Flash Points:

• Saint Francis football held its annual Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday.
• The program reflected on its success from the 2016 season, while stressing the importance of focusing on a new season.
• The Red Flash looks for new leaders to emerge after the graduation of a very successful 2016 senior class.
• SFU opens the 2017 season on September 2 against Lock Haven at DeGol Field. 

LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis Football team held its annual Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday at the JFK Student Center.  As Head Coach Chris Villarrial and the Red Flash players answered questions, they recognized the success of the 2016 season, but stressed the importance of focusing on a new year and continuing to move the program forward.
 
In the press conference portion of the Kickoff Luncheon, Head Coach Chris Villarrial, senior safety Delondo Boyd (Indian Head, Md./Henry E. Lackey), senior cornerback Malik Duncan (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic), junior offensive tackle Mederick Flavius, junior receiver Kamron Lewis (Fresno, Calif./Edison) and senior tight end Matt Valenzuela (Sterling, Va./Dominion) answered questions from the media and audience.
 
Villarrial started out the conference by highlighting last season's accomplishments.
 
"There were a lot of firsts last year, a heck of a season," said Villarrial. "Three All-America selections, three ECAC All Stars, seven named NEC First Team, three on the second team and the first time we had somebody named NEC First Team all four seasons. First time someone has been invited to the NFL Combine, and we continue to pray and watch for his success."
 
The two-time NEC Coach of the Year quickly shifted the focus to this year and the need to replace the leaders that SFU lost to graduation.
 
"This year's team is a different mix," said Villarrial. "A lot of younger guys in the mix with the older guys, but we stress that we keep moving forward. We have to find leaders, to keep this program growing, keep our success growing. We're no longer talking about last year, but as any coach will say, we are only as good as our staff. I have been blessed to have a great, loyal staff. I think we have the best staff in the country, the sacrifice of them and their families has helped us move this thing forward."
 
The Red Flash will quickly find out what they have as a team, with a challenging schedule.
 
"We tell our guys, we have to defend our home turf," said Villarrial. "You want to be undefeated at home and learn to win on the road. To move this program forward, you look to find better and better competition. We have to learn how to finish big games and the scholarship increase should help things. We are excited to get on the road, playing teams like Liberty away from home, we are looking forward to the challenge"
 
Boyd and Duncan lead a strong SFU secondary that helped the Red Flash to rank 11th in the nation in scoring defense (19.8 ppg) and 15th in total defense (320.8 ypg) last year.  The Red Flash ranked 20th in the FCS with 16 interceptions.
 
Boyd, a Second Team All-NEC selection last year, is a Preseason All-NEC pick this year.  He finished second on the team in 2016 with 70 tackles, including 44 solo, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.  He also had three pass breakups and a forced fumble.  Boyd has started all 34 games since he arrived in Loretto.
 
Duncan, also a Second Team All-NEC honoree last year and a Preseason All-NEC pick in 2017, enters his third year as a starting cornerback.  He set an SFU season record with 14 pass breakups last year.  He placed fourth on the team with 58 tackles, including 39 solo, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
 
With the secondary losing All-America and four-time All-NEC selection Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella), the duo addressed how the secondary is coming together this Fall.
 
"It's gone well so far," said Boyd. "We had to adjust, things are a little different, but it was nice to have the Spring to adjust."
 
"Our coaches have preached communication," said Duncan. "The coaches stress that talking is a big key and I think we're coming along well."
 
Though the secondary has a lot of returning experience, on the other side there are questions about who will replace three-year starter Zack Drayer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) as the starting quarterback.
 
"We have four guys competing," said Villarrial. "I don't like to name starters, it's an open competition, it's something that we are using to put guys in difficult positions and we are throwing a lot at them, especially defensively. I think over time, someone will emerge and secure the position."
 
However, quarterback is not the only position that the team is seeking new leadership.  The team has looked for new leaders to emerge throughout preseason camp.
 
"Guys are stepping up, but becoming a leader takes time," said Villarrial. "The lessons they learned from our previous leaders has been invaluable. We have to rely on guys, these guys have to push through. We work on putting the team in uncomfortable situations, work on those situations each day. Are we happy where we are now? No, but we are making strides and that goes for vocal leaders and for those that lead by example, by their work ethic."
 
Valenzuela could be a key leader for the Red Flash as a fifth-year senior.  He is already the leader of the tight end group.  He returns after starting three of the first four games last year before an injury cut his season short.  He has 24 career appearances and two career touchdown catches.
 
"It's good to be back, it was tough to play the first few games, then get hurt, that was tough," said Valenzuela. "It did allow me to see the game differently, it enabled me to help the younger guys, something that I was able to do in the spring, but I am excited to get out there and help the team."
 
Valenzuela also addressed how far the program has come in his time on campus and what that means for competition within the team.
 
"I think I have been blessed to play with some of the best players to come through SFU," said Valenzuela. "We see their drive, their work ethic and that challenges us to be better. We get the opportunity to play against a great defense every day. They push us and we push them."
 
Flavius, a Preseason All-NEC pick, is the most experience returner on the offensive line.  He has made 22 career starts, including all 12 games at left tackle last season.  He helped the SFU offense to average 26.9 points and 345.1 yards per game last year.  The line is looking to fill a few spots and establish consistency before the season starts.  It helps to have a former NFL All-Pro lineman as head coach.
 
"Coach V has a special place in his heart for the O-Line," said Flavius. "But we will only go as far as our line will take us. Coach V puts us in situations that challenge us and make us better each day."
 
Lewis, the 2016 NEC Offensive Player of the Year, has earned Preseason All-America accolades from College Sports Madness and STATS FCS this year.  He has also landed on Preseason Watch Lists for the Walter Payton Award and CFPA National Performer of the Year.  He was a Postseason All-America selection by the Associated Press, College Sports Madness, HERO Sports and STATS FCS after setting SFU and NEC records with 1,478 receiving yards in 2016.  He finished third in the FCS in receiving yards and receiving yards per game (123.2).  He caught 75 passes, including 11 touchdown receptions.  Lewis recorded eight 100-yard performances and had five catches of 60 or more yards.  
 
Though Lewis has received a lot of preseason accolades, he stressed that his focus is on this season.
 
"It means a lot [to be on the Walter Payton Award Watch List]," said Lewis. "But I don't pay much attention to it, preseason awards don't mean much, it's the off-season and postseason that determine things."
 
Villarrial closed out the conference by addressing how the success of last season and Jerome has helped with recruiting.
 
"It helps, this class is one of the biggest we have had by size, both in numbers and stature," said Villarrial. "But watching [Lorenzo] mature and what he meant to the program and what the program means to him is great. Watching him out there for San Francisco should make everyone proud. He's proud of where he came from. We are not out there to produce NFL players, if that happens, great. We are out there to produce great members of the community, but he has shown our guys what it takes to get to that next level."
 
The Red Flash opens the 2017 season against Lock Haven on Saturday, September 2.  A noon kickoff is scheduled at DeGol Field, with a broadcast on NEC Front Row.