Oct. 22, 2007

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (October 22, 2007) - Senior Jason Payne (Cortlandt Manor, NY) of the football team was named the Enterprise Rent-A-Car / Sacred Heart Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of October 15th through 21st.

Payne had career-highs for carries and yards as he helped lead the Pioneers to a 41-34 win over visiting Marist College, snapping a SHU five-game losing streak. Payne had 31 carries in the win, piling up 207 yards on the ground, his first career 200-yard game and the first for a Pioneer since Ed Pricolo accomplished the feat against St. Francis (PA) in 2005 (232 yards). Payne scored on a three-yard run to cap the Pioneers second scoring drive of the afternoon and ripped off a 41-yard highlight reel touchdown run to give SHU a 21-0 lead on the next possession. Payne finished the day averaging 6.7 yards per rush, right near his season average.

Possibly his two most important carries came with the Pioneers up 41-34 late and looking to run out the clock. On consecutive carries, Payne carried for five and eight yards to pick-up a first down, clinch the 200-yard mark and give the Pioneers the opportunity to run out the remaining seconds. Payne now has 707 yards rushing on the season with six touchdowns rushing and another receiving. He is averaging 7.0 yards per rush.

Payne will lead the Pioneers this Saturday against Northeast Conference foe Saint Francis (PA). Kickoff is 1:00 pm this Saturday.