LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis football team has released its 2016 schedule.  The Red Flash, led by Head Coach Chris Villarrial, is coming off a 7-4 record in 2015, its first winning season since 1992. 
 
Saint Francis is looking to contend for the Northeast Conference title again this year after placing second in the conference with a 4-2 mark.  SFU also went 5-0 at home.
 
The Red Flash placed nine on All-NEC teams last season, with six of those selections returning for the 2016 season, including All-Americans Lance Geesey (Harrisburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella).
 

	Sept. 3 – Montana, TBA, Washington-Grizzly Stadium 2015 Record: 8-5, Second Round of FCS Playoffs Conference: Big Sky Series History: First Meeting   One of the highlights of the non-conference slate is a trip to Missoula to take on the Grizzlies, who finished ranked 14th in the STATS FCS poll.  The Grizzlies reached the Second Round of the FCS playoffs.  They defeated South Dakota State, 24-17, in the First Round, and fell 37-6 in the Second Round to FCS Champion North Dakota State.  Montana averaged 29.3 points per game last season to rank 42nd in the FCS. The Grizzlies will return their starting quarterback, Brady Gustafson, and running back, John Nguyen.  Gustafson threw for 1,984 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while Nguyen ran for 855 yards and three scores.  Montana will have to replace its top three tacklers, including STATS FCS First Team All-American Tyrone Holmes, who made 87 tackles, with 24 for loss and 18 sacks.
	Sept. 10 – Towson, TBA, Johnny Unitas Stadium 2015 Record: 7-4 Conference: Colonial Athletic Association Series History: Towson leads 4-0 Last Meeting: L, 35-20 (Sept. 12, 2015)   The Red Flash returns to Johnny Unitas Stadium this year.  Saint Francis fell 35-20 to the Tigers last season.  Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella) returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter that set school records for the longest kickoff return and longest play in program history.  Terell Smith (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) caught two touchdown passes, hauling in receptions of 18 and five yards.  The Tigers went 5-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association last season.  Running back Darius Victor returns after posting 1,021 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2015.
	Sept. 17 – Columbia, TBA, Robert K. Kraft Field 2015 Record: 2-8 Conference: Ivy League Series History: First Meeting   The Red Flash will meet the Lions for the first time in program history.  Columbia finished 1-6 in Ivy League play.  The Lions ranked 111th in the FCS in scoring in 2015, averaging 14.3 points per game.  Quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg, a Florida transfer, returns after completing 59 percent of his passes for 1,321 yards, six touchdowns and 11 interceptions.  Linebacker Keith Brady also returns after tying for the team-lead with 57 tackles, including 10 for loss and a sack.
	Sept. 24 – Albany, TBA, Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium 2015 Record: 3-8 Conference: Colonial Athletic Association Series History: Albany Leads 14-0 Last Meeting: L, 36-13 (Oct. 13, 2012)   The Great Danes were 2-6 in the CAA last season and averaged 15 points per game to rank 106th in the FCS.  Defensively, Albany allowed 28.6 points per contest.  Quarterback D.J. Crook, a Penn State transfer, completed 53 percent of his passes for 1,168 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2015.  Running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks returns after posting 609 yards and two scores on 104 carries as a freshman in 2015.  Sophomore linebacker Julian Cox led the Great Danes with 94 stops, including 57 solo, six for loss and three sacks.
	Oct. 1 – Malone, 1 p.m., DeGol Field (Family Weekend) 2015 Record: 0-10 Conference: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Series History: First Meeting   The Red Flash opens its home schedule as it hosts Division II Malone College (Ohio) on Family Weekend.  The Pioneers return quarterback John Iacucci, who threw for 597 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions in 2015, and running back Matt Blasiole, who ran for 952 yards and 10 scores.  On the defensive side, linebacker Ryan Weber led the team with 87 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks.  Malone averaged 19.1 points per game.
	Oct. 8 – Robert Morris, TBA, Joe Walton Stadium 2015 Record: 4-7 NEC Record/Place: 2-4/6th Series History: Robert Morris Leads 15-6-1 Last Meeting: W, 21-0 (Nov. 14, 2015)   The Red Flash travels to in-state rival Robert Morris to open the NEC slate.  Saint Francis won last year's matchup, 21-0, on Senior Day.  Zack Drayer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey ) threw two touchdown passes and ran for another on the day.  Khairi Dickson (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) rushed for 177 yards on 22 carries, while Marcus Bagley (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) added 113 yards on 14 attempts.  The Colonials could have a strong offense in 2016 with their top two running backs and receivers returning as well as quarterback Mathew Barr.
	Oct. 15 – Bryant, Noon, DeGol Field 2015 Record: 5-6 NEC Record/Place: 3-3/T-3rd Series History: Bryant Leads 6-2 Last Meeting: L, 26-24 (Oct. 24, 2015)   Saint Francis hosts Bryant in the first NEC home matchup of the season.  The Red Flash lost 26-24 last year at Bryant, including 21 unanswered points in the second half.  SFU had a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion attempt with 1:31 left in the game.  Dickson scored two touchdowns, both out of the wildcat, and Daniel Adams (Washington, D.C./Northwestern) caught a 13-yard touchdown pass.  Dickson had 130 yards and 20 carries and caught four passes for 67 yards, including a 42-yard screen pass in the fourth quarter.  Quarterback Dalton Easton returns after completing 55 percent of his passes for 2,601 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.  However, Bryant will have to replace NEC Offensive Player of the Year Ricardo McCray, who ran for 1,270 yards and nine touchdowns.
	Oct. 22 – Duquesne, 1 p.m., DeGol Field (Homecoming) 2015 Record: 8-4, First Round of FCS Playoffs NEC Record: 5-1/1st Series History: Duquesne leads 35-7 Last Meeting: L, 30-20 (Nov. 22, 2015)   Last year's game at Duquesne served as an NEC Championship game, with both teams entering at 4-1 in conference play.  The Red Flash jumped out to a 14-0 lead, with touchdown catches by Adams and Smith.  However, the Dukes responded by scoring 30 unanswered before Drayer's one-yard touchdown run brought SFU within 10 points.  Dickson ran for 102 yards, while Adams totaled 109 receiving yards.  STATS FCS First Team All-American Christian Kuntz returns after recording 72 tackles, with 26 for loss, 11 sacks and four interceptions.
	Oct. 29 – Sacred Heart, Noon, Campus Field 2015 Record: 6-5 NEC Record: 3-3/T-3rd Series History: Tied 10-10 Last Meeting: W, 23-14 (Oct. 31, 2015)   The Red Flash earned a 23-14 win over the Pioneers on Homecoming Saturday.  Smith caught two touchdown passes on the day, including a school-record 98-yard reception in the 3rd quarter.  He had a 64-yard touchdown catch earlier in the quarter.  Lance Geesey (Harrisburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) hit three field goals on the day, including 28, 43 and 32-yard makes.  Drayer threw for 291 yards.  DaQuan Minter (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown) and Angelo Perrucci (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area) each recorded interceptions.  The Pioneers will have to replace quarterback R.J. Noel as well as their top three receivers, including STATS FCS Second Team All-American selection Tyler Dube.  Outside linebacker James Rentz is back after posting 53 tackles, with 13 for loss and 8.5 sacks.
	Nov. 12 – Central Connecticut State, Noon, DeGol Field (Senior Day) 2015 Record: 4-7 NEC Record/Place: 3-3/T-3rd Series History: CCSU leads 19-4 Last Meeting: W, 22-13 (Nov. 7, 2015)   The Red Flash hosts Central Connecticut State after beating the Blue Devils on the road for the first time in program history.  Geesey hit a school and NEC-record five field goals in the win, connecting on kicks of 46, 46, 30, 21 and 35 yards.  Dickson helped seal the victory with a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.  The Blue Devils will welcome back a few key pieces of their offense, including quarterbacks Jacob Dolegala and Tavion Pauldo, running back Cameron Nash and receivers Dan Hebert and Joey Fields.  Nash was a Second Team All-NEC selection after rushing for 676 yards and three scores.  CCSU will also feature a strong defensive unit, led by STATS FCS Third Team All-American defensive back Jevon Elmore, who recorded 71 tackles, with 49 solo, 2.5 for loss and two interceptions.  He also had 16 pass breakups.  Junior defensive lineman Asia Bolling also returns after contributing 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks to earn First Team All-NEC honors.
	Nov. 19 – Wagner, TBA, Wagner College Stadium 2015 Record: 1-10 NEC Record/Place: 1-5/7th Series History: Wagner leads 21-4 Last Meeting: W, 43-14, (Oct. 17, 2015)   The regular season finale will be in Staten Island this season as the Red Flash takes on the Seahawks.  Saint Francis got off to a strong start in the NEC this past season with a 43-14 win at home.  Frank Failace (Wayne, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) caught three touchdown passes, including 10, five and eight-yard receptions, while Bagley and Dickson each scored rushing touchdowns and went over 125 yards rushing.  Geesey connected on three field goal attempts.  Drayer set a new career-high with 292 passing yards.  The Seahawks return quarterback Alex Thomson, who threw for 1,085 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions last year, and running back Mathias McKinnon, who ran for 449 yards and three scores.  Wagner will have to replace five of its top six tacklers on defense.