Flash looking to build on conference victory

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November 6, 2009

By HUGH CONRAD The Tribune-Democrat Fri Nov 06, 2009, 10:24 PM EST

A few weeks ago, the St. Francis-Monmouth battle would have been regarded with little interest.

However, after the Red Flash bulled over Duquesne two weeks ago for their first Northeast Conference win, the interest has increased for today’s Red Flash homecoming battle with the Hawks at 1 p.m. at DeGol Field.

Monmouth is 4-4 overall, 3-2 in the NEC, while the Flash are 2-6 overall, 1-4 in the conference.

The Red Flash surprised everyone with their 409 yards on the ground against the Dukes on Oct. 24, especially since they had been averaging just

69 yards on the ground entering that game.

How do the Flash feel now?

“Well, we are much better (physically) than we were two weeks ago,” St. Francis coach Dave Opfar said. “We just hope that we have some carryover from two weeks ago and keep that running game going now that we have (freshman quarterback) John (Kelly) back.”

What made the Duquesne win more remarkable is that Kelly had been sidelined with an illness, forcing JV quarterback Timmy Myers, a freshman from Central Cambria who started the season as a linebacker, to take over the job.

Kelly has returned and will start against Monmouth, Opfar said. He has completed 110 of 211 passes for 1,112 yards and seven touchdowns.

He has thrown five interceptions.

Two of the Red Flash running backs put together superb performances against Duquesne.

Junior Jude Yearwood was named the NEC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 167 yards and one touchdown in the game, and freshman Kyle Harbridge tallied 150 yards, also a career high.

The St. Francis coach hopes that his defense will rise to the occasion against the Hawks.

The defense will be challenged by Monmouth senior running back David Sinisi, who became the NEC’s leading rusher earlier this season. He now has 4,618 yards on 888 carries and is also the all-time leading scorer in the NEC with

402 points.

“He is probably the best back in the league,” Opfar said. “(The offensive line) is solid in that they block very well, and Sinisi is a patient back who looks for the crease and stays square.”

The Red Flash lead the NEC in pass defense with 138 yards per game, which is fourth in the nation among FCS teams.

Defensive back Terrence Long leads the Red Flash with five interceptions, which is first in the NEC.

Junior linebackers Matthew Parker and Scott Lewis lead the Red Flash in tackles with 10.7 and 10.5 per game, which rank first and third in the NEC.

Today’s game

Who: Monmouth (4-4,

3-2 Northeast Conference) at St. Francis (2-6. 1-4).

When: 1 p.m.

Where: DeGol Field, Loretto.

Radio: WWGE 1400 AM.

The Web: www.edge-radio.com.

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