Box Score
NEW YORK - Columbia led 13-6 late in the second quarter but Sacred Heart evened the score with 47 seconds left in the half and found the end zone on its first two drives of the second half to take a 27-13 lead. The Pioneers eventually held on for a 34-25 victory over the Lions on Robert K. Kraft Field behind 371 yards of passing and three touchdowns by Tim Little.
Columbia quarterback Sean Brackett had a strong game with 171 yards in the air and two touchdowns and added 96 more yards on the ground. Brackett's two touchdown passes were to sophomore tight end Hamilton Garner and it catapulted Brackett into third place all-time in career touchdown passes with 30.
After Sacred Heart took an early 3-0 lead on a 32-yard field goal by Chris Rogers, Columbia's first play from scrimmage was a 20-yard gallop by Brackett to the Sacred Heart 35. The Lions eventually moved the ball to the 16-yard line and Marcorus Garrett scored his first collegiate touchdown to put Columbia ahead 6-3 as Luke Eddy's extra point attempt went wide left.
Columbia's defense stuffed Sacred Heart on a fourth and one at the Lions' 11-yard line on the next possession after a 64-yard drive as Columbia regained possession on downs.
On Sacred Heart's next possession, the Columbia defense held strong again deep in its own territory. The Pioneers had first and goal on the five-yard line and Little completed a pass to Garry Coles that moved the ball to the one. After an incomplete pass on second down, Neil Schuster and Josh Martin stuffed Greg Moore on the one to bring up fourth down. Rogers then converted an 18-yard chip shot that tied the score at 6-6.
Later in the second quarter, Columbia was boosted by a 22-yard punt return by Alec Fisher that gave Columbia possession at the Sacred Heart 38. On third and one from the 29, Brackett dove ahead for the first down, then completed an 11-yard pass to Kurt Williams that moved the ball to the Sacred Heart 17. Brackett then rolled right and found Garner all alone in the back of the end zone to put the Lions on top, 13-6.
Sacred Heart got the ball back with 1:48 left and took advantage of good field position to start its drive at the Columbia 41. Little found Rich Rossi on a crossing pattern and Rossi scored the first of his two touchdowns, a 28-yard play, that tied the game at 13 heading into halftime.
The Pioneers forced a three and out on Columbia's first drive of the second half and then deflected Paul Delaney's punt that resulted in a net of three yards. Taking over at the Columbia 38, it took Sacred Heart just three plays to move ahead 20-13 on a one-yard plunge by Little.
Sacred Heart forced another three and out on the Lions' next possession and then completed a seven-play, 54-yard drive that ended on a pass from Little to Garry Coles for 27 yards that put the Pioneers up 27-13 midway through the third quarter.
Columbia responded on its next possession, started on an 18-yard run by Nick Gerst. The key play came on a 30-yard pass by Brackett to Williams that gave Columbia the ball at the nine-yard line. Two plays later, Gerst slipped through the line and scored from three yards out to bring the Lions within eight at 27-19 after Eddy's extra point was blocked.
The score remained that way at the start of the fourth quarter, when Sacred Heart gained possession at its 20-yard line. The Pioneers converted a pair of key third downs on the drive and Little found Rossi for the second time in the end zone, on a 12-yard play, to put the visitors ahead 34-19.
Columbia got closer with 2:34 to play when Brackett and Garner connected again on a 19-yard strike, but the Lions' point after try failed for the third time in the game, which remained a two-possession spread.
Little was a part of all four touchdowns by Sacred Heart, which won its third straight game. The Pioneers also received a strong contribution from Greg Moore, who rushed 18 times for 98 yards.
Brackett rushed 16 times for 96 yards and accounted for 171 yards passing. Williams caught four passes for 68 yards and Garner made three catches for 54 yards and two scores.
On the other side of the ball, Martin registered two sacks in a row during a series in the first quarter and finished with nine stops on the day. Ryan Murphy and Owen Fraser each notched three tackles for a loss.
Columbia will return to action on Saturday, October 15 on Homecoming against Penn on Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Tickets are available online or by calling 888-LIONS-11. Please note the start time of 3:30 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally on VERSUS.
