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LORETTO, Pa. (Nov. 7, 2012) –The Saint Francis University football team heads to West Long Branch, N.J. this weekend for a national televised contest with Monmouth set for a noon kickoff.  
 
JUST THE FACTS
Saint Francis Red Flash (3-6, 2-4) vs.
Monmouth Hawks (4-4, 3-2)
When: Saturday, Nov. 10 – Noon
Where: Kessler Field, West Long Branch, N.J.
All-Time: Monmouth leads 17-2
Last Time They Met: Nov. 5, 2011, SFU 45, Monmouth 48


 
BROADCAST INFO
LIVE: Fox College Sports Atlantic, Direct TV channel 623, thisTV (Western Pa.) and can also be seen live online on ESPN3 or by using the WatchESPN app.
TAPE DELAY: Root Sports Pittsburgh (Monday 11/12 at 7 p.m.)
Broadcasters:  Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Steve Levy (Color Analyst)
SFU Radio Broadcast: RedzoneMedia.com
Web Stream: ESPN3
 
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SETTING THE STAGE
Saint Francis enters Saturday looking for its fourth win of the season and seeking SFU's first win ever in West Long Branch. The Red Flash have lost six in a row to the Hawks and have not won since knocking off Monmouth 19-15 Nov. 5, 2005. The last three meetings have been close and last season the two teams combined for the most points in series history as Monmouth escaped Loretto with a 48-45 win.
 
For his career, John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) has done well against the Hawks averaging 135-passing yards in three all-time meetings with Monmouth. The senior quarterback also averages just under 50-yards rushing a game against Monmouth. Kyle Frazier looks to continue his success against SFU as the signal caller enters Saturday having never lost to SFU and averaging 153-yards passing in two career games against SFU. Frazier has three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 72.9-percent career-completion percentage against SFU.
 
Saint Francis enters Saturday with the fourth ranked scoring offense in the Northeast Conference averaging 24.2 points a contest. SFU brings in the top rated rushing attack in the NEC into the showdown at West Long Branch, as the Flash average a little over 226 yards a game on the ground. No other team in the NEC averages more than 195 on the ground. In total offense in the NEC, the Flash rank fourth averaging 347.2 yards a game. SFU must improve on third down if the Flash want to upset the Hawks. The Flash defense has the worst opponent third-down conversion rate in the NEC allowing teams to convert 48.2-percent of their third-downs. The defensive third-down conversion rate ranks 116th out of 121 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.
 
Monmouth like Saint Francis was not in action last week but for a completely different reason. The Hawks were unable to play their scheduled game with Central Connecticut State after the devastation caused by Super Strom Sandy. Monmouth ranks second in the Northeast Conference in scoring offense, averaging 29.6 points per contest, while the Hawk defense ranks fifth in the NEC in scoring allowing 26.8 a game. The Hawks lead the NEC in pass offense with 249-yards a game through the air but rank last in the NEC in passing defense allowing 251.2-passing yards a game. The Hawks do have the best rush defense in the Northeast Conference allowing just 110.1-yards a game on the ground. Kyle Frazier leads the Monmouth offense averaging 240-yards passing a game and holding a NEC best 66.8-completion percentage.
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
1 – Despite his 126-rushing attempts this season, John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) boast just one rushing touchdown in 2012.
 
5 – Ball Possession has been key for SFU this season and in five quarters this season the Flash have held the ball for 10 minutes for more.
 
7 – Saint Francis has just seven third-down conversions this season in the second quarter on 30 attempts giving the Flash just a 23.3-percent third-down conversion rate this season in the second quarter.
 
7 (Bonus) – Josh Thiel (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) has connected on seven consecutive field goals this season and is a perfect 5-for-5 from 40+ yards.
 
11 – Keion Wade (East Orange, N.J./East Orange) leads the Red Flash in scoring this season with 66 points on a team leading 11 touchdowns.
 
21 – In its three wins, Saint Francis has 21 pass break ups and quarterback hurries combined but in its six losses just 10.
 
THIEL REWRITES RECORD BOOK
Josh Thiel (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) continues to set himself apart from every place-kicker in school history. After connecting on a school-record long 50-yard field goal against CCSU, Thiel now has the five longest kicks in school history. The senior sits just two field goals away from Adam Sciulli for the SFU career record for career made field goals. Thiel also sits just seven made extra points away from the school record.
 
TIGHT GAMES VS. UNRANKED FOES
Saint Francis has played all of its unranked foes close this season losing three games to unranked conference foes by 12 combined points. On the season, SFU holds a 3-3 record against unranked foes and has outscored its unranked opponents 181-141. The Flash got off to a great start against unranked teams winning three of its first four but SFU has dropped its last two games against unranked opponents, falling 31-24 against Wagner and 32-30 at CCSU.
 
KELLY BACK TO PASS?
Starting quarterback John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) ranks as on of the top throwers in school history ranking in the top three all-time at SFU in attempts and completions. But in 2012, Kelly has also been making his mark in the run game. The senior signal caller has run the ball nearly as many times as he has thrown it. Entering Saturday's meeting with Monmouth, Kelly has 165 passing attempts and 126 rush attempts. The senior has rushed for over 100 yards four times in 2012 including breaking the century mark in his last two games. In the passing game, Kelly has 1,030-yards with nine touchdowns but has not hit 200-yards passing in a game yet this season. The senior has excelled at the deep ball and has at least one completion of 60-yards or more in three of his last four games.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns home for its final game of the season Nov. 17 as the Flash welcome Sacred Heart. The game will also serve as senior day for the team; the contest is schedule for a noon start.