Red Flash Pull Off Comeback Win at Delaware State, 28-17
Saint Francis University pulled off a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to edge past Delaware State, 28-17, in a game that saw the Red Flash rally with 22 points in the final six minutes. Trailing 17-6 with time running out, SFU turned the tide, staging an explosive offensive performance that secured their second major late-game turnaround in eight contests.
It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Saint Francis was able to get back into the game. The Red Flash have taken down FBS Kent State already this season- just the second time ever that an NEC squad has knocked off one of the big boys. There’s no doubt that the boys from Loretto have plenty of confidence and, at this point, have to be aware of their own limitations. As in, there simply aren’t very many.
Leading the charge on the day was Markell Holman, who rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns, with 143 of those yards coming in the final quarter. His electric performance included two game-changing touchdown runs of 30 and 55 yards. The 30-yard rush gave Saint Francis the lead at 21-17, while his 55-yard dash sealed the victory with just over a minute left on the clock.
Quarterback Jeff Hoenstine contributed two passing touchdowns, both of which were crucial to the team’s comeback. His one-yard strike to Gavin Thomson jump-started the rally, cutting Delaware State’s lead to three points. The momentum swung even further when Saint Francis recovered the ensuing onside kickoff, setting up Holman’s 30-yard touchdown run just two plays later.
Thomson also had a standout day with six receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown, and he added a critical two-point conversion that brought the Red Flash within striking distance. On defense, Mercury Swaim and Pierre Royster led the way with seven tackles each, while the SFU defense recorded five sacks, keeping Delaware State’s offense in check during key moments.
The Red Flash have been dominant on defense all season long, and the final drive was no exception as the Hornets were stopped in their tracks to seal the comeback win. Excluding their second FBS contest at Eastern Michigan, Saint Francis has only given up more than 20 points once this season. With a defense that ferocious, they’ll never have to score too much to get back into a game, and that effort all day long on the defensive side of the ball is what gave the offense the opportunity to pull ahead of the Hornets late.
In a dramatic day for college football across the country, the win in Dover, DE fit right in.
Holman's rushing total was the most by a Saint Francis player since 2016, and Hoenstine's efficient play brought his career record as a starter to 2-1. With this momentum, the Red Flash now look ahead to a showdown against in-state rival Duquesne on October 12. It’ll be a tall order and yet another game that’ll determine which road the path to the NEC championship goes through this season.
