LORETTO — Some losses hurt more than others.
For seventh-year St. Francis football coach Dave Opfar, the loss to the Marist Red Foxes was more excruciating than any in his seven-year career.
After his Red Flash controlled the football game for almost three quarters, Opfar watched his team make some key special teams mistakes that led to a 30-22 defeat in their home opener at DeGol Field.
The Red Flash had built a 22-7 lead after senior wideout Antoine Rivera made an acrobatic catch of a 10-yard George Little pass with 1:48 left in the third quarter.
Then the momentum appeared to shift because of an NCAA rule that is unlike that at any other level.
After Rivera’s touchdown, freshman place-kicker Zak Campbell, who had missed a point-after-touchdown earlier, had his kick for the PAT blocked by Michael Rios.
Under NCAA rules, the kick can be returned for two points, and Marist’s Paul Rabito scooped up the ball and outraced the Red Flash defenders to narrow the lead to 22-9.
From that point on, the momentum had shifted – big-time.
“That was a great play by Rios,” Marist coach Jim Parady said. “He came off the edge, and we took it back. That kept it within 22-9 at that point. If not, we’re down two scores.”
On their first possession of the second half, St. Francis increased its 10-0 halftime lead to 16-0 when Little hit Rivera with a 33-yard touchdown pass. Campbell’s kick was wide, but St. Francis had a 16-point advantage at the 13:29 mark of third quarter.
The Red Foxes finally unleashed their offense, scoring their first points when running back Keith Mitchell broke off his left tackle for a 15-yard score. Kevin Pauly’s kick for the PAT narrowed the lead to 16-7.
The Red Flash then built the 22-9 lead, and still appeared to be in control after the PAT return.
However, the Red Foxes charged back, driving to the St. Francis 9-yard line, where quarterback Chris Debowski hit James LaMacchia on a slant pass for a score. The PAT by Pauly narrowed the advantage to 22-16.
Then the roof caved in for the Flash. After the Red Foxes held the Flash to a three-and-out, St. Francis punter Bobby Fuller was overwhelmed by the Red Foxes defenders, not even allowing him to punt the ball and tackling him on the Red Flash 9.
Bo Ehikioya then burst up the middle for a 5-yard score, and Pauly’s kick gave Marist a lead that it did not relinquish, 23-22.
Ehikioya added a 36-yard run to finish the scoring with 7:57 left in the game.
The Red Flash fell to 0-2 on the season.
“We just did not have enough at the end to finish the game,” Opfar said. “We have to find – somehow, some way – guys on the field who are going to be mentally strong enough to finish the game.”
Marist had a 289-101 advantage on the ground, but the Red Flash compiled a 202-154 edge through the air.
Little hit 13 of 20 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
Antoine Rivera, who was injured in the fourth quarter and did not return, recorded his 100th career catch in the game, recording 115 yards on five catches.
Ehikioya recorded 159 yards on 20 carries for Marist (1-2).
St. Francis will visit Duquesne next week for its first Northeast Conference game.
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Related Photos
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St. Francis wide receiver Antoine Rivera (right) leaps to above coverage from Marist cornerback Paul Rabito for a 10-yard touchdown catch on Saturday in Loretto. John Tanish
Discussion
Failed extra point turns tide against Red Flash
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