SHU bets LIU to grab NEC crown

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — Malik Grant ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns, Julius Chestnut gained 125 on the ground with a touchdown and Sacred Heart beat Long Island 38-14 to clinch the Northeast Conference championship on Saturday.

The Pioneers (8-3, 6-1) have won the NEC title for the second time in seven months and three in the last four years. Sacred Heart won the NEC Championship game in April by defeating Duquesne, 34-27. In 2018, the Pioneers shared the title with the Dukes, but Duquesne won the tiebreaker to go to the postseason.

Sacred Heart now waits to find out who it will play in the FCS playoffs.

The Pioneers took control during the second quarter with 17 unanswered points for a 24-7 halftime lead.

Sacred Heart marched 99 yards - all on the ground that included a 40-yard run by Grant followed by Chestnut’s 39-yard touchdown run.

On the ensuing drive,

LIU fumbled the pitch on the option and DeAndre Byrd was there to make the recovery. Grant ran it from 36 yards out on the next play.

Long Island (2-8, 2-5) ended its season with a three-game losing streak.

New Haven 38, Bentley 13: At West Haven, Conor Degenhardt rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another as the Chargers won in the opening round of the Division II playoffs.

The Chargers (10-1) will travel to Pennsylvania to take on the region’s top seed Kutztown State next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Degenhardt finished 8 for 11 passing for 144 yards, while rushing for 38 yards on 11 carries. Zach Mauro finished with 119 yards rushing on 33 carries to pace the UNH ground game. Dev Holmes had 104 yards recieving on four catches, including a touchdown.

On defense, Khyon Fitzpatrick returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring for the Chargers.

For Bentley (9-2), Tajon Vassar had 72 yards receiving on five catches including a touchdown.

CCSU 24 Saint Francis (Pa.) 21 At New Britain, Shon Mitchell threw two touchdown passes, Joe Zoppi kicked a 31-yard field goal on the final play, and Central Connecticut State defeated Saint Francis.

With the score tied at 21 late in the fourth quarter, Saint Francis punter Jordan Slaiby could not field the snap from center and Central Connecticut took possession at the Red Flash 27-yard line. CCSU ran out the final two minutes, capped by Zoppi’s third field goal of the game for the Blue Devils (4-7, 4-3 Northeast Conference).

All five of the game’s touchdowns were through the air as Saint Francis’ Justin Sliwoski threw three TD passes to answer Mitchell’s two. Sliwoski completed 14 of 20 passes for 254 yards. Mitchell was 12-of-32 passing for 124 yards.

Nasir Smith had 95 yards on the ground for CCSU. Marques DeShields had 74 yards rushing for the Red Flash (5-6, 4-3).