BOX SCORE

YOUNSTOWN, Ohio – The Saint Francis football team fell in its final non-conference contest of the season Saturday to Youngstown State, 49-23.
 
The Red Flash (1-7, 0-5) posted a great second half outscoring the Penguins (4-3) 20-7, but it was not enough to overcome a 42-0 halftime deficit. John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) threw for 288 yards for the second consecutive week while Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) rushed for 117 yards but it was not enough.  
 
Youngstown State got out of the gates quickly a touchdown on the open drive of game going 53-yards on nine plays. Jamaine Cook capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown. The Penguins made it 14-0 on a 4-yard touchdown run by Cook at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter. SFU's Josh Thiel (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) cut into the lead with a 35-yard field goal with 4:40 left in the first quarter. Youngstown State pushed the lead to 21-3 with a 19-yard Kurt Hess touchdown pass to Christian Bryan, late in the first frame.
 
Cook scored his third touchdown of the game at the 11:05 mark of the on 8-yard run to make it a 28-3, Youngstown State lead. Adaris Bellamy made it 35-3 with a 5-yard touchdown run at the 3:42 mark of the second quarter. SFU looked to be driving to a score before the half but Kelly threw an interception that set up the sixth YSU touchdown of the half. Cook scored for the fourth time with just 1:05 left in the half to make the score 42-3 Penguin lead at the half.
 
For the second consecutive week, the Saint Francis offense came alive in the second half, Kelly got things started with a 4-yard touchdown run to cap a 11-play 77-yard drive for SFU to start the half. Harbridge cut the lead to 42-16 with a 5-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left in the third quarter. The scoring play was set up by a 70-yard pass play from Kelly to A.J. Alexander (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area). YSU finally tallied a second half points with a 95-yard touchdown run by Jordon Thompson at the 8:55 mark of the fourth quarter. The Red Flash responded with a 4-play 69-yard touchdown drive capped by a 44-yard touchdown pass by Kelly to Alexander.
 
Alexander finished the day with 124 yards receiving on three catches while Anthony Bowman (Damascus, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) racked up a season high 17 tackles for the SFU defense. Jake DeMedel picked off a pass for the second consecutive game but it was not enough to slow the YSU offensive attack.
 
Saint Francis returns to DeGol Field next Saturday to take on Northeast Conference foe Central Connecticut State, kickoff is set for Noon.