LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis football team faces Duquesne on Saturday for the NEC title, with a Noon kickoff on ESPN3. Before the Red Flash turns its attention to the Dukes, let's take a look back at the 21-0 shutout win over Robert Morris.
Notes from Robert MorrisTeam- Saint Francis earned its seventh win of the season, just the fifth time in program history with seven wins in a season. SFU has reached eight wins only two times in school history, in 1912 and 1992.
- The Red Flash also reached four NEC wins for the first time since 2012 and secured its first ever winning record in NEC play. SFU has never won five conference games in a season.
- Saint Francis won an ECAC regular season title in 1992, but lost to Wagner in the ECAC Southeast Championship game.
- Saint Francis's win over Robert Morris clinched a perfect 5-0 record at home. The Red Flash went undefeated at home for the first time since 1971 and won five home games for the first time in program history.
- The Red Flash recorded its first shutout since Virginia Lynchburg on Sept. 27, 2014. It was the first shutout in an NEC game since Sept. 18, 2010 vs. Sacred Heart.
- Virginia-Lynchburg was also the last time that Saint Francis held an opponent without a touchdown.
- Saint Francis has held four of its five NEC opponents to under 21 points. SFU has given up only seven touchdowns in five conference games.
- The Red Flash has only allowed four offensive touchdowns in five conference games.
- Saint Francis is allowing only 13.4 points per game in conference play.
- The Red Flash allowed only 220 total yards, including only 46 passing yards. It marks two straight weeks giving up under 100 yards passing, after giving up only 83 vs. CCSU. It is the first time holding an opponent under 50 yards passing since Lincoln in 2013.
- SFU picked off two passes vs. Robert Morris, the fourth time this season with two or more interceptions in a game.
- Saint Francis has given up less than 21 points for three straight games for the first time since Nov. 9-23, 2013.
- On the other side of the ball, Saint Francis has scored at least 21 points in six straight games.
- Saint Francis has at least 300 yards in six straight games, including the third time this season with over 266 yards rushing.
Individual-
Khairi Dickson (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) ran for a season-high 177 yards on 22 carries, the fifth time this season with over 100 yards. He has reached the century mark in four of five conference games. The only time Dickson didn't reach 100 yards, he had 86 vs. Sacred Heart.
- On his first carry of the game, Dickson passed the 3,000 yard mark for his career, joining Todd Harris (2003-06) and Kyle Harbridge (2009-13). Dickson also moved in third place at SFU in all-purpose yards. Now with 3,523 yards, he passed Michael Caputo's (2003-06) 3,495 yards.
- Though Dickson did not get a touchdown vs. RMU, he set up two scores. The first SFU touchdown of the day was setup by Dickson's 18-yard carry. The second score came after Dickson's season-long 69-yard run. Dickson had five carries of 13 yards or more, including a 46-yard run that was called back because of a penalty. Dickson averaged eight yards per carry for the day.
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Marcus Bagley (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) added 113 yards on 14 yards. It's the third time this season that both Bagley and Dickson have gone over 100 yards in a game.
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Zack Drayer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey ) had his lowest passing yard total since the Youngstown State game, but still threw for 116 yards and two touchdowns, completing six-yard scores to
Terell Smith (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) and
Matt Valenzuela (Sterling, Va./Dominion ). However, Drayer also threw two interceptions in game for the first time since the season opener vs. Georgetown.
- Drayer now has 13 passing touchdowns this season, with five different receivers catching TD passes.
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Terell Smith (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) caught his seventh touchdown pass of the season. He's currently tied with three other players for the fourth-most touchdowns in a season at SFU.
- Freshman
Kamron Lewis (Fresno, Calif./Edison) caught four passes for 42 yards, both season-high totals.
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Solomon Leaeno (Kapolei, Hawaii/James Campbell) led the defense in tackles for the fourth straight game, including three straight double-digit tackle performances. Leaeno totaled 13 tackles, including four solo and 1.5 for loss.
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Malik Duncan (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) and
Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella) recorded interceptions. Duncan also had a pass breakup.
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Lance Geesey (Harrisburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) hit all three of his extra points and made his season-debut at punter. Geesey averaged 39.7 yards on three punts, placing all three inside the 20, with a long of 50 yards. Geesey earned NEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
Records Watch- With a win on Saturday, Head Coach
Chris Villarrial will move into a tie for third place at SFU with 24 career wins. He is currently one win behind Frank Pergolizzi (1989-94).
- Dickson is now 244 yards away from second all-time in career rushing yards, trailing Todd Harris(2003-06). Dickson now has 3,070 yards after passing the 3,000 mark on Saturday. Dickson needs 99 yards on Saturday to hit the 1,000 yard mark for the year.
- Dickson has 25 career rushing TDs, 11 behind Kyle Harbridge(2009-13).
- He also has 612 career carries, 94 behind Michael Hall (2000-03).
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Terell Smith (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) moved into fifth place in career TD receptions vs. Robert Morris. He has 12, breaking a tie with A.J. Alexander (2011-12) and one behind Luke Palko (2003-06).
- Smith is tied for the third-most yards in a single season in program history. He has 857, tying Michael Caputo's 2006 season. Smith is now within reach of Antoine Rivera's 885 yards in 2007.
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DaQuan Minter (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown) is currently fifth place all-time at SFU in pass breakups. With 26 career breakups, he is three behind Michael Bowman (2002-05). Minter is two breakups behind
Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella)'s season-record, set last season. Minter currently ranks fourth in the FCS this season, despite playing at least three less games than anyone else in the top 20.
- Geesey now has 45 career field goals. He needs one more to tie Sacred Heart's Chris Rogers (2011-14) for the NEC career record.
- Geesey also needs two field goals to tie his season-high and NEC record of 18 in 2014.
Among the NEC and NCAAAfter nine games, not counting stats from the University of Faith game, here is where Saint Francis ranks among the NEC and FCS.
Offense:
Category Average NEC NCAA
| Scoring | 29.1 points | 1st | 46 |
| Total Offense | 366 yards | 4th | 67 |
| Pass Offense | 202.6 yards | 4th | 63 |
| Rush Offense | 163.4 yards | 2nd | 56 |
| Pass Efficiency | 141.32 | 1st | 25 |
| First Downs | 18.3 per game | 4th | 93 |
| Red Zone | 94.6% (35-37) | 1st | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 38.1% | 3rd | 63 |
| 4th Down | 85.7% | 1st | 2 |
Defense:
Category Average NEC NCAA
| Scoring | 19.9 points | 2nd | 25 |
| Total Defense | 292.6 yards | 1st | 12 |
| Pass Defense | 149.9 yards | 1st | 4 |
| Rush Defense | 142.7 yards | 3rd | 35 |
| Pass Efficiency | 94.4 | 1st | 3 |
| First Downs | 16.5 | 1st | 13 |
| Sacks | 2.56 | T-4th | T-28 |
| Turnovers | 1.55 | 6th | T-81 |
Special Teams:
Category Average NEC NCAA
| Kickoff Returns | 22.7 yards | 1st | 21 |
| Punt Returns | 10.2 yards | 3rd | 35 |
| Kickoff Return Def. | 25 yards | 6th | 115 |
Along with how the team ranks among the NCAA and FCS, here are some of the players that are among the national leaders.
Name Category Average or Total NCAA
| Khairi Dickson (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) | Rush Yards per Game | 100.1 | 16 |
| Dickson | Rushing Yards | 901 | 24 |
| Terell Smith (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) | Rec. Yards per Game | 95.2 | 13 |
| Smith | Yards per Reception | 17.85 | 22 |
| DaQuan Minter (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown) | Passes Defended | 1.7 | 4 |
| Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella) | Kickoff Returns | 32.9 | 1 |
| Jerome | Kickoff Return TDs | 2 | T-2 |
| Lance Geesey (Harrisburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) | Field Goal Percentage | 94.1 | 1 |
| Geesey | Field Goals Per Game | 1.78 | 3 |
