LORETTO, Pa. - Saint Francis University football returns to the field for the first time since Nov. 23, 2019, a 650-day span since they last took the field together, when they play Eastern Michigan Friday at 7:00 p.m. After the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Flash opted out of the spring 2021 season. Saint Francis will return 41 players from the 2019 team that went 6-6 and finished with a Northeast Conference record of 3-4.
 
Scouting Eastern Michigan
The Eagles finished the 2020 season with a 2-4 record and placed fifth in the Mid-American Conference West Division, a record that was ninth out of 12 MAC schools. Junior quarterback Preston Hutchinson returns for the Eagles after passing for 1,662 yards on a 63.63 passing percentage with 12 touchdowns. Hutchinson also led the Eastern Michigan running attack with 307 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, the Eagles return leading tackler Terry Myrick, who had 67 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last season. Defensive back Alvinoski LaFleur returns his two interceptions from 2020. Eastern Michigan is projected to finish fifth in the West Division, accumulating 44 points and no first-place votes. Ball State earned 11 first-place votes, projected to win the West Division, and Kent State earned 11, projected to win the East Division.
 
Last Time Out
The Red Flash last played on Nov. 23, 2019 when they defeated Delaware State 35-21. The win marked the team's second-straight win to end the season after a 42-8 defeat at Wagner. During Northeast Conference play, Saint Francis went 3-4 with three of those losses were in overtime. "We have to start fast and effective and finish everything," head coach Chris Villareal said. "You flip those three overtime games and could easily be leading the conference."
 
Making History vs. 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 and 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
In the last game Saint Francis played, 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 visit No. 5 Delaware on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 6:00 p.m.