The Saint Francis 2019 football came to an end with the Red Flash playing its best football. Head coach Chris Villarrial and his team gave Red Flash fans a glimpse of the future while breaking many records in the process. Saint Francis is expected to return nine starters on offense and nine on defense in 2020 and add to a record-setting year in many areas. Below we highlight some of the team and individual accomplishments from the 2019 season:

DEFENSE

Team Accomplishments

• The Red Flash defense ranked 3^rd in the NEC and 13^th in FCS in total defense (318.4 ypg)
• The defense ranked third in the NEC in scoring defense (21.8 ppg)
• The Red Flash defense ranked 2^nd in FCS in 3^rd down defense % (29.5%)
• Saint Francis led the NEC and ranked 7^th in FCS in tackles for loss (8.4 per game)
• The defense ranked second in the NEC in sacks (34)
• Saint Francis has the 9^th best pass defense efficiency in all of FCS
• The Red Flash had the second best run defense in the NEC and 15^th best in FCS (115.8 ypg)
• Saint Francis held five opponents under 20 points

 
Individual Accomplishments
 

• Senior linebacker Da'Jon Lee (Falls Church, Va. /Robinson) led all of FCS in tackles for a loss (24.5) and is a STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
• Lee finishes his career 2^nd in career sacks (21)
• Sophomore defensive back Dorian Jackson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy ) led the NEC and ranked T-2^nd in all of FCS with 16 pass breakups, a new school record breaking the mark of 15 by Jermaine Ponder (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) in 2018.
• Redshirt sophomore defensive back GioVonne Sanders finished tied-for-second in the NEC with four interceptions
• Da'Jon Lee (Falls Church, Va. /Robinson) was a two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Week
• Redshirt freshman Terrell Smith (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) and freshman Dwayne Majors (Fairless Hills, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic) each won one NEC Rookie of the Week

OFFENSE
     
Team Accomplishments

• The SFU offense ranked third in the NEC in scoring offense (25.2 ppg) and averaged 33.3 points per game over its last five contests.
• Saint Francis had the number one ranked passing offense in the NEC (260.1 ypg)
• As a team, the Red Flash ranked 19^th in FCS in pass offense efficiency
• Saint Francis scored 30 or more points in five of its last six games.
• SFU's 4,334 yards of total offense was its highest since 2005

 
Individual Accomplishments

• First-year starting quarterback Jason Brown (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) became the first SFU quarterback to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season (3,084), ranking 14^th in all of FCS
• Brown also set the single-season school record for passing TDs (28), which ranked T-11 in FCS
• Brown threw for three or more touchdowns in each of the last six games and set the school record for passing TDs in a single-game with five at Delaware State
• Brown's Pass Rating Efficiency (QBR) was a program best 145.16
• Redshirt sophomore E.J. Jenkins set the school record with 13 receiving TDs in a season, which also ranked tied-for-5^th in all of FCS
• Jenkins caught touchdown passes in 10 of 12 games.
• E.J. is 5^th among all SFU pass catchers in career receiving touchdowns with 14.
• Redshirt junior Ra'Shaun Henry (Killeen, Texas /Copperas Cove) became just the third SFU receiver to go over 1,00 yards in a season and led the NEC in receptions (90) and receiving yards (1,118) which ranked 5^th and 13^th in all of FCS, respectively.
• Jenkins caught three touchdowns vs. Wagner and Henry matched it with three at Delaware State. Both performances matched the school record.
• Henry averaged more than 10 catches and 150 receiving yards over the final five contests, scoring seven of his nine touchdowns in the stretch
• Brown and Henry each won one NEC Offensive Player of the Week award

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Senior Nick Rinella (Collegeville, Pa./La Salle College) finishes his career as SFU's all-time career leader in punt return yards (654) and punt return average (12.3)
• Rinella also ranks second in kick returns yards (1,240) and third in kick return average (24.8)
• Sophomore Trevor Thompson (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester) made 12-of-19 field goals (tied-for-third most in a single season) and was a two-time NEC Special Teams Player of the Week
• Rinella also earned an NEC Special Teams Player of the Week