Sacred Heart wins 10-3 against St. Anselm in FCS debut
- John Michalski led Sacred Heart with 86 passing yards and 71 rushing yards.
- The Pioneers scored two touchdowns in the first half, while St. Anselm managed only a single field goal.
- This victory marks Sacred Heart's first win as an FCS independent after moving to a new conference.
On Saturday, Sacred Heart secured its first victory as an FCS independent by defeating Division II St. Anselm with a score of 10-3. The game took place in Fairfield, Connecticut, where John Michalski played a pivotal role, throwing for 86 yards and rushing for an additional 71 yards. The Pioneers, who are now competing independently after joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, demonstrated a strong defensive performance throughout the match. The scoring began with a 29-yard field goal by Matt Kling, capping off a lengthy 16-play drive that consumed over seven minutes of the first half. Shortly after, St. Anselm's offense faltered, leading to a fumble that allowed Sacred Heart to capitalize with a 3-yard touchdown run by Xavier Leigh. This sequence of events highlighted the Pioneers' ability to seize opportunities and maintain momentum. St. Anselm managed to score only once during the game, with Patrick Carroll successfully kicking a 42-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Hawks struggled offensively, recording just nine first downs and a mere 88 total yards, which underscored the effectiveness of Sacred Heart's defense. This victory marks a significant milestone for Sacred Heart, as it not only represents their first win as an independent team but also builds on their previous success against St. Anselm, where they had won 43-19 in their last meeting. The Pioneers' performance sets a positive tone for their upcoming games in the season.