Nov. 7, 2007

Sacred Heart vs. Robert Morris in PDF Format

Sacred Heart Pioneers (3-7, 0-5 NEC) vs. Robert Morris Colonial (3-6, 2-3 NEC)

Game #11 - Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007- 1:00 pm - Moon Township, Pennsylvania Joe Walton Stadium (3,000)

Setting the Scene... The Sacred Heart Pioneers make the trip out to Moon Township, Pennsylvania for their season finale against the Robert Morris Colonials. Both Sacred Heart and Robert Morris come in looking to snap losing skids as the Pioneers have dropped two-straight and seven of their last eight after losing 49-33 at Central Connecticut last Saturday. The Colonials have lost five-in-a-row after starting the season 3-1 and are coming off a 45-17 loss at Albany a week ago. SHU is trying to avoid just its second winless season in the Northeast Conference as they come in at 0-5 in league play.

The SHU - RMU Series... The Pioneers lead the all-time series, 5-4. Robert Morris took the first-ever meeting, 44-7, in 1998 and followed that with wins in 1999, 48-0, and 2000, 31-20. SHU ripped off five-straight in the series from 2001 through 2005. The Colonials ended the streak last season with a 41-21 win on Campus Field. The Pioneers are 2-2 at home against Robert Morris and 3-2 in Moon Township.

SHU in the NEC... The Pioneers are in their 10th season of competition in the Northeast Conference. SHU holds a 31-37 record in NEC competition since joining the league in 1998. The Pioneers won their only league championship during the 2001 campaign, finishing a perfect 8-0. SHU finished second to Robert Morris in 2000, going 7-1 in the league. The Pioneers last winning season in conference action was 2002, finishing tied with Stony Brook for second place at 5-2. SHU is coming off a 1-6 league record last fall. The Pioneers had one winless season in the NEC (0-7) during 1999.

Up Next... Saturday's game with Robert Morris marks the end of the 2007 season.

The Head Coaches... Sacred Heart head coach Paul Gorham (New Hampshire `84) is in his fourth season on the Pioneer sideline. Gorham was named the school's seventh head coach in June of 2004 and owns a 15-26 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. Robert Morris head coach Joe Walton (Pittsburgh `57) became the program's first head coach in July of 1993 and has led the Colonial program to an 85-55-1 record. Under Walton's directions, Robert Morris has claimed five Northeast Conference titles and a pair of Mid-Major National Championships as well as a pair of ECAC Classic wins in 1996 and 1997. Walton spent seven seasons playing in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and New York Giants. He was the head coach of the New York Jets from 1983 through 1989.

Last Meeting with Robert Morris... Robert Morris snapped a five-game Sacred Heart winning streak in the series with a 41-21 win in the season finale for both teams in Fairfield last season. The Colonials bolted out to a 41-0 advantage into the fourth quarter before the Pioneers got on the board. The Pioneers turned the ball over four times, leading to three RMU scores including a 94-yard fumble return and a 16-yard interception return. Sacred Heart finally got on the board in the fourth quarter on a two-yard plunge from Jason Payne to cap a nine-play drive. SHU's John Wilson blocked a punt for a touchdown on Robert Morris' next possession and senior quarterback Tyler Arciaga threw the 36th and final touchdown of his career with 2:02 left to Steve Tedesco from 19 yards out. During that final drive, Arciaga became the school's all-time leader in passing yards with 4,470 yards. RMU quarterback Erik Cwalinski completed 20 of 28 passes for 270 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one to Alvin Hill and another to Michael Rogers. Colonial kicker Nate DiLorenzo kicked field goals of 18 and 20 yards in the win.

Week 10 Highlights... Senior Jason Payne finished with over 100-yards for the third-straight game and had his second 200-yard plus game of the year in last Saturday's loss at Central Connecticut. He finished the game with 207 yards on 28 carries with two touchdowns and went over the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the season. Payne was the only Pioneer to rush the ball against the Blue Devils. The only other recorded rush was a sack of Dale Fink...Redshirt-freshman quarterback Dale Fink completed 25 of 47 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Fink hooked up with Steve Tedesco for a pair of scores and hit his tight end Chris Rapp for his first career touchdown. Fink has 20 touchdown passes on the year, a mark that leads the NEC and is second in the SHU record book for TD tosses for a season...Sophomore Steve Tedesco finished the night with eight catches for 91 yards and the two scores. He has caught a touchdown in four-straight games and has eight scores over that stretch. The sophomore wideout set a new school record for catches in a season, as he now has 56 receptions on the year...Senior wide receiver Corey Bundy became SHU's all-time reception's leader in the loss, pulling down six balls for 32 yards. Bundy passes Chris Wilkinson (1997-00) for career receptions with 116. He had six catches for 32 yards and is 68 yards away from becoming the all-time yardage leader as well...Senior wide receiver Dario Melendez caught a career-high five passes for 45 yards in the loss...The Pioneer offense continued to shine, racking up over 400-yards of offense for the third-straight week and fifth time this season.

Payne Rushing Through SHU Record Book... The Pioneer offense is relying heavily on running back Jason Payne over the final weeks of the season and the senior has responded. Payne is coming off his third-straight 100-yard game after piling up 207 yards on 28 carries last Saturday night at Central Connecticut, his second 200-yard plus game in the last three weeks. Payne is entering his final collegiate game on Saturday with 1,097 yards on the season, the first 1,000 yard rushing season since Ed Pricolo in 2005 (1,133). Payne currently ranks third behind Pricolo in the SHU record book for yards in a season. He is averaging 7.3 yards per rush, a mark that leads the NEC and his nine touchdowns rushing on the year is tied for second among the league's rushers. Payne moved into fifth place all-time with 19 career touchdowns scored and his 207 yards vaulted him into third place all-time for career yardage at 2,196.

Tedesco's Stellar Season Continues... Sophomore Wide Receiver Steve Tedesco is looking to put the finishing touches on an outstanding season this coming Saturday. Tedesco set a new school record for catches in a season (56) after pulling down eight balls for 91 yards and two touchdowns in last week's loss at CCSU. Tedesco has caught a touchdown in four-straight games, racking up eight scores over that stretch. He is the Northeast Conference's leading receiver with 56 catches for 712 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has four games this season with multiple touchdown grabs. Earlier this season, he came up one reception shy of setting a new school record at Wagner, catching 11 passes for 143 yards. His 184 yard day ranked fourth all-time for receiving yards in a game. His 11 touchdown grabs this year is two behind DeVeren Johnson (2001) for the SHU school record. Tedesco's two scoring grabs also pulled him even with teammates Corey Bundy and Joey Henley for career touchdown grabs with 16, a mark that also trails Johnson's 19 career scores.

Fink, NEC's Top-Rookie Again... Redshirt Freshman Dale Fink picked up his fourth NEC Rookie of the Week award on Monday. Fink won the award after completing 25 of 47 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns against Central Connecticut. Fink is third in the NEC in passing efficiency (145.7) having completed 140 of 220 passes for 1,499 yards with 20 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Fink missed two and half games earlier in the year with an ankle injury. His 20 TD passes is second all-time for touchdown throws in a season. He is completing 63.3% of his passes on the year, second in the NEC.

Bundy Tops in the SHU Record Book... Senior wide receiver Corey Bundy caught six passes for 32 yards at Central Connecticut, becoming the Pioneer's all-time leading receiver. Bundy moved ahead of Chris Wilkinson (1997-2000 - 112 rec.) into first place on the all-time receiving list with 116 career catches. Bundy is second on the career receiving yards list with 1,680, behind DeVeren Johnson's 1,748 yards (2000-01). His 16 career touchdown catches is tied with teammates Joey Henley and Steve Tedesco and three behind Johnson's record of 19.

John Wilson - SHU's Defensive Leader... Senior safety John Wilson has moved to third on Sacred Heart's all-time tackle list with 295 career stops. Wilson picked-up two-straight NEC Defensive Player of the Week awards this year and is currently fourth in the league in tackles per game at 9.9. Wilson's 16 tackles at Wagner were the most in a game for a Pioneer since safety Justin Mucci had 18 tackles (12 solo/6 assists) against Monmouth at home in 2003. On the season, Wilson leads the Pioneers with 99 tackles, 50 solo.

SHU in the NEC & NCAA Rankings... The Pioneers rank in several categories in both the Northeast Conference and NCAA statistical rankings. On offense, the Pioneers rank first in the league in first downs (206), and 3rd down conversions (44.1%). The SHU offense is ranked fourth in scoring (26.2) and fourth in total offense (363.1). The SHU passing attack is second in the league at 196.9 yards per game. The Pioneers are ranked second in red-zone offense (24-for-30). The Pioneers rank first in the NEC and second in the NCAA rankings in punt return average (16.8 yards per game). They are 22nd in the nation in third down efficiency, converting 56 of 127 opportunities.

Pioneers in the Stat Rankings... Wide Receiver Steve Tedesco ranks first in catches per game at 5.60 per outing. Tedesco ranks second in the NEC at 71.2 yards per game and leads all receivers with 11 touchdown catches. Quarterback Dale Fink ranks third in the NEC in passing efficiency (145.7) and first in touchdown passes (20). He is second in competition percentage at 63.3% and third in yards per game (187.4). Fink's passer rating has him 20th in the NCAA rankings. Senior running back Jason Payne is third in the league in rushing with 109.7 yards per game and first in yards per carry at 7.3. He ranks third in the league in all-purpose yardage at 149.5 per game. Defensively, senior John Wilson is fourth in the conference and 29th in the nation averaging 9.9 tackles per game.

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 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll was announced with the Pioneers picked to finish sixth, tied with Saint Francis (PA). Albany was tabbed as the preseason favorite with the Great Danes edging out defending champion Monmouth for top-billing in the poll. Robert Morris pulled in one first-place vote and finished tied for third in the poll with CCSU. Wagner landed in fifth with Sacred Heart and Saint Francis rounding out the poll in a tie for sixth.

Former LB Signs with the Buffalo Bills... Former Sacred Heart linebacker Jon Corto has been signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad for the 2007 NFL season. Corto, an Orchard Park, NY native, signed with the Bill's as an undrafted free agent after attending the team's rookie mini-camp in May. Corto played for the Pioneers from 2003-06 and finished as the program's second all-time leading tackler with 300 stops. 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.

History of Sacred Heart Football... This is the 17th football season at Sacred Heart University. The program is 73-99 (.424) all-time and 53-44 (.546) 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.