PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Sept. 20, 2008) – The Saint Francis University football team was once again able to get on the board first, but couldn't hold the lead as the fell to the Duquesne Dukes 21-7 on Saturday evening in Pittsburgh. The Red Flash fall to 0-3 overall, and 0-1 in the Northeast Conference while the Dukes, getting their first ever NEC win and their first of the season, move to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

The team will travel to Kentucky for a 1 PM contest at Morehead State on September 27. They will play at Monmouth the following week before returning to DeGol Field on October 11 to host Sacred Heart

The Red Flash were able to shut down the nation's number one ranked offense in the NCAA FCS on their first two possessions. The Dukes were able to shut down the Flash on their first possession on an interception by Bill Polletti.

The big play of the Flash's scoring drive was a 19-yard rush by freshman fullback Daniel Conley (Burgettstown, Md./Burgettstown) to bring the Red Flash up to the Dukes' 39-yard line. Saint Francis got on the board first with a 9-yard rush into the endzone by junior running back Calvin Williams (Cleveland, Ohio/South High School) (Cleveland, Ohio/South) on the team's second possession of the game to make the score 7-0. The drive was 10 plays for 73 yards and ate up 5:52 of clock time.

The Dukes would then start a 61 yard drive that would end a 12-yard pass from Dukes quarterback Connor Dixon to Alex Roberson to tie the game at 7-7. Duquesne kicker Josh Kurz's kickoff would then go out of bounds. The penalty would then bring the ball from the Saint Francis 15 yard line to the 40.

Conley would start the drive off with a 10-yard gain to bring the Flash a first down on the 50 yard line. They would make it to the Duquesne 20 before junior quarterback George Little (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne)'s (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne) pass would be intercepted by Chidozie Oparanozie, who would return in to the Saint Francis 33-yard line before being tackled by sophomore offensive lineman Christopher Buzas (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep) (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep). Two penalties on the Red Flash would bring the Dukes to Saint Francis 9-yad line where Dixon would complete a 9-yard pass to Michael Rasky their second touchdown of the game, taking their first lead of the game at 14-7.

The Flash would never regain the lead, as their next drive started with consecutive plays of lost yardage, before quarterback Little completed a 20-yard pass to tight end Ryan Zarnich (Rochester, Pa./Rochester Area) (Rochester, Pa./Rochester Area) to bring them to their own 40-yard line. Again, the Flash would make it into Duke's territory only to have Oparanozie intercept Little at the Duquesne 7-yard line.

This time, the Dukes would need a 91-yard pass from Dixon to score. The pass, caught in the endzone by Conrad Carter, was the second longest ever thrown by an opponent against the Red Flash. Mercyhurst completed a 92-yard touchdown pass in 1997 that ranks first in the school record books.

With the Dukes leading 21-7, teams would trade possessions in the third quarter with neither one finding the endzone. The Flash fumbled the ball on their first possession, only to have it recovered by center Cody Kekipi (Waimanalo, Hawaii/Punahou) (Waimanalo, Hawaii/Punahou for the first recovery of his career. Sophomore linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt) (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) then intercepted Dixon on the Duke's second possession of the second half and returned it 5 yards before being tripped up. The Flash were not able to capitalize on the takeaway, which was the first of Lewis's career.

Both teams would be kept out of the endzone for the rest of the game. Little was sacked on the team's second possession of the quarter by Duquesne's Alex Inda for a loss of 10 yards. The Dukes sacked Little a total of 3 times for a loss of 21 yards, and would hurry him twice. The Flash had no sacks on Dixon. The longest play of the fourth quarter by either team was a 26-yard catch by Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) (Cleveland, Ohio/South) to bring Saint Francis to the Duke's 40-yard line.

Little was 15-of-31 on the day with three interceptions for a total of 144 yards. The Red Flash had a total of 73 offensive plays to the Dukes' 50, and had possession of the ball for 38:02. They were able to convert on 3 of 6 fourth downs, and had 276 total offense yards.

Williams led the running backs with 22 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown. Conley also had another strong showing, with 52 yards on 6 carries. Williams also led the receivers, with 41 yards on 4 catches, though Winston caught Little's longest toss of the day for 26 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Ryan Shepard (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) led the defense with nine total tackles, while Lewis and fellow sophomore linebacker Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk) (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk) each had a tackle for loss. Parker and Lewis are currently ranked 10th and 14th in the nation in total tackles.