LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University football looks towards the 2023 season, which begins on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at Western Michigan, fresh off a historic 2022 campaign.
 
Offense
Saint Francis is led by the return of 2022 Walter Payton Award Finalist and Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Cole Doyle. His 169.6 passing efficiency last season set a program record and ranked fifth in the FCS. He finished fourth in single-season program history with 21 passing touchdowns and had 1,931 passing yards. The backfield returns four of the top five rushers from 2022, led by QuaSean Holmes' 479 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Dawson Snyder leads the wide receiver group with 38 catches, 758 and four touchdowns last season. His 19.95 yards per reception finished 10th in the FCS. An offensive line that ranked 11th in the FCS with 1.08 sacks against per game returns four-of-five starters, led by All-NEC selections Bailey Iboleon and Seth Osborne. In 2022, Saint Francis set a team record in total touchdowns (54), passing touchdowns (30) and total points (35.9).
 
Defense
The Red Flash defense is led by returner Kerry Galloway, who has started every game for Saint Francis over the last three seasons played. He recorded a team-high seven pass breakups while consistently covering opposing team's top wide receivers. William Middleton is the leading tackler amongst returners after he recorded 37 total (22 solo) last season. Eddie Bierals leads returners in tackles-for-loss after his 7.5 total last season. The 2022 defense finished ninth in the FCS in passing yards allowed per game (177), 18th in total yards allowed per game (333), 19th in red zone defense (75 percent) and 20th in points against (21.5). 
 
Special Teams
Saint Francis looks to replace both its starting kicker and punter positions ahead of the 2023 season. Aidan Cirulli appeared in one game last season against Georgetown and recorded four punts for a 36.8-yard average. Kicker Macrae Plummer appeared in one game against Duquesne and had three kickoffs for a 59.7-yard average. Long snapper Lucas Winters returns to the team in 2023 for his sophomore season.
 
New Additions to the 2023 Roster
Saint Francis is set to welcome 59 newcomers to the 2023 roster, which includes 52 true freshmen. Buju Aumua-Tuisavura (New Mexico Military Institute), Cinsere Clark (Virginia University-Lynchburg), Lawrence Okocha (Bowie State), Pierre Royster (Norfolk State), Paul Tangelo (Lackawanna College), Andrew Vines (Lackawanna College) and Semaj Williams (College of the Canyons) all join Saint Francis as transfers. Royster, a defensive back, had 36 total tackles (27 solo) and one pass breakup during two seasons at Norfolk State. Tangelo recorded 38 total tackles (28 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles during one season at Lackawanna College.
 
Saint Francis Receives Votes in Preseason National Polls
The Red Flash were represented with receiving votes in both Stats Perform and the FCS Coaches Poll with five and seven votes, respectively. Saint Francis was the only NEC team represented in either poll. Last season Saint Francis finished the 2022 season receiving votes for five straight weeks in the national polls and reached as high at 27th.
 
Saint Francis Set to Host Thursday Night Game on CBS Sports Network
The Red Flash are set to host Wagner on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. for the NEC's first-ever nationally televised linear football game on CBS Sports Network. The game will also mark Saint Francis' first weekday home game since 2018. "I'm excited for the entire program, players and coaches to showcase their talents on national television," said head coach Chris Villarrial.
 
Four Earn Preseason All-NEC Honors
Doyle, Iboleon, Osborne and Galloway earned 2023 Preseason All-NEC selections. Osborne is now a four-time All-NEC selection with his Preseason and First Team honor in 2022 and Second Team honor in 2021. Doyle was NEC Offensive Player of the Year and an All-NEC First Team selection in 2022, while Iboleon was a Second Team selection.
 
Saint Francis Selected First in NEC Preseason Poll
The Red Flash were selected first in the NEC Preseason Poll, announced on July 19 at NEC Media Day at MetLife Stadium. The first-place selection was Saint Francis' first time at the top of the preseason poll in program history. Saint Francis earned five of the eight first-place votes, followed by two votes for Merrimack, one for Duquesne and one for LIU.
 
Doyle Named to 2023 Walter Payton Award Watch List
Doyle was named one of 35 players and one of 17 quarterbacks on the 2023 Walter Payton Award Watch List, presented annually to the top offensive player in the FCS. He was joined by Sacred Heart running back Malik Grant as the only two NEC players on the list. In 2022, Doyle became the first quarterback in program history selected as a Walter Payton Award Finalist. He was one of four players in program history honored, joining Kamron Lewis, Khairi Dickson and Kyle Harbridge.
 
Coach Pecora Named a Recipient of the GRAPHITE Award
Offensive coordinator Marco Pecora was named a recipient of the GRAPHITE Award, presented by RII Sports Technology for the first time. The award recognizes offensive play calling efficiency at the Division I level. Saint Francis held a 76.8 percent play calling efficiency rating last season, which led the Northeast Conference. Under Pecora's guidance, the 2022 Saint Francis offense earned four All-American selections, two major NEC yearly awards and six total All-NEC honors.
 
Alumni on the Coaching Staff
With the addition of Martin Foray as the secondary coach in July, he joins defensive coordinator Scott Lewis and linebackers coach Ben Bruni as three alumni on the coaching staff. Lewis' 524 total tackles in his career rank fifth in FCS history and his 12.2 tackles per game ranks third. He was a two-time All-American, four-time All-NEC selection and 2007 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Bruni was an All-NEC Second Team selection in 2018 and was part of the first NEC Championship team in program history in 2016. Foray was an All-NEC First Team selection in 2021 and led the NEC with 102 total tackles that season.
 
2022 Northeast Conference Champions
Saint Francis won its second NEC title in program history with a 52-23 victory over Merrimack last season. Saint Francis completed the ninth undefeated conference season in NEC history with a 7-0 record. During conference play, Saint Francis won all seven games by an average margin of victory of 34.6 points per game. The 2022 team set a Division I program record with nine wins, two more victories than any other season.
 
Coach Villarrial's 2022 Recognitions
Head coach Villarrial earned his third NEC Coach of the Year honor in 2022 and was named one of 16 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the FCS National Coach of the Year. Under Villarrial's guidance, the 2022 team had a finalist in four of the five major FCS awards presented by Stats Perform. In the NEC, Saint Francis earned four of the five major yearly award and had a program-record 10 All-NEC First Team selections.

Saint Francis has a 10-game schedule in 2023, which consists of four home and six away games. Saint Francis opens the season with three away games, all non-conference, before it kicks off the 2023 conference season at home on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 12 p.m. against Sacred Heart.