Pioneers rush past Bryant on Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Jose Depadua (Hagerstown, Md.) set a program record with a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown and senior Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) tied a program record with three touchdown receptions but Sacred Heart compiled 500 yards of total offense to race past the Bryant University football team, 56-28, on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

The Bulldogs (3-4, 1-1 NEC) have now dropped three-straight games and saw their three-game winning streak against the Pioneers (7-1, 2-1 NEC) snapped.

In a matchup of the top two run offenses and the top two run defenses in the NEC, it was the Pioneers that won the battle on Saturday. Sacred Heart rushed for 302 yards and held the Black and Gold to just four yards on 36 carries. The Pioneers also caused five Bryant turnovers to increase their nations-best turnover margin to a +19.

It was all Sacred Heart from the beginning as it opened a 21-0 lead at the half. Both teams traded possessions early on but it was the Pioneers defense that forced the first turnover halfway through the first quarter. Dennis Regan knocked the ball free from Harris as he tried to avoid a tackle and Connor Caveney recovered it at the Bryant 38. Keshaudas Spence turned a first-and-20 into a first-and-goal with a 43-yard run and Tyler Dube hauled in his first touchdown of the game three plays later to make it 7-0.

Sacred Heart extended its lead with a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. R.J. Noel hit Dube for 38 yards to complete a quick three-play drive to make it 14-0 with 9:25 left in the half and then found Dube again with 2:21 left to make it 21-0.

Bryant flipped the script in the third quarter, however, thanks to a big interception. After starting the quarter with a three-and-out, freshman Patrick Kenney (Camarillo, Calif.) picked off his first career pass and returned it to the Sacred Heart 22. A Ryan Black (Joppa, Md.) seven-yard run and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty put the ball on the SHU 7 and Harris followed with his first touchdown of the game three plays later to make it 21-7.

That appeared to be the momentum the Black and Gold needed as the defense followed with a stop of its own to get the ball right back. Facing a third-and-14, senior quarterback Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, N.Y.) threw it up for Harris and he was able to hang on to it for a 31-yard completion despite taking a big hit. Three plays later, Westerhaus again tossed it up for Harris and the senior wideout pulled it in despite double coverage in the front corner of the endzone to make it 21-14 with 5:05 left in the third quarter.

What happened next might have been the turning point of the game. John Snee fumbled the ensuing kickoff and it appeared the Bulldogs were going to recover the fumble but the skipped away and Sacred Heart recovered to keep possession. Six plays later they turned it into seven points as Noel connected with Bobby Johnson for a 24-yard touchdown.

Depadua made sure the Pioneers didn't get too excited. He caught the ensuing kickoff at his own goal line, hit a hole at the Bryant 30 and then blew past the Sacred Heart kicker for a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown to make it 28-21.

Sacred Heart had an answer every time, however. Noel's five-yard touchdown run capped a nine-play drive to make it 35-21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Two plays later, JD Roussel jumped a Westerhaus pass and returned it 47 yards to make it 42-21.

Bryant put together one last gasp as it responded immediately with a score. Westerhaus hit Depadua for 22 yards to put Bryant inside the SHU 20 and then lofted a perfect pass to the back of the endzone that Harris caught for his third touchdown to make it 42-28.

The Pioneers needed just four plays to respond with a score and then turned Bryant's fourth fumble into a score to make it 56-28 with 1:52 left in the game.

Westerhaus finished 17-of-29 for 248 yards and three scores, while Harris caught 10 passes for 163 yards and three scores. Senior Connor McNamara (Sandy Hook, Conn.) led the defense with seven tackles and three tackles for a loss.

The Bulldogs wrap up their three-game homestand next Saturday, Oct. 26 when they host Duquesne on Parents and Family Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.