Sacred Heart at Monmouth

Sacred Heart at Monmouth

This is Missed It. Sacred Heart at Monmouth, Saturday, September 5, 76 and mostly clear at Kessler Stadium, with the Pioneers. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a new day for Sacred Heart Pioneers football, and we're on the road at Monmouth Hawks. The Pioneers come in looking to make some noise, and we've got the ball first. Poochie Snyder under center, the offense ready to roll. Monmouth's defense is going to have their hands full if we come out firing. The stage is set, the crowd is buzzing, and it's time for Sacred Heart to go to work.

Q1

We start with the ball, and the Pioneers are moving. Nine plays to open the game, and we're knocking on the door. But Monmouth's defense stiffens, and we come away empty-handed on downs. It's a punch in the gut, but there's a lot of football left. We've got to respond. And then, Monmouth answers. They take over and drive right down the field. Eight plays, and they're in the end zone. Smith Jr. takes the handoff, rushes middle for 7 yards, and he's in for the touchdown. The extra point is good, and just like that, we're down 7 to nothing. It's early, but that's a gut check for this Pioneers team. But we don't flinch. Poochie Snyder drops back, and he's got time. He tucks it and rushes left for 13 yards, picking up the first down. And there's a flag on Monmouth, holding on the defense. That's another 10 yards, and we're in business at the Monmouth 49. This is the response we needed. We keep pushing. Snyder is dealing, and the offense is in rhythm. Then, it happens. Snyder drops back, scans the field, and finds Jason Palmieri for a 6-yard touchdown pass. Ryan Bocklet's kick is good, and we're tied at 7. The Pioneers are right back in this thing. Monmouth gets the ball back, but they can't do anything with it. Five plays, and they're punting it away. We've got the momentum, and we're taking over. And we don't let up. Ten plays, and we're marching. Snyder is in control, and he finds Casey over the middle for 7 yards, picking up a huge first down. The drive keeps rolling. Then, Snyder drops back, and he sees Hangey. He fires it short right, and Hangey catches it at the Monmouth 9, and he's in for the touchdown. The kick is good, and we're up 14 to 7. The Pioneers have taken the lead, and this crowd is loving it.

Q2

We're up 14 to 7, and we're feeling good. Monmouth gets the ball, but they can't sustain anything. Five plays, and they're punting again. We take over, and we're looking to add to the lead. Snyder is on the move. He rolls right and picks up 7 yards, moving the chains into Monmouth territory. This drive is eating clock, and we're in control. But then, the drive stalls. We get down there, and the field goal attempt is no good. We come away with nothing, and that's a missed opportunity. We had a chance to put this game away, and we let it slip. Monmouth takes over, but our defense stands tall. Four plays, and they're turning it over on downs. We've got the ball back, and we need to make a statement. But the offense can't get going. Williams takes the handoff, and he's stopped at the line of scrimmage. No gain. We're forced to punt, and the momentum is shifting. Monmouth takes over, and they're driving. Thirteen plays, and they're methodically moving the ball. Then, with time winding down in the half, Weaver drops back and finds Nelson over the middle for 22 yards. That's a huge play, and they're in our territory. Then, with 22 seconds left, Weaver finds Nelson again, this time for 19 yards and the touchdown. The kick is good, and just like that, it's tied at 14. We had a chance to go into the half with a lead, and we let it slip away. And then, disaster. We get the ball back with 18 seconds left, and we're trying to make something happen. But the drive ends in a turnover. We give it right back to Monmouth, and they've got a chance to steal the momentum. They take full advantage. Nine plays, and they're driving. The half is over, but they're not done. They're going to get the ball to start the third quarter, and they're already in our territory. This is a nightmare scenario.

Halftime

We're tied at 14, but it feels like we're losing. The play that turned this half was Snyder's 7-yard run to the Monmouth 23. We were up 14 to 7, and we had a chance to put the game away. But we missed the field goal, and then we gave up the touchdown before the half. Now we're tied, and Monmouth has all the momentum. We need to come out in the second half and make a statement. We need to get the ball back, and we need to score. We need to remind them who we are.

Q3

We get the ball to start the second half, and we need a response. Snyder drops back and finds Webb over the middle for 13 yards, picking up a big first down. Then, Snyder tries to hit Palmieri, but the pass is broken up. But there's a flag on Monmouth for pass interference, and we get another first down. We're moving. But the drive stalls. Fourteen plays, and we can't find the end zone. We're forced to punt, and we're giving the ball right back to Monmouth. We had a chance to take the lead, and we let it slip away again. Monmouth takes over, but our defense is holding. Four plays, and they're punting it away. We've got the ball back, and we need to make something happen. The game is hanging in the balance.

The Sequence

This is where the game is decided. We're down 14 to 21, and we need a spark. Snyder drops back, and he's looking deep. He sees Hangey, and he lets it fly. Hangey catches it at the Monmouth 29, and he's gone. Fifty-two yards for the touchdown. The kick is good, and we're tied at 21. The Pioneers are right back in this thing. But Monmouth answers. They take over, and they're driving. Fifteen plays, and they're eating clock. Weaver finds Nelson for 14 yards, and they're in our territory. They're methodically moving the ball, and they're not giving it back. They settle for a field goal, and they're up 24 to 21. We need a response. We take over, and we're driving. Thirteen plays, and we're moving the ball. We get down there, and we settle for a field goal of our own. We're tied at 24, and this game is going down to the wire. Monmouth takes over, and they're driving. Thirteen plays, and they're eating clock. Then, Weaver finds Nelson for 12 yards, and they're in our territory. They're moving the chains, and they're not stopping. Then, with 2:54 left, Weaver finds Kenny Smith Jr. for a 7-yard touchdown. The kick is good, and they're up 31 to 24. We've got the ball back with 2:46 left. We need a touchdown. Ten plays, and we're driving. We're moving the ball, and we're getting close. But the drive stalls. We're facing a fourth down, and we have to go for it. But we can't convert. We turn it over on downs, and the game is over. Monmouth takes over, and they run out the clock.

Wrap-up

It's a heartbreaker. We fought, we clawed, and we had our chances. But we came up short. Final score: Sacred Heart 24, Monmouth 31. We had the lead in the first half, and we let it slip away. We had chances to put this game away, and we didn't. It's a tough loss, but we'll be back. We're Pioneers, and we don't quit.

By the Numbers

The Pioneers by the numbers. Final score, Sacred Heart 24, Monmouth 31. 408 yards of offense to their 350, 191 through the air and 217 on the ground. 26 first downs. 6 of 14 on third down. 0 turnovers for us, 0 for them. We held the ball for just over 35 minutes.

Outro

That was Sacred Heart at Monmouth, from the Pioneers side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Sacred Heart at Monmouth

This is Missed It. Sacred Heart at Monmouth, Saturday, September 5, 76 and mostly clear at Kessler Stadium, with the Hawks. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a big one here at home, Hawks fans. Sacred Heart Pioneers come into our house, and they've got the ball first. We're sitting at zero and zero on the scoreboard, and the tension is thick enough to cut. Our Monmouth Hawks are ready, the crowd is buzzing, and we're about to see what this team is made of. Sacred Heart has the ball first, and we need a stop right out of the gate. Let's go Hawks.

Q1

Sacred Heart opens with the ball, and they're methodical about it. Nine plays, they chew up clock, they move the chains, but our defense holds the line when it matters. They push all the way down, but they can't punch it in. Fourth down, they go for it, and our boys stand tall. DOWNS. We take over, and the energy in this place just shifted. We take the field and we don't waste any time. Eight plays, we're marching. And then, the moment we've been waiting for. No Huddle-Shotgun, Smith Jr. takes the handoff, hits the middle, and he's gone. Seven yards to the end zone. TOUCHDOWN. The crowd erupts. Sholder's kick is good, and we're up seven to nothing. That's how you answer a stop. But Sacred Heart isn't going to roll over. They get the ball back, and on the very first play, Snyder scrambles left, picks up thirteen yards, and then a flag. Holding on us, ten yards, and they get the first down anyway. That one stings. They keep pushing, and then they hit us with it. Poochie Snyder finds Jason Palmieri from six yards out. Touchdown. Kick is good. We're tied at seven. We get the ball back, five plays, and we're punting. Not the response we wanted. Sacred Heart takes over, and they're driving again. Ten plays, and they're knocking on the door. Third down, and they need a play. Snyder drops back, fires short middle to Casey, caught at the SHU45, seven yards, and it's a first down. They keep the chains moving, and we can't get off the field. They keep coming. No Huddle-Shotgun, Snyder rolls right, and he finds Hangey at the MON09. Nine yards, and he's in. TOUCHDOWN. The kick is good, and just like that, we're down fourteen to seven. We've got work to do.

Q2

We get the ball back, and we need an answer. Five plays, and we're punting again. Not good enough. Sacred Heart takes over, and they're grinding. Fourteen plays, they're eating clock, they're moving the ball. They get down to our twenty-three, and Snyder keeps it himself, rushes right for seven yards, and it's a first down. They're knocking on the door again. But then, something shifts. They push it down to the red zone, they line up for the kick, and it's no good. MISSED FG. The crowd roars. We've got life. We take over, four plays, and we can't convert. We turn it over on downs. The air goes out a little. Sacred Heart gets the ball back, and they're trying to put this game away. Four plays in, Williams takes the handoff up the middle, and Pettiford Jr. meets him in the hole. Zero yards. Nothing. The momentum is starting to swing. They punt, and now it's our turn. We take over with three thirty-nine left in the half. Thirteen plays. We're methodical, we're patient, and we're moving. The clock is ticking down. Thirty-four seconds left, and we need a play. Weaver drops back, fires short middle to Nelson, caught at the SHU23, and he takes it twenty-two yards to the SHU19. First down. The sideline is alive. Twenty-two seconds left. Weaver again, short middle, Nelson again, caught at the SHU02, and he fights his way into the end zone. TOUCHDOWN. Sholder's kick is good, and we're tied at fourteen. The place is going crazy. Sacred Heart gets the ball back with eighteen seconds left. Two plays, and they give it away. TURNOVER. We take over with eighteen seconds left in the half, and we're not done. Nine plays, we're driving, we're pushing, and the clock runs out on the half. But we're not done. We carry that momentum into the break.

Halftime

Fourteen to fourteen at the break, Hawks fans. We were down fourteen to seven, and we fought back to tie it before the half. The play that turned this thing around was Snyder's seven-yard rush to our twenty-three. They were driving, they were in our territory, and then they missed the field goal. That was the moment. That miss gave us life, and we took it. We marched down and tied it up. Now we need to come out in the second half and take control. The defense needs to keep making plays, and the offense needs to keep that fire. This game is ours for the taking.

Q3

We get the ball to start the second half, and we're driving. Nine plays, we're moving, and then Weaver finds Jennings short right, caught at the SHU06, and he takes it ten yards to the end zone. TOUCHDOWN. Sholder's kick is good, and we're up twenty-one to fourteen. That's how you start a half. Sacred Heart gets the ball back, and they're desperate. Fourteen plays, they're grinding, they're trying to answer. Snyder hits Webb short middle, thirteen yards to the MON49, and it's a first down. Then they get another one on a pass interference call on us. They're moving, but our defense is bending, not breaking. They push and they push, but they can't get it in. They punt. We take over, four plays, and we're punting right back. Not the drive we wanted, but we're still up by seven. Sacred Heart takes over with four fifty-three left in the third, and we need a stop. This is where the game gets decided.

The Sequence

This is it, Hawks fans. This is where the game is decided. Sacred Heart has the ball, down by seven. Four plays. Snyder drops back, and he lets it fly. Deep left, Hangey, caught at the MON29, and he's gone. Fifty-two yards. TOUCHDOWN. The kick is good, and we're tied at twenty-one. The air comes out of the building. But we don't fold. We take over with two fifty-four left in the third, and we go to work. Fifteen plays. Weaver drops back, fires short left to Nelson, caught at the SHU20, and he takes it fourteen yards to the SHU18. First down. The momentum is swinging back our way. We keep pushing, we keep grinding, and we get down to the red zone. We can't punch it in, but Sholder lines up and hits the field goal. Twenty-one to twenty-four. We're back on top. Sacred Heart gets the ball back, and they're driving. Thirteen plays, they're chewing clock, they're moving. They get down to our territory, and they line up for the kick. It's good. Twenty-four to twenty-four. Tied again. We take over with eight oh one left in the game. Thirteen plays. We need a score. Seven eleven on the clock, and Weaver drops back, fires short middle to Nelson, caught at the MON44, and he takes it twelve yards to the MON47. First down. The chains move, the crowd is on its feet. We keep pushing, we keep fighting, and we get down to the red zone. Two fifty-four left. Weaver drops back, and he finds Kenny Smith Jr. from seven yards out. TOUCHDOWN. Sholder's kick is good, and we're up twenty-four to thirty-one. The place is deafening. Sacred Heart gets the ball back with two forty-six left. Ten plays. They're desperate, they're throwing, they're pushing. But our defense holds. Fourth down, they go for it, and they can't convert. DOWNS. We take over with forty-one seconds left. One play, and the clock runs out. That's the game.

Wrap-up

That's a win, Hawks fans. Twenty-four to thirty-one. We were down, we fought back, we took the lead, we lost it, and we took it right back. This team has heart. This team has fight. And tonight, we came out on top. That's the Monmouth Hawks we know and love. Let's enjoy this one. We earned it.

By the Numbers

The Hawks by the numbers. Final score, Monmouth 31, Sacred Heart 24. 350 yards of offense to their 408, 237 through the air and 113 on the ground. 23 first downs. 7 of 12 on third down. 0 turnovers for us, 0 for them. We held the ball for just under 25 minutes.

Outro

That was Sacred Heart at Monmouth, from the Hawks side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.