LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis football program has announced its four non-conference opponents for the 2021 fall season with a slate that includes the Red Flash's first visit to an FBS foe in program history, a game against an FCS Semifinalist, and a total of four first-time opponents.

Saint Francis will open its 2021 season Friday, Sept. 3 at Eastern Michigan in the Red Flash's return to competition. The Eagles went 2-4 in the abbreviated 2020 season with wins over Western Michigan and Northern Illinois to close the year. The Eagles averaged 33.2 points per game last fall with a total of 94 in their two wins.

The Red Flash will travel to Delaware Saturday, Sept. 11, for the first meeting in program history with the Blue Hens. Saint Francis has not been shy to challenge CAA competition in the head coaching tenure of Chris Villarrial, as the meeting will be the 13^th against the conference since 2012. Delaware went 7-1 in the 2021 spring season and the Blue Hens advanced to the FCS Semifinals thanks to wins over NEC champion Sacred Heart and No. 4 seed Jacksonville State.

Saint Francis gets a visit from Norfolk State on Saturday, Sept. 25 when the Spartans head to Loretto for the first time. Norfolk State will return to action for the first time three weeks earlier at Toledo in its first game since Fall 2019, when the Spartans went 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC.

The non-conference schedule wraps up Saturday, Oct. 2 with the Red Flash's first trip to Morgan State. The Bears will return to competition in September after a canceled 2020-21 season and a 2019 season with a 3-9 record and 2-6 mark in the MEAC.

The seven-game Northeast Conference schedule is anticipated to be released in the coming weeks. Ticket information for all games will be announced at a later date.

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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.