In a game where Kent State was favored by 17.5 points, there was a football team that jumped out to a 17-0 and never looked back last Saturday in Ohio.
That team was not the Golden Flashes. It was the Red Flash.
The SFU football team secured arguably the biggest win in program history last weekend, defeating Kent State, 23-17.
The victory was SFU’s first win over an FBS opponent in history and the victory was just the fourth for an FCS team over an FBS team in the 2024 college football season.
Saint Francis forced the Golden Flashes’ offense into three-and-outs four straight times to open the game, setting a tone defensively.
The SFU offense was also clicking in the first half, as the Flash built a 17-0 lead before Kent State responded with back-to-back TD drives before halftime. Saint Francis would add a field goal in between those drives to make it 20-14 in favor of the visitors at the intermission.
Both of head coach Chris Villarrial’s team’s first-half touchdowns involved redshirt freshman quarterback Jeff Hoenstine. The dual-threat QB from Martinsburg ran for a two-yard score in the first quarter before hitting redshirt senior Gavin Thompson on a 64-yard catch-and-run in the second.
Hoenstine finished his first collegiate start with 195 yards passing and 50 rushing. He threw for a score and passed for another and was named the NEC’s Offensive Player and Rookie-of-the-Week.
The second half was a defensive slugfest that saw the two teams combine for eight punts and six three-and-outs.
The play of the young season came when redshirt senior Semaj Williams tipped Kent State QB Devin Cargamans’ first-and-goal pass into the hands of fellow SFU defensive back Trey McLeer midway through the fourth quarter. The interception kept Saint Francis up two scores midway through the final frame.
SFU would hang on from there, forcing a turnover on downs before giving up a field goal with just over a minute and a half left.
Kent State had no choice but to attempt an onsides kick, but it was recovered by SFU and the Red Flash celebration began.
A major factor in the historic win was the performance of redshirt junior kicker Mac Plummer. The Lebanon native hit on field goal attempts of 50, 46 and 33 yards and also converted on two extra-point attempts.
He was named the national special teams Player-of-the-Week by Stats Perform.
“It felt amazing,” said Plummer when asked about his career-best 50-yard field goal. Whenever I go out there, I don’t think about how long I’m kicking the ball.”
The Red Flash held Kent State to a staggering 2-of-14 conversion rate on third down. The Flash defense has not allowed either of its first two opponents to hit the 20-point mark.
SFU hosts Central Connecticut this Saturday in the team’s home and conference opener. The game kicks off at noon and can be viewed on NEC FrontRow.
