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LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University football is set to open the 2023 season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. against FBS opponent Western Michigan.
 
Offense
Saint Francis is led quarterback Cole Doyle, who was named to the 2023 Walter Payton Award Watch List and Preseason All-Northeast Conference team. He is the reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Year and carried a program-record 169.6 passing efficiency, which ranked fifth in the FCS. He finished the season fourth in program history with 21 passing touchdowns and added 1.931 passing yards. Four-of-five starters on the offensive line return, led by Bailey Iboleon and Seth Osborne, while four-of-five rushers from last season with at least 240 yards return. Dawson Snyder leads a young group of wide receivers with his 38 catches for 758 yards and four touchdowns last season. His 19.95 yards per reception ranked 10th in the FCS.
 
Defense
Defensive back Kerry Galloway leads returners after his seven pass breakups last season. He has started all-35 games for Saint Francis across the last three seasons played. William Middleton leads returning tacklers with 37 total (22 solo) last season, while Eddie Bierals returns a third-best 7.5 tackles-for-loss from last season. Saint Francis will look to replace six All-NEC defenders from the 2022 team.
 
Special Teams
The special teams unit will feature a new punter and kicker for the 2023 season. Aidan Cirulli appeared in one game in 2022 and had four punts for a 36.8-yard average, while Mac Plummer appeared in one game and had three kickoffs for a 59.7-yard average. Lucas Winters returns this season as the team's long snapper. Casey McKinney's 8.3 punt return yards per attempt currently ranks third in program history amongst players with at least 20 attempts.
 
Scouting Western Michigan
The Broncos enter the 2023 season selected to finish last in the MAC West Division standings and second-to-last in the overall standings. Western Michigan is under the lead of first-year head coach Lance Taylor, who was hired after a 2022 stint as Louisville's offensive coordinator.  The Broncos' offense returns both top quarterbacks from last season, Jack Salopek and Treyson Bourguet, who combined for nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. The leading returning receiver, Jehlani Galloway, had 344 yards last season. Marshawn Kneeland leads the defense with his 10 tackles-for-loss last season. Keni-H Lovely leads returners with 47 tackles and four interceptions last season.
 
All-Time vs. Western Michigan
Saint Francis and Western Michigan will face off for the first time in program history. Saint Francis is 0-2 against MAC opponents with a 30-23 loss to Akron in overtime last season and 35-15 loss to Eastern Michigan in 2021. Western Michigan is 2-0 against NEC opponents with a 49-14 win over Wagner in 2017 and 51-14 win over Central Connecticut in 2007.
 
Around the NEC
Saint Francis will play the first game of the NEC season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Western Michigan. The other seven NEC teams will play on Saturday, Sept. 2 with LIU at Ohio as the only FCS and FBS game. Stonehill hosts New Hampshire, Central Connecticut hosts American International, Sacred Heart hosts Lafayette and Duquesne hosts Edinboro. Merrimack will visit Holy Cross, while Wagner rounds out week one with a trip to Fordham.
 
2022 Season in Review
Saint Francis won its second NEC title in program history last season after a 52-23 victory over Merrimack in the final game of the regular season. The Red Flash held a 7-0 conference record and held a 9-3 record overall, which set a Division I record for most wins in a season. Saint Francis put together a nine-game winning streak during the campaign, which was the longest in program history since 1971-72. The Red Flash earned four-of-five major NEC awards and 13 All-NEC selections, which included a program record 10 First Team honors.
 
Next
Saint Francis prepares for a trip to former NEC member Robert Morris on Saturday, Sept. 9 for a 6 p.m. kickoff.