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LORETTO, Pa. (Sept. 19, 2012) – The Saint Francis University football team continues its three-game road trip with a non-conference showdown against No. 13/16 Towson.   
 
JUST THE FACTS
Saint Francis (2-1, 1-0 NEC) vs. Towson (1-1, 1-0 CAA)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
All-Time: Towson leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 26, 1996 – Towson 54, SFU 14
 
SETTING THE STAGE
The Red Flash enters Saturday's game against the Tigers on a two game winning streak after knocking off Northeast Conference rival Bryant and non-conference Pioneer League foe Morehead State. SFU's running game has led the way for the Flash in their last two games as they have racked up 796 yards on the ground in their last two contests. The Flash also boasts three runners ranked in the top 50 nationally in rush yards per game.
 
Towson enters Saturday's game with a 1-1 record and are coming off a home opening win against William and Mary in which the Tigers used 10-second half points to slip by the Tribe 20-17. The Tigers are led on offense by Walter Payton Award Candidate Terrance West, who currently ranks 31st nationally in rush yards per game. The Tigers opened the season against Bowl Subdivision opponent Kent State.
 
The meeting between the Tigers and the Flash ranks as just the third in the history of the two programs. Towson and Saint Francis last met in 1996 when the Tigers knocked off the Flash in Towson, Md., 54-14. The only other meeting between the Flash and Tigers came in 1995 when the Tigers bested the Flash in Loretto, 34-7.      
 
QUITE A TANDEM
Saint Francis has put together one of the best running back, quarterback running combination in the nation through the first three weeks of the season. John Kellly has rushed for 245 yards from the quarterback position a number that ranks him third nationally among FCS quarterbacks in rushing the football. Keion Wade (East Orange, N.J./East Orange), coming off a 243 yard performance, ranks 19th nationally in rush yards per game. Together, Wade and Kelly rank as the fourth-best quarterback/running back combination in all of the Football Championship Subdivision. The tandem also sits as one of just two such FCS combinations with each holding 240 rushing yards or more. The only other best “running” quarterback and running back combination comes from the Citadel and quarterback Ben Dupree and running back Darien Robinson.
 
THE STABLE
Following the loss of 2011 All-American Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) to a knee injury many questions were raised about who would fill the void of a running back that set single-season school records in 2011 for rush yards, touchdowns and points. Saint Francis has responded to the challenge with a stable of talented running backs, who have stepped up to fill the void. 
 
Senior Keion Wade (East Orange, N.J./East Orange) leads the way with 313 yards on the ground. Wade, a power back, enters the third weekend of the season ranked 19th nationally in rush yards per game and holding a 6.8 yards per carry average. Freshman Khairi Dickson (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) turned heads in week two with a 148-yard effort against Bryant. The Cleveland, Ohio native also has picked up back-to-back Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week selections.
 
Quarterback John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) has also helped the rushing attack and currently ranks third nationally in rushing among FCS quarterbacks. Sophomore rusher William Ingram (Linden, N.J./Linden) added his name to the mix against Morehead State as he enter the game late and posted 65 yards on the ground and two touchdowns on just seven rushes. Working his way into the mix has been freshman Anthony Abeid (Youngstown, Ohio/Youngstown Christian), who saw the first carries of his career against Morehead State.
 
“The Stable” has helped the SFU offense boast the sixth-best rushing attack in the nation entering the fourth week of the season. The Flash backs have also been running for average as combined all SFU runners have a 5.9 yards per carry average through three games.
 
TOP LINES IN THE COUNTRY
The Red Flash starting offensive line of Thurston Kino (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou), William Houston (Easton, Pa./Wyoming Seminary Prep), Jacob Smith, Lloyd Hill (Steelton, Pa./Steelton-Highspire) and Colin Gdula (Dunlo, Pa./Forest Hills) continues to impress under the tutelage of head coach and former NFL all-pro offensive lineman Chris Villarrial. The Red Flash offense has relied on a power running game early in the season and the offensive line has answered the challenge. The big men up front have cleared the way for the sixth-best rushing attack in the nation and the NEC's top ground game. The Red Flash blockers have also been key in the passing game allowing just three sacks in three games so far this season ranking them tied for 20th nationally in fewest sacks allowed.
 
EFFICENT AND EFFECTIVE
Quarterback John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) has not been throwing the ball around a lot in 2012 but he has been effective and is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the Northeast Conference. Kelly ranks tied for sixth in the NEC in passing yards per game but the senior ranks second in the conference in pass efficiency. Kelly has made the most of his senior year by limiting his mistakes and using his legs. Kelly leads all NEC quarterbacks in rushing and ranks fifth in the conference in rush yards per game. Kelly's 245 yards on the ground already rank as the second-highest single season total of his career.
 
NEXT UP
The Red Flash end their three-game road trip with a return to conference play as SFU travels to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne for the 99-year anniversary of their rivalry with their Keystone State cousin.