New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
For Sacred Heart, a ‘special opportunity’
For Mark Nofri, this was no doubt the shortest offseason during his time coaching Sacred Heart football.
In some ways, ironically, it was also among the easiest.
A whopping 21 starters are back from last season’s Northeast Conference title team, which as recently as April was playing in the FCS playoffs.
“It helps us to have that many people returning. They know the expectations,” Nofri said. “We started practice for the spring season Jan. 25 and we finished April 25. It really wasn’t 15 full spring practices. We just had four months of spring practice with games sprinkled in.”
As unconventional as it was, the spring season proved fruitful for the Pioneers, who won three of the five games they played and reached the postseason for the first time since 2014.
It’s made for big expectations this fall. The Pioneers, who kick off the season Saturday against Bucknell (6 p.m.) at home, were tabbed the preseason favorite in the NEC by the league’s coaches. They picked up four first-place votes, edging Duquesne and Central Connecticut State.
“This is a special opportunity,” said center Josh Sokol, a sixth-year senior. “The retainment rate usually isn’t this high. It shows the culture of our program, the family aspect that we have here at Sacred Heart. Everyone’s in it together.”
Every starter returns save for strong safety Jayden Jordan, who had 10 tackles in four games in 2020.
“You don’t really have to change anything because everybody’s back,” senior running back Julius Chestnut said of the benefit of having such little turnover on the roster. “Everybody knows what they’re doing. It’s not like you have to reteach anything.”
Junior Marquez McCray will again steer the offense after passing for 859 yards and seven touchdowns. But the most anticipated return is that of Chestnut, who led the FCS in rushing at 171 yards per game (855 overall) and was named NEC Offensive Player of the Year.
“The offense goes through No. 7. I’ve got news for you,” Nofri said. “No secret. He’s the best running back in FCS and everything’s going to run through him . ... The sky’s the limit for him. He’s gotten stronger, probably a little faster.”
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Chestnut, a candidate for the prestigious Walter Payton Award, was joined on the preseason All-NEC team by wide receiver Naseim Brantley, left tackle JD DiRenzo, Sokol, defensive end Kevin Peprah, linebacker Chris Outterbridge, cornerback Randy Brito and punter Noah Gettman.
The Pioneers beat Duquesne in the NEC championship game on April 11, then lost their FCS playoff opener at Delaware on April 24. At the time, Nofri wondered if they’d have enough time in the offseason to rest and recover.
“There was a concern in the spring knowing that once we finished playing we were going to be back at it again Aug. 7,” he said. “I think our kids did a good job taking care of their bodies. We had no major injuries from spring season. They’ve done a great job working out and building their bodies back up. We as coaches have to do a great job of knowing when to push them and when not to.”
Sokol said that between 60 and 70 players a week were on campus working out during the summer.
“We don’t want to be hungover from a championship,” he said. “We want to get right back to work.”
As anticipation continues to build toward the opener, the Pioneers believe they’ve found their identity. Then again, it’s not as if their personnel has changed much.
“Tough, hard-nosed,” Sokol said. “That’s the identity of the entire team. That’s the image we want to lead with on the field.”
Chestnut, who averaged nearly 25 carries per game in 2020, embodies that attitude.
“Every running back takes a beating, but that’s all right. Our athletic trainers do a great job with me,” Chestnut said, adding: “I feel fresh, I feel good. I’m ready to go. I’m ready for 11 games this year instead of five.”
As good as Chestnut is, the team’s success won’t fall all on his shoulders.
“Our defense is great,” Chestnut said. “We’ve probably got the best defense in the NEC, if not FCS, honestly. We’re a tremendous defense. Our offense is just getting better. Everyone’s coming back. I have pressure on my back just because of who I am, but I had it last year as well.”