Loretto, Pa. - The Saint Francis football team (4-4, 2-2) dropped another heartbreaker at DeGol Field on Saturday, falling in overtime to Sacred Heart (4-4, 2-2 NEC) 36-33 on Homecoming Weekend, its second home overtime defeat in as many games.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jason Brown (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) threw for a career-high 383 yards, 196 going to redshirt junior wide receiver Ra'Shaun Henry (Killeen, Texas /Copperas Cove), as the Red Flash offense racked up a season-high 471 yards of offense.

The Red Flash were in position to win the game in regulation but sophomore kicker Trevor Thompson's (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester) 25-yard field goal sailed wide left at the end of regulation.

Saint Francis opened the scoring with 5:48 left in the first quarter on the first of four Thompson field goals, this one from 22 yards. 

After the Pioneers tied the game at 3-3, Brown hit Henry across the middle of the field and the Texas native turned on the afterburners, racing 60 yards to the house to give the Red Flash a 10-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Sacred Heart responded with its first touchdown drive of the game but redshirt freshman Kai Williams (Johns Creek, Ga./Mount Pisgah Christian) returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to the Sacred Heart 40. Another long grab by Henry set up SFU 1st and goal but the drive stalled and ended with a Thompson 19-yarder as SFU went in front 13-10. 

Saint Francis took control of the game on its next drive, going 80 yards in seven plays. Redshirt freshman Kahtero Summers (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) hauled in a 25-yard pass from Brown which would set up a 16-yard scoring strike to redshirt sophomore E.J. Jenkins, his seventh touchdown of the season as Saint Francis led 20-10 at halftime.

Sacred Heart made it a one score game again on its first possession of the second half with a 23-yard field goal but Thompson connected from 35 on the next Saint Francis drive as the Red Flash went up 23-13 with 6:26 left in the third quarter.

Another Pioneer field goal cut it to 23-16 heading into the fourth quarter. SFU opened the final period with a three-and-out and Sacred Heart tied the game on a two-yard touchdown run by Julius Chestnut with 10:09.

Saint Francis drove into Sacred Heart territory on its next drive courtesy of two more Henry catches and a nice run from redshirt freshman Syaire Madden (Norristown,Pa./LaSalle College Prep). Facing a 4th and 2 from the Pioneers 42, Brown kept the play alive and hit redshirt junior Terell Johnson (Burlington, N.C./Cummings) who turned up field and raced up field to put Saint Francis in front 30-23.

Sacred Heart tied the game three plays later as Logan Marchi hit Kezio Snelling down the sidelines for a 71-yard touchdown on 3rd and four. 

Saint Francis was forced to punt on its next possession but redshirt freshman Ryan Oliver's (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) punt hit a Sacred Heart player. The Pioneers recovered after a mad scramble but were pinned back on its own two-yard line and were stuffed on three straight runs. 

Senior Nick Rinella (Collegeville, Pa./La Salle College) then returned the Sacred Heart punt 19 yards to the Pioneers 16-yard line. 

Saint Francis moved the chains on two Madden runs and was able to wind the clock down to four seconds left setting up the potential game-winning field goal but for the second time in three weeks it wasn't converted.

Sacred Heart won the overtime coin toss and stopped Kahtero Summers (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) short of the sticks on a third down reception. Thompson responded from the previous miss with a 36-yard field goal to give the Red Flash life but the game ended on a Rob DiNota 10-yard touchdown reception on 3rd and 9.

Inside the Box Score

• Saint Francis edged Sacred Heart in total yardage, 471-464.
• The Pioneers led in rushing yards, 184-88, but SFU held a 383-280 advantage through the air.
• Possession time favored Sacred Heart, 30:28 - 29:24
• Saint Francis went just 2-for-15 on third down while the Pioneers converted on 7-of-18.

Notes

• Brown's 383 yards passing were the fourth most in single-game school history and the most by an SFU quarterback since Anthony Doria in 2005.
• Henry's 196 receiving yards were the third most in single-game school history and the most since Kamron Lewis (Fresno, Calif./Edison) went over 200 yards vs. Bryant in 2017.
• Redshirt sophomore Brandan Lisenby (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) added five catches for 64 yards.
• Redshirt sophomore Syaire Madden (Norristown,Pa./LaSalle College Prep) gained a career-best 67 yards on the ground on 21 carries.
• Jenkins has caught a TD pass in three straight games and seven of eight this season.
• Reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Week Da'Jon Lee (Falls Church, Va. /Robinson) was a monster yet again with 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack.
• Junior Martin Foray Jr. added eight tackles and two pass breakups. 
• Redshirt juniors Sam Cummings (Verona, N.J./Verona) and Jake Curry (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro) posted career-highs with seven tackles apiece.
• Thompson's four field goals were a career-high and the most by an SFU kicker since Lance Geesey (Harrisburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) made five vs. CCSU in 2015.
• Rinella, SFU's all-time leader in punt return yards, recorded 54 more yards on two returns.
• SFU's 471 yards of total offense was its most since putting up 512 vs. Lock Haven in the 2017 season opener.

Up Next

Saint Francis looks to climb back over .500 next Saturday, Nov. 2, at Duquesne at noon.