Coach Vick and the Spartan’s football (1-3) lost their game 28 -31 against the Sacred Heart University Pioneers (3-1) on September 20th at William “Dick” Price Stadium.
“Tonight, this one stung,” said Vick. “We put ourselves in the position so many times to win the game. Every single time we had the opportunity to do that, we took a step back.”
The Spartans started the game winning the coin toss and chose to kick the ball away. Pioneers quarterback, Jack Snyder, made the first touchdown rushing right for 18-yards into the endzone. The Spartans responded with their own 18-yard rushing touchdown by running back, Xzavion Evans, evening out the first quarter to 7-7.
Evans was on a strive to win, starting the second quarter with a 7-yard rushing touchdown and a good kick by Evan Helfrich to take the lead 14-7. As the Spartans were close to their third touchdown of the game, Pioneer defensive back, Maximus Mongelli, intercepted the ball.
The Pioneers did not score to follow, making six-plays for 50-yards. Once the ball was in the Spartans possession, they fumbled and Pioneers offensive lineman, Jaylin Johnson, recovered the loose ball. This led to the Pioneers tying the game 14-14 with a 28-yard rushing touchdown from running back, Trey Eberhart III and a good kick by Matt Kling.
With about a minute left in the half, the Pioneers got another touchdown with running back Mitchell Summers rushing 22-yards left to the endzone, followed by a good kick from Kling ending the half 14-21.
“Throughout the game, we had opportunities. Everything that we thought would work did work, and that’s the unfortunate part,” said Vick. “I take nothing away from them (Sacred Heart), but we really gave the game away.”
Coming out of halftime, it was slow with neither team putting a single score on the board for the first 13-minutes. With about 2-minutes left, Kling made a 19-yard field goal to increase their lead 14-24.
On the flip side, the fourth quarter was filled with action. First, Spartans running back Kevon King rushed up the middle for 57-yards into the end zone and Helfrich’s kick followed 21-24. For the Pioneers, Snyder rushed 7-yards with a good kick from Kling following, 31-21.
The last points of the game were from Spartans wide receiver, DreSean Kendrick receiving a 29-yard pass from quarterback Otto Kuhns and a good kick from Helfrich to finish the drive 28-31. With about five seconds left of the match and Spartans possession of the ball, they were unable to secure the 42-yard field goal to tie, ending the game 28-31.
“We got a lot of work to do; I’m looking forward to getting back at it. We’ve got a long week of practice ahead of us – will be ready to go this Saturday,” said Vick. “There’s still light at the end of the tunnel and for us it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish – we look forward to finishing strong,”
The Spartans next game is against the Wagner University Seahawks on Saturday, September 27 at 12 PM. You can catch the game in person at the Wagner College Stadium in Staten Island,
New York or streaming on NEC Front Row.
Spartan Echo 