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SFU GAME NOTES
Taylor Preview Duquesne
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LORETTO, Pa. (Sept. 26, 2012) – The Saint Francis University football team returns to conference play Saturday and wraps up its three-game road trip against in-state rival Duquesne.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Saint Francis (2-2, 1-0 NEC) vs. Duquesne (3-1, 1-0 NEC)
Kickoff: 1:10 p.m.
All-Time: Duquesne leads 32-6
Last Meeting: Sept. 24, 2011 – Duquesne 41, SFU 14
 
SETTING THE STAGE
The Red Flash enter the game coming off a loss against nationally ranked Towson, while the Dukes opened conference play last week with a come from behind win on the road against Bryant. SFU enters the weekend 2-2 overall and is off to its best start since 2004. The Flash opened conference play Sept. 8 with a win against Bryant at DeGol Field and followed it up with a win on the road at Morehead State. Duquesne opened the season with a loss to nationally ranked Old Dominion but the Dukes have followed the defeat up with three consecutive wins, knocking off Dayton, Valparaiso and the Bulldogs.
 
Saint Francis brings in the top rushing attack in the Northeast Conference to face a Dukes defense currently ranked second in the NEC in rush defense. Saturday's match up will feature two of the top offenses in the conference with the Dukes ranked third in total offense and the Flash ranked fourth. Both SFU and Duquesne bring in the top-three defenses in turnover margin.
 
The Dukes boast the NEC's top rusher in Larry McCoy but the Flash counter with the league's top rushing offense with three of the conference's top seven rushers in Keion Wade (East Orange, N.J./East Orange), John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) and Khairi Dickson (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic). Duquesne quarterback Sean Patterson enters Saturday's game as the NEC's most efficient passer. The senior will have a tough task Saturday taking on the fourth best pass efficiency defense in the league. The Flash secondary also boasts the second-most interceptions in the Northeast Conference.
 
The contest at Arthur J. Rooney Field Saturday will mark the 99-year anniversary of the first meeting between the Dukes and the Red Flash. SFU and Duquesne have met 37 times since that first meeting and have met the last seven seasons consecutively. The Flash are looking for the first win against their Keystone State rival since 2009.       
 
RUNNING TOWARD SUCCESS
The last three seasons the team that finished the season as the conference leader in rush offense claimed a share of the Northeast Conference title. The Red Flash currently ranks first in the NEC in rushing and sixth nationally averaging 271.25 yards per game on the ground. One of the other keys to conference success in the past three seasons has been a running quarterback. The conference champion in each of the past three seasons has featured one of the top two rushing quarterbacks in the conference. John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) currently ranks as the top rated rushing quarterback in the NEC and fourth ranked QB nationally in rushing. The senior enters the fifth week of the season tied for 71st nationally in rush yards per game with 66.25 yards per game on the ground.
 
NEC Leader in Rush Offense
2012 – Saint Francis (271.2)
2011 – Duquesne (212.8)*
2010 – CCSU (212.5)*
2009 – CCSU (219.4)*
*-won NEC title
 
TURNING OVER OFFENSE   
The Red Flash defense has triggered offense this season by turning over SFU's opponents. The Flash defense has generated the third most turnovers in the Northeast Conference (10) but SFU has generated the second most points off those turnovers. In total this season, Saint Francis has generated 31.6-percent of its offense off turnovers, the second highest percentage in the NEC behind Duquesne, who has had 34.1-percentage of its offense come off turnovers. The Flash also rank among the top teams in the NEC in points off turnovers, which means SFU is one of the league's best at punishing teams for turning the ball over.
 
Points off TO; Per Turnover
Albany – 4
SFU – 3.8
Duquesne – 3.72
Bryant – 3.5
Monmouth – 2.33
CCSU – 2
RMU – 0
SHU – 0
Wagner -0
 
MONEY TIME
“Money plays” are defined as plays in which a rusher or receiver either gains a first down or scores a touchdown. The Red Flash leader in “money plays” through four games sits as Keion Wade (East Orange, N.J./East Orange) with 16 total plays going for either a touchdown or a first down and one going for both. The receivers have racked up some of the biggest plays for SFU, AJ Alexander has had four of his seven catches go for first downs or touchdowns with three of his seven grabs going for both. Senior tight end Kevin Parker (Monessen, Pa./Monessen) and Alexander have been the biggest receiving threats on first down. Combined Alexander and Parker have six first-down catches and four have gone for first downs and three have gone for touchdowns.  
 
CORNER STONES
SFU cornerbacks Patrick Paul (Port Charlotte, Fla./Port Charlotte ) and Mike Dennis (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) have turned themselves into one of the top cornerback combinations in the Northeast Conference. Together Paul and Dennis have more interceptions than any other NEC CB combination. Dennis might be slowing becoming the league's top corner with two picks and an NEC leading five pass break ups through four games this season. Paul, who saw limited action as freshman, continues to excel in a starting roll for the Flash. The sophomore has two interceptions through four games and more tackles (15) this season then all of 2011 (10). Combined with the Flash safeties, Paul and Dennis have posted the fourth best pass efficiency defense in the NEC.  
 
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 383 yards on the ground. Wade, a power back, enters the third weekend of the season ranked 33rd nationally in rush yards per game and holds a 6.5 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 picked up back-to-back Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week selections in week two and three.
 
Quarterback John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) has also helped the rushing attack and currently ranks fourth 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 entered 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 and racked up 35 yards late against Towson.
 
“The Stable” has helped the SFU offense boast the sixth-best rushing attack in the nation entering the fifth week of the season. The Flash backs have also been running for average as combined all SFU runners have a 5.5 yards per carry average through four games.
 
NEXT UP
The Red Flash returns home to take on conference rival Robert Morris at DeGol Field Oct. 6 with kickoff set for noon against the Colonials.