WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Oct. 23, 2010) –The Saint Francis football team struggled to get move on the ball until late in the game, as the Red Flash fell 19-7 to the Monmouth Hawks in a Northeast Conference game in West Long Branch.

The Red Flash, who fall to 1-6 on the season, 1-4 in the NEC, did not gain any traction on offense until the middle of the fourth quarter, when the Hawks had already established a 19-0 lead.  Starting sophomore Tim Myers (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) at quarterback in place of John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora), the Flash were held to just 46 total yards in the first half.

Myers was replaced by Kelly in the second half, and the redshirt sophomore went 10-for-21 for 69 yards and a touchdown, finding Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) on a 4th and goal play with 1:57 remaining in regulation.  That touchdown was the final play of an 18 play, 90-yard touchdown drive that used six minutes, 56 seconds.

The Red Flash initially managed to recover the ensuing onside kick attempt, but an illegal formation penalty forced SFU to attempt the play again.  This time, however, the Hawks recovered.

The Red Flash defense played an inspired first quarter, bending but not breaking to the will of Monmouth.  On Monmouth's first offensive drive, the Flash held the Hawks to a 22-yard field goal attempt.  The kick was blocked by Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt) (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort), who recovered the kick.

On Monmouth's next drive, Lewis keyed a second defensive stand.  With the defense lined up at the goal line, Lewis stuffed Hawks running back L.J. Caprio on a 4th-and-Goal attempt from the SFU 1 to give the Flash the ball with 32 seconds remaining.

Monmouth did get on the board in the second quarter, when Brian Sloan El rushed in from 20 yards out to give the Hawks a 6-0 lead.  Lewis struck again, however, blocking Monmouth kicker Eric Spillane's extra point attempt.   

The Hawks would tack on a field goal at 5:06 of the second quarter when Spillane booted a field goal, and MU quarterback Kyle Frazier would fine Mike Roeder in the end zone before the half to give the Hawks a 16-0 advantage.

Spillane added a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Monmouth a 19-0 lead.

The Red Flash defense was led by Lewis, who had two kick blocks, 11 tackles, and a pass break-up.  Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk) (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk) had a game-high 12 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.  On offense, Anthony Howze (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) had five catches for 43 yards.  Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) had just one catch for 10 yards, but it was a touchdown.

NOTES: The Red Flash will next take on the #23 Cal Poly Mustangs on Oct.30.  Kickoff is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. ET… Parker and Lewis passed Erik Dandy and Charles Thompson of Western Kentucky for the most career tackles between two teammates.  Parker and Lewis have a combined 869 career tackles… Lewis's blocked kicks were the first two of the season for the Red Flash… the Red Flash were a perfect 2-for-2 on 4th down…