April 26, 2007

Fans of Sacred Heart football can get their first look at the 2007 Pioneers this Saturday, April 28th as this year's Red & White Spring game will kick-off at 4:00 pm. Admission to the game is free and all fans, alumni and friends and family of the program and encouraged to attend.

The Red Roster will feature the Pioneer offense led by the return of last year's leading rusher and receiver in running back Jason Payne (Cortlandt Manor, NY) and wide out Core Bundy (Selden, NY). Payne ran for 621 yards (5.6 yards per rush) on 110 carries while finding the end zone four times on the ground. Payne also had 24 catches out of the backfield with one score.

Bundy tied for the team lead in receptions with 35 catches in the fall but lead the squad with 493 yards, 14.1 yards per catch and six touchdowns. Also returning to the receiving corps for his senior season is Joey Henley (Kent, WA) who caught 29 balls in 2006 for three scores. Also returning in the fall is wide receiver Stephen Tedesco who also stars on the Pioneer baseball team. Tedesco finished his freshman season with 26 catches for 355 yards, second on the team at 13.7 yards per catch and five touchdowns.

Back in the backfield with Payne is Evin Jones (Pennsauken, NJ) who ran for 437 yards on 101 carries (4.3 yard per rush). Jones scored once on the ground and also caught 26 passes.

The White Roster will be made up of the Pioneer defense led by senior defensive linemen Robert Occhiuzzi (Red Bank, NJ) and Jason Richardson (Malden, MA). Richardson had 42 tackles in 2006, 6.5 for a loss with a pair of sacks. Occhiuzzi made 39 stops in the fall with 1.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss.

In the defensive backfield, SHU welcomes back Jeff Hodges (Royal Palm Beach, FL), JJ Wilson (Bloomfield, CT) and Steve Young (Brooklyn, NY). Hodges had 47 tackles with three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Wilson was third on the team in total tackles with 86 along with a team-best four picks and five pass break-ups. Young made 68 tackles with an interception and four break-ups.

In the line backing corps, the Pioneers will need to find replacements for graduates Rolando Garcia and Jon Corto, a Division I-AA All-American. Rich Marrone (East Brooklyn, NY) is back to build on after making 55 tackles, seven for a loss, and two sacks in the fall.

The 2007 season gets underway on Thursday, August 30th when the Pioneers travel to Assumption for a 7:00 pm kick-off. The home portion of the schedule features match-ups with La Salle (Sept. 8th), Duquesne (Sept. 22nd), Monmouth (Oct. 6th) and Saint Francis-PA (Oct. 27th).