LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University football return home for the first time since Nov. 16, 2019 when they host Wagner on Saturday. The last game played at home was a 42-8 defeat of Wagner, as the Red Flash seek a second-straight victory over the Seahawks for just the second time in the matchups 29-game history. Saint Francis and Wagner both enter the game with 0-2 overall records, while the Seahawks sit 0-1 in Northeast Conference play.

Scouting Wagner
The Seahawks enter Saturday's game off a 21-19 loss to Central Connecticut, their first conference game of the season. Running back Jaalon Frazier led Wagner with 24 carries for 104 yards, while running back Naiem Simmons and wide receiver Jayvin Little scored one touchdown each. In their season opener, Wagner lost at Buffalo, 69-7. Reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year Titus Leo was named to the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, presented to the top defensive player in the FCS. In addition, Leo earned All-NEC Preseason Team honors and has started the season with two tackles for loss and one sack. The Seahawks were picked to finish last (seventh) in the NEC Preseason Poll.

Last Time Out
The Red Flash lost their second game to open the 2021 season in a 27-10 defeat at No. 6 Delaware. Kicker Alex Schmoke converted his first field goal of the season on a 42-yard attempt. Quarterback Jyron Russell scored Saint Francis' only touchdown on a 66-yard run during a read option play. Penalties cost the Red Flash, as they committed seven for 60 yards to Delaware's four for 25 yards. Defensively, the Red Flash held the Blue Hens to 3-for-11 on third down and 101 yards rushing. Donnell Brown led the way with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

All-Time vs. Wagner
Saint Francis enters Saturday's matchup with a 6-23 all-time record against Wagner, but won the last meeting between the teams 42-8. The victory was Saint Francis' last game played at home, on Nov. 16, 2019. From Nov. 21, 1992 until Nov. 12, 2005, Wagner won 14 consecutive games after Saint Francis opened the series with a 21-18 win on Sept. 19, 1992. In total, the Red Flash own a 5-10 home record and 1-13 away record in the 29-year matchup history.

Saliby, Noel Earn NEC Weely Honors
Punter Jordan Saliby earned Special Teams Player of the Week and defensive back Breon Noel earned Rookie of the Week in the conference's first weekly awards of the season. Saliby recorded seven punts for 285 total yards, a 40.7 yard average. Noel made seven total tackles (two solo) and one tackle for loss. Both players earned these awards in their first game as a member of the Red Flash.

Summers Named to NEC Prime Performers List
Wide Receiver Kahtero Summers was named one-of-eight NEC Prime Performers in the season's inaugural week. Summers recorded five catches for 115 yards, including a 51-yard catch-and-run. He tallied just 189 yards during his entire freshman season in 2019.

History Made at Eastern Michigan
Saint Francis football's game against Eastern Michigan will mark the team's first game against an FBS opponent in program history. The Sept. 3 matchup against the Eagles is followed by a matchup with No. 5 Delaware on Sept. 11. "Delaware is a top FCS program and Eastern Michigan is an up-and-coming program in the FBS, you want to be like them," head coach Chris Villareal said. "You always want to put yourself against that sort of competition and it's a great step for all of us to make the leap to the next level of competition."

Watkins Named to All-Northeast Conference Preseason Team
Redshirt Senior James Watkins was named to the All-Northeast Conference Preseason Defensive Team, the conference announced Aug. 3. The Oxon Hill, Md. native was named Second-Team All-NEC in 2019 after finishing third on the team with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks.

2019 Defensive Returners
Safeties Martin Foray Jr. and Gio Vonne Sanders return after leading the 2019 secondary. Foray Jr. was second on the team with 77 total tackles (56 solo) and third on the team with nine pass breakups. Sanders led the team with four interceptions, added 39 tackles and four pass breakups. Defensive ends James Watkins and Sam Cummings return after both ranking top-four on the team with 11 and 7.5 tackles for loss respectively. Watkins also ranked third on the team with four sacks, while Cummings was fifth with 2.5.

Red Flash Picked Fifth in Preseason Coaches' Poll
Saint Francis was picked to finish fifth in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, ahead of LIU and Wagner. Sacred Heart earned four first-place votes to earn the No. 1 spot in the poll, followed by Duquesne (two) and Central Connecticut (one). Merrimack is in the NEC, and will play a full schedule, but is not eligible for a title until 2023. 

Lewis Returns to Saint Francis as Defensive Coordinator
Saint Francis alum and two-time All-American Scott Lewis returned to the Red Flash as the team's defensive coordinator, the program announced Jan. 29. Lewis had 524 career tackles, which ranks fifth in FCS history, and he was top-12 in total tackles all-four seasons. His 12.2 tackles per game rank third all-time in the FCS.

Villarrial Makes Saint Francis History
On Nov. 23, 2019 against Delaware State, head coach Chris Villarrial earned his program-record 46th win. He surpassed Art Martynuska who coached in Loretto from 1969-76 and 1981. Villarrial is a two-time NEC Coach of the Year, winning back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. The 2016 season was also Saint Francis' first appearance in the FCS Top-25 poll. 

2020-21 Northeast Conference Results
In the shortened spring 2021 football season, Sacred Heart took the Northeast Conference Championship with a 34-27 win over No. 25 Duquesne. The win marked the Pioneers' fifth NEC Championship, as they advanced to the FCS Tournament and lost 19-10 to No. 5 Delaware. Saint Francis and Central Connecticut opted out of the entire spring 2021 season.

Villarrial Brings NFL Experience to Loretto
Head coach Chris Villarrial brought NFL experience when he joined Saint Francis, having spent time as an offensive lineman with the Chicago Bears (1996-2004) and Buffalo Bills (2004-06). He was drafted in the fifth round (152nd overall) by the Bears after he broke the NFL Scouting Combine Bench Press Record. As a member of the Bears, he was a two-time All-Pro player and guided a 1,000-yard rusher in every season. After joining the Bills, he helped the offensive line give up the fewest sacks in franchise history. In his career, Villarrial made 148 starts.

Next
Saint Francis will host its only non-conference home game when they face Norfolk State on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 12:00 p.m.