Recruiting Areas: Pennsylvania Districts 7 and 12, Virginia, Washington D.C., South Florida, Louisiana
Marco Pecora begins his 10th season with the Red Flash in 2024 and and his fifth as offensive coordinator. Pecora spent three years as the team's defensive coordinator and his first two as the defensive backs coach.
In 2023, the Saint Francis offense led the NEC with 27.2 points and 360.1 total yards of offense per game. The Red Flash were second with 191.5 passing yards and third with 168.6 rushing yards per game.
Cole Doyle’s four passing touchdown performance in the season finale against Central Connecticut was the 10th by a Saint Francis quarterback in program history. He finished the season atop the NEC with a 57.5 completion percentage and was second with 184.4 passing yards per game and 15 passing touchdowns. Wide receiver Dawson Snyder finished atop the NEC with 43 receptions and 718 receiving yards.
Offensive lineman Seth Osborne became the third player in program history to earn an Associated Press FCS All-American honor with his third team selection. On the NEC level, Snyder, Osborne and offensive lineman Bailey Iboleon were first team selections. Doyle earned a spot on the second team.
In 2022, the Saint Francis set a new program record with 54 total touchdowns, 30 passing touchdowns and 431 total points. The offense put up 41 points per game during its perfect 7-0 conference season and averaged 35.9 points per game overall, which ranked 13th in the FCS. The 1.08 sacks allowed per game was 11th in the FCS and the 428.8 total yards per game ranked 24th.
Quarterback Cole Doyle set a single-season program record with a 169.6 passing efficiency that ranked fifth in the FCS. His 21 passing touchdowns were tied for fourth in single-season program history. He also tied a single-game program record with five passing touchdowns twice and had the second-most single-game passing yards with 412 in the NEC Championship game at Merrimack. Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt tied a single-season program record with 13 touchdowns, which was tied for fifth in the FCS. Wide receiver Makai Jackson finished third in single-season program history with 85 receptions, fourth with 991 receiving yards and sixth with nine receiving touchdowns.
Doyle was named a Walter Payton Award Finalist, which is presented to the FCS National Player of the Year, and earned NEC Offensive Player of the Year. Jackson was named a Jerry Rice Award Finalist, which is presented to the FCS National Freshman of the Year, and was named NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year. He finished third in voting for the Jerry Rice Award. Both Jackson and Sarratt were named Stats Perform and HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American. The 2022 Saint Francis offense also totaled six All-NEC selections under Pecora's guidance.
In 2021, Saint Francis averaged 22.9 points per game, 146.4 rushing yards per game and 176.3 passing yards per game. He guided quarterback Justin Sliwoski to a 162.2 passing efficiency, which ranked fifth in the FCS. Wide receiver Kahtero Summers earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-America and All-NEC Second Team honors. He caught a conference-high nine touchdowns and added 44 catches for 674 yards.
Running back Marques DeShields was named All-NEC First Team and offensive lineman Seth Osborne was named All-NEC Second Team. DeShields had 167 rushes for 767 yards and four touchdowns and set a record for the longest run in program history with his 98-yard touchdown against Bryant on Oct. 16.
Under Pecora, the Red Flash offense took off, scoring 30 or more points in five of its last six games and averaging 33.3 ppg over the stretch. SFU ranked third in the NEC in scoring offense (25.2 ppg), and had the number one ranked passing offense in the NEC (260.1 ypg). It's 4,334 yards of total offense was its highest output since 2005.
First-year starting quarterback
Jason Brown (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) developed rapidly under Pecora, becaming the first SFU quarterback to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season (3,084), ranking 14
th in all of FCS. Brown also set the single-season school record for passing TDs (28), which ranked T-11 in FCS, and threw for three or more touchdowns in each of the last six games and set the school record for passing TDs in a single-game with five at Delaware State.Brown's Pass Rating Efficiency (QBR) was a program best 145.16.
In 2018, Pecora helped Jalen Brown become the third player in SFU history to earn NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The Red Flash defense was historically good in 2018, placing three players on the All-NEC first team and six players in total earned All-NEC honors. The #darkside ranked third in the FCS in tackles for loss, 9th in total defense, 12th in scoring defense and 20th in run defense. The defense held seven opponents under 200 yards passing and four under 100 yards rushing while forcing 18 turnovers.
Pecora led Saint Francis to another dominant year on defense in 2017, allowing just 14.6 points and 287.2 total yards per game as well as 149.5 passing yards and 137.6 rushing yards, leading the NEC in all four categories. SFU allowed an opponent pass efficiency rating of just 96.2 and held opponents to just 63.6 percent in the Red Zone. SFU ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense, 10th in total defense, sixth in pass defense, third in pass efficiency defense and sixth in Red Zone defense. SFU forced 25 turnovers, ranking 18th in the nation. SFU set a program record with four defensive touchdowns.
The Red Flash had four players earn All-NEC honors. Cornerback Malik Duncan and safety Delondo Boyd were First Team selections, while defensive end Austin Gray and cornerback Jalen Wells were Second Team honorees.
Duncan, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in the FCS, tied for the team-lead with three interceptions, including a pick-six vs. Lock Haven. He earned All-America honors from College Sports Madness, HERO Sports, Phil Steele and STATS FCS. Duncan finished his career fourth all-time at SFU with 29 pass breakups. He did not allow a touchdown catch in 28 straight games to finish his career and only allowed three receptions against NEC opponents this year. Boyd was fourth on the team with 57 tackles, four for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a 25-yard pick-six.
Gray totaled 25 tackles, with 5.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery, while Wells collected 40 tackles, three interceptions (135 return yards) and five pass breakups. Wells finished third all-time at SFU with 253 career interception return yards.
SFU had playmakers all over the field, with six players collecting 50 or more tackles, led by linebacker Sean Orsini’s 84 stops. Six players had at least five tackles for loss, led by Zane Stewart’s 10 and Da’Jon Lee’s eight. Four players had at least two sacks, with Stewart and Lee each recording three, and four players recorded at least two forced fumbles.
The Red Flash held nine of its 11 opponents to under 200 yards passing, four opponents to under 100 yards rushing and forced two or more turnovers in eight games. Against NEC opponents, SFU allowed only four scoring drives longer than 60 yards and only 15 plays of 20 or more yards. In five games against non-conference opponents (four against full-scholarship programs), SFU allowed only six scoring drives over 60 yards and 11 plays of 20 or more yards.
Pecora coached the inside linebackers this season, with Orsini and Ben Bruni among the top three tacklers on the team. Orsini had 84 tackles, 37 solo, six for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery, four QB hurries and two pass breakups, while Bruni recorded 67 tackles, 37 solo, 5.5 for loss, two sacks and six pass breakups. Calvin Beaty and Gibbs Tinne were also in the mix at inside linebacker. Beaty had 16 stops, three for loss, a sack and a forced fumble, while Tinne had 23 tackles, two for loss, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt.
Pecora coached one of the top defenses in the FCS in 2016. The Red Flash ranked 11th in the nation in scoring defense (19.8 ppg), 15th in total defense (320.8 ypg), 18th in rushing defense (121.2) and 39th in passing defense (199.6). SFU forced 24 turnovers, ranking 21st in the country, and set a new program-record with 39 sacks, ranking fourth in the FCS.
The Red Flash defense was led by All-American safety Lorenzo Jerome and linebacker Solomon Leaeno. Jerome was selected All-America by the Associated Press, College Sports Madness, HERO Sports, STATS FCS and the Walter Camp Foundation. Leaeno was an All-America honoree by HERO Sports.
Jerome became the first player in SFU and NEC history to earn invites to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. Jerome was named the MVP of the NFLPA Bowl after recording two interceptions and followed that performance with two interceptions and a forced fumble at the Senior Bowl. Jerome signed an undrafted free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jerome and Leaeno were two of five All-NEC selections on the defensive side. Senior nose tackle Wesley Nagaseu was also a First Team selection, while junior cornerback Malik Duncan and safety Delondo Boyd received Second Team accolades. With his First Team selection, Jerome became the first player in NEC history to earn four First Team selections in his career.
Jerome led the secondary with six interceptions, tied for third in the FCS, including two each at Montana and Robert Morris. He was third on SFU with 59 tackles and returned a fumble 89 yards for a score at Towson. Boyd was second on SFU with 70 tackles, while Duncan set an SFU record with 14 pass breakups. Fellow corner Jalen Wells had 39 tackles and three interceptions, including two pick-six’s.
Nagaseu, a two-time All-NEC selection, led the defensive line with 45 tackles, including 6.5 for loss. Junior end Austin Gray had 45 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, while junior Shawn McCord had 37 stops, with six for loss.
At linebacker, Leaeno led the SFU defense with 94 tackles, including 43 solo, 16.5 for loss and 10.5 sacks, the second-most sacks in a season at SFU. Junior Zane Stewart recorded 45 tackles, including 10 for loss, while freshman Da’Jon Lee had 38 tackles, with 11.5 for loss and five sacks. Sophomores Ben Bruni and Sean Orsini had 51 and 48 tackles, respectively.
Pecora coached a Saint Francis secondary that helped the Red Flash defense rank ninth in the FCS in pass defense in 2015, allowing only 163 yards per game. SFU was also 17th in the nation in total defense, giving up 309.3 yards per game. Saint Francis held three opponents to under 100 yards passing and five teams to under 150 yards. SFU was also fifth in the nation in pass efficiency defense, with a rating of 99.15.
The secondary unit was one of the strongest defensive units in the conference. Cornerback DaQuan Minter and safety Lorenzo Jerome each earned First Team All-NEC honors, while safety Delondo Boyd was named to the CFPA Defensive Back of the Year Award Midseason Watch List.
Jerome ranked third on the Red Flash defense with 58 tackles, including 33 solo, 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He tied for the team-lead and second in the conference with three interceptions, which he returned for a total of 115 yards. Jerome also had seven pass breakups.
Minter ranked fifth in the FCS in passes defended per game, despite missing four contests with an injury. Minter intercepted two passes and broke up 11. He added 26 tackles, with 21 solo. Minter picked off passes against Sacred Heart and Duquesne, while covering two of the conference’s top receivers: Sacred Heart’s Tyler Dube and Duquesne’s Chris King.
Boyd tied for the team-lead and second in the conference with three interceptions. He picked off two passes vs. Georgetown, returning one 35 yards for a touchdown. Boyd recorded 49 tackles, with 33 solo and three for loss, and forced a fumble.
At the opposite corner, Malik Duncan made 27 stops on the year, with 19 solo. He also broke up seven passes and intercepted one vs. Robert Morris.
Other contributors in the secondary included Robert Miller, Angelo Perrucci and Jalen Wells. Miller had a 40-yard pick-six at East Tennessee State, while Perrucci picked off a pass vs. Sacred Heart. Wells had 18 stops and two pass breakups.
Pecora led the secondary to a successful season in 2014, guiding the unit to the No. 14 pass defense in the nation and second best in the conference. The secondary also boasted two All-NEC First Team selections in safeties Bishop Neal and Lorenzo Jerome. Jerome and Neal finished first and second on the team, respectively, in tackles. Jerome finished the 2014 season with 16 total passes defended, second most in the NEC. Pecora also assisted defensive back DaQuan Minter to finish among the top 10 in interceptions in the FCS last year.
Pecora graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 with his bachelor’s of science in history. He was a three-year letterman with the Panthers football team where he was a two-time All-Academic Big East selection. After suffering an injury leading into his senior season, he worked as a student assistant, working with special teams scouting and breaking down video. Following his graduation from Pittsburgh, he played his final season of eligibility at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he started at free safety all season. Pecora earned three “Defensive Player of the Week” nods while leading the defense to the No. 2 red zone defense in the country.
Pecora lives in Johnstown.
