WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis falls 24-14 to Robert Morris in NEC football action on Homecoming on Saturday.
>> Nick Whitfield Jr. threw for 240 yards and a touchdown, while Adrian Mejia and Jordan Theodore both caught a touchdown pass.
>> Geno Calgaro paced the Red Flash defense with 13 tackles.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
With Saint Francis holding a 7-3 lead, the Colonials punted the ball to the Red Flash with 30 seconds left in the half. A muffed punt was recovered by Robert Morris, who then scored a touchdown to take a 10-7 lead at the break. The Colonials received the ball to start the second half and registered another touchdown for a 10-point lead.
The Red Flash answered with a TD, but the Colonials struck back with a touchdown of their own to restore the 10-point lead and go on for the 24-14 victory.
FLASH MOMENTSÂ
Saint Francis took a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter, with a three-play 67-yard drive. Whitfield connected with DJ Maultsby for a 62-yard catch to start the drive and give the ball to the Flash at the Robert Morris five-yard line. It was the second-longest pass play of the season. After Whitfield rushed for three yards, the quarterback hit Mejia for a two-yard score.
The Red Flash scored its second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter thanks to a five-play 46-yard drive. Theodore provided most of the offense on the drive after a 30-yard acrobatic diving catch on a third-and-19 play. Theodore then registered his second touchdown of the season on an eight-yard reception on the ensuing play to trim the margin to 17-14.Â
The longest drive of the day for Saint Francis was a 15-play 76-yard drive. Raphael Ekechi had 43 yards on the drive thanks to 23 yards on the ground and a 20-yard catch. Peyton Nelson also had an 18-yard reception on the drive that resulted in a missed field goal attempt after Robert Morris scored a TD to start the second half.Â
FLASH NUGGETS
Whitfield registered two touchdown passes for the first time this season and the fourth time in his career after throwing a pair of touchdowns in his last three appearances last season. He threw for over 200 yards for the third time in 2025 and the fifth time in his career.
Ekechi had his best game in a Red Flash uniform with a career-high 114 yards, thanks to 85 yards on the ground on 17 carries and two catches for 29 yards.
Mejia, who registered two passing touchdowns on his resume, notched his first receiving touchdown of his career on Saturday. He also added two rushes for 23 yards for his first rushing yards as a non-quarterback.
Theodore posted his second TD of the season, his first receiving, after rushing for his first touchdown against Buffalo on September 6. After having just one catch for one yard in the season opener, Theodore had three catches for 53 yards and a TD against the Colonials.
Saturday marked the 29th anniversary of Bob McHale's program-record 33 tackles. Calgaro led the Red Flash with 13 tackles to reach double figures in tackles for the fourth time this season and the first time in four games.
Colin Douglas tied his career high with nine tackles, a feat he also reached against CCSU on September 13. Kendric Council had eight tackles, missing his career best by one tackle. Council registered nine tackles against Delaware State.
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis, who is in the midst of a four-game NEC homestand, returns to action on Saturday, November 1, against Wagner. Game time is 12 p.m. The Seahawks will be coming off a 24-13 win against Duquesne.
