PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Nov. 13, 2010) – The Saint Francis football team was unable to overcome a career day from Duquesne quarterback Sean Patterson, and the Red Flash fell 41-17 to the Dukes on a sunny afternoon at Arthur J. Rooney Field.

History was made in the second quarter when Red Flash linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt) (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) became just the second player in Division I (FCS) history to record 500 career tackles when he brought down Dukes running back Bill Bair.  Lewis finished with eight tackles to give himself 507 career tackles, second-most in NCAA Division I (FCS) history.

The game was tight in the first half, with the Dukes holding a slight advantage until quite late in the second quarter.  However, the Dukes' passing game was able to gain yards in large chunks, and Dukes quarterback Patterson recorded six total touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) in the win.

"We lost our focus in the second half, and [Patterson] was able to exploit our mistakes," said Saint Francis head football coach Chris Villarrial.  "We didn't do a good job of completing our pass rush and putting pressure on the quarterback."

"It wasn't just them, though," added Villarrial.  "We have a lot to work on on both offense and defense for next week."

The loss drops the Red Flash to 1-9 overall, 1-6 in the Northeast Conference.  Duquesne improves to 6-4 overall, 4-3 in the Northeast Conference.

As stated, the first half of the game looked more like a slugfest.  After forcing a three-and-out on Duquesne's first offensive possession, the Red Flash posted their longest drive of the season – in terms of time of possession - to open the scoring in the first quarter.  Traveling 67 yards on 18 plays and taking 9:04 off the clock, the Flash put up the first points of the contest when sophomore kicker Josh Thiel (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) kicked a 28-yard field goal.

However, the Dukes would strike next when Sean Patterson hit Dave Williams on a long pass from deep in the Duquesne zone.  Starting from their own 21, Patterson and Williams hooked up on a 79-yard catch-and-run that resulted in a touchdown.  Eric Duale added the extra point to make it 7-3.

Early in the second quarter, a Duquesne special teams gaffe proved to be a major turn of events.  Saint Francis punter Andrew Penksa (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) kicked from near midfield to inside the Duquesne 5.  Dukes returner Jared Williams was indecisive as to whether to field the kick, and the ball hit off his left arm.  Now a live ball, Red Flash defensive back Cory Leonard (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) fell on the ball at the Duquesne 2.

One play later, Jude Yearwood (Elkridge, Md./Howard) (Elkridge, Md./Howard) ran off right tackle for a touchdown.  Thiel's extra point made it 10-7.

After the Dukes scored on another long pass play – this time Patterson to Connor Dixon from 56 yards out – the Red Flash gave the Dukes a taste of their own medicine.  Facing a 2nd-and 6 from the SFU 45 and with 9:08 remaining in the first half, Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) (Easton, Pa./Easton) cut between the linemen on the left side and cut loose down the field, scampering 55 yards for a score.  Thiel's extra point made it 17-14.

Harbridge finished with 16 carries for a game-high 131 yards and one touchdown.  It was the first 100-yard rushing game for Harbridge since Week 3, when he ran for 115 yards against Sacred Heart, and his first touchdown since that game as well.

However, the Dukes posted 13 more points to make it 27-17 by the end of the first half, and Patterson added two more touchdown passes in the second half to set the final score of 41-17.  He finished 13-of-21 for 278 yards in addition to his five scoring passes.

Defensively, freshman safety Jake DeMedal (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) (New Wilmington, Del./Wilmington) had a team-high nine tackles, and also contributed an interception with a 49-yard return in the third quarter.  As stated, Lewis finished with eight tackles and added a tackle for loss.

NOTES: The Red Flash will close the 2010 season against Central Connecticut State next Saturday, Nov. 20.  Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m…. Harbridge's 55-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was his first run over 50 yards in nearly one year; he had a 62-yard touchdown against Bryant on Nov. 14, 2009… Harbridge also surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards against the Dukes, reaching the millennial mark in just 17 career games… One more note about Harbridge: he also surpassed 2,000 all-purpose yards in his career, and now has 2,082 in his career… The Red Flash had a season-best 220 yards on the ground… Jude Yearwood (Elkridge, Md./Howard) scored a rushing touchdown for the third consecutive game… Saint Francis won the time of possession battle 30:32 to 29:28… Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) is now up to 141 career receptions…Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk) (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk) had his 21-game streak of eight or more tackles snapped.  It dated back to the 2008 season… Parker now has 427 career tackles, and needs 11 more to pass James Noel for third on the Northeast Conference's career list.