LEXINGTON, Va. (Sept. 6, 2008) – The Saint Francis football team had a difficult time containing the triple-threat option of Virginia Military Institute in both teams' season openers on Saturday as the Keydets used several big plays to outgun the Red Flash 49-0 on Saturday at Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium.

It marked the first time SFU has been shut out since a 48-0 loss on Oct. 21, 2006, at Albany.



The Red Flash will try to regroup when they return to Loretto to host Marist at 1 p.m. on Saturday at DeGol Field in their home opener.



VMI's Tim Maypray, who led the team with 116 rushing yards, scored on the first drive of the game on a 52 yard run. All four of the Keydets first-half touchdowns were on runs of 45 yards or more, including a 46-yard fumble recovery for a TD by Alexander Damiso to finish the first half scoring to give VMI a 28-0 lead going into halftime.



The Red Flash offense made it to the VMI 38-yard line on their first drive, and then to VMI's 23 on the second drive of the game. However, Saint Francis was forced to punt from the 38 on the first drive, and junior quarterback George Little (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne) (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne) was sacked for a loss of one yard by Keydet Jacob Rochester to turn the second drive over on downs. Another big play cost the Red Flash on the Keydets' third offensive possession. VMI slotback Zach Collins scored on a 62 yard run to make it 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.



In the second quarter Sophomore defensive back Robert Horne (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) had the Red Flash's lone interception, which came after defensive back Cory Brown (Harrisburg, Pa/Harrisburg) (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) tipped Keydet quarterback Kyle Hughes' pass. Horne had an eight yard return on his second career interception.



Brown then tackled quarterback Hughes in the third quarter for his first career sack. The Keydets lost 11 yards on the play, and Brown went on to total 4 tackles in the game.



Collins again struck pay dirt in the second quarter when he sprinted down the left sideline for a 50-yard touchdown. He had two carries in the game for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns.



Just over one minute later, Alexander picked up a fumble at the SFU 46-yard line and returned it to the end zone to give VMI a 28-0 lead with 6:51 to go in the first half.



The Red Flash defense came out strong in the second half, holding the Keydets to just one touchdown in the third quarter. Maypray ran 35 yards for a touchdown to make it 35-0 with 10:28 to go in the third quarter.



The Keydets took advantage of two SFU turnovers in the fourth quarter to score two more touchdowns with a short field. Another Red Flash fumble set VMI inside the 50-yard line. Kyle Hughes connected with Travis Ludden for an 8-yard scoring strike to make it 42-0. After Saint Francis fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Howard Abegesah struck on a 1-yard run to complete the scoring at 49-0 with 5:16 remaining in the game.



The best chance for the Red Flash to come away with a scoring strike came in the fourth quarter when Little directed his offense down to the VMI 13. Senior wide receiver Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro -BCIT)'s (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) 13-yard reception and Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South)'s (Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland South) 10-yard catch would bring Saint Francis to the VMI 13, but consecutive incomplete passes would force the Red Flash to turn the ball over on downs.



Rivera led the Red Flash with 88 yards on 6 receptions, and is now two receptions short of 100 in his Red Flash career. He now sits tied for fourth place on the all-time list. Winston also contributed with a career-high 6 receptions for a total of 82 yards.



One bright spot for Saint Francis was the solid play of numerous freshmen. Freshman wide receiver Darnell Dixon (Severn, MD/Old Mill)'s (Severn, Md. / Old Mill) first collegiate play was a great catch on a 4th and 2 that brought the Red Flash to first down. The Red Flash went 3-of-5 on fourth down conversions in the game.



Freshman full back Dan Conley (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) also had a stellar debut with 18 yards on three carries, but made several key blocks in his first collegiate game.



The Red Flash had 4 fumbles on the day, with one being recovered by senior captain Alexander Szoke-Benton (Kunkletown, Pa. /Pius X ) (Kunkletown, Pa./Pius X). VMI turned three of four Red Flash turnovers into 21 points on the afternoon.



VMI's rushing offense was a test to the Red Flash defensive unit. The Keydets rushed for 418 yards, which is the third most in school history by a Saint Francis opponent. VMI went 3-for-7 in passing, which also makes the record books tied for fourth in fewest pass attempts.