Aug. 28, 2006

FAIRFIELD, CT - For the second straight season, the Sacred Heart football team will open the year against a Patriot League opponent. After taking on Holy Cross last season, the Pioneers will welcome PL Co-Champion Lafayette College to Campus Field in a 2:00 p.m. start.

Lafayette, co-champions in 2005, has been slotted second in the Patriot League Football Preseason Poll. And for the second straight year, the Leopards received three first place votes and 61 points and finished seven points behind the team they shared the Patriot League championship with the previous season. Colgate was the first choice, receiving eight first place votes and 68 points. Their co-championship last season earned the Leopards a berth in the NCAA 1-AA playoffs, falling to #5 Appalachian State 34-23 in the opening round.

SHU returns a pair of talented tailbacks in sophomore Evin Jones and junior Jason Payne. Jones averaged over five yards per carry and had one touchdown in limited duty last season, but showed explosive speed that has the coaching staff excited. Payne moved to defensive back last season to try to shore up the secondary, but will return to his natural spot this season. His freshman year, Payne ran for over 400 yards and caught 13 passes.

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