LYNCHBURG, Va. (Sept. 4, 2010) – The Saint Francis football team took the lead on their very first possession of the game, but they would not score again as the hosting Liberty Flames defeated the Red Flash 52-7 in the 2010 opener for both teams.

The Flames boasted the best scoring offense in NCAA Division I (FCS) in 2009, and they showed a similar finishing ability against the Red Flash in the first game of 2010.  The Flames posted 52 points, the most allowed by the Red Flash since Wagner gave scored 56 against the Red Flash on Sept. 19, 2009.

“There were a lot of good things that came out of the game today,” said SFU head coach Chris Villarrial.  “However, the bad far outweighed the good today, and we're going to have a lot of work on our hands.  We go to Morehead State next week, and we have to forget this game and prepare for that one.”

The majority of the good came on the legs of Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) (Easton, Pa./Easton), getting the start at tailback in place of the injured Jude Yearwood (Elkridge, Md./Howard) (Elkridge, Md./Howard).  Harbridge silenced the Liberty partisans in the first quarter when, after the Red Flash held the Flames to a failed 52-yard field goal attempt on their first possession, he slipped tacklers en route to a 38-yard touchdown run that gave SFU a 7-0 lead.  

Harbridge was the game's leader in all-purpose yardage, racking up 133 rushing yards, six receiving yard, and 75 kick return yards for a total of 214 yards.

The Red Flash maintained that lead for most of the first half, with the powerful Liberty offense held to just a field goal through the first 20 minutes of the game.

However, it would not take much longer for the Flames offense to awaken.  Quarterback Mike Brown found receiver Pat Kelly on a slant route that turned into a 75-yard touchdown reception that put the Flames ahead 10-7 with 5:08 left in the second quarter.  On the next possession, John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) had a pass tipped and intercepted by Dan Broggin at the SFU 42-yard line.  Four plays later, Brown hooked up with B.J. Hayes for a 49-yard touchdown that made the score 17-7.

Perhaps most deflating was what happened next.  After the Red Flash went three-and-out, Brown delivered a last-gasp Hail Mary as time expired in the second quarter.  The ball caromed off several players before landing in the hands of Chris Summers, and Liberty went into the locker room with a 24-7 lead.

The Flames would hold the Red Flash to just 10 first downs the rest of the way, and snuffed the last best chance for SFU points when, after a 48-yard Omar Winston (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland South) catch put the Red Flash in the red zone, Liberty blocked a Josh Thiel (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) field goal attempt.

The Flames ended up posting a total of 452 yards passing, including six touchdowns to four different receiver.  Three receivers for Liberty recorded over 100 yards receiving.  

On defense, the Red Flash were led by senior linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt) (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort), who finished with 15 total tackles.  The front seven did an admirable job in containing the Liberty run game, holding them to 137 yards rushing.  

Senior Matt Parker (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk), who led the Northeast Conference in tackles for loss in 2009, recorded his first sack of the season when he snagged Brown on the Flames' second drive of the game.  Also collecting a sack was freshman linebacker/defensive line hybrid Asalemo Fruean (Waipahu, Hawaii/Waipahu) (Waipahu, Hawaii/Waipahu), the first of his career.

NOTES: The Red Flash will take on Morehead State next week, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m…Lewis's 15 tackles put him at 401 total tackles for his career.  The NEC record is 447, held by Kayode Mayowu (Sacred Heart).