2024 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team

2024 Sacred Heart Pioneers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–6
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMatt Gardner (8th season)
Defensive coordinatorDarin Edwards (1st season)
Home stadiumCampus Field
Seasons
← 2023
2025 →
2024 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Sacred Heart       5 6  
Merrimack       5 6  

The 2024 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team represented Sacred Heart University as an independent during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Mark Nofri, the Pioneers compiled a record of 5–6. Sacred Heart played home games at Campus Field in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 316:00 p.m.Delaware StateESPN+L 15–174,271
September 71:00 p.m.Saint Anselm
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
ESPN+W 10–32,934
September 141:00 p.m.Georgetowndagger
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
ESPN+W 40–144,869
September 211:00 pmat StonehillNEC Front RowL 21–352,400
September 283:30 p.m.at DelawareFloFootballL 0–4919,054
October 51:00 p.m. Norfolk State
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
SNYW 10–38,353
October 121:00 p.m.at HowardESPN+L 14–213,861
October 1912:30 p.m.at LafayetteESPN+L 17–313,217
October 2612:00 p.m.Mercyhurst
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
SNYW 31–142,645
November 912:00 p.m. LIU
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
SNYL 7–283,136
November 1612:00 p.m.at MerrimackNESN+/ESPN+W 31–202,896

[1][2][3][4][5]

Game summaries

[edit]

vs. Delaware State

[edit]
Game One – Delaware State Hornets (0–1) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Hornets 0 7 01017
Pioneers 3 3 3615

at Campus Field, Fairfield, Connecticut

  • Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
  • Game time: 6:00 PM
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Wind: N 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 4,271
  • Referee: Travis Barta
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy Brochu (play-by-play), Freddie Coleman (analyst) and Morgan Alston (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (08:05) SHU - Matt Kling 34-yd field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 06:50; 3-0 Sacred Heart)
Second quarter
  • (06:43) DSU - Kristian Tate 41-yd pass from Marqui Adams (Nathan Wilson kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards, 04:13; 7-3 Delaware State)
  • (01:41) SHU - Matt Kling 41-yd field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 04:56; 7-6 Delaware State)
Third quarter
  • (05:02) SHU - Matt Kling 30-yd field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 67 yards, 04:37; 9-7 Sacred Heart)
Fourth quarter
  • (12:03) DSU - Nathan Wilson 29-yd field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 07:59; 10-9 Delaware State)
  • (07:20) DSU - Jaden Sutton 39-yd run (Nathan Wilson kick), (Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 02:12; 17-9 Delaware State)
  • (01:54) SHU - Xavier Leigh 4-yd run (2-pt no good ), (Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 05:21 17-15 Delaware State)
Statistics DSU SHU
First downs 15 20
Total yards 55-295 66-341
Rushing yards 33-145 43-237
Passing yards 150 104
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14-22-0 12-23-2
Time of possession 28:11 31:49
Team Category Player Statistics
Delaware State Passing Marqui Adams 14/22, 150 yards, TD
Rushing Jaden Sutton 13 carries, 86 yards, TD
Receiving Kristian Tate 2 receptions, 43 yards, TD
Sacred Heart Passing John Michalski 12/23, 104 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Xavier Leigh 14 carries, 91 yards, TD
Receiving Ethan Hilliman 9 receptions, 75 yards

vs. Saint Anselm (DII)

[edit]
Game Two – Saint Anselm Hawks (DII) (0–0) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (0–1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Hawks (DII) 0 0 033
Pioneers 0 10 0010

at Campus Field, Fairfield, Connecticut

  • Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind: NW 11 mph
  • Game attendance: 2,934
  • Referee: Michael Davis
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter
  • (1:00) SHU – Matt King 29-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 7:15; Sacred Heart 3–0)
  • (0:00) SHU – Xavier Leigh 3-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 0:04; Sacred Heart 10–0)
Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter
  • (14:32) STA – Patrick Carroll 42-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 5:33; Sacred Heart 10–3)
Statistics STA SHU
First downs 9 14
Total yards 87 232
Rushing yards 18 146
Passing yards 69 86
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–19–0 10–16–0
Time of possession 27:04 32:56
Team Category Player Statistics
Saint Anselm Passing Anthony Santino 12/19, 69 yards
Rushing Anthony Almeida 7 carries, 36 yards
Receiving Patrick Yesinko 2 receptions, 20 yards
Sacred Heart Passing John Michalski 10/16, 86 yards
Rushing John Michalski 17 carries, 71 yards
Receiving Mason Stahl 2 receptions, 36 yards

vs. Georgetown

[edit]
Game Three – Georgetown Hoyas (2–0) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (1–1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Hoyas 0 0 000
Pioneers 0 0 000

at Campus Field, Fairfield, Connecticut

  • Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics GTWN SHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgetown Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Stonehill

[edit]
Game Four – Sacred Heart Pioneers (2–1) vs Stonehill Skyhawks (0–2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 0 0 000
Skyhawks 0 0 000

at W.B. Mason StadiumEaston, Massachusetts

  • Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • TV: NEC Front Row
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics SHU STO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Stonehill Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Delaware

[edit]
Game Five – Sacred Heart Pioneers (2–2) vs Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (3–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 0 0 000
Fightin' Blue Hens 0 0 000

at Delaware StadiumNewark, Delaware

  • Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • TV: FloFootball
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics SHU DEL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Norfolk State

[edit]
Game Six – Norfolk State Spartans (2–4) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (2–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Spartans 0 0 000
Pioneers 0 0 000

at Campus Field, Fairfield, Connecticut

  • Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • TV: SNY
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NORF SHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Norfolk State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Howard

[edit]
Game Seven – Sacred Heart Pioneers (3–3) at Howard Bison (2–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 0 14 0014
Bison 0 7 7721

at William H. Greene StadiumWashington, D.C.

  • Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind: NW at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 3,861
  • Referee: Toby Johnson
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Lynnell Willingham (play-by-play) and Melissa Kim (color analyst)
Game information
First quarter

No scoring plays

Second quarter
  • (12:26) SHU – Xavier Leigh 67-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 2 plays, 82 yards, 0:56; Sacred Heart 7–0)
  • (8:03) HOW – Jarrett Hunter 3-yard run, Dylan West kick (Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 4:14; Tied 7–7)
  • (0:34) SHU – Jalen Madison 2-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 14 plays, 63 yards, 7:20; Sacred Heart 14–7)
Third quarter
  • (14:11) HOW – Kasey Hawthorne 5-yard run, Dylan West kick (Drive: 1 play, 5 yards, 0:03; Tied 14–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (6:04) HOW – Ja'Shawn Scroggins 5-yard run, Dylan West kick (Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 4:07; Howard 21–14)
Statistics SHU HOW
First downs 13 18
Total yards 268 339
Rushing yards 169 186
Passing yards 99 153
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–19–0 17–29–1
Time of possession 30:20 29:40
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing John Michalski 7/13, 82 yards
Rushing Xavier Leigh 5 carries, 76 yards, TD
Receiving Elijah Ford 3 receptions, 47 yards
Howard Passing Ja'Shawn Scroggins 17/29, 153 yards, INT
Rushing Ja'Shawn Scroggins 12 carries, 85 yards, TD
Receiving Kasey Hawthorne 5 receptions, 53 yards

at Lafayette

[edit]
Game Eight – Sacred Heart Pioneers (3–4) at Lafayette Leopards (3–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 0 0 000
Leopards 0 0 000

at Fisher StadiumEaston, Pennsylvania

  • Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
  • Game time: 12:30 PM
  • Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics SHU LAF
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Lafayette Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Mercyhurst

[edit]
Game Nine – Mercyhurst Lakers (2–5) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (3–5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lakers 0 0 000
Pioneers 0 0 000

at Campus FieldFairfield, Connecticut

  • Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
  • TV announcers (SNY): TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics MERCY SHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Mercyhurst Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

LIU

[edit]
Game Ten – LIU Sharks (2–7) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (4–5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sharks 0 0 000
Pioneers 0 0 000

at Campus FieldFairfield, Connecticut

  • Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
  • TV announcers (SNY): TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics LIU SHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
LIU Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Merrimack

[edit]
Game Eleven – Sacred Heart Pioneers (4–6) vs Merrimack Warriors (4–5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 0 0 000
Warriors 0 0 000

at Duane StadiumNorth Andover, Massachusetts

  • Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
  • TV announcers (NESN+/ESPN+): TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics SHU MRMK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Merrimack Passing
Rushing
Receiving

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sacred Heart Pioneers Schedule 2024". ESPN. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "2024 Football Schedule". Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Five Home Games Highlight 2024 SHU Football Schedule". March 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sacred Heart announces 2024 football schedule". February 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "2024 Sacred Heart Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved July 24, 2024.