Sacred Heart is 2-0 when Ilalio plays in defensive backfield

September 23, 2015

Matt Ilalio football

Matt Ilalio

Sophomore Matt Ilalio of Anchorage has stepped into a larger role for the Sacred Heart University football team.

The 5-foot-9 defensive back has made 15 tackles and recorded his first career sack while helping the team win its first two games of the season.

Ilalio, of Service High fame, played in six games as a freshman, mostly on special teams. He recorded a total of two tackles, both against Robert Morris.

This year he has earned a starting job at strong safety.

He made an immediate impact in the first game, a 43-19 win over Saint Anselm.

Ilalio had 11 tackles, five of them solo, a sack and his first tackle for a loss.

He had three solo tackles in a 56-3 win over Valparaiso.