Click Here For Boxscore
Newark, DE -- The great run by the Sacred Heart University football team came to an end Saturday against fifth-ranked Delaware in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. The Pioneers dropped a 19-10 decision to the Blue Hens.
Records:
#5 Delaware: 6-0
Sacred Heart: 3-2
Top Performers:
Julius Chestnut (SHU): 138 rushing yards, 1 TD
DeAndre Byrd (SHU): 15 tackles, 3.5 TFL
Arsheen Jiles (SHU): 5 tackles, 1 INT
Of Note:
Delaware got on the board first when a Marquez McCray interception was brought back inside the SHU 20. Three plays later Nolan Henderson found Branden Brose for the first score.
Sacred Heart answered with an 80-yard scoring drive that featured 42 yards by Julius Chestnut and a key third down catch by tight end Ed Cuddahy.
It was nearly a tie game going into the half, but Delaware got a safety when the snap flew over the head of punter Noah Gettman and out of bounds.
The two teams traded field goals in the second half with Gettman's career-long 35-yarder cutting the lead to 12-10 just 2:35 into the fourth quarter.
SHU appeared to have the Blue Hens stopped on fourth down, but a penalty kept the drive alive and Anthony Paoletti scored from three yards out to push the lead back to 19-10.
Sacred Heart had the advantage offensively, outgaining the Blue Hens 236-199 and holding the ball for 32:11, compared to 27:49 by the hosts. The Pioneers also limited Delaware to 2-of-13 on third down. Linebacker DeAndre Byrd recorded a career-high 15 tackles.
Chestnut recorded his ninth-straight 100-yard rushing game and ended the season with 855 yards and has 3,063 for his career to move into second place on the SHU all-time chart.