Sacred Heart secured a decisive victory over Mercyhurst, winning 31-14 in a college football matchup held on Saturday in Fairfield, Connecticut. Jalen Madison was a standout player, contributing significantly with 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Quarterback John Michalski also made a notable impact, passing for a touchdown and rushing for another.

In the game, Michalski completed 10 out of 14 pass attempts, amassing 141 yards through the air while also adding 53 yards on the ground from 12 attempts. Xavier Lee extended the Pioneers’ lead with a 22-yard rushing touchdown, pushing the score to 21-0 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.

Mercyhurst struggled from the outset, going three-and-out on their opening drive. After a short punt, Michalski connected with Kevin McGuire for a 7-yard touchdown, ending a six-play drive that covered 46 yards, establishing a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, a lead that Sacred Heart maintained throughout the game.

Madison added an 11-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Later, Michalski’s 4-yard run into the end zone late in the third quarter further solidified Sacred Heart’s advantage at 28-7.

Right before halftime, Adam Urena helped Mercyhurst get on the board with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Ayron Rodriguez. Later in the game, he connected with his brother Austin Urena for a 10-yard touchdown that reduced the deficit to 28-14 with just under eight minutes remaining.

Matt Kling concluded the scoring for Sacred Heart with a successful 36-yard field goal around three minutes left in the game. Adam Urena finished with a solid performance, completing 25 of 43 passes for a total of 229 yards. Brian Trobel contributed 96 yards rushing on 17 carries for Mercyhurst.