Marist Red Foxes Fall to Sacred Heart Pioneers Football on the Road

FAIRFIELD, CT – The Marist football team suffered a 31-6 defeat at Sacred Heart on Saturday in its final non-league game of the season.

The first five drives of the game ended in punts, but Sacred Heart drove into the red zone on its third drive. However, Marist held on a fourth-and-one at the 11. The Red Foxes responded with a 10-play, 67-yard drive that ended in a 39-yard field goal by senior kicker Mike Maccarone with 1:18 left in the period.

In the second quarter, red-shirt sophomore cornerback Brandon Miller picked off a pass just in front of the sideline at the Marist 34. On the second play of the Red Foxes’ ensuing drive, red-shirt sophomore quarterback Mike White found sophomore wide receiver for a 51-yard reception. The drive culminated in Maccarone’s 39-yard field goal with 7:34 left in the second quarter, which put Marist up 6-0.

Sacred Heart scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the first half on short field. A muffed punt allowed the Pioneers to take over at the Marist 43, and Jay Croom’s 3-yard touchdown run enabled the Pioneers to go up 7-6 with 3:17 left in the first half. On Marist’s next drive, Kevin Sears intercepted a pass and returned it to the Red Foxes’ 25. A two-yard touchdown run by Nate Chavious with 32 seconds left in the first half enabled Sacred Heart to take a 14-6 lead into the intermission.

Sacred Heart added 10 points in the third quarter. The Pioneers drove 65 yards on the first drive of the second half, and it ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from RJ Noel to Moses Webb. With 5:35 left in the period, Alec Finney hit a 30-yard field goal, which gave the home team a 24-6 advantage. On a fourth-and-goal after three Marist stops inside the two, Chavious scored from one yard out for the game’s final score with 1:23 remaining.

Red-shirt sophomore safety Wesley Beans had a career-high 15 tackles, and red-shirt junior linebacker Ruben Avalos added a career-high 11. Red-shirt freshman defensive end Peter Delatour registered a career-high nine tackles and a sack. Senior cornerback Cameron Gibson finished with seven tackles, two pass break-ups, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss. Sophomore linebacker Blaise Spinelli had a fumble recovery.

White threw for 210 yards. Christian finished with 123 receiving yards on five receptions. Red-shirt junior running back Marcellus Calhoun led the Red Foxes with 36 rushing yards, and tied Christian for the team high with five receptions.

Sacred Heart outgained Marist, 443-231. The Pioneers held a 339-21 advantage in rushing yards. The Red Foxes held the Pioneers to 104 passing yards.

Marist fell to 0-3; Sacred Heart improved to 3-0.

Marist will have a bye next week. The Red Foxes will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 1, when they open Pioneer Football League play with a home game against Campbell at 1 p.m.