LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University announced its full 11-game schedule for the 2022 season on Tuesday. The schedule consists of three home games and eight away games with seven conference games and four non-conference games.
 
Saint Francis opens its season with its second visit to an FBS opponent in program history on Sept. 1 at Akron. The game marks the second-straight season Saint Francis will face a MAC opponent after a 35-15 loss to Eastern Michigan in 2021.
 
Akron enters the 2022 season after a disappointing 2-10 overall and 1-7 conference record in 2021. One of their two wins was a 35-14 victory over Northeast Conference program Bryant. The Zips hired former Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead as their head coach on Dec. 4, 2021.
 
The Red Flash kick off their FCS schedule with a Sept. 10 with a visit to CAA-foe Richmond. The Spiders enter 2022 after a 6-5 overall and 4-4 conference record during the 2021 season. They defeated Delaware 51-27, who the Red Flash lost to 27-10 last season.
 
Saint Francis opens conference play with a visit to Wagner on Sept. 17 after also opening 2021 conference play against the Seahawks. The Red Flash defeated the Seahawks 39-24 last season and hold a 4-2 record over Wagner since 2015.
 
A trip to non-conference foe Norfolk State ensues on Sept. 24 after the Spartans defeated the Red Flash 28-16 in 2021 at DeGol Field. Norfolk State finished the 2021 season with a 6-5 overall and 2-3 conference record.
 
Saint Francis continues conference play with its first home game of the season on Oct. 1 against Central Connecticut. The Blue Devils concluded the 2021 season with a 24-21 win over the Red Flash after they kicked a field goal as time expired.
 
After their bye week, Saint Francis resumes play with a trip to LIU on Oct. 15. The Red Flash won the first two meeting between the programs 55-10 in 2021 and 30-0 in 2019. Since their first season as an FCS program in 2019, the Sharks have a 4-20 record.
 
The Red Flash host their second home game of the season on Oct. 22 against Bryant. The Bulldogs took a comeback 18-17 win over the Red Flash last season with a go-ahead touchdown with 32 seconds remaining in the game. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Saint Francis from 2016-19.
 
A trip to NEC defending champions Sacred Heart ensues on Oct. 29 after the Pioneers took a 14-13 victory after the Red Flashed missed a game-winning field goal attempt as time expired. Sacred Heart holds a current four-game winning streak over Saint Francis and they finished last season 8-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
 
The non-conference schedule concludes with a Nov. 5 matchup at Georgetown after the Hoyas went 2-8 overall and 1-5 in Patriot League play during the 2021 season. The meeting between the programs will be the first since a 48-20 Red Flash victory in 2015. The programs have met twice since Saint Francis became an NCAA Division I-AA program in 1993.
 
The third and final home game will be played on Nov. 12 against in-state foe Duquesne, who Saint Francis defeated last season 17-10. The win was Saint Francis' first over Duquesne since 2016 and first on the road since they joined the NEC in 1996.
 
The 2022 regular season concludes with a road matchup at Merrimack on Nov. 19. Since Merrimack became an NCAA Division I program, Saint Francis won both games 22-6 in 2021 and 42-14 in 2019. The Warriors are 11-14 since their reclassification, highlighted by a 35-21 defeat of No. 24 Holy Cross last season.
 
Saint Francis begins its spring schedule on March 19 and hold 15 practices between then and April 28. During the signing periods this offseason, the Red Flash added 26 players to the upcoming 2022 roster.