Sept. 19, 2007

Sacred Heart vs. Duquesne Game Notes in PDF Format
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Sacred Heart Pioneers (2-1, 0-0 NEC) vs. Duquesne Dukes (0-2, 0-0 MAAC)

Game #4 - Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007- 1:00 pm - Fairfield, Conn. - Campus Field (4,000)

Radio - SacredHeartPioneers.com; WHRT 91.5 FM

Video - Live Web Streaming on SacredHeartPioneers.com

Setting the Scene... The Sacred Heart Pioneers are looking to rebound from a 34-10 loss at Iona last Saturday as they welcome future Northeast Conference member Duquesne to Campus Field on "Homecoming Weekend". After scoring 95 points in their first two games, the Pioneers were held to just 10 points and 283 total yards while turning the ball over five times and giving up six sacks in the loss. The Dukes, who will join the NEC football league starting next fall, come in at 0-2 after loses to Bucknell, 28-19, in the season opener and at Brown, 28-17, last weekend.

The SHU - Duquesne Series... The all-time series is tied at a win apiece. The Pioneers took the first-ever meeting, a 31-15 win in the 2001 ECAC Bowl, capping a perfect season (11-0). The Pioneer defense racked up eight sacks capped by a 35-yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive end Odain Mitchell that put the game out of reach. The win clinched the first perfect season in school history and secured the Pioneers the final #1 ranking in both the Sports Network and Don Hansen Gazzette I-AA Mid-Major polls. It took five seasons for the two teams to meet again as the Dukes posted a 24-21 win at home last year. Duquesne quarterback Scott Knapp threw for three touchdowns, two to wideout Bruce Hocker in the win. The Pioneers lined up for a game-tying field goal with just three seconds left, but the snap was off and SHU failed to get the kick off.

SHU vs. the MAAC... The Pioneers are 17-16 all-time against the MAAC since it's inception in 1993. SHU is 6-5 against Iona while they have belonged to the conference but the all-time series edge belongs to the Gaels, 7-6, after last weekend's 34-10 loss.. Marist holds a 3-2 lead over the Pioneers with SHU splitting their two meetings with Duquesne. The Pioneers are 1-0 against La Salle after their earlier season win. The Pioneers were 3-0 against Saint Peter's and 4-1 against Siena, both have dropped football. SHU was winless (0-6) against St. John's while they were a part of the league.

Up Next... The Pioneers will open the Northeast Conference schedule on the road at Wagner College next Saturday. SHU leads the all-time series, 5-4. Kickoff is at 1:00 pm.

The Head Coaches... Sacred Heart head coach Paul Gorham (New Hampshire `84) is entering his fourth season on the Pioneer sideline. Gorham was named the school's seventh head coach in June of 2004 and owns a 15-22 record in his four year career. Prior to becoming the Pioneer's head coach, Gorham had stops at UMass, Brown, New Haven and his alma mater New Hampshire. Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt (Westminster `83) is in his third season at the head of the Dukes program and owns a 14-8 record at the school. Prior to becoming the Dukes head coach, Schmitt spent five season as the head coach at his alma mater Westminster, where he complied a 42-27 (.609) record. After his playing days ended, Schmitt coached in the high school ranks before taking an assistant coaching position with Duquesne on two separate stints, from 1985-87 and 1992-99.

Last Meeting with Duquesne... Duquesne quarterback Scott Knapp threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Dukes to a 24-21 win over visiting Sacred Heart on September 23rd last season. The Pioneers opened up a 14-0 first quarter lead on a Jason Payne 56-yard run and a Tyler Arciaga to Alvin Franklin 19-yard scoring strike. Duquesne tied the score with 5:14 to go in the half before SHU struck again on a Arciaga to Corey Bundy 44-yard hookup for a 21-14 lead with 2:09 left. The Dukes tacked on a field goal before the teams went to the locker room and grabbed the lead for good on Knapp's third touchdown toss, a 22-yard score to Conrad Carter. The Pioneers had one last chance to tie or go ahead, getting the ball on their own 15 with 2:09 to play in the game. Arciaga engineered a 12-play drive that got SHU to the Duquesne three-yard line with three seconds to play, converting a fourth and two along the way. SHU lined up for the game-tying field goal but the snap was off and holder Dario Melendez had to pull the ball out, trying to hit tight end Justin Jarry in the end zone, but it fell incomplete. The Pioneers got 103 yards on the ground from Payne in the loss.

Week Three Highlights... Sophomore outside linebacker Chansler Davis had a career-game, making 11 tackles with a sack against Iona. Davis was thrust onto the field full-time after a second-quarter injury to starter Robert Occhiuzzi and made the most of the opportunity with a career-high total in tackles and his first-career sack. Senior safety John Wilson recorded double-digit tackles as well with 10 stops...Redshirt-freshman quarterback Dale Fink finished with 223 yards passing, completing 25-of-38 passes. Fink found senior wide receiver Joey Henley for a 14-yard score in the third quarter, the fourth time this season the duo have hooked-up for a score. Henley is one touchdown behind his career-high total from his rookie season (5 - 2003)...Senior wide receiver Corey Bundy caught eight passes for 50 yards in the loss. His eight balls gives him 80 career receptions, moving him to sixth place on SHU's all-time list...Sophomore place kicker Joe Schroeder hit a career-long 35 yard field goal in the second quarter, his second career field goal. Last season, he made a 22-yarder in the Pioneer's homecoming win over Wagner...Senior wide receiver Dario Melendez made his first career reception, catching two balls for 17 yards. Melendez is best know as the Pioneer's holder on extra points and field goals.

Offense Struggles and Special Team Miscues... SHU's offensive attack, that had pile up 95 points in the first two games, was held to just 10 points against Iona while turning it over four times. The Pioneer special teams had a punt blocked for the first time since the 2003 season and also lost a fumble on a punt return. The Gaels took advantage of the SHU mistakes, scoring 21 points off Pioneer turnovers.

Homecoming Weekend... The Pioneers are on a roll on SHU Homecoming. Sacred Heart has won all three homecoming games under head coach Paul Gorham and five-straight dating back to 2002. Coach Gorham has led the team to wins over Wagner in 2006 (25-17), St. Francis-PA in 2005 (53-45) and a thrilling overtime win over Wagner in 2004 (30-24).

Pioneers in the NEC & NCAA Rankings... The Pioneers rank in several categories in both the Northeast Conference and NCAA statistical rankings. Defensively, SHU is ranked first in the NEC in total defense (286.0 yards per game) and rushing defense (73.7 yards per game). On offense, the Pioneers rank second in the league in points per game (35.0 ppg), passing offense (423.7 yards per game) and rushing offense (202.3). SHU ranks first in the NEC in first downs (73), third down conversions (60.0%) and red zone offense (10-of-10). The Pioneers rank first in the nation in third down efficiency, converting 24 of 40 opportunities. Quarterback Dale Fink ranks first in the NEC and seventh in the country in passing efficiency, with a 167.2 passer rating. He has completed 49-of-72 for 583 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions over three games. Wide Receiver Joey Henley's four touchdown catches ranks second in the NEC while fellow wideout Corey Bundy ranks fourth in catches per game (3.67) and yards per game (54.3).

Fink Wins Back-to-Back Rookie Awards... Red-shirt freshman Dale Fink won the season's first two NEC Rookie of the Week awards after leading SHU to wins at Assumption, 41-20, and over La Salle, 54-14. At Assumption, Fink threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns in his collegiate debut. Against the Explorers, Fink played just the first half threw for 122 yards and three touchdowns while leading six-straight scoring drives.

Former LB Signs with the Buffalo Bills... Former Sacred Heart University linebacker Jon Corto has been signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad for the upcoming 2007 season. Corto, an Orchard Park, NY native, signed with the Bill's as an undrafted free agent after attending the team's rookie minicamp in May. He played three games for the Bills during the preseason before being cut last Tuesday when the team needed to get their roster down to 75 players. Corto played for the Pioneers from 2003-06 and finished as the program's second all-time leading tackler with 300 stops. He finished his senior season earning Division I-AA Mid-Major All-American honors after recording a team leading 104 tackles (54 solo). The former collegiate linebacker has made the transition to safety in the NFL. Corto is the second Pioneer to make his way onto an NFL roster. Former wide receiver DeVeren Johnson (2001) was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2001 NFL Draft and spent that season on the team's practice squad.

Bundy a Preseason All-NEC Pick... Sacred Heart senior wide receiver Corey Bundy was named to the Preseason All-Northeast Conference football team, voted on by the league's seven head coaches. Bundy is coming off a junior season where he made 35 receptions for 493 yards. Bundy, who averaged 14.1 yards per catch, reeled in six scoring strikes on the year.

Preseason NEC Polling... The 2007 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll was announced with the Pioneers picked to finish sixth, tied with Saint Francis (PA). The University at Albany was tabbed as the preseason favorite with the Great Danes edging out defending champion Monmouth for top billing in the poll. Albany also earned the moniker of preseason favorite last year, but the Great Danes finished the 2006 campaign tied for second with a 5-2 NEC record. The Great Danes received three first-place votes as did Monmouth, which captured its fifth league title last year and represented the NEC in the inaugural Gridiron Classic. Robert Morris pulled in one first-place vote and finished tied for third in the poll with Central Connecticut State. Wagner landed in fifth with Sacred Heart and Saint Francis (PA) rounding out the preseason selections in a tie for sixth.

History of Sacred Heart Football... This is the 17th football season at Sacred Heart University. The program is 72-93 (.436) all-time and 52-38 (.577) since joining the Northeast Conference (NEC) and Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) in 1998. The program has had seven head coaches starting with Gary Reho (1991-96) who led the team to a 5-4 record in their inaugural season. Jim Fleming led the Pioneers to a 21-1 mark in his two seasons as head coach (2000-01) including the 11-0 2001 campaign that delivered the university and NEC title. 2001 also saw the Pioneers lone post season appearance, beating Duquesne in the ECAC Bowl, 31-15, laying claim to the Division I-AA Mid-Major National Championship.