The 1-5 Sacred Heart Pioneers will travel from nearby Fairfield to New Haven this Saturday for a showdown at the Bowl. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+.
Sacred Heart began its season with three straight losses to Lafayette, Georgetown, and Wagner. In Week 4, the Pioneers earned their first win of the season over Saint Francis University on the road. Over the last two weeks, Sacred Heart dropped close contests versus Merrimack and LIU.
Senior QBs Rob McCoy (6’1”, 190 lbs.) and Cade Pribula (6’1”, 205 lbs.) have both played in 5 contests this season combining for a 50.3% completion rate for 746 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. The passing game has not lived up to expectations for the Pioneers producing just 124.3 passing yards per game. Sacred Heart features two talented running backs in seniors Malik Grant (5’9”, 200 lbs.) and Jalen Madison (5’9”, 195 lbs.). Grant was a 2nd Team All-NEC selection a year ago and the top running back that we have faced since Week 1 versus Holy Cross. The offensive line averages 294.0 lbs. across the board and does not feature any returning starters from 2022. The offensive line is a slight notch below what we faced last week at Dartmouth paving the way for 3.9 yards per carry and allowing 12 sacks thus far. Senior TE Phil Pasmeg (6’2”, 230 lbs.) is primarily a blocker with just 1 reception for 6 yards on the season. The Pioneers have depth at receiver, but the passing problems have limited their effectiveness. Sophomore WR Aboraa Kwarteng (6’2”, 190 lbs.) leads the team in receptions and receiving yards with 18 catches for 176 yards. The Bulldogs will need to shut down the rushing attack and force the Pioneers to be one dimensional to control the contest.
Senior LB DeAndre Byrd (6’1”, 210 lbs.) is the leader of Sacred Heart’s defensive unit. Byrd has posted 48 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble over 6 games and is a 2-time captain for the Pioneers. Senior LB Ernest Howard (6’1”, 210 lbs.) was a 2nd Team All-NEC selection in 2022 and is second on the team in tackles with 31. The secondary for the Pioneers has played well limiting opponents to just 88.5 passing yards per game with a completion rate of 48.2%. Sacred Heart currently ranks #1 in the nation for pass defense. Senior CB Arsheen Jiles (5’9”, 180 lbs.) could be the most talented of the bunch as a 2nd Team All-NEC performer a year ago. Senior DB Marques Mason (5’9”, 180 lbs.) has made plays all over the field for Sacred Heart with 30 tackles and an interception on the season. The Pioneers have a stout defensive front led by seniors Nick Foglia (6’0”, 300 lbs.), Carson Primrose (6’2”, 280 lbs.), and Tyreke Brown (6’1”, 250 lbs.). Foglia has been the most productive defensive linemen with 30 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Primrose and Brown are both team captains that have combined for 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. The theme for the Bulldogs this week is again establishing the running game that has been underwhelming at best. The coaches will need to rethink the ground attack as it’s evident that the plays that worked so well for us a year ago are now doomed without a dominating center. Yale does not want to be dependent on long passes late in the contest against a top pass defense.
Senior K Sam Renzi (6’0”, 180 lbs.) is 7 of 11 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 44 yards. Senior P Andrew Ryczek (6’3”, 210 lbs.) averages 37.8 yards per punt and has pinned opponents inside the redzone on 9 punts this season.
Go Bulldogs! Beat the Pioneers!
27 replies on “Sacred Heart Preview”
I think Sacred Heart’s too tough. Can’t we schedule Oberlin?
Average score: Opponent 54, Oberlin 12. They’re in scary D-III too.
https://goyeo.com/sports/football/schedule/2023
I don’t have a problem with SHU. Just like I don’t have a problem with CCSU next year. With Holy Cross on the schedule for another few years, scheduling a local school as one of the other OOC games is fine. We have three OOC games. Use the third one to schedule the Richmonds, Mercers, and maybe a FBS team.
And actually SHU has been pretty good over the years.
Yale better not underestimate Sacred Heart. They are up for this game.
https://www.registercitizen.com/sports/article/sacred-heart-university-football-prepares-play-18420369.php
From that article:
“Part of that growth has been seen in attendance, which has top 5,000 for each of its three home games, including more than 8,000 at its Family Weekend game against Merrimack Sept. 30.”
Geez, maybe this game should be played AT Sacred Heart, they’d probably get more fans in the stands than Yale will.
I think the main difference in attendance is Sacred Heart students tend to go to the games while Yale students mainly don’t.
I also think lack of attendance from students can also be from the bowl not being on campus
It’s not that hard to get there from campus. I’m sure buses are or would be made available. The desire to attend is missing. Except for Harvard.
That has nothing to do with it, the elite academia at Yale. Have always stuck their noses up in the air regarding sports.
What this current administration does not understand, is that your undergraduates are graduates and alumni. Only care about the Harvard game. Every other year is the town people in the communities that surround that supported Yale football, they don’t know how to market the event properly, and it feels like they have alienated, the true fan from Yale sports.
They should just move the Bowl to the New Haven Green.
4 Down 6 to go, the season goes by so fast. I’d like to see Yale and the Ivy League start the season a week earlier. Add another game to the schedule.
I also think to bring back radio broadcasts of the games. Would be a nice touch. Or at least stream it.
What a weird season.? When will we have a nice sunny game day again.
Go Bulldogs, play like a Bulldog Beast.!
I used to bring my transistor radio with me to the Bowl. Dick Galliette and Tiny Markel on the call. Bob Norman too; after Tiny passed away?
A couple of those transistor radios ended up in pieces after particularly galling Yale losses.
Gentlemen; Mr. Galliette was quintessential to Yale Football. Hard to replicate.
Always loved Tiny’s sign-off. After reading the broadcast’s “credits” and giving the last sponsor plugs, he would end the broadcast with: “the final score, for the final time…” and give the score from that day’s game.
Of course, it always sounded better when Yale was on the winning side of that score…which was usually the case.
Offense is inconsistent as usual
There’s 3 different Linemen on the Line. Give me a break .
It’s another embarrassing offensive performance that may be good enough to win anyway.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. A win is a win.
Strange that SHU went for FG when down 21-0. Conceding the game?
3rd and 30 and they make it? Another embarrassment
Yale has to get better on 3rd downs
You guys are miserable 😂 we won 31-3!
Guys get real this is not a very good football team wake up and smell the roses.This team is no were near last year team.They won today so what it was Sacred Heart do you think it was a good game no.The offensive line play was terrible big disappointment is it lack of talent or poor coaching take your pick.The weather may have some part in it put the offensive play call is a concern. This has benn going on the last five games its almost the same offensive line what gives.League games are coming up this teamhas to start playing positive football on both sides if the ball or it will be a disappointing way ending the season
And I think this is a gutsy and talented football team who has their best football in front of them. I guess we’ll see who’s right down the stretch. Either way, I’m gonna support our boys the whole time.
Krazy
I love this board, Yale wins against a decent team. Improvement in the last 3 weeks. The team is jelling and doing well.
Then you have a yahoo who is doom and gloom nasty. Come on man. What gives.
Preach!