STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Saint Francis University football fell 14-0 in its first road conference game of the 2024 season Saturday afternoon at Wagner.  
 
What You Need to Know
» Nick Whitfield Jr. went 13-of-24 with 162 yards and two interceptions.
» Gavin Thomson had three catches for 46 yards.
» Geno Calgaro and Mercury Swaim led the team with seven total tackles (four solo).
» Semaj Williams had an interception and forced fumble.
 
Turning Points of the Game
On the second possession of the game, Wagner's first on offense, Williams intercepted the fourth pass attempt from the Seahawks. After an empty Red Flash possession, Wagner capped off a 10-play drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass and opened a 7-0 lead with 3:09 remaining in the first.
 
The next Wagner drive, the Seahawks connected on a 68-yard passing play before Williams chased down the receiver and forced a fumble recovered by DaMario Crawford in the end zone for a touchback. Wagner added another touchdown on a 31-yard passing play at 11:29 remaining in the second quarter and opened a 14-0 lead.
 
Saint Francis stuffed Wagner on a fourth-and-on its own 34-yard line with just under nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Both programs then traded punts until Wagner intercepted a pass with 4:28 remaining in the game. With Saint Francis unable to produce any points in the final four minutes, Wagner clinched its shutout victory.
 
Flash Nuggets
Williams forced the first fumble of his collegiate career and had his first interception at the FCS level. He recorded three interceptions in 2022 at College of the Canyons, a junior college in Santa Clara, Calif.
 
Thomson led Saint Francis in receiving for the fourth time this season. One of Thomson and Jayden Ivory (three times) has led Saint Francis in receiving.
 
Eddie Bierals had one sack in the game and now has two on the season. He and Paul Tangelo (four) are the only Red Flash players with more than one sack.
 
The Red Flash defense allowed just 47 rushing yards and has allowed fewer than 80 rushing yards in three of the seven games played this season. The unit allows 94 rushing yards per game and just 2.7 yards per attempt.
 
Next
Saint Francis is back on the road Saturday, Oct. 26 for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Robert Morris.