Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | SFU Game Notes | SFU Video Preview

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University football returns to action after a bye last weekend in its trip to Delaware State on Saturday, Oct. 5 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
 
Offense
Saint Francis has used three different starting quarterbacks through the first four games with Jeff Hoenstine atop the trio with 307 passing yards. Hoenstine and Adrian Mejia are tied for the team lead with 23 completions, while Mejia leads with a 63.9 completion percentage. DeMarcus McElroy ranks third in the Northeast Conference with 69.8 rushing yards per game and his 97-yard rushing touchdown against CCSU remains tied for the longest rush in Division I – FCS or FBS – this season. Gavin Thomson ranks second in the NEC with 17.3 yards per reception and fourth with 63.3 receiving yards per game.  
 
Defense
Trey McLeer leads Saint Francis with a conference 11th-ranked 27 total tackles this season. He is followed by Fran Brown Jr.'s 26 total tackles that rank 13th in the conference. Paul Tangelo is second in the NEC with 4.0 sacks and is tied for the lead with 6.0 tackles for loss. The Red Flash defense ranks eighth in the FCS with 89.3 rushing yards allowed and 275 total yards allowed per game this season. Saint Francis has not allowed more than 125 rushing yards in a game this season and opponents average only 2.4 yards per carry.
 
Special Teams
Aidan Cirulli had a 69-yard punt at Eastern Michigan that is tied for the third-longest in program history. Only Andrew Zecca's 73-yard punt at Villanova in 2016 went further. Cirulli ranks fourth in the NEC 43.4 yards per punt and is 1.2 shy of the conference lead. Mac Plummer is 4-for-6 on field goal attempts this season and ranks second in the NEC with his four converted field goals.
 
Last Time Out
Saint Francis suffered a 36-0 defeat at FBS opponent Eastern Michigan prior to its bye weekend. The Red Flash marched down to the Eastern Michigan two-yard line in the first quarter before a fumble, returned for 99 yards, gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead. Eastern Michigan added two field goals in the first half and led 13-0 at halftime. The Eagles added three scores in the third quarter behind a one-yard rushing touchdown, blocked punt recovered for a touchdown and a 37-yard field goal to open a 29-0 lead. Eastern Michigan capped off its scoring with an 89-yard touchdown with 11:20 remaining in the game to earn its 36-0 victory.
 
Scouting Delaware State
The Hornets enter Saturday's game with a 1-4 record and are on a current three-game losing streak. Delaware State defeated former NEC member Sacred Heart 17-15 on Aug. 31. The Hornets also have a loss to NEC member Wagner, 30-7. Marqui Adams leads the program with 886 passing yards, seven touchdowns and has three interceptions. He adds 68 rushes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Kristian Tate has 14 receptions for 232 yards and is tied with Kyree Benton for the team lead with two touchdown receptions. Jaden Sutton leads the rushing attack with 70 attempts for 493 yards and four touchdowns. Charles Brown Jr. and Kahleef Jimmison leads the program with 28 total tackles, while Wayne Favors III leads with two interceptions. The Delaware State defense has only two sacks on the year and Brian Bates is the only player with one full. 
 
All-Time vs. Delaware State
Saint Francis holds a 2-1 advantage over Delaware State with back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 by at least 14 points. The Hornets won the first meeting 63-28 in 2006. Saint Francis has its largest victory at home 45-14 in 2018. Dwayne Majors and Aaron Tutino are the only current Red Flash player to participate in the last meeting and Majors recorded one tackle for loss in the Saint Francis win.
 
Around the NEC
Prior to Saint Francis' bye, Robert Morris defeated Wagner 21-14 in the second conference game played this season on Sept. 21. CCSU nearly defeated FBS opponent UMass in a 35-31 loss. During Saint Francis' bye week, Mercyhurst lost to Division II opponent Frostburg State, 25-24. Wagner lost to FBS opponent FAU 41-10, LIU lost to No. 6 Villanova 24-10 and Robert Morris lost to Eastern Kentucky 31-7.
 
Week Six in the NEC
Duquesne hosts LIU and Stonehill hosts Wagner in week six conference action. CCSU takes a trip to Yale, while Saint Francis visits Delaware State. Mercyhurst hosts Division III opponent Buffalo State to round out week six in the NEC.
 
Next
Saint Francis returns home to face Duquesne on Saturday, Oct. 12 for a 12 p.m. kickoff exclusively on ESPN+.