Norfolk State came out of halftime to score two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 21-10 lead. The Red Flash cut the margin to 21-16 on a Sliwoski touchdown pass to Brandan Lisenby (Alexandria, Va.), but couldn't convert the two-point conversion with 5:21 left in the fourth quarter. The Spartans were able to hold possession and score a touchdown with 39 seconds left to seal the victory.

FLASH QUOTES
"Its a hard one to take. Some of our youth came out today, but we have been fighting hard and playing physical. We have to come out here and start fast, and through nutrition, our leaders need to start leading and our maturity needs to grow. Lets clean ourselves up, correct our mistakes and get ready for Morgan State." - head coach Chris Villarrial.

"We have to keep pushing and keep working, and focus on the next game. We want to compete and win every game." - Gio Vonne Sanders 

"When we are out here on Saturdays we have to come together. We have a lot of news guys and we are still getting to know each other. We have the ability to win now and have a lot of talent on both offense and defense." - Marques DeShields

FLASH MOMENTS
The Red Flash started out fast with a seven-play, 77-yard drive to start the game to grab a quick 7-0 lead. A 45-yard pass play from Russell to DeShields set up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Russell to Kahtero Summers (Coatesville, Pa.).

After Norfolk State tied the game, Alex Schmoke (Bellwood, Pa.) drilled a 45-yard field goal to regain the lead for the Loretto program at 10-7 with 2:21 left in the first quarter. The score would remain that way with the teams going into the locker room.

Lisenby keyed a fourth-quarter drive with a 31-yard reception from Sliwoski before the tandem completed the drive with a two-yard touchdown on fourth and two. The Red Flash went for two to try and make it a three-point game, but was stuffed on the rush attempt to make the score Norfolk State 21, Saint Francis 16 with under five minutes to go. Joshua Flowers (Carroll Stream, Ill.) helped the touchdown by giving Saint Francis good field position after he blocked a Spartans punt and Gregory Reddick (Miami, Fla.) picked up the loose ball and ran it for seven yards to the Norfolk State 47.

FLASH NUGGETS
DeShields had 127 yards in the first quarter thanks to five carries for 63 yards, and two catches for 64 yards. DeShields finished with a career-high 102 receiving yards after coming into the game with four catches for 32 yards. In the last two home games, the redshirt junior has racked up 157 yards on the ground and has 224 yards rushing on the year.

Foray has registered double figure tackles in three of the four games this season and has registered 27 tackles in the last two weeks.

The 11 tackles for Sanders ties his career-best after registering 11 tackles against Duquesne on November 2, 2019.

Beaty came into the contest with seven tackles before registering 12 tackles against Norfolk State. The graduate student has 67 tackles in his career.

Lisenby has nine receptions for 99 yards in his last two games with a touchdown. The touchdown reception on Saturday was the third of his career after hauling in a pair of TD passes in 2019. Summers has eight catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games.

Sliwoski threw his first touchdown in a Red Flash uniform in the fourth quarter. He had a rushing touchdown against Eastern Michigan in the season opener.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis heads to Baltimore, Md., for a non-conference battle on the gridiron against Morgan State onm Saturday, October 2. Kick-off is slated for noon.