Fairfield, CT – The Pioneers clinched home field advantage for the Conference Championship after defeating Clarkson in what ended up being their last regular season game. The Pioneers would await the winner of the George Mason vs Coppin State regular season finale. George Mason defeated CSU, 35-0, and would travel back to Fairfield CT for the North Atlantic Conference Championship game.
 
The Pioneers would receive the opening kickoff and after a holding penalty, started the opening drive at the 25 yard line. They put together an 11 play, 75 yard touchdown drive that was capped with a 6 yard touchdown run by RB David DePalma. The extra point was blocked, which made the score 6-0. The Pioneers forced the Patriots to a three and out and took over at their own 44 yard line. The teams would exchange punts before the Patriots put together a solid drive, getting to the Pioneers 41 yard line. A 4^th and 4, the Patriots elected to go for it, throwing the ball downfield where it was intercepted by Sophomore Safety Mason Mesbah.
 
The start of the second quarter had the Pioneers taking over and driving the ball 79 yards downfield, where once again David DePalma took over. From the 22 yard line, DePalma followed fellow RB Trevor Annicharico through a massive hole created by the offensive line and up the sideline, making several defenders miss and dragging a couple more Patriots into the endzone for his second touchdown of the day. A failed 2 point conversion made the score 12-0.
 
The Patriots would follow the TD with another three and out before punting back to the Pioneers. On the ensuing possession, the Pioneers fumbled at midfield turning the ball back over to the Patriots at midfield. After stopping the Patriots on first and second down, the Patriots attempted a screen pass but it was intercepted by DE Liam Mussehl. The one handed interception was a big momentum turn for the home team, as the Pioneers took over once again at midfield. The Pioneers would take the ball and drive the length of the field, 49 yards to the 1 yard line largely in part to a big run by RB Marc Andre Thermitus. Once again, Captain and Senior RB David DePalma took the ball and plunged it through the goal line. The 2 point conversion was no good, making the score 18-0.
 
The Patriots took the ball and marched towards midfield, where they were once again stalled on 4^th down, turning the ball back over to the Pioneers around midfield. With the ball on their own 44 yard line, RB Marc Thermitus ran the ball right through the middle of the Patriot defense and went untouched 56 yards for another touchdown. The 2 pt conversion was no good, and made the score 24-0.
 
The Patriots returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield, but two plays later they fumbled the ball right back to the Pioneers. The fumble was forced by FR DE Josh Quainoo and recovered by JR DE Liam Mussehl. The Pioneers ran the clock out until halftime, with the score at half being 24-0.
 
The Patriots received the ball at the start of the second half, before stalling out and punting it back to the Pioneers. Several plays into the drive, looking at a 3^rd and 6, Freshman RB/LB Teighan Jeremy took the ball down the right sideline and beat a defender to the pylon. A failed 2 pt conversion made the score 30-0. The Patriots stalled once again on the ensuing possession before punting the ball back to the Pioneers. Starting at their own 20 yard line, the Pioneers ran the ball out to the 39 yard line, where Teighan Jeremy took the hand off and  raced 61 yards to the endzone. The Pioneers converted on their first extra point of the after noon, making the score 37-0.
 
The Patriots returned the ball to midfield on the following kickoff and 1 play later, a zoom sweep by a Patriot WR, they were on the board making the score 37-6. The Pioneers were forced to put on their next possession, when reigning defensive player of the year Gabriel Gibson from George Mason blocked his second kick of the day – this one a punt – giving the ball to the Patriots at midfield. The Patriots took over, drove 50 yards down field in 7 plays and scored when the GMU Quarterback scored from 3 yards out. A successful 2 point conversion made the score 37-14.
 
The Pioneers took the next kickoff and returned it back to their own 39 yard line. One play later, the quarter ended with the score being 37-14. The Pioneers resumed play by running the ball down to the 4 yard line, when Freshman RB Roberto DaCosta Jr plunged off the right side and into the endzone. A failed 2 point conversion made the score 43-14.
 
The Patriots went 4 and out, turning the ball over on downs the following possession and SHU would follow up with the same result inside the Patriots 20 yard line. The Patriots would take over at the 20. Two short yardage plays put the Patriots in a tough position with 3^rd and long. The Patriots QB dropped back but scrambled for his life, continuing to move backwards until he was brought down inside the 5 yard line by Liam Mussehl and Julian Percoco forcing a 4^th and long. The punt unit was brought out but chaos ensued with the long snapper snapping the ball over the head of the punter and out of bounds for a safety, which made the score 45-14. Rob DaCosta took the following kickoff and almost returnd it for a touchdown, brought down inside the 15 yard line. That would be the final result, with the Pioneers winning the North Altantic Conference Championship for the 5^th year in a row. The Pioneers will play in the NCFA National Semi-Final against Gordon State on November 19^th in Fairfax, VA.