Game 3: Sacred Heart University (1-1)September 14, 1:00 pm (EST)Fairfield, CT Campus Field (3,334 Tickets? Available TV: ESPN+ GU Radio: None SHU Radio: Varsity App About the Pioneers: Location: Fairfield, CT Enrollment: 6,960 Conference: Independent Record vs. Georgetown: 1-1 Meet The Coach: Mark Nofri (Keene St. '94) 13th season, 70-63 Career: Same |
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Much has changed at Sacred Heart University since last season's meeting with Georgetown.
After 25 years in the Northeast Conference following its move from Division II in 1998, Sacred Heart joined Division I newcomer Merrimack in a move from the NEC to the MAAC. The NEC takes a hard line with departing schools, and even though the MAAC no longer offers football, the two schools were sent out of the NEC into the limbo that is Division I FCS independent status--they are the only two schools this year without a conference tie-in. Too small for the CAA and too far north for the Big South/OVC confederation, Sacred Heart and Merrimack are finding their way through uncharted waters.A number of questions surround the Pioneers after two weeks of 2024. Despite starting 10 seniors and grad students on offense, SHU has managed just two touchdowns to date and average less than 100 yards in the air. Defensively, they held Delaware State and Division II St. Anselm to a combined 25 points between them and held each under 150 yards in rushing offense.
The question for the Hoyas is simple: can it avoid a defensive quagmire and put an offense to work in securing its first three game win streak in five seasons?
Sophomore QB John Michalski has accounted for 58 percent of the Pioneers' offense to date, leading the team in rushing at 73 yards per game and in passing at a 965 yards per game average. The passing game has been limited, averaging eight yards a catch and none over 27 yards. Michalski is the only underclassmen on a roster starting six grad student and four seniors. RB Jalen Madison (30-114, 0 TD) and WR Kevin McGuire return from last season's game with the Hoyas, but a veteran offensive line figures to test Georgetown's interior defense across the line of scrimmage. Overall, though, Sacred Heart can struggle offensively. The Pioneers were held to 10 points or less six times last season.
Sacred Heart earned five All-NEC awardees among its defense in 2023 but only one, DE Tyreke Brown, remains. The 6-1, 246 pound graduate student enters Saturday with nine tackles, three TFL's and 2 sacks, while DB Max Mongelli leads the secondary with 14 tackles. Much like the SHU offense, this is a upperclass-heavy lineup (eight seniors and 5th years) but many are still with limited in-game experience.
Sacred Heart's roster lineup is enormous, dressing 144 per its web site, but the pioneers will focus on its two deep to compete in this game. Its; 4-2-5 lineup wail be tested in the short passing game and Georgetown will look to stretch a defense that has given up only two touchdowns this season and 2.5 yards per carry.
The Pioneers scored only 10 points against a Division II team in St. Anselm last week, a team that finished 4th in the NE-10 pre-season poll... and that's a little odd. Ten points won't be enough for either team Saturday.
Some keys to the game:
1. Rushing Defense: Sacred Heart hasn't (yet) proven it can win from the air.
2. More From Lauter: Repeated from last week: We didn't see much from Lauter in the passing game in the last two weeks as the Hoyas didn't need it. Lauter may be more aggressive in stretching the defenses in week three.
3. Turnover Margin: Through two games, the two teams have combined for only two turnovers. Interceptions could be critical as the game progresses.