The men’s football team had a victorious weekend, playing Sacred Heart at home on Sept. 23 and winning 34-31 with a game-ending 46-yard field goal by John Burdick ’18.

The Bison started the game off hot, ending the first quarter with a 14-0 lead. First, quarterback John Chiarolanzio ’20 hit Jack Horan ’18 for a 38-yard touchdown. In the following two minutes, Trevor Fennimore ’18 caused a fumble and Ben Richard ’18 recovered the ball at the Pioneer’s 16-yard-line. Joey DeFloria ’18 then finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown.

In the beginning of the second quarter, Burdick made a 30-yard field goal to continue the Bison’s lead of 17-0. With only 1:38 left, Sacred Heart got on the board with a 34-yard field goal. The Pioneers then picked off a pass by Chiaronlanzio and ran for 60-yards, resulting in a touchdown.

Sacred Heart kept up their momentum and returned the opening kickoff 98-yards, tying the game 17-17.

On the following drive, Aaron Brown ’20 intercepted a Pioneer pass and returned it to their 13-yard-line. DeFloria then rushed 3-yards for his second touchdown of the game.

With only 4:39 minutes left in the third quarter, Chiarolanzio hit Alex Twiford ’21 for a 48-yard touchdown. However, there was an illegal block which brought the ball back to the Pioneer 40-yard-line. The Orange and Blue did not let this set them back. Chiarolanzio then rushed 17-yards and Chad Freshnock ’20 scored a touchdown with 41 seconds left in the third quarter, leaving the Bison with a 31-17 lead.

Covering 79-yards in six plays, Sacred Heart scored, bringing the score to 31-24. With 4:12 minutes left in the game, the Pioneers tied it up with 31 a piece from a 41-yard touchdown. Richards and Nick Zarkoski ’19 then worked together to stop Sacred Heart short of a first down on a 4th and 1.

Chiarolanzio hit Marcus Ademilola ’19 with a 24-yard pass. Matt Muh ’18 then came in at quarterback and hit Horan for a six-yard gain.

For 46-yards, Burdick kicked the game winning field goal. The team was thrilled and all rushed to celebrate.

“It was an out of body experience. I was hovering above the field watching the ball move towards the uprights, and then I blacked out. It was sweet,” Burdick said in excitement about his kick.

The Orange and Blue will be back home on Sept. 30 at home against Monmouth for the first time in program history.