Smithfield, R.I. - Junior running back Joel Denley (Beaumont, Texas/West Brook) ran for a career-high 100 yards and the Saint Francis defense held Bryant to just 210 total yards of offense in a 16-6 victory to open Northeast Conference play on Saturday.

Turning Point

The Red Flash trailed 6-3 late in the first half when redshirt freshman Ian White (Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge) made the play of the game, blocking a Bryant punt to set up Saint Francis 1st and 10 from the Bulldog 15 yard line. It eventually led to the game's only touchdown as redshirt sophomore quarterback Jason Brown (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) plunged in from three yards out to give Saint Francis a 10-6 halftime lead.

Moments that Mattered

Saint Francis used a pair of short fields to ice the game away in the second half. A third quarter fumble recovery by senior Da'Jon Lee (Falls Church, Va. /Robinson) set up a 30-yard field goal from sophomore Trevor Thompson (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester). 

The Red Flash maintained its 13-6 lead deep into the fourth quarter. Facing a 4th and 3 from the SFU 48, Bryant quarterback Kory Curtis fumbled the shotgun snap. Redshirt freshman defensive back Terrell Smith (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) came flying up and planted Curtis in the backfield to force a turnover on downs and give SFU the ball on the Bryant 42.

Runs of 21 and 11 yards by Denley led to Thompson's third field goal of the game as Saint Francis prevailed for the 16-6 win.

Inside the Box Score 

• Saint Francis outgained Bryant 281 to 210 for the game thanks to a season-high 162 net rushing yards.
• The Red Flash held Bryant to 3.0 yards per play and 2.1 yards per rushing attempt.
• The Saint Francis defense record a season-high five sacks for 30 yards of lost yardage. Redshirt sophomore James Watkins (Oxon Hill, Md./Oxon Hill) tied Smith for the team-lead with 1.5 sacks.
• SFU's defense held Bryant to just 3-for-18 on third downs. 
• Time of possession favored Saint Francis 33:48 to 26:12.
• The two teams combined for 20 punts.

Notes

• Denley became the first SFU player to go over 100 yards rushing since Jymere Jordan-Toney (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin) ran for 105 vs. Wagner on Sept. 9, 2017.
• Brown finished 17-32 for 119 yards and a rushing touchdown.
• Redshirt junior Ra'Shaun Henry (Killeen, Texas /Copperas Cove) led Saint Francis pass catchers with five receptions for 31 yards. 
• Redshirt junior Avery Miliner (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) added 39 rushing yards on 13 attempts.
• Senior Nick Rinella (Collegeville, Pa./La Salle College) led the defense with eight tackles and a tackle for a loss.
• Sophomore Brian Lee Jr. added five tackles, two for a loss, and a sack.
• Freshman Dwayne Majors (Fairless Hills, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic) had a career-high 1.5 tackles for a loss.
• Redshirt freshman punter Ryan Oliver (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) averaged 39.4 yards per punt and downed Bryant inside the 20 four times.
• The Red Flash are now 4-1 in its last five conference openers.
• Saint Francis has defeated Bryant five straight times. 

Up Next

Saint Francis will enjoy its bye week before returning home to play Robert Morris on Oct. 12 at noon.