BOX SCORE YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Saint Francis football team matched No. 15 Youngstown State blow-for-blow for most of the first half in Saturday night's non-conference game, but the Penguins' big-play ability proved too much for the Flash. Youngstown defeated SFU, 52-23.

The Flash scored more than 21 points for the fifth consecutive game, matching that feat for the first time since the final five games of the 2011 season. Running back Khairi Dickson (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) also rushed for his 11^th career touchdown, tying him for fifth place on the school's all-time list. He joins Chris Palumbo (1990-93) and Michael Hall (2000-03) on that chart.

The Penguins jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. Youngstown quarterback Dante Nania hit Jody Webb from 17 yards out to give YSU the 7-0 lead with just over three minutes gone in the first quarter. Running back Martin Ruiz, one of the top rushers in the country, scored from 23 yards out with 1:04 left in the first. He finished the first half with 82 yards on the ground.

The Flash fought back, though. On a punt attempt, punter and starting quarterback Zack Drayer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey ) was roughed to give SFU a first down at the YSU 45. Drayer completed his pass attempt on the very next play to Terell Smith (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) for 25 yards. Dickson followed with two impressive runs, dragging defenders on the second carry to the YSU 1. A botched snap on first down killed the momentum, though, and the Flash settled for a 32-yard Lance Geesey (Harrisburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) field goal.

After a three-and-out for the Penguins that included a five-yard tackle for loss by Wesley Nagaseu (Waipahu, Hawaii/Waipahu), SFU took over at its 48. On the seventh play of that drive, Marcus Bagley (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) sprinted right and took it 28 yards for a touchdown. It's the third score for Bagley in four games and it came on the longest run of the season for the freshman. The PAT was wide, and it was a 14-9 ballgame midway through the second quarter.

The Youngstown State offense showed its quick-strike capabilities after the Flash score. A 55-yard rush on a reverse put the Penguins into the Flash red zone on the first play of the drive. Ruiz took it the rest of the way, scoring from 14 yards out to complete the three-play, 75-yard drive. It was 21-9 with 6:30 left in the half, just 1:27 after the Flash's touchdown.

Undaunted, the Flash again came back. After an apparent three-and-out, Drayer ran 18 yards for a first down with a fake punt into YSU territory. Dickson followed with a 26-yard run to the 23. Two plays later, Drayer hit Smith on the left sideline in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. Geesey's extra point made it 21-16.

It took the Penguins just 1:02 to respond with another score. Nania started the four play drive with a 32-yard completion to Ruiz, and Webb capped it with a 28-yard run to make it 28-16.

The Penguins threatened again in the final seconds of the half after a quick Flash possession. Nania rushed to the SFU 1 with four seconds left in the half. He hurried the team to the line, and instead of spiking the ball, he attempted execute a sneak. The offense wasn't set, and the ensuing false start penalty induced a 10-second runoff that ended the half with the score still 28-16.

Youngstown added to its lead with a field goal on the first possession of the second half and a 44-yard catch and run by Andrew Williams on its next drive. That made it 38-16 with 6:59 to play in the third quarter.

After a scoreless third, a muffed punt return attempt set up Youngstown State at the Flash 21. Two plays later, an 18-yard score made it 45-16.

The Flash hit a 37-yard pass from Drayer to Youngstown native Anthony Abeid (Youngstown, Ohio/Youngstown Christian) on the following possession. After a 10-yard carry by Dickson, Drayer found Abeid for an apparent touchdown. The officials ruled on the play that Abeid stepped out of bounds during his route, but because he was blocked out by a defender, the touchdown was legal. Unfortunately for the Flash, a holding call nullified the score.

The Flash did score in the fourth quarter with Dickson's 10-yard carry. The drive was kick started with a 14-yard completion to Cole Bush (Apollo, Pa./Burrell). Dickson did nothing to hurt his status at the leading rusher in the NCAA as he finished with 151 yards on 29 carries. Drayer finished 11-for-21 for 139 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Smith matched his career high with three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown to lead the Flash in all three categories. Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella) and Solomon Leaeno (Kapolei, Hawaii/James Campbell) each set career highs with 12 tackles apiece. Bagley finished with 42 yards and his third rushing touchdown of the season.

The Flash returns home next weekend to face Virginia-Lynchburg on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.