SACRED HEART PIONEERS VS. BRYANT BULLDOGS

WHERE: Campus Field; Fairfield WHEN: Saturday, 1 p.m. TV: ESPN3 RECORDS: Sacred Heart (4-3, 2-0 NEC); Bryant (5-2, 2-1 NEC) LAST MEETING: 48-45 Bryant; Nov. 4, 2017 (Series tied 5-5 all-time) LAST WEEK: Sacred Heart — Won 28-25 at CCSU; Bryant — Won 42-41 at Fordham

ABOUT SACRED HEART

Sacred Heart was almost whole again last week, and it showed. With seven starters back from injury — including quarterback Kevin Duke and wide receiver Andrew O’Neill — the Pioneers rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to stun rival Central Connecticut State, 28-25. The win vaulted the Pioneers (4-3, 2-0) into sole possession of first place in the NEC. Whether the Pioneers can stay there will largely depend on the performance — and health — of O’Neill, who returned from a broken left hand to catch 10 passes for a career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns last week.

ABOUT BRYANT

Despite the return of linebacker Thomas Costigan, the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year and former Trinity Catholic star, the Bulldogs’ defense has struggled. They’ve allowed 37.6 points per game, including 41 points or more on four separate occasions. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs find themselves in the thick of the NEC race at 5-2 (2-1). Last week, they scored nine points in the final 1:50 to beat Fordham 42-41.

TOP PLAYERS

SACRED HEART: Sr. QB Kevin Duke (1,450 passing yds., 13 TD, 5 INT), Sr. RB Jordan Meachum (644 rushing yds., 4 TD), Sr. WR Andrew O’Neill (26 catches, 371 yds., 3 TD), Jr. MLB Mike Wilen (52 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF), Jr. DE Chris Agyemang (33 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 FF);

BRYANT: Sr. QB Price Wilson (1,993 yds., 17 TD, 7 INT), Sr. WR Tom Kennedy (16 catches, 239 yds.), Sr. WR Vincent Nisivoccia (37 catches, 462 yds., 5 TD), Sr. LB Thomas Costigan (69 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT), Jr. DE Tomas Wright (34 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 14.5 TFL).

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Jean Constant vs. Sacred Heart special teams — Constant, a preseason All-NEC return specialist, has been a spark plug for the Bulldogs. He’s averaged 39.5 yards on his six kick returns, one of which he brought back 100 yards for a touchdown in a seasonopening 41-31 win over New Haven.

DID YOU KNOW? Costigan, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior, ranks tied for 16th at the FCS level with 9.9 tackles per game this season.