2025 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team

2025 Sacred Heart Pioneers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–4
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMatt Gardner (9th season)
Defensive coordinatorDarin Edwards (2nd season)
Home stadiumCampus Field
2025 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Sacred Heart   –     8 – 4  
Merrimack   –     4 – 8  

The 2025 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team represented Sacred Heart University (SHU) as an independent during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Pioneers were led by 14th-year head coach Mark Nofri. Sacred Heart played home games at Campus Field in Fairfield, Connecticut.

This was SHU's last season as an independent, as the Pioneers will join CAA Football in 2026.[1]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 302:00 p.m.Stonehill
ESPN+W 12–74,197
September 612:00 p.m.at No. 11 Lehigh
ESPN+L 10–283,618
September 1312:00 p.m.at LIU
NEC Front RowW 24–212,504
September 204:00 p.m.at Norfolk State
ESPN+W 31–288,127
September 2712:00 p.m.Delaware State
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
ESPN+W 35–316,456
October 412:00 p.m.at Central Connecticut
NEC Front RowL 35–42 OT2,044
October 111:00 p.m.Howard
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
ESPN+W 32–143,231
October 183:00 p.m.at No. 4 Montana
ESPN+L 21–4326,147
November 112:00 p.m.New Haven
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
ESPN+W 35–202,960
November 812:00 p.m.Virginia–Lynchburg
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
ESPN+W 56–104,137
November 1512:00 p.m.Merrimack
  • Campus Field
  • Fairfield, CT
ESPN+W 42–373,108
November 221:00 p.m.at No. 9 Villanova
FloFootballL 10–344,101

Game summaries

Stonehill

See also: 2025 Stonehill Skyhawks football team
Stonehill Skyhawks (0-0) at Sacred Heart Pioneers (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Skyhawks 0 0 077
Pioneers 0 0 9312

at Campus Field • Fairfield, CT

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Freddie Coleman (play-by-play), Chris Smith (analyst) and Morgan Bedard (sideline)
Statistics STO SHU
First downs 16 18
Total yards 261 288
Rushing yards 49 161
Passing yards 212 119
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–39–0 11–21–0
Time of possession 27:38 32:22
Team Category Player Statistics
Stonehill Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 11 Lehigh

See also: 2025 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team
Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-0) at No. 11 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (1-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 7 0 3010
No. 11 Mountain Hawks 7 14 0728

at Goodman Stadium • Lower Saucon, PA

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 3,618
  • Referee: Henry Wimberg
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Marco Socci (play-by-play) and Mike Yadush (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (14:47) SHU – Dean Hangey 91 yard kickoff return, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 1 play, 91 yards, 0:13; SHU 7-0)
  • (11:38) LEH – Luke Yoder 28 yard run, Nick Garrido kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:09 TIED 7-7)
Second Quarter
  • (14:12) LEH – Jaden Green 10 yard run, Nick Garrido kick (Drive: 3 plays, 43 yards, 1:25; LEH 14-7)
  • (1:06) LEH – Hayden Johnson 20 yard run, Nick Garrido kick (Drive: 4 plays, 33 yards, 0:31; LEH 21-7)
Third Quarter
  • (8:13) SHU – Matt Kling 32 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:17; LEH 21-10)
Fourth Quarter
  • (14:55) LEH – Matt Machalik 2 yard run, Nick Garrido kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:13; LEH 28-10)
Statistics SHU LEH
First downs 14 21
Total yards 177 423
Rushing yards 70 286
Passing yards 107 137
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–26–0 11–18–1
Time of possession 26:23 33:37
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing Jack Snyder 14/20, 94 yards
Rushing Jack Snyder 9 carries, 30 yards
Receiving Payton Rhoades 4 receptions, 26 yards
Lehigh Passing Hayden Johnson 10/17, 129 yards, INT
Rushing Luke Yoder 12 carries, 127 yards, TD
Receiving Goeffrey Jamiel 5 receptions, 60 yards

at LIU

See also: 2025 LIU Sharks football team
Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-1) at LIU Sharks (1-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 0 7 71024
Sharks 7 7 7021

at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium • Brookville, NY

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 2,504
  • Referee: Lance Carlen
  • TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Phil Constantino (play-by-play) and Jim Wright (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (14:48) LIU – Luca Stanzani 75-yard run, Will Johnson kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12; LIU 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (3:36) SHU – Mitchell Summers 14-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 12 plays, 99 yards, 6:54; Tied 7–7)
  • (0:56) LIU – O'Shawn Ross 1-yard run, Lance Maiberg kick (Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 2:39; LIU 14–7)
Third Quarter
  • (11:24) LIU – Jaylin Lewis 0-yard fumble recovery, Lance Maiberg kick (LIU 21–7)
  • (5:05) SHU – John Michalski 3-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:19; LIU 21–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (12:15) SHU – Curtis Whiting 5-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 1 play, 5 yards, 0:00; Tied 21–21)
  • (0:00) SHU – Matt Kling 21-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 3:06; Sacred Heart 24–21)
Statistics SHU LIU
First downs 26 12
Total yards 407 208
Rushing yards 214 184
Passing yards 193 24
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–19–2 3–10–0
Time of possession 38:10 21:50
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing Jack Snyder 14/18, 193 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Mitchell Summers 24 carries, 105 yards, TD
Receiving Kevin McGuire 5 receptions, 88 yards
LIU Passing Luca Stanzani 2/4, 14 yards
Rushing O'Shawn Ross 16 carries, 82 yards, TD
Receiving Jaron Kelley 1 reception, 10 yards

at Norfolk State

See also: 2025 Norfolk State Spartans football team
Sacred Heart Pioneers (2-1) at Norfolk State Spartans (1-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 7 14 3731
Spartans 7 7 01428

at William "Dick" Price Stadium • Norfolk, VA

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind: SW at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 8,127
  • Referee: Javarro Edwards
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Ross Gordon (play-by-play), Don Carey (analyst) and Kendall Lanier (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (10:55) SHU – Jack Snyder 18-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:00; Sacred Heart 7-0)
  • (4:36) NORF – X'Zavion Evans 18-yard run, Evan Helfrich kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 6:19; 7-7)
Second Quarter
  • (14:55) NORF – X'Zavion Evans 7-yard run, Evan Helfrich kick (Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 3:06; Norfolk State 14-7)
  • (2:42) SHU – Trey Eberhart III 28-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 3:05; 14-14)
  • (0:48) SHU – Mitchell Summers 22-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 3 plays, 29 yards, 1:06; Sacred Heart 21-14)
Third Quarter
  • (1:45) SHU – Matt Kling 19-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 52 yards, 6:47; Sacred Heart 24-14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (11:40) NORF – Kevon King 57-yard run, Evan Helfrich kick (Drive: 3 plays, 81 yards, 1:25; Sacred Heart 24-21)
  • (5:32) SHU – Jack Snyder 7-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 6 plays, 49 yards, 2:41; Sacred Heart 31-21)
  • (3:55) NORF – DreSean Kendrick 29-yard pass from Otto Kuhns, Evan Helfrich kick (Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 1:36; Sacred Heart 31-28)
Statistics SHU NORF
First downs 18 29
Total yards 390 550
Rushing yards 295 210
Passing yards 95 340
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–14–0 27–42–1
Time of possession 34:37 25:23
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing Jack Snyder 8/13, 92 yards
Rushing Mitchell Summers 26 carries, 119 yards, TD
Receiving Payton Rhoades 2 receptions, 46 yards
Norfolk State Passing Otto Kuhns 27/42, 340 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Kevon King 11 carries, 72 yards, TD
Receiving JJ Evans 7 receptions, 113 yards

Delaware State

See also: 2025 Delaware State Hornets football team
Delaware State Hornets (3-1) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (3-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Hornets 14 17 0031
Pioneers 7 13 8735

at Campus Field • Fairfield, CT

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 6,456
  • Referee: Jonathan Grande
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy Brochu (play-by-play), Freddie Coleman (analyst) and Jenna Reynolds (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (14:49) DSU – Marquis Gillis 75-yard run, Patrick Fisher-Butler kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:00; Delaware State 7–0)
  • (8:54) SHU – Mitchell Summers 4-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:55; Tied 7–7)
  • (6:09) DSU – Kaiden Bennett 4-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:45; Delaware State 14–7)
Second Quarter
  • (13:02) SHU – Matt Kling 31-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 4:53; Delaware State 14–10)
  • (9:03) DSU – Marquis Gillis 2-yard run, Patrick Fisher-Butler kick (Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 3:59; Delaware State 21–10)
  • (5:50) SHU – Jack Snyder 15-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:05; Delaware State 21–17)
  • (5:39) DSU – Ryan Pellum Taylor 75-yard pass from Jayden Sauray, Patrick Fisher-Butler kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11; Delaware State 28–17)
  • (1:55) DSU – Patrick Fisher-Butler 33-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 12 yards, 2:52; Delaware State 31–17)
  • (0:00) SHU – Matt Kling 31-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 61 yards, 1:55; Delaware State 31–20)
Third Quarter
  • (3:17) SHU – Jason Palmieri 41-yard pass from Jack Snyder, Tyler Picinic pass (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:11; Delaware State 31–28)
Fourth Quarter
  • (6:44) SHU – Jason Palmieri 6-yard pass from Jack Snyder, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 15 plays, 55 yards, 7:19; Sacred Heart 35–31)
Statistics DSU SHU
First downs 16 29
Total yards 466 456
Rushing yards 253 158
Passing yards 213 298
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–19–0 28–36–0
Time of possession 23:09 36:40
Team Category Player Statistics
Delaware State Passing Jayden Sauray 12/18, 207 yards, TD
Rushing Marquis Gillis 13 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Ryan Pellum Taylor 2 receptions, 85 yards, TD
Sacred Heart Passing Jack Snyder 28/36, 298 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Mitchell Summers 20 carries, 74 yards, TD
Receiving Mitchell Summers 4 receptions, 93 yards

at Central Connecticut

See also: 2025 Central Connecticut Blue Devils football team
Sacred Heart Pioneers (4-1) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (2-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Pioneers 0 14 714035
Blue Devils 7 13 015742

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • TV: NEC Front Row
Statistics SHU CCSU
First downs 22 25
Total yards 437 509
Rushing yards 219 186
Passing yards 218 323
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17-27 28-40
Time of possession 25:37 34:23
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Central Connecticut Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Howard

See also: 2025 Howard Bison football team
Howard Bison (3-2) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (4-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 7 7 0014
Pioneers 0 3 131632

at Campus Field • Fairfield, CT

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind: E at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 3,231
  • Referee: Michael Davis
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy Brochu (play-by-play), Freddie Coleman (analyst) and Morgan Bedard (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (2:02) HOW – Anthony Reagan Jr. 35-yard run, Matt Conord kick (Drive: 2 plays, 38 yards, 0:39; Howard 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (2:05) HOW – Tyriq Starks 14-yard run, Matt Conord kick (Drive: 8 plays, 57 yards, 5:01; Howard 14–0)
  • (0:00) SHU – Matt Kling 49-yard field goal (Drive: 3 plays, 30 yards, 0:15; Howard 14–3)
Third Quarter
  • (14:48) SHU – Mitchell Summers 80-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12; Howard 14–10)
  • (6:20) SHU – Matt Kling 19-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 82 yards, 4:36; Howard 14–13)
  • (0:54) SHU – Matt Kling 25-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 26 yards, 3:25; Sacred Heart 16–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (7:36) SHU – Payton Rhoades 15-yard pass from Jack Snyder, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 5:58; Sacred Heart 23–14)
  • (3:26) SHU – Mitchell Summers 49-yard run, Matt Kling kick (Drive: 2 plays, 48 yards, 0:50; Sacred Heart 30–14)
  • (3:04) SHU – Peter Schanne 0-yard safety (Sacred Heart 32–14)
Statistics HOW SHU
First downs 12 21
Total yards 233 476
Rushing yards 153 329
Passing yards 80 147
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–21–0 11–18–0
Time of possession 29:27 30:33
Team Category Player Statistics
Howard Passing Tyriq Starks 11/21, 80 yards
Rushing Anthony Reagan Jr. 17 carries, 116 yards, TD
Receiving Anthony Reagan Jr. 4 receptions, 39 yards
Sacred Heart Passing Jack Snyder 11/18, 147 yards, TD
Rushing Mitchell Summers 18 carries, 243 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Payton Rhoades 4 receptions, 71 yards, TD

at No. 4 Montana

See also: 2025 Montana Grizzlies football team
Sacred Heart Pioneers (5-2) vs. No. 4 Montana Grizzlies (6-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers 0 7 7721
No. 4 Grizzlies 22 7 01443

at Washington–Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, MT

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 3:00 PM EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Trey Bender (play-by-play), Jordan Tripp (analyst) and Kyle Hansen (sideline)
Statistics SHU MONT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana Passing
Rushing
Receiving

New Haven

See also: 2025 New Haven Chargers football team
New Haven Chargers (4-4) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (5-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers - - --0
Pioneers - - --0

at Campus Field • Fairfield, CT

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy Brochu (play-by-play), Evan Cormier (analyst) and Morgan Bedard (sideline)
Statistics NH SHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
New Haven Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

VUL (NCCAA)

See also: VUL Dragons football
VUL Dragons (NCCAA) (3-7) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (6-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dragons (NCCAA) - - --0
Pioneers - - --0

at Campus Field • Fairfield, CT

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EST
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics VUL SHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
VUL Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Merrimack

See also: 2025 Merrimack Warriors football team
Merrimack Warriors (0-0) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Warriors - - --0
Pioneers - - --0

at Campus Field • Fairfield, CT

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EST
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics MC SHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Merrimack Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 9 Villanova

See also: 2025 Villanova Wildcats football team
Sacred Heart Pioneers (8-3) vs. No. 9 Villanova Wildcats (8-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Pioneers - - --0
No. 9 Wildcats - - --0

at Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
  • TV: FloFootball
Statistics SHU VILL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Sacred Heart Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Villanova Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Recruiting class

Name Position Height Weight Hometown High School
Jackson Babitsky OL 6-3 265 Hudson, OH Hudson
Kevin Bright DL 6-1 251 Baltimore, MD Dundalk
Ashton Davis DB 5-10 175 Brandywine, MD Oxon Hill
Chase DeSanto OL 6-4 275 Wyoming, PA Wyoming Area
Steven Dowdy WR 6-0 168 New York, NY Iona Prep
Joey Herbert OL 6-3 270 Chicago, IL Loyola
Christopher Leggett TE 6-2 225 New Windsor, NY Newburgh Free Academy
Dajuan Martin LB 6-2 208 Pleasantville, NJ Pleasantville
Naeem Mills RB 6-0 215 Hamden, CT Cheshire Academy

[3]

References

  1. ^ "CAA Football Welcomes Sacred Heart University As Its Newest Member For 2026 Season" (Press release). CAA Football. July 22, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  2. ^ "2025 Sacred Heart Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  3. ^ Carey, Samantha (December 5, 2024). "Football Welcomes Nine Players on National Signing Day". sacredheartpioneers. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
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