Red Flash fall in home opener to Pioneers! @sacredheartuniv @SFUathletics @RedFlashFB

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Greg Ricupero | September 23, 2023

St Francis loses close one as D6 players wait their turn!

I had two reasons for my trip to Loretto today. I went up to cover the Red Flash football team and to see how a horde of D6 players are doing. The majority of last years recruits are being red shirted which is to be expected. It looks like the Red Flash signed a 2022 high school all-star team. The new freshmen from D6 include:

Jeff Hoenstine Central Martinsburg 2X 3A PA Player of the Year

Manny Miller Altoona 2 year Captain

Sam Penna Richland Swiss Army Knife

John Shuster Windber  3 Straight 1000 yard seasons

Ben Sosnowski Hollidaysburg All -State Kicker

Grayden Lewis Richland

Gavin Hockenberry Westmont

Eli Lingenfelter Central

Will Stone State College

Ian Conway Ferndale

Anthony Cioffari Bishop Guilfoyle

Tanner Trybus Cambria Heights

I saw them all play in high school and it is quite a haul.

One former D6 star already making an impact is redshirt freshman and former Bedford Bison Mercury Swaim who was third on the team in tackles and first in forced fumbles. The Red Flash are coached by former IUP, Chicago Bear and Buffalo Bill Chris Villarrial. It is good to see a local team recruiting some local boys. It makes the game that much better to watch.

Unfortunately it was a rainy day in the mid 50s and the Red Flash fell to visiting Sacred Heart before 1167 fans. The back and forth game went down to the final seconds. The Pioneers kicked a late field goal to win 37-34. St. Francis led early, fell behind as half ended and tied the game twice in the fourth quarter. Only to lose on a Sam Renzi field goal as timed ended, his third of the game, all from 40 yards and beyond. Both offenses moved up and down the field.The game stats were almost identical (yards, time of possession, special team stats, etc). The difference was an interception on the Red Flashes first possession deep in Pioneer territory, which prevented a field goal attempt. It was the Northeast Conference opener for both teams, so the season is still young.

Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-3) at St. Francis Red Flash (0-4)

SH  7-13- 7-10=37

SF 10- 7- 7-10=34

SF-Mac Plummer FG 36 8:57 (0-3)

SF-Damon Horton 3 run xp Plummer 5:23 (0-10)

SH-Jalen Madison 2 run xp Sam Renzi 0:30 (7-10)

SF-Casey McKnney 13 pass from Cole Doyle 10:41 (7-17)

SH-Payton Rhodes 1 pass from Rob McCoy xp Renzi 6:47 (14-17)

SH-Renzi FG 44 1:48 (17-17)

SH-Renzi FG 40 0:00 (20-17)

SH-LJ Haslett 12 pass from McCoy xp Renzi 10:04 (27-17)

SF-Horton 21 from Doyle xp Plummer 6:38 (27-24)

SF-Plummer FG 26 9:09 (27-27)

SH-Malik Grant 4 run xp Renzi 5:37 (34-27)

SF-Aaron Tution 17 pass from Doyle xp Plummer 2:29 (34-34)

SH-Renzi FG 40 0:00 (37-34)

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