LORETTO, Pa. (Nov. 15, 2008) – The Saint Francis football team scored 4 times in the first half, but fumbled the ball away 4 times as they fell to the Robert Morris Colonials 35-20 on Saturday afternoon at DeGol Field in Loretto.

The Flash now fall to 0-10 this season. They will return to DeGol on November 22 to wrap up the regular season with a game against future Northeast Conference member Bryant at 1 P.M.

For the third straight game, the weather forced the Red Flash to run the ball often. This weekend, the found success in Jude Yearwood (Elkridge, Md./Howard) (Elkridge, Md./Howard) who set new career highs with 106 yards on 27 carries, marking the first time this season a running back has surpassed the 100-yard mark in a game.

Yearwood picked up the first down for the Flash, but they would be forced to punt on their first possession. The Colonials also picked up the first down, a fumble by quarterback Eric Cwalinski was recovered by linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt), giving the ball back to the Red Flash at the RMU 8-yard line.

SFU ran the ball twice for losses, forcing them to settle for a 33-yard field goal by freshman kicker Zak Campbell (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley).

The Colonials next possession looked similar to their first. Myles Russ rushed for gains of 2 and 3 yard and a 13 yard pass from Cwalinski to Sherrod Evers brought up first down at the RMU 43-yard line. Defensive tackles Zack Adams forced a fumble by Russ that was recovered cornerback Rickey Williamson (Waldorf, Md/Crosslands) (Waldorf, Md./Crossland), setting up another drive that would end in a 29-yard field goal by Campbell to put the Flash up 6-0 with 49 seconds left to play in the first quarter.

Robert Morris started the second quarter off with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Cwalinski to James O'Quinn to tie the game at 6-6. Garrett Clawson's extra point gave the Colonials the lead at 7-6.

The Red Flash answered that drive with a scoring drive of their own. Yearwood picked up 3 yards before quarterback George Little (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne) (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne) hit wide receiver Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) (Cleveland, Ohio/South) with a 10-yard pass to bring up first down at the Saint Francis 40-yard line. Yearwood and fellow running back Calvin Williams (Cleveland, Ohio/South High School) (Cleveland, Ohio/South) picked up a 12 yards on the next two plays, and Little hit freshman wide receiver Anthony Howze (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Bapist) with 48-yard pass into the end zone for a touchdown. Campbell's point after brought the score to 13-7 with the Red Flash leading again.

RMU kick returner Anthony Coleman returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to the SFU 17-yard line to give his team great field position to start their next possession. Russ rushed for 11 to pick up the first down at the 6-yard line, and Cwalinski hit Evans with an 11-yard toss for a touchdown. Clawson's kick put the Colonials ahead 14-13.

Saint Francis would be forced to punt on their next possession. RMU's drive would be short-lived, however, as cornerback Terrance Long (San Diego, Calif/Madison) (San Diego, Calif./Madison) intercepted Cwalinski at the SFU 6-yard line and returned the pick for a touchdown. Campbell's kick gave the Red Flash a 20-14 lead going into the locker room at half time.

The Colonials got the ball first in the third quarter, but would be forced to punt after right end Russel Fisher (Kailua, Hawaii/Mid-Pac Institute) (Kailua, Hawaii/Mid Pac Institute) sacked Cwalinksi for a loss of 9-yards. The Red Flash were not able to get anything done on their next drive, and punted the ball back to the Colonials. Cwalinski was sacked again on the Colonials drive, this time by Lewis for a loss of 11 yards. The ball would again go to the Red Flash, who would also be forced to punt when Little was sacked by Adam Lawrence for a loss of 10 yards and then called for intentional grounding on back-to-back plays.

Yearwood would again put in a great effort on the Flash's next drive, with an 18-yard carry for a first down. His effort would be in vain, as quarterback Colton Sipe (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) was sacked for a lost of 9 yards and fumbled the ball on the play. RMU's Andy Walton recovered the fumble to give the ball to the Colonials at the Saint Francis 32-yard line.

Shadrae King caught an 18-yard pass to bring RMU to the 14-yard line. Russ picked up another 11 yards, and then Jeff Link took the ball into the end zone on a 2-yard carry. Clawson's kick put the Colonials ahead 21-20.

The Red Flash started to move down the field with completions to Williams and Winston to pick up first downs, but Williams would fumble the ball at the Robert Morris 35-yard line and RMU's James Snider took it back for a touchdown.

Williams fumbled again on the following Red Flash drive, sending the ball back to the Colonials when Michael Landers recovered it at his own 30-yard line.

Saint Francis finished the day with 281 offensive yards on 74 plays. Little was 10-of-24 for 167 yards and 1 touchdown, while Sipe finished the day 6-of-3 for 7 yards. Howze had 2 catches for 68 yards, while Winston had 5 for 38 yards, and Williams had 3 receptions for 39 yards.

Lewis again led the defense for the Red Flash, with 11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss for a total of 19 yards, 2 sacks for a loss of 18 total yards, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery. He is currently 9 tackles away from breaking the single-season record for tackles that was set in 2000 by Duante Neal.