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]
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 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 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]
2021 Northeastern Conference Football Championship Game
at Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field , Pittsburgh, PA
Date : Sunday, April 11, 2021Game time : 2 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind : NW 6 mphGame attendance : 400TV 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 )
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