The Red Flash traveled to Moon Township, Pa. to take on the Robert Morris Colonials for their first Northeast Conference battle of the 2007 season. It was also their first road trip of the year. Both sides of the ball for Saint Francis played well, but could not match the strong offensive efforts of RMU's quarterback Erik Cwalinski and running back Myles Russ, accounting for two touchdowns each. The Red Flash ended up dropping the contest, 28-14, putting them 0-1 in NEC play, and 0-2 on the season.

Highlighting the Red Flash's offense were sophomore receivers Calvin Williams (Cleveland, Ohio/South High School) (South High / Cleveland, Ohio) and freshman Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) (Cleveland South / Cleveland, Ohio), both achieving their first touchdowns for Saint Francis. Winston's touchdown was a 31-yard reception, his first ever catch in the collegiate ranks, is definitely a nice way to earn your first stat. Once again, the defense was commanded by the talented freshman Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt) (Bishop McCort, South Fork, Pa.) who led the team with 10 total tackles, three for losses, as well as bullying his way past the line for two sacks.

Robert Morris received the opening kick of the game, when Mario Hines opened with a 22-yard sprint to the 36-yard-line, but that spot was pulled back 20 yards because of an illegal blocking call. The first offensive endeavors of the Colonials were shut down with a vicious sack by one part of Saint Francis' fantastic freshmen linebacker trio, Ryan Shepard (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) (Kittanning / Kittanning, Pa.), who was completely unguarded by the RMU front line. The Red Flash assumed control on their own 20, but did not hang on to it for too long, as their first time of possession lasted a fleeting 00:49 after Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro -BCIT) (Willingboro / Willingboro, N.J.) coughed up the ball when he got wrapped up from behind. The Colonials converted a first down on the subsequent drive, but were stuffed by the Flash's defensive front line on a 4th and 1 play; a continuation of their strong defensive aptitude in the first quarter that gave up only 47 total yards. After trading possessions, sophomore signal caller George Little (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne) (Duquesne / Duquesne, Pa.) was picked off by RMU's linebacker Chad Wengert at 6:06, but it only amounted to 17 yards on 5 plays for RMU, as the scoreless first quarter terminated with 2 punts from the Colonials, and one boot from SFU's Bobby Fuller (Mount Savage, Md/Beall) (Beall / Mount Savage, Md.) after a 3-and-out drive.

The second quarter saw a bit more success on both offensive sides of the ball. RMU's punter Nick Schirtzinger blasted a 53-yard punt to Saint Francis returnman Jared Colmer (Ducansville, Pa. /Hollidaysburg) (Hollidaysburg / Duncansville, Pa.) to start off the second quarter, but the Flash couldn't amass anything substantial, resulting in a Fuller 51-yard boom, pinning the Colonials on their own 13-yard line. Robert Morris mixed in a few running plays from their running backs Myles Russ and Rion Listhrop on their next possession, amounting to a few scant yards. Later in the drive, RMU's quarterback Erik Cwalinski converted a 15-yard gun to his tight end Regis Flowers, but was negated by a holding penalty from center John Steilner, giving way to another Schirtzinger punt from his own 20-yard line. Yet, the Colonials offense would return seven seconds later courtesy of another errant throw from Little, this time intercepted by Mark Szymanski. Robert Morris started their drive on their own 30-yard marker. On the first play of the drive, a 9-yard Cwalinski strike to Julian Ellison was extended on a questionable 15-yard face mask from SFU, and on 2nd and 7, the Colonials put forth a very entertaining play. Cwalinski hit his fullback Listhrop on a short pass behind the line of scrimmage, which was tossed back to Cwalinski who then looked down field, but the SFU pressure forced him to scurry back across the field. He eventually found some room and completed the roundabout pass to Myles Russ for 18 yards on a one-handed snag, down to the Red Flash 25-hash mark. RMU's flanker Mario Hines made a 14-yard dash on the next snap, which was pursued by three incomplete attempts from Cwalinski. A roughing-the-passer call on the third incompletion gave the Colonials a fresh set of downs, and Myles Russ capped off the 9 play, 70 yard drive on a 6-yard score at 6:55 of the second quarter for the first score of the contest. Kicker Michael Walser added the extra try, making if a 7-0 count.

The Red Flash countered right back, stringing together one of their finest offensive charges of the season, chewing 4:47 off the clock on 13 plays for 80 yards. Most of Little's 100 total passing yards of the first half came on the Red Flash's sixth drive of the game. Saint Francis converted a testy 3rd and 15 when Little fired a pass right into the chest of Rivera for 17 yards. Joe DeLeo (Philadelphia, Pa/Archbishop Ryan) (Archbishop Ryan / Philadelphia, Pa.) caught his third pass on the year for 17 yards, as well, moving the chains down to RMU's 37-yard line. Anthony Richards (Parlin, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) (Cardinal McCarrick / Parlin, N.J) and Calvin Williams (Cleveland, Ohio/South High School) stabilized the Flash's stampede on six and seven yard carries, respectively. A 22-yard rope to Rivera once again brought the drive down to the two-yard line, and at 1:56 left in the third period, Williams found his way into the endzone on a 1-yard scuttle for his first career touchdown at SFU. Unfortunately, the Red Flash defense could not keep the game tied up before half. Robert Morris marched down the field in 1:42 on the arm of Cwalinski. Cwalinski went 5-for-6 on the series, ending the drive on a 2-yard touchdown pass to Chris Molnar, bringing the first half of play to a close, 14-7.

The Red Flash took started off the second half with possession of the ball, but the offense stalled and Fuller's punt to Mario Hines was not what the special teams unit wanted to be victims of. Hines almost took it to the house on a fancy, zigzagging 48-yard punt return, down to the SFU 12-yard line. Two plays later, Russ charged his way in for his second 6-point play on a 12-yard dash at 13:13. A Walser extra point extended the lead to 14 points for RMU, 21-7.

Richards tried to get the Flash back in the game on an 18-yard kickoff return, but SFU could not gain a first down and Fuller came on to assume his punting duties. A 21-yard return from Hines gave RMU position in Flash territory at the 43-yard line. On the 6th play of the drive, Hines caught the 9-yard scoring pass from Cwalinski to finish what he started, wrapping up the scoring on Robert Morris' efforts.

The Red Flash went three-and-out on the following drive, but a Hines fumble on the punt was recovered by freshman linebacker Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk) (Blackhawk / Darlington, Pa.) who scooped up the loose ball for his first fumble recovery in his early career. The Red Flash could not capitalize, and the two teams exchanged possessions. Little threw his third pick at 2:01 of the third to James Kazil, but no scoring came off the turnover.

Four drives later, the Red Flash made their last ditch effort to pull within striking distance of RMU's 21 point advantage. At 12:41 of the final quarter, DeLeo hauled in two balls, totaling 26 yards. Soon after, Little found the open field for a 16-yard hurry. That run set up freshman receiver Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South)'s first collegiate catch which resulted in a 31-yard touchdown, the Flash's longest play from scrimmage on the afternoon. Adam Sciulli (Pittsburgh, Pa/Central Catholic) (Central Catholic / Pittsburgh, Pa.) extra point made it a 28-14 count, but that was all the scoring Joe Walton Stadium would play host to on Saturday afternoon. The Red Flash had one more promising drive with 2:52 left in the game, but a 13-yard sack on RMU's 9-yard line and Little's fourth interception of the game to Kazil, his second, hindered all hopes of a Cinderella comeback.

Saint Francis will take a break next weekend and resume play against the Liberty Flames in Lynchburg, Va. in a non-conference bout at 7pm at Williams Stadium. The Flames are strong team and will pose as a legitimate opponent on Saturday, Sept. 29.