2021 Schedule

SOMERSET, N.J. – The Northeast Conference has announced the 2021 fall football schedule, completing the Saint Francis football program's 11-game slate with the addition of seven league games to the previously announced non-conference dates.

Saint Francis will open NEC play at home on Sept. 18 against Wagner in the Red Flash's third game of 2021 after opening the season at Eastern Michigan and Delaware. The Red Flash defeated Wagner 42-8 at DeGol Field in 2019 and is 3-2 in its last five meetings with the Seahawks. The three Red Flash victories since 2015 have come by an average of 29.3 points per game.

The Red Flash will play two more non-conference games against Norfolk State and Morgan State before playing exclusively NEC competition in its final six regular-season contests. LIU visits DeGol Field on Oct. 9 in the Sharks' first visit to Loretto. Saint Francis earned a 30-0 win on Long Island in 2019 in the first meeting between the programs.

A trip to the Ocean State will follow when the Red Flash visits Bryant on Oct. 16. SFU has won the last four meetings with the Bulldogs, including a 16-6 victory in Rhode Island in 2019. Saint Francis is 6-2 against Bryant since the Bulldogs became a full Division I member in 2012.

The longest trip of the year will be followed by a bye week and then the shortest trip of the 2021 schedule when Saint Francis travels to Duquesne on Oct. 30. The Dukes took a 30-21 decision in Pittsburgh in the teams' last meeting in 2019. The Red Flash and Dukes will meet for the 42^nd time in the last 51 seasons.

Saint Francis opens November with back-to-back home games against New England competition, as the month begins with a Nov. 6 game against Sacred Heart. The Pioneers knocked off the Red Flash in overtime in 2019 at DeGol Field and have won the last three meetings between the teams after SFU captured five straight victories from 2012-16.

Senior Day will be a Nov. 13 contest against Merrimack as the Warriors visit Loretto for the second time. The Red Flash notched a 42-14 victory over Merrimack in the 2019 NEC opener, which was the first meeting between the Red Flash and reclassifying Warriors. Gio Vonne Sanders picked off Merrimack twice in that game and Terrell Smith added an interception.

The regular-season finale will take place Nov. 20 in the Nutmeg State when Saint Francis squares off with Central Connecticut. The 17^th-ranked Blue Devils held off the Red Flash in overtime in the teams' last meeting in New Britain in 2019. Brandan Lisenby hauled in 12 catches for 122 yards in the 38-31 clash.

2021 Saint Francis Football Schedule
Sept. 3                 at Eastern Michigan
Sept. 11               at Delaware
Sept. 18               Wagner *
Sept. 25               Norfolk State
Oct. 2                   at Morgan State
Oct. 9                   LIU *
Oct. 16                 at Bryant *
Oct. 30                 at Duquesne *
Nov. 6                  Sacred Heart *
Nov. 13                Merrimack *
Nov. 20                at Central Connecticut *
 
The 2021 season begins with Saint Francis' first game in program history against an FBS opponent when the Red Flash travels to Eastern Michigan on Friday, Sept. 3. Time and television information for that game is anticipated to be released in the coming days.

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