LORETTO, Pa. (November 2, 2024) – Saint Francis University handed Stonehill College a 34-0 defeat in Northeast Conference football action at DeGol Field this afternoon.
Freshman linebacker
Geno Calgaro led a Saint Francis defense that held Stonehill to just 56 total yards and five first downs with a game-high 12 tackles (eight solo), including 4.5 for a loss of nine yards, with 0.5 sacks for a loss of two yards. Freshman
Eyan Thomas added five solo tackles, including 3.0 for a loss of 21, while sophomore
Mercury Swaim contributed five solo stops, an interception and a pass breakup.
Sophomore
DeMarcus McElroy, a transfer from Marshall University, paced the Saint Francis offense that rushed for 309 of its 477 total yards with 19 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore
Markell Holman ran for a pair of touchdowns in his 15 carries for 61 yards, while sophomore quarterback
Nick Whitfield, Jr. threw for a pair of touchdowns, completing 9-of-17 passes for 168 yards. Senior
Gavin Thomson caught four of those passes for 78 yards and a score.
Irvine registered double-digit tackles for the second-straight week (PHOTO BY Bree Smith, '27)
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Junior safety
Jordan Irvine registered double-digit tackles for the second-straight game for Stonehill, finishing with 11 (seven solo), while sophomore
Sidoine Djimbou totaled a career-high eight tackles (four solo). Freshman
Presley Titus contributed season-highs with 2.0 tackles for a loss of two yards, with three total tackles (two solo).
Junior running back
Zavion Woodard rushed for 24 yards on six carries on the offensive side of the ball. Sophomore
Joshua Roberson averaged 19.5 yards on his six kickoff returns, including returns of 31 and 28 yards. Junior
Cole Clarke, who had moved to tight end in the offseason and has totaled five receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns this season, made his first career start at quarterback, marking the third different starting quarterback for the Skyhawks this season due to injury.
How It Happened
- After a scoreless first quarter and then half of the second, Saint Francis struck for three scores over a six-minute span in the final 7:39 of the first half.
- Holman opened the scoring with his first touchdown of the afternoon on a 12-yard run with 7:39 to play in the half to cap a six-play, 78-yard drive.
- McElroy followed with a 50-yard touchdown run with 3:43 remaining in the half and then Holman added his second score with a five-yard touchdown just two and a half minutes later for a 20-0 halftime lead.
- The two teams played through a scoreless third quarter and then Saint Francis sealed the win with a pair of fourth quarter scores via Whitfield, Jr.'s arm.
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Clarke made his first career start at quarterback for the Skyhawks today. (PHOTO BY Bree Smith, '27)
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Whitfield, Jr. first connected with freshman Jahmil Perryman for a 46-yard touchdown pass 1:23 into the fourth quarter and then hit Thomson for a 14-yard score at the end of an eight-play, 78-yard drive that consumed 4:47.
Noteworthy
- Clarke is the 24th Stonehill player to make his first career start this season.
- Stonehill was shut out for the first time this season and the first time since its loss at Fordham University last September. It marks the first time the Skyhawks have not scored against an NEC opponent and the first Conference shutout since October 28, 2017 at Assumption University.
- Saint Francis won the possession battle 36:04-23:56, limiting Stonehill to just one first down over the first 40 minutes of the game.
- Saint Francis produced two drives of ten-plus plays – both resulted in missed field goals.
Up Next:
Stonehill (1-7, 0-4 NEC) is back in action next Saturday when it hosts Central Connecticut State University for an NEC matchup on Senior Day at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m. Saint Francis (3-6, 1-4 NEC) returns to the field in two weeks for an NEC matchup at LIU at noon.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and check out its all-new website, powered by Sidearm Sports, at stonehillskyhawks.com.