Alessandro
Kling’s Walk-Off Field Goal Lifts Football Over LIU
9/13/2025 5:39:00 PM | Football
Pios snap LIU's three-game win streak in the series
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University football team delivered on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, rallying from a 14-point deficit to stun LIU on its Homecoming Weekend, 24-21. Graduate kicker Matt Kling sealed the win with a walk-off 21-yard field goal.
Trailing 14-7 at halftime and down 21-7 early in the third quarter, the Pioneers refused to back down, with John Michalski and Curtis Whiting scoring key touchdowns to tie the game. Kling's clutch kick as time expired to seal the victory, snapping LIU's three-game win streak in the series.
Final Score:
Sacred Heart 24
LIU 21
Records:
Sacred Heart (2-1)
LIU (1-2)
Top Performers:
Offense –
QB – Jack Snyder: 14-18, 193 passing yards | 17 attempts, 88 rushing yards
RB – Mitchell Summers: 24 attempts | 112 rushing yards | 1 touchdown
WR – Kevin McGuire: 5 receptions | 88 yards
Defense –
LB – Nick Verbitsky: 7 tackles | 1.0/4 TFL/Yds |
LB – Kyle Hall: 6 tackles | 1.0/1 TFL/Yds
DL – Peter Schanne: 4 tackles | 1.0/6 TFL/Yds | 1.0/6 Sacks/Yds
How it Happened:
The Sharks struck immediately as Luca Stanzani sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown on LIU's opening play, giving the home team an early 7-0 lead. The Pioneers answered with a methodical 12-play, 99-yard drive capped by Mitchell Summers' 14-yard touchdown run and a Kling extra point, tying the game at 7-7.
LIU regained the edge late in the second quarter on O'Shawn Ross Jr.'s one-yard touchdown plunge, sending Sacred Heart into halftime trailing 14-7.
The third quarter saw LIU extend its lead to 21-7 when Jaylin Lucas recovered a muffed punt in the end zone. But the Pioneers refused to back down. Starting at their own 25, Sacred Heart drove 75 yards in 10 plays, blending clutch passes from Jack Snyder to Dean Hangey and Kevin McGuire with punishing runs from both Michalski and Summers. Michalski powered in a three-yard touchdown, and Kling's extra point tied the game at 21-21, sending SHU fans into a frenzy.
The fourth quarter brought even more drama. After another LIU special teams' miscue—a muffed punt—the Pioneers capitalized. Whiting barreled in a five-yard touchdown, swinging momentum firmly in Sacred Heart's favor.
After forcing the Sharks to punt on their next two drives, the Pioneers then drove 81 yards in just over three minutes, with Snyder connecting on a 42-yard strike to Payton Rhoades and Summers picking up crucial yardage. With the clock winding down, Kling calmly drilled a 21-yard field goal as time expired, securing a thrilling 24-21 road victory and igniting the Pioneers' sideline in celebration.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart wraps up its three-game road stretch next Saturday, September 20, at Norfolk State. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.
Trailing 14-7 at halftime and down 21-7 early in the third quarter, the Pioneers refused to back down, with John Michalski and Curtis Whiting scoring key touchdowns to tie the game. Kling's clutch kick as time expired to seal the victory, snapping LIU's three-game win streak in the series.
Final Score:
Sacred Heart 24
LIU 21
Records:
Sacred Heart (2-1)
LIU (1-2)
Top Performers:
Offense –
QB – Jack Snyder: 14-18, 193 passing yards | 17 attempts, 88 rushing yards
RB – Mitchell Summers: 24 attempts | 112 rushing yards | 1 touchdown
WR – Kevin McGuire: 5 receptions | 88 yards
Defense –
LB – Nick Verbitsky: 7 tackles | 1.0/4 TFL/Yds |
LB – Kyle Hall: 6 tackles | 1.0/1 TFL/Yds
DL – Peter Schanne: 4 tackles | 1.0/6 TFL/Yds | 1.0/6 Sacks/Yds
How it Happened:
The Sharks struck immediately as Luca Stanzani sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown on LIU's opening play, giving the home team an early 7-0 lead. The Pioneers answered with a methodical 12-play, 99-yard drive capped by Mitchell Summers' 14-yard touchdown run and a Kling extra point, tying the game at 7-7.
LIU regained the edge late in the second quarter on O'Shawn Ross Jr.'s one-yard touchdown plunge, sending Sacred Heart into halftime trailing 14-7.
The third quarter saw LIU extend its lead to 21-7 when Jaylin Lucas recovered a muffed punt in the end zone. But the Pioneers refused to back down. Starting at their own 25, Sacred Heart drove 75 yards in 10 plays, blending clutch passes from Jack Snyder to Dean Hangey and Kevin McGuire with punishing runs from both Michalski and Summers. Michalski powered in a three-yard touchdown, and Kling's extra point tied the game at 21-21, sending SHU fans into a frenzy.
The fourth quarter brought even more drama. After another LIU special teams' miscue—a muffed punt—the Pioneers capitalized. Whiting barreled in a five-yard touchdown, swinging momentum firmly in Sacred Heart's favor.
After forcing the Sharks to punt on their next two drives, the Pioneers then drove 81 yards in just over three minutes, with Snyder connecting on a 42-yard strike to Payton Rhoades and Summers picking up crucial yardage. With the clock winding down, Kling calmly drilled a 21-yard field goal as time expired, securing a thrilling 24-21 road victory and igniting the Pioneers' sideline in celebration.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart wraps up its three-game road stretch next Saturday, September 20, at Norfolk State. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.
Team Stats
SHU
LIU
Total Yards
407
208
Pass Yards
193
24
Rushing Yards
214
184
Penalty Yards
64
56
1st Downs
26
12
3rd Downs
8
0
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
38:10
21:50
1st Quarter
SHU 0, LIU 7
LIU - Stanzani,Luca 75 yd run (Johnson,Will kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:12
2nd Quarter
SHU 7, LIU 7
SHU - Summers,Mitchell 14 yd run (Kling,Matt kick), 12 plays, 99 yards, TOP 06:54
SHU 7, LIU 14
LIU - Ross,O'Shawn 1 yd run (Maiberg,Lance kick), 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 02:39
3rd Quarter
SHU 7, LIU 21
LIU - Lewis,Jaylin 0 yd fumble recovery (Maiberg,Lance kick)
SHU 14, LIU 21
SHU - Michalski,John 3 yd run (Kling,Matt kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:19
4th Quarter
SHU 21, LIU 21
SHU - Whiting,Curtis 5 yd run (Kling,Matt kick), 1 plays, 5 yards, TOP 00:00
SHU 24, LIU 21
SHU - Kling,Matt 21 yd field goal 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 03:06
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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DL
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