Aug. 10, 2007

The Sacred Heart football team just wrapped up their first full week of practice as they get ready to kick-off their 17th season on the gridiron. As the team continues to prepare for their August 30th opener at Assumption, let's preview the 2007 Pioneer quarterbacks and wide receiving corp.

QUARTERBACKS

Entering his fourth season on the sidelines, head coach Paul Gorham had to say goodbye to two-year starter Tyler Arciaga at the end of last season to graduation. Arciaga left the program as the school's all-time leader in passing yards (4,470), completions (393) and completion percentage (57.0%) and the task of filling his shoes falls to redshirt freshman Dale Fink (Swansea, IL).

Fink came to Sacred Heart out of Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Illinois, where in his two years as a starter, he guided his team to an 18-5 record, completed over 68 percent of his passes and threw an amazing 56 touchdowns. After a stellar high school career, Fink came to the Pioneers and had the chance to spend his freshman year working as an understudy to Arciaga. Spending the 2006 season learning the in's and out's of the Pioneer playbook and what it takes to be successful at the collegiate level has the rookie signal caller ready to take the next step.

A strong showing in the annual SHU Spring Game where he completed 13 of his 19 passes for a pair of scores and showed good movement in the pocket and the ability to throw on the run set him up to be the perennial starter heading into camp.

"Redshirt freshman Dale Fink is the anticipated starter and we will need him to mature quickly," stated Gorham. "We need him to come in and move the ball for us and not turn it over. He will need to understand how to manage the game, especially early on, and then take control of games as the season wears on."

Behind Fink, three freshmen, Tyler McKeon (Worcester, MA), Ray Sheehan (Howard Beach, NY) and Pat Barnes (Schenectady, NY) will compete for the back-up role. "Tyler McKeon has the advantage early on for the back-up role with a year of prep school ball under his belt (Worcester Academy)," commented the head coach. "Fellow freshman Ray Sheehan ad Pat Barnes have done a nice job in camp thus far and are showing they are capable of playing in this league down the road."

WIDE RECEIVERS

Fink will have a trio of talented and experienced targets to get the ball to this fall in seniors Corey Bundy (Selden, NY) and Joey Henley (Kent, WA) and sophomore Stephen Tedesco (Mission Veijo, CA).

After a break-out sophomore campaign (34 - 755 yards - 8 TD's), Bundy saw no let down as a junior posting 35 catches for 493 yards and six scores, leading the team in all three categories. The speedy wide out averaged 14.1 yards per catch, tied for second in the NEC. As a sophomore, he racked up eight scores, the second highest total ever at SHU, and recorded just the second 200-yard receiving game in school history with an even 200 and three scores at Robert Morris.

He turned in a tremendous effort in leading the Pioneers to a 25-17 Homecoming win over Wagner last season with five catches for 112 yards and a pair of scores. Bundy enters his senior season with 14 career touchdown catches, a number that ranks second all-time and is five away from the record held by DeVeren Johnson (2001).

Henley comes into camp in his best shape ever and healthy for the first time since his sophomore season. The 6-4, 220 pound wide out who also stars at power forward on the Pioneer basketball team, suffered a season-ending foot injury in 2005 and still felt the effects through all of last season. Despite the nagging injury, Henley still finished third on the team in catches with 29 for 262 yards and three scores in 2006.

He pulled down six balls for 44 yards and a score at Stony Brook last fall, a game that saw the trio each grab a touchdown in a losing effort.

In what was a breakout rookie campaign, Steve Tedesco went through the first six games of 2006 without a single catch. Yet the 6-1 receiver finished the year with 26 receptions for 355 yards and five scores, all in just five games. Tedesco got his first catch against Albany and finished with four balls for 65 yards and a score. Stony Brook was next, the site of his first big outing with eight catches, 102 yards, including a 16 yard scoring strike.

Saint Francis (PA) saw Tedesco pull down a 25 yards touchdown while a week later he scored again on an 11 yard pitch-and-catch against Central Connecticut. He closed out his freshman season with a seven catch afternoon for 85 yards including the Pioneer's final touchdown of the 2006 season, a 19 yard score against Robert Morris.

"We three solid guys back in (Corey) Bundy, (Joey) Henley and (Steve) Tedesco," according to Gorham. "Bundy came back in the best shape in his four years here and we are looking for him to have a big year."

"Henley is in great shape and feeling healthy again. He looks like the Joey Henley we saw his sophomore season which is great to see."

"Steve is as smooth as they come. His last five games in the fall, there was no one better. With these three, defenses can't focus on just one guy."

Opposing defenses may have a fourth threat to worry about as well with redshirt freshman Tony Patterson (Groton, CT) showing flashes early in camp. "Redshirt freshman Tony Patterson has great athleticism can contribute his first year when called upon."

Up Next: A preview of the Pioneers Defensive and Offensive Lines and Tight Ends