Loretto, Pa. (Nov. 21, 2009) – An emotional Senior Day nearly led to the biggest upset of the season, but a missed extra point attempt bit the Red Flash Football team late in the fourth quarter as Saint Francis fell to the Central Connecticute State Blue Devils 14-13 in Loretto.

Trailing 13-6 with 4:52 to play in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils marched 75 yards on just seven plays, capping it off with a two-yard touchdown run by Eric Richardson to make the score 14-13.  That the Flash had just 13 points as opposed to 14 was because of a bobbled exchange on an extra point just a few minutes previous.

“We made some mistakes on special teams in the second half,” said Red Flash head coach Dave Opfar.  “When you play a good football team like that, they will make you pay.”

Saint Francis had taken the lead over the Blue Devils early in the fourth quarter when freshman running back Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) (Easton, Pa./Easton) broke off a 31-yard touchdown run.  Harbridge carried several players on his shoulders into the end zone, giving the Flash a 13-7 lead.

However, a mishandled exchange between the long-snapper and holder Tim Myers (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) led to a missed extra point, a miscue CCSU would later exploit on Richardson's touchdown.

CCSU clinched sole possession of the Northeast Conference championship with the win.

Harbridge finished the day with 23 carries, 95 yards and one touchdown.  He ended his rookie campaign with 78 carries, 484 yards, and three touchdowns.  His 1,143 all-purpose yards rank sixth all-time for a single season at SFU.

After a scoreless first quarter, Central Connecticut State fired the opening salvo when Aubrey Norris hit Josue Paul for a 46-yard score with less than five minutes in the second quarter. 

However, with less than one minute to play in the second quarter, the Blue Devils made an offensive gamble, attempting to score another touchdown before time expired.  Norris was hit in the pocket by Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk) (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk) and knocked the ball loose.  It was plucked in mid-air by Russel Fisher (Kailua, Hawaii/Mid-Pac Institute) (Kailua, Hawaii/Mid Pac Institute), who returned the interception 51 yards for the tying score.  It was the first defensive touchdown scored by the Red Flash this season.

Fisher finished with seven tackles and one sack in addition to the interception.

History was made in the first quarter when Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt) (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) passed Matt Farabaugh for first-place on the school's career tackles list.  Lewis recorded 14 stops against the Blue Devils, giving him 386 for his career with one more season of eligibility.  The Northeast Conference record for tackles is 447, set by Kayode Mayowa.

The defense allowed just 271 yards, including just 57 yards to James Mallory, the second-leading rusher in the NEC.  Norris finished 11-for-15 for 177 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.  His counterpart, the Red Flash's John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora), finished 11-for-22 for 101 yards and one interception.

Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro -BCIT) (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) wrapped up his career with a six-catch, 68-yard day.  His first catch of the game vaulted him over former Monmouth Hawks and current Dallas Cowboys receiver Miles Austin for seventh place in Northeast Conference career receptions.

The loss concludes the Saint Francis season.  The Red Flash finish 2009 with a 2-9 record overall and a 1-7 record in the Northeast Conference.