2025 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team

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.

2025 Sacred Heart Pioneers football
Conference	Independent
Record	8–4
Head coach	Mark Nofri (14th season)
Offensive coordinator	Matt Gardner (9th season)
Defensive coordinator	Darin Edwards (2nd season)
Home stadium	Campus Field
Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

2025 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Sacred Heart			–						8	–	4
Merrimack			–						4	–	8

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

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	2:00 p.m.	Stonehill	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 12–7	4,197
September 6	12:00 p.m.	at No. 11 Lehigh	Goodman Stadium Lower Saucon, PA	ESPN+	L 10–28	3,618
September 13	12:00 p.m.	at LIU	Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium Brookville, NY	NEC Front Row	W 24–21	2,504
September 20	4:00 p.m.	at Norfolk State	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN+	W 31–28	8,127
September 27	12:00 p.m.	Delaware State	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 35–31	6,456
October 4	12:00 p.m.	at Central Connecticut	Arute Field New Britain, CT	NEC Front Row	L 35–42 ^OT	2,044
October 11	1:00 p.m.	Howard	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 32–14	3,231
October 18	3:00 p.m.	at No. 4 Montana	Washington–Grizzly Stadium Missoula, MT	ESPN+	L 21–43	26,147
November 1	12:00 p.m.	New Haven	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 35–20	2,960
November 8	12:00 p.m.	Virginia–Lynchburg	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 56–10	4,137
November 15	12:00 p.m.	Merrimack	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	ESPN+	W 42–37	3,108
November 22	1:00 p.m.	at No. 9 Villanova	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	FloFootball	L 10–34	4,101
Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time Source:

Game summaries

Stonehill

Stonehill Skyhawks (0-0) at Sacred Heart Pioneers (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Skyhawks	0	0	0	7	7
Pioneers	0	0	9	3	12

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

Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-0) at No. 11 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (1-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	7	0	3	0	10
No. 11 Mountain Hawks	7	14	0	7	28

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

Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-1) at LIU Sharks (1-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	0	7	7	10	24
Sharks	7	7	7	0	21

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

Sacred Heart Pioneers (2-1) at Norfolk State Spartans (1-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	7	14	3	7	31
Spartans	7	7	0	14	28

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

Delaware State Hornets (3-1) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (3-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	14	17	0	0	31
Pioneers	7	13	8	7	35

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

Sacred Heart Pioneers (4-1) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (2-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Pioneers	0	14	7	14	0	35
Blue Devils	7	13	0	15	7	42

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

Howard Bison (3-2) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (4-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	7	7	0	0	14
Pioneers	0	3	13	16	32

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

Sacred Heart Pioneers (5-2) vs. No. 4 Montana Grizzlies (6-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pioneers	0	7	7	7	21
No. 4 Grizzlies	22	7	0	14	43

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

New Haven Chargers (4-4) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (5-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
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)

VUL Dragons (NCCAA) (3-7) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (6-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
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

Merrimack Warriors (0-0) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
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

Sacred Heart Pioneers (8-3) vs. No. 9 Villanova Wildcats (8-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
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