FloSports | Live Stats | SFU Game Notes | Richmond Game Notes

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University football is set for its first FCS opponent of the season with a trip to Richmond on Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff. Both teams dropped their first game of the season against FBS opponents Akron and Virginia, respectively.
 
Offense
Quarterbacks Cole Doyle and Justin Sliwoski each played every other series throughout the entire game against Akron. Sliwoski led the duo at 11-of-17 passing with 162 yards and rushed eight times for 59 yards. He threw an interception and had a game-long pass of 55 yards and run of 34 yards. Doyle went 10-of-16 with 102 yards and rushed four times for 26 yards. Damon Horton had a game-high 86 rushing yards on 18 carries and scored one touchdown. Deondre Scott scored the game-tying touchdown on his third touch as a member of the Red Flash. Dawson Snyder led the team with 92 receiving yards, while freshman Makai Jackson had seven catches for 81 yards and Elijah Sarratt added five for 49 yards. Jackson and Sarratt were the first pair of Red Flash players to record at least five catches in the same game in the past eight contests. 
 
Defense
Sebastian Benjamin tied a single-game Saint Francis record with four sacks against Akron. His four sacks matched his previous entire career total through 11 games played. He was also the only player in the FCS with more than three in the first week. Donnell Brown, Marcel Mami and Gregory Reddick each recorded a team-high seven tackles and Brown added one tackle for loss. As a team, the defense yielded just 98 rushing yards and held Akron to 3-of-14 on third down. Saint Francis is tied for third in the FCS with six sacks.
 
Special Teams
Kicker Alex Schmoke went 3-of-4 on field goal attempts and converted kicks of 35, 36 and 38 yards against Akron. He also converted the game-tying extra point with under four minutes remaining that eventually forced overtime. Punter Jordan Slaiby is tied for 10th in the FCS with his 45.8-yard average in week one. He had a long of 56 yards, which was three yards shorts of his career-high. Al-Ma'Hi Ali blocked an extra point late in the game against Akron that kept Saint Francis within seven points before forcing overtime. The Red Flash also produced a fumble on a kickoff early in the second quarter that was recovered by Akron.
 
Last Time Out
Saint Francis fell to its second FBS opponent in program history, Akron, 30-23 in overtime. Akron scored first with a field goal before Saint Francis tied the game on the ensuing drive. Horton scored the game's first touchdown in the second quarter and gave Saint Francis a 10-3 lead. After Saint Francis nearly caused a turnover on the ensuing kickoff, Akron tied the game 10-10. Schmoke converted his second field goal of the game late in the half and Saint Francis entered halftime with a 13-10 lead. Schmoke converted another field goal in the third quarter before Akron scored a touchdown and took a 17-16 lead. The Zips scored again with under six minutes remaining in the game, but Ali's blocked extra point kept Saint Francis within seven. A 55-yard pass to Snyder led off the game-tying drive with 3:30 remaining when Scott scored a seven-yard touchdown. In overtime, tied 23-23, Akron scored a touchdown on the first possession. On a fourth and 10, Saint Francis converted with a 16-yard pass to Snyder. On second and goal from the three-yard line, Akron forced an interception to seal its 30-23 win.
 
Scouting Richmond
Richmond, who received votes the FCS national polls, opened its season with a 34-17 loss at Virginia. The Spiders produced the game's first touchdown with an 11-play, 80-yard drive before Virginia opened a 28-10 lead at halftime. Running back Savon Smith had a career-high 88 rushing yards and scored both touchdowns for Richmond. Quarterback Reece Udinski went 23-of-34 for 160 yards in his first start with Richmond after he transferred from Maryland. Linebacker Tristan Wheeler led the Spiders with a career-high 19 tackles. Kicker Jake Larson connected on a 45-yard field goal, which was the eighth longest by an FCS kicker in week one. Udinski and wide receiver Jakob Herres were two of 35 players named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, awarded to the FCS national offensive player of the year. Wheeler was one of the 35 players named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, presented to the FCS national defensive player of the year. Aaron Trusler was also named to the FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List. Wheeler and Herres were also selected as Preseason All-America by Stats Perform. Richmond was selected to finish fourth in the CAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and began the season Ranked No. 24 in the FCS Coaches and Stats Perform Preseason Poll.

All-Time vs. Richmond
In the only matchup between the programs, Richmond defeat Saint Francis 35-27 with a game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game. Saint Francis entered the fourth quarter with a 20-12 lead and regained the lead with 70 second left before the last-second Spiders' score. Originally scheduled as a home game for Richmond, the matchup was relocated to Saint Francis after the threat of Hurricane Florence loomed near E. Claiborne Robins Stadium.
 
Around the NEC
Every NEC team lost its season-opener over the weekend with the exception of Stonehill, who won its Division I debut against Division II Bloomsburg 33-30 in overtime. Saint Francis fell to FBS opponent Akron 30-23 in overtime, while NEC preseason favorite Sacred Heart lost 6-0 to Lafayette despite outplaying the Leopards in nearly every statistical category. Duquesne dropped to 0-2 on the season after a 31-14 loss at Youngstown State. Merrimack played then-No. 16 Holy Cross to a 31-17 defeat, while Central Connecticut fell to UConn 28-3. Wagner led Fordham 28-20 midway through the third quarter before the Rams scored 28 unanswered points before their eventual 48-31 win. LIU lost to Toledo 37-0 in head coach Ron Cooper's LIU debut.
 
Sliwoski Named to CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List
Sliwoski was one of 38 players named to the watch list and one of two NEC players, joined by Sacred Heart's Malik Grant. The list consisted of 26 quarterbacks and 12 running backs. Sliwoski had a game-long 34-yard run and 55-yard pass in the season-opener against Akron. He ignited Saint Francis' game-tying drive that forced overtime. In the 2021 season, Sliwoski ranked fifth in the FCS with a 162.2 passing efficiency.
 
Benjamin Named NEC Defensive Player of the Week, Three Prime Performers
Benjamin was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week, while Horton and Snyder joined him as NEC Prime Performers. Benjamin tied a single-season program record with four sacks against Akron, which was the most through the first week in the FCS. He was the first Saint Francis player to earn the weekly honor since De'Jon Lee on Oct. 21, 2019. Horton, who led Saint Francis with 86 rushing yards, and Snyder, who led Saint Francis with 92 receiving yards, each earned their first-career weekly honors.
 
Next
Saint Francis travels to Wagner for its first conference game of the season on Sept. 17 for a 4 p.m. kickoff.