Saint Francis (Pa.) Scout/Prediction

SAINT FRANCIS (PA.) SCOUTING REPORT

Offense: The Saint Francis (Pa.) offense ranks eighth in the nine-team Northeast Conference in scoring (17.1 ppg), while ranking last in the league in total offense (253.8 ypg). The Red Flash rank eighth in the conference in both rushing and passing, averaging 109.6 yards per game on the ground and 144.1 yards through the air per contest. SFU has 877 total rushing yards this season, 409 of which came in its last game against Duquesne, a 31-14 win. The Red Flash are led by running back Jude Yearwood, who leads the team with 430 rushing yards and three touchdowns. John Kelly is the team’s leading quarterback, having completed 52.1% of his passes for 1,112 yards and seven TD’s. George Little, last year’s starter, started the team’s last game, however, completing 7-of-11 passes for 36 yards. Antoine Rivera is the team’s, and one of the league’s, leading receivers with 41 catches for 555 yards and four touchdowns. Omar Winston is second on the team with 29 grabs for 192 yards, while Anthony Howze has 14 catches for 117 yards.

Defense: The Red Flash defense is currently tied for sixth in the league, with Duquesne, in points allowed, giving up 26 points per game. However, the unit ranks third in the NEC in total yards allowed, giving up a shade under 300 yards per contest. They lead the NEC, and rank fourth in the nation, in pass defense, giving up 138 yards through the air per game. The Red Flash rank fifth against the run this season, allowing an average of 160.1 yards per game. The defense is paced by a pair of linebackers in Matthew Parker and Scott Lewis, both of whom have started since their freshmen seasons. Parker and Lewis rank first and third in the NEC, and 12th and 15th in the nation, in tackles per game with 10.7 and 10.5 stops per game, respectively. The duo, who are the centerpieces of the SFU 3-4 defensive alignment, have combined for 14.5 tackles for loss, seven pass break-ups, seven QB hurries and six sacks this season as well. Terrence Long leads the team and the NEC with five interceptions in the secondary.

Special Teams: The SFU kicker is Josh Thiel, and he has converted all 16 of his extra point attempts and 6-of-12 field goals this season. He is 2-of-5 on field goals from beyond 40 yards this season, with a long of 45, and has had three kicks blocked this season. Grant Price is the team’s leading punter, averaging 36.8 yards per kick. Kyle Harbridge is the club’s leading kickoff returner, averaging 24.5 yards per return, including an 86-yard touchdown this season. Rivera is the club’s leading punt returner with 54 yards (4.5 ypr).

My take: The Red Flash are a bit of an enigma this week for Monmouth. This team used to play with 3 and 4 wide receivers and throw exclusively, only running the ball when they absolutely had to. They are trying to become more of a balanced team and make a concerned effort to run the football, as evidenced by the fact that half of their rushing yards came last game against Duquesne. They only average 2.9 yards per rush, however. Also, we are not sure who will start at QB for SFU. John Kelly has the overwhelming stats from a passes attempted and completed perspective, but last year's starter, George Little, started last game.

This team also used to play an odd standing defense, when all 11 defenders would stand up near the line of scrimmage in an effort to disguise potential blitz packages. They are a 3-4 team now and feature two very good LB's.

With all of this said, I see Monmouth (4-4) getting over the .500 mark in this game over the Red Flash. Although it isnt easy to play in remote Loretto, Pa., I think the Hawks continue their winning ways and defeat Saint Francis (Pa.) 34-13.