RED FLASH FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2008 SCHEDULE
Loretto, Pa. – Saint Francis head football coach Dave Opfar, entering his seventh season, announced the Red Flash’s 2008 football schedule. The upcoming slate includes two first-time ever meetings, one of which is against a future Northeast Conference opponent. The Red Flash will also tangle with a new member of the NEC in 2008.
“I am extremely excited to get this season underway with a hungry ball club that has a lot to prove,” stated Opfar. “The NEC’s addition of Duquesne and future appendage of Bryant University in 2012 builds upon an already strong foundation of college football at the Division I level. Our non-conference bouts against challengers from the Big South Conference, Pioneer Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference bolster an already challenging docket.”
Saint Francis kicks off 2008 by traveling to Lexington, Va. to take on the Virginia Military Institute Keydets of the Big South Conference for the first-ever meeting between the two schools on Sept. 6. VMI recently hired Sparky Woods as the 30th coach in VMI’s 117-year football history. Woods served as the running backs coach at Alabama. VMI’s skipper of last season, Jim Reid, resigned to assume to role of the linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins.
The Red Flash’s home opener is listed for Sept. 13 against the MAAC’s Marist Red Foxes. Saint Francis has not butted heads with Marist since 1998. Following the opener at DeGol Field, the Flash head to Pittsburgh to dance with Duquesne University on Sept. 20. SFU’s third game of the season against Duquesne marks the Northeast Conference opener for both teams; it also denotes Duquesne’s first ever game as the NEC’s newest and eighth football squadron. The tilt against Duquesne starts off a three game road swing for the Red Flash.
Subsequent to the historic NEC game, Saint Francis ventures to Morehead, Ky. to play the Morehead State Eagles of the Pioneer League on Sept. 27. Saint Francis has never beaten MSU in the three times they’ve commenced battle, but almost clipped the Eagles in the season opener last year, dropping the decision 21-14.
SFU’s fifth game at Monmouth University on Oct. 4 instigates a rigorous six game tour of NEC conference battles. Succeeding the match against the Hawks, the Red Flash return home to host two teams they defeated on the road towards the later end of their 2007 campaign. DeGol Field will host the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Oct. 11 and the Wagner College Seahawks on Oct. 18.
The biggest test of the conference circuit comes when the Red Flash takes to two consecutive road games against the defending Northeast Conference champion Albany Great Danes on Oct. 25 and the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils on Nov. 8. Saint Francis will have a week to convalesce between the Albany and CCSU skirmishes.
The Red Flash wrap up the 2008 season with two games in the comfort of their own home, with the first game coming against the Robert Morris Colonials on Nov. 15. For SFU’s final competition on Nov. 22, Division II contestant Bryant University, who will join the NEC in 2012, faces off against the Flash for the first-ever meeting between the two institutes. Last season, the Bryant Bulldogs were ranked as high as fifth in the region last year and won their second consecutive Northeast 10 Title and a bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The Red Flash look to enhance their 2007 record of 3-7. Saint Francis certainly hopes the momentum of winning the last three out of four games will carry into 2008.
2008 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Place Series
Sat. 9/6 @ VMI Lexington, Va. First Meeting
Sat. 9/13 MARIST Loretto, Pa. 3-6 (Marist)
Sat. 9/20 @ Duquense Pittsburgh, Pa. 5-30 (Duquesne)
Sat. 9/27 @ Morehead State Morehead, Ky. 0-3 (Morehead St.)
Sat. 10/4 @ Monmouth West Long Branch, N.J. 2-13 (Monmouth)
Sat. 10/11 SACRED HEART Loretto, Pa. 5-7 (Sacred Heart)
Sat. 10/18 WAGNER Loretto, Pa. 3-14 (Wagner)
Sat. 10/25 @ Albany Albany, N.Y. 0-9 (Albany)
Sat. 11/8 @CCSU New Britain, Conn. 2-13 (CCSU)
Sat. 11/15 ROBERT MORRIS Loretto, Pa. 2-10-1 (RMU)
Sat. 11/22 BRYANT Loretto, Pa. First Meeting