WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis falls to Delaware State on Saint Francis Athletics Champions Day in non-conference football action on Saturday.
>> Brenden Hodge registered six catches for 134 yards, while Nick Whitfield Jr. was 25-for-35 for 265 yards passing.
>> Geno Calgaro paced the defense with 11 tackles.
>> The Red Flash lost to the Hornets, 39-10.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Last season, Saint Francis scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to overtake Delaware State 28-17. The Hornets jumped out to a 26-3 lead going into halftime and then pulled away, not allowing the Red Flash a comeback for the second consecutive year.

FLASH QUOTES
"We have shown some improvements, but we have to make the big improvements. With a young team, it's the little intricate details that can get you beat. There are things that we are learning from and getting better at." - head coach Chris Villarrial

FLASH MOMENTS 
Saint Francis orchestrated a five-play 55-yard drive that resulted in a Mac Plummer 22-yard field goal. Plummer was honored before the game as the 10th Martynuska Scholarship Award winner.  A 21-yard reception by Hodge highlighted the field goal drive. 

The Red Flash then sent the fans home happy with a free Big Mac as part of the new McDonald's Red Zone Challenge. Denzel Lambert had a couple of catches during the drive, and Whitfield got the Flash in the McDonald's Red Zone with an 18-yard scramble. Once in the McDonald's Red Zone, if Saint Francis scores a touchdown, fans can score a free Big Mac through the app at participating McDonald's locations. A Whitfield pass to Kameron Chisholm from one yard out gave the Red Flash its first McDonald's Red Zone touchdown in the third quarter.

DJ Maultsby registered his first two catches of his collegiate career, and his second reception will be one to remember after he caught a 34-yard pass from Whitfield at the Delaware State three-yard line while going out of bounds in the fourth quarter.

FLASH NUGGETS
Hodge, a transfer from NCAA Division II Western Oregon, just fell short of his career highs in receptions and yards after finishing with six catches for 134 yards on Saturday. Hodge posted seven catches and 139 yards in one game against  UT Permian Basin on October 28, 2023. Hodge was the first Red Flash player with 100 yards receiving since Gavin Thomas against Kent State on September 7, 2024, and Hodge was the first player with six catches since Thomas in last year's meeting against Delaware State.

Similar to Hodge, Whitfield just missed a career-high in passing yards after finishing the game with 265 yards. He had 268 yards passing against LIU on November 16, 2024. Whitfield's 25 completions marked the first time since Jason Brown had 35 completions against CCSU on November 9, 2019, that a player completed at least 25 passes for the Red Flash.

Calgaro has registered at least nine tackles in all four games this season and double figures in three of them. Dating back to his last 10 games, he has 106 tackles and at least nine tackles in eight of those contests. The sophomore came into the game leading the NEC and ranking fourth in FCS in tackles. 

Chisholm notched his first two collegiate catches in the game, including his first touchdown reception. After making his first catch last week at CCSU, Mike Darcy had a career-high three catches for 27 yards. 

The game featured two FCS head coaches who also played in the NFL: Saint Francis head coach Chris Villarrial and Delaware State Desean Jackson. Villarrial and Jackson are two of the 1515 FCS coaches who have NFL experience.

Saint Francis celebrated its 69 NEC Champions during the game for Champions Day. Both the 2025 NEC Softball Tournament champions and 2024-25 NEC Men's Basketball Tournament Champions received their rings in a pregame ceremony.

The Red Flash are 12-3 under Villarrial in the first home game of the year, but the team has lost the last three home openers.