Young quarterback leads Flash to big victory

LORETTO - In one week's time, Tim Myers went from playing quarterback on the St. Francis University junior varsity team to leading the Red Flash to a victory.

With starting quarterback John Kelly out with flu-like symptoms, backup Colton Sipe out with an injury, and George Little leaving the program, Myers received word Tuesday that he would be starting the Red Flash game Saturday at DeGol Field against Duquesne.

He exceeded all expectations by leading the Red Flash to just their second win of the season, this one a 31-14 win.

"It feels great to win, but it was a total team effort," Myers said.

Myers was an efficient 7-of-11 with one interception. He was helped out by a strong running attack.

"Tim did a great job and the kids rallied behind him," Red Flash head coach Dave Opfar said. "We ran because we had to run."

Prior to this week, the Red Flash averaged a horrendous 66.9 rushing yards per game, which ranked ninth in the NEC.

Against the Dukes, the Red Flash exploded for 409 rushing yards on 53 carries. Jude Yearwood and Kyle Harbridge led the attack with 167 and 150 yards, respectively. It was the second-most team rushing yards in school history.

Yearwood attributed the running game's success to the strong play of the offensive line, which has struggled most of the season.

"The offensive line finally stepped up, so we were able to get it done," said Yearwood, who scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Early in the game it appeared like it might be a battle of attrition, as the teams combined to miss three early makeable field goals, and there was no scoring in the first quarter, but things definitely picked up after that quarter.

The Red Flash scored 24 unanswered points before the Dukes finally got on the board in the fourth quarter.

The Red Flash improved to 2-6 overall on the season and earned their first win of the season in the NEC.

St. Francis has a bye week coming up before returning to action Nov. 7 at home against Monmouth. Opfar believes that the off week comes at a perfect time.

"With all of our injuries and illnesses, we need to take some time away from football," Opfar said.

The Dukes fell to 2-6 overall, and 1-4 in NEC-play.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Duquesne00014-14

St. Francis071014-31

Second Quarter

StF-Myers 9 run (Thiel kick), 4:05.

Third Quarter

StF-Yearwood 1 run (Thiel kick), 14:13.

StF-FG Thiel 20, 6:50.

Fourth Quarter

StF-Harbridge 60 run (Thiel kick), 13:24.

Duq-Dixon 20 pass from Rombach (pass failed), 8:46.

StF-C.Williams 1 run (Thiel kick), 3:01.

Duq-Roorback 23 pass from Rombach (Rasky pass from Rombach), 1:41.

A-1,231.

Team StatisticsDuqStF

Firstdowns1516

Rushes-yards23-1653-409

Passing23936

Comp-Att-Int21-41-17-11-1

ReturnYards015

Punts-Avg.5-38.23-41.0

Fumbles-Lost1-02-0

Penalties-Yards4-265-43

TimeofPossession23:1136:49

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Duquesne, Rombach 3-20, C.Williams 7-17, McCoy 3-11, Patterson 9-7, Leventry 1-(minus 39). St. Francis, Yearwood 23-167, Harbridge 12-150, C.Williams 9-42, Winston 1-26, Myers 6-17, Conley 2-7.

PASSING-Duquesne, Rombach 16-31-1-139, Patterson 5-10-0-100. St. Francis, Myers 7-11-1-36.

RECEIVING-Duquesne, Dixon 7-68, Roorback 5-38, Rasky 4-33, Cangilla 3-84, Spragg 1-11, C.Williams 1-5. St. Francis, Rivera 4-21, Conley 2-11, C.Williams 1-4.