Trio of Defensive Destruction Brings Home Record Fifth NEC Award in 2007
Loretto, Pa. –So far, the 2007 football season has seen Saint Francis’ freshmen linebacking corps pull in a Northeast Conference accolade every other week starting on Week 5 of the season; a new school record was set as the fifth nomination was handed down to Scott Lewis (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) for his outstanding play during Week 11.
Lewis kept the streak alive after SFU’s victory over Wagner by making 14 tackles, 0.5 TFL, a pass break-up and recovering a fumble on the third play of the game setting up Saint Francis’ first score.
Throughout Weeks 5, 7, 9 and 11, the Northeast Conference has designated a Red Flash freshman as Rookie of the Week. On top of Matthew Parker’s Defensive Player of the Week award, Saint Francis has produced five NEC weekly football awards; the most since Saint Francis joined the Northeast Conference.
Lewis’ Week 11 decoration marks his second NEC award of the season. Lewis hauled in his first nomination on Week 7 after he spearheaded a solid Saint Francis defensive effort by making 15 tackles in a 24-17 loss to Duquesne.
Lewis’s 14 tackles, pass break-up and fumble recovery all played a crucial role in assisting the Red Flash to their second win on the season, 23-20, over Wagner College.
In addition to Lewis’ dominating play against the Seahawks on November 10, the nine-game experienced linebacker has 120 total tackles thus far. The 120 tackles gives him a 13.33 tackles per game average; good enough for third overall in the entire country for Division I FCS.
If Lewis can somehow find a way to snuff out 19 ball carriers in Saint Francis’ final match at LaSalle on Saturday, November 17 @ 1pm, he will break the all-time single season record for tackles. As of right now, Gerry Zahorchak (1978) and Daunte Neal (2000) are the current record holders; each with 138 apiece. Even if Lewis earns 14 total tackles as he did against Wagner, he will assume sole possession of second place for tackles.
Saint Francis (2-7, 2-4) will take on the LaSalle Explorers for their final battle of 2007 in Philadelphia, Pa. on Saturday, November 17 at 1pm.