BOX SCORE New Britain, Conn. - The Saint Francis football team (4-6, 2-4 NEC) suffered its third overtime loss of the season on Saturday, all in Northeast Conference games, falling to No. 17 CCSU 38-31.

Turning Point

Saint Francis took a 31-28 lead on a 31-yard touchdown reception from redshirt junior Ra'Shaun Henry (Killeen, Texas /Copperas Cove) with 4:33 to play in the fourth quarter. CCSU drove into field goal range on the following drive, and looked primed to win the game in regulation, but senior Nick Rinella (Collegeville, Pa./La Salle College) stuffed quarterback Aaron Winchester at the two yard line on second and goal and an incomplete pass on third and goal forced a game-tying 19-yard field goal at the end of regulation.

The Red Flash forced CCSU into third and six on the Blue Devils first possession but a coverage bust allowed for an open 21-yard touchdown strike up the sideline. 

Facing a fourth and five from the 20, redshirt sophomore quarterback Jason Brown (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) was sacked to bring an end to the game.

Scoring Plays

• After CCSU opened the scoring with a first quarter touchdown run, Saint Francis responded with redshirt sophomore Syaire Madden's (Norristown,Pa./LaSalle College Prep) first rushing touchdown of his career from two yards out early in the second quarter.
• The Red Flash answered another CCSU touchdown with another scoring drive of its own, capped by a seven yard touchdown grab from redshirt junior Terell Johnson (Burlington, N.C./Cummings) with 7:55 left in the second quarter to knot the game at 14-14.
• Saint Francis took its first lead of the day with 9:15 remaining on a 17-yard reception from redshirt sophomore Brandan Lisenby (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac), his second touchdown of the season.
• A 48-yard touchdown run on and end-around tied the game at 21-24 before Saint Francis grabbed a fourth quarter lead on a 32-yard field goal from Trevor Thompson (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester) with 4:00 left in the third quarter.
• CCSU jumped in front 28-24 early in the fourth quarter before Henry's touchdown gave SFU the late lead.

Inside the Box Score

• SFU accumulated 424 yards of total offense against CCSU's 367.
• The Red Flash gashed the Blue Devils through the air to the tune of 355 passing yards.
• First downs favored Saint Francis, 25-19.
• Saint Francis sacked CCSU's dynamic quarterback Aaron Winchester six times for 42 yards.
• The Red Flash committed just three penalties for 19 yards.

Notes

• Brown finished 35-for-52 for 355 yards and three touchdowns. He has thrown for three touchdowns in four consecutive games and his 20 touchdown passes on the season rank fourth most in single-season history with two games remaining. He is just 31 yards away from becoming the third SFU quarterback to throw for 2,500 yards in a season.
• Henry led the Red Flash with 11 catches for 156 yards and the touchdown, marking his third consecutive game over 100 receiving yards and 10 catches. The  last player to go over 100 yards receiving in three straight games was Kamron Lewis (Fresno, Calif./Edison) to close out the 2016 season. He needs to 124 yards over his final two games to become just the third player in program history to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
• Lisenby had a career-game with 12 catches for 122 yards, both career-highs.
• Redshirt sophomore E.J. Jenkins recorded four catches for 54 yards but saw his touchdown streak end at four games.
• Madden finished with 50 yards on 12 carries to lead the rushing attack.
• Junior Martin Foray Jr. and sophomore Brian Lee Jr. led SFU with 12 tackles. Lee was particularly impressive with 3.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
• Senior Da'Jon Lee (Falls Church, Va. /Robinson) added seven tackles and 1.5 TFLs while junior Jake Heiple (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) recorded six tackles and 2.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
• A win over CCSU would have marked the first victory over a top-20 team in program history.
• SFU is 0-3 in overtime games this season after playing in just one overtime game in the previous six seasons.
• SFU has held a second half lead in all four conference losses and a fourth quarter lead in three of the four. 
• Saturday's offensive effort was the fourth of the season of 400 or more total yards after going over 400 just once all of last season.

Up Next

Saint Francis plays its final home game of the season next Saturday, Nov. 16, vs. Wagner at noon.