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2021 Northeast Conference Football Championship Game

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2021 Northeast Conference Football Championship Game
Conference Championship
Sacred Heart Pioneers Duquesne Dukes
(3–1) (4–0)
34 27
Head coach: 
Mark Nofri		 Head coach: 
Jerry Schmitt
1234OT Total
Sacred Heart 661507 34
Duquesne 706140 27
DateApril 11, 2021
Season2020
StadiumArthur J. Rooney Athletic Field
LocationPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN3
AnnouncersPaul Dottino (play-by-play), Rasheed Marshall (color)
Northeast Conference Football Championship Game
2020 Northeast Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Duquesne y   4 – 0     4 – 1  
Sacred Heart y$^   2 – 1     3 – 2  
LIU   2 – 2     2 – 2  
Bryant   2 – 2     2 – 2  
Wagner   0 – 2     0 – 2  
Merrimack*   0 – 3     0 – 3  
Championship: Sacred Heart 34, Duquesne 27 (OT)
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Northeast suspended the 2020 football season.
    * – Merrimack ineligible for NEC title and FCS postseason play due to transition to NCAA Division I
    Central Connecticut and Saint Francis (PA) opted out of the spring season.
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2021 Northeast Conference Football Championship Game was a college football game played on Sunday, April 11, 2021, to determine the 2020–21 champion of the Northeast Conference.[1][2] The game featured the Sacred Heart Pioneers and the Duquesne Dukes in the conference's first championship game.[3]

Teams

[edit]

The game was played between Sacred Heart Pioneers and the Duquesne Dukes. This was the 17th overall meeting between the programs; Duquesne entered the game leading the all-time series, 12–4.[1]

Sacred Heart Pioneers

[edit]
Main article: 2020 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team

Sacred Heart entered the game with a 3–1 record. Sacred Heart had been the Northeast Conference champions four times prior in 2001, 2013, 2014, and 2018.[4]

Duquesne Dukes

[edit]
Main article: 2020 Duquesne Dukes football team

Duquesne entered the game with a 4–0 record, claiming home field advantage in the game by virtue of their better record. Duquesne had been the Northeast Conference champions five times prior in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018.[5]

Game summary

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2021 Northeastern Conference Football Championship Game
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Sacred Heart 6 6 150734
Duquesne 7 0 614027

at Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: Sunday, April 11, 2021
  • Game time: 2 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: NW 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 400
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Paul Dottino (play-by-play), Rasheed Marshall (color)
  • Box Score:[6]
Game information
First quarter
  • (8:08) Sacred Heart – Garrett Lynn 6-yard pass from Naseim Brantley (Noah Gettman PAT failed) (Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 4:28; Sacred Heart 6–0)
  • (14:50) Duquesne – Billy Lucas 1-yard run (Brian Bruzdewicz kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 6:32; Duquesne 6–7)
Second quarter
  • (10:32) Sacred Heart – Rob DiNota 7-yard pass from Marquez McCray (two-point run conversion failed) (Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:51; Sacred Heart 12–7)
Third quarter
  • (3:19) Duquesne – Joey Isabella 11-yard pass from Joe Mischler (two-point pass conversion failed) (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:19; Duquesne 12–13)
  • (7:03) Sacred Heart – Malik Grant 1-yard run (Marquez McCray pass to Liam Cabri for two-point conversion) (Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 3:35; Sacred Heart 20–13)
  • (3:25) Sacred Heart – Julius Chestnut 6-yard run (Noah Gettman kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards, 5:41; Sacred Heart 27–13)
Fourth quarter
  • (3:06) Duquesne – Cyrus Holder 12-yard pass from Joe Mischler (Brian Bruzdewicz kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 2:45; Sacred Heart 27–20)
  • (10:42) Duquesne – Joey Isabella 35-yard pass from Joe Mischler (Brian Bruzdewicz kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 98 yards, 1:36; Tied 27–27)
Overtime
  • Sacred Heart - Naseim Brantley 29-yard pass from Marquez McCray (Noah Gettman kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards, 0:37; Sacred Heart 34–27)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Main Event Set: Duquesne To Host Sacred Heart in #NECFB Championship on April 11". northeastconference.org. Northeast Conference. March 30, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Vukovcan, Mike (March 30, 2021). "Duquesne Set to Host NEC Championship Against Sacred Heart". pittsburghsportsnow.com. Pittsburgh Sports Now. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sudden Victory! Sacred Heart Edges Duquesne In OT To Claim #NECFootball Crown". northeastconference.org. Northeast Conference. April 11, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Sacred Heart Earns Share of Northeast Conference Championship with 13-7 Win over Saint Francis U." Sacred Heart University Athletics. November 17, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "NEC CHAMPIONS". Duquesne University Athletics. November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2021. Duquesne scores in closing seconds to claim fifth NEC title with 38–31 win over CCSU
  6. ^ "Sacred Heart 34-27 Duquesne (Apr 11, 2021) Final Score - ESPN". espn.com. ESPN. April 11, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
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