Mandas totaled a game-high 12 tackles and played a strong fourth quarter in Sacred Heart’s road upset of NEC preseason favorite Central Connecticut. Helping the Pioneers earn Constitution State bragging rights for the first time since 2003, the senior linebacker held the opposing ball carrier to two or fewer yards on four of his hits. The preseason all-NEC selection delievered his biggest hit of the day early in the fourth quarter with Sacred Heart clinging to a 28-24 lead. On a 1st-and-10 play from Sacred Heart’s 49-yard line, CCSU QB Gunnar Jespersen connected with Nick Baccarella on an 11-yard gain and apparent first down, but Mandas’ tackle jarred the ball loose and the Pioneers recovered at their own 38-yard line. In addition to the 12 stops and forced fumble, Mandas recorded a fourth-quarter pass break-up.