HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

St. Francis Football Making History in 2016

HERO Sports by HERO Sports
November 17, 2016
St. Francis Football Making History in 2016

It has been a long time since the St. Francis (Pa.) football team has had this much fun.

The Red Flash have won a championship, they’re in the FCS Playoffs for the first time in school history, and they can do something they haven’t done in 24 years if they handle Wagner in the regular season finale: finish a season with eight wins.

saint-francis-pa-logo

It's been a steady progression under head coach Chris Villarrial, the former Chicago Bear and Buffalo Bill. In 2010 he took over the program and won a single game. Then it was two wins, then three straight seasons of five wins. Then last year's six-win season meant the first winning record in more than two decades.

RELATED: Who deserves to be where when it comes to the FCS playoff bracket?

The baby-step method is working. Last year, Patriot League squad Colgate was the big, early story of the FCS Playoffs, winning two playoff games against CAA opponents and making the national quarterfinals.

Could St. Francis do something similar this year? Time will tell.

For now, the Red Flash are looking to close the regular season out with a bang and find out on Sunday who they’ll face on Nov. 26. And they can enjoy the support of their hometown of Loretto (Pa.) — nestled between Pittsburgh and Altoona in the western half of the state.

Villarrial Named Finalist For Eddie Robinson Award https://t.co/G6hYxcih2v

— The Red Flash (@SFUathletics) November 15, 2016

“It’s been great to see the transformation of the program,” Villarrial told HERO Sports this week. “I’m getting emails from past players who were here in the 1960s and 1970s who are congratulating us and saying they’ll be here for upcoming games to come out and support us. Guys go into the cafeteria at school and now people say ‘hi’ to them.

“Now we have the responsibility to do the right things, because we’re in the spotlight even more.”

St. Francis isn't a historical football power, but that may be on the verge of changing. The program has only reached double digits in wins once—and that was more than 100 years ago when leather helmets were the norm. Prior to this year’s Northeast Conference championship, the Red Flash only had one championship to their name, a title won when the school played Division III football in 1991.

The three losses this year have been to Montana (10 points), Towson (7 points) and Albany (11 points)—and both Montana and Albany come into this weekend on the verge of clinching at-large playoff berths. The Red Flash have held their own against bigger competition—coming into this weekend on a 6-game winning streak. The team has played scrappy defense (No. 10 in the nation in scoring defense at 17.6).

An NEC Title is nice, but we want to be 6-0! SFU looking to become 1st NEC team since 2008 to go undefeated in conference play. #RedFlash pic.twitter.com/9BogfQaTvp

— Red Flash Football (@SFU_Football) November 15, 2016

“I think our game with Montana was a turning point,” standout DB Lorenzo Jerome told HERO Sports. “That’s when we realized that St. Francis can play good football against good opponents, and now look at us, we’re Top 25 in the nation (No. 25 in the HERO Sports media poll).

“It’s a great feeling … but we can’t get cocky because we’re replaceable, basically. Everybody is doing an excellent job.”

Will the Red Flash continue to push to new heights? Only time will tell but there's a whole lot of ascension going on in the town of Loretto.

It’s that time of year, folks.

Previous Post

South Dakota Football Recruiting Sees Flurry of Activity

Next Post

Who’s the Best Team in Women’s College Tennis Heading into Spring?

Next Post
Who’s the Best Team in Women’s College Tennis Heading into Spring?

Who's the Best Team in Women's College Tennis Heading into Spring?

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • 2025 FCS Jersey Countdown: The Best Returning Player For Each Number
  • Boston College’s Apparel Deal With New Balance Celebrates Significant Moment
  • Plot Twist for Sac State Football Independence + Updates On ASUN, WAC, Big Sky Movement

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.