2024 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team

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.

2024 Sacred Heart Pioneers football
Conference	Independent
Record	5–6
Head coach	Mark Nofri (13th season)
Offensive coordinator	Matt Gardner (8th season)
Defensive coordinator	Darin Edwards (1st season)
Home stadium	Campus Field
Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Sacred Heart			–						5	–	6
Merrimack			–						5	–	6

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	6:00 p.m.	Delaware State	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	L 15–17	4,271
September 7	1:00 p.m.	Saint Anselm	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 10–3	2,934
September 14	1:00 p.m.	Georgetown	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 40–14	4,869
September 21	1:00 pm	at Stonehill	W.B. Mason Stadium North Easton, MA	NEC Front Row	L 21–35	2,400
September 28	3:30 p.m.	at Delaware	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	FloFootball	L 0–49	19,054
October 5	1:00 p.m.	Norfolk State	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	SNY	W 10–3	8,353
October 12	1:00 p.m.	at Howard	William H. Greene Stadium Washington, DC	ESPN+	L 14–21	3,861
October 19	12:30 p.m.	at Lafayette	Fisher Stadium Easton, PA	ESPN+	L 17–31	3,217
October 26	12:00 p.m.	Mercyhurst	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	SNY	W 31–14	2,645
November 9	12:00 p.m.	LIU	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	SNY	L 7–28	3,136
November 16	12:00 p.m.	at Merrimack	Duane Stadium North Andover, MA	NESN+/ESPN+	W 31–20	2,896
Homecoming All times are in Eastern time

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Game summaries

vs. Delaware State

See also: 2024 Delaware State Hornets football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	0	7	0	10	17
Pioneers	3	3	3	6	15

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)

Game One – Delaware State Hornets (0–1) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (0–0) – Game summary

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)

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)

See also: Saint Anselm College

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hawks (DII)	0	0	0	3	3
Pioneers	0	10	0	0	10

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)

Game Two – Saint Anselm Hawks (DII) (0–0) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (0–1) – Game summary

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+

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

See also: 2024 Georgetown Hoyas football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hoyas	0	0	0	0	0
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Three – Georgetown Hoyas (2–0) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (1–1) – Game summary

at Campus Field, Fairfield, Connecticut

• Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

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

See also: 2024 Stonehill Skyhawks football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0
Skyhawks	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Four – Sacred Heart Pioneers (2–1) vs Stonehill Skyhawks (0–2) – Game summary

at W.B. Mason Stadium • Easton, Massachusetts

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• TV: NEC Front Row

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

See also: 2024 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0
Fightin' Blue Hens	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Five – Sacred Heart Pioneers (2–2) vs Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (3–0) – Game summary

at Delaware Stadium • Newark, Delaware

• Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
• Game time: 3:30 p.m.
• TV: FloFootball

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

See also: 2024 Norfolk State Spartans football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	0	0	0	0	0
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Six – Norfolk State Spartans (2–4) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (2–3) – Game summary

at Campus Field, Fairfield, Connecticut

• Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• TV: SNY

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

See also: 2024 Howard Bison football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	0	14	0	0	14
Bison	0	7	7	7	21

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)

Game Seven – Sacred Heart Pioneers (3–3) at Howard Bison (2–3) – Game summary

at William H. Greene Stadium • Washington, 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)

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

See also: 2024 Lafayette Leopards football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0
Leopards	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Eight – Sacred Heart Pioneers (3–4) at Lafayette Leopards (3–3) – Game summary

at Fisher Stadium • Easton, Pennsylvania

• Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
• Game time: 12:30 PM
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

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

See also: 2024 Mercyhurst Lakers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lakers	0	0	0	0	0
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Nine – Mercyhurst Lakers (2–5) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (3–5) – Game summary

at Campus Field • Fairfield, Connecticut

• Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (SNY): TBD

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

See also: 2024 LIU Sharks football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Sharks	0	0	0	0	0
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Ten – LIU Sharks (2–7) vs Sacred Heart Pioneers (4–5) – Game summary

at Campus Field • Fairfield, Connecticut

• Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (SNY): TBD

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

See also: 2024 Merrimack Warriors football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0
Warriors	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Eleven – Sacred Heart Pioneers (4–6) vs Merrimack Warriors (4–5) – Game summary

at Duane Stadium • North Andover, Massachusetts

• Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (NESN+/ESPN+): TBD

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

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.