Loretto, Pa. – The Robert Morris University football team had a 7-3 lead early in the first quarter, but a 93-yard interception return sparked the Saint Francis Red Flash en route to a 36-7 victory over the Colonials at DeGol Field in Loretto, Pa., Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Colonials to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in the Northeast Conference while the Red Flash improve to 5-3 and 3-1 in league games.
 
RMU held Saint Francis to just 270 total yards, but a series of splash plays led to early points for both teams. The Colonials managed 158 yards, 82 on the ground and 76 through the air. Saint Francis wide receiver Kamron Lewis was the offensive star of the day, catching five passes for 143 yards.
 
On the opening kickoff, Saint Francis sent a high, short pooch to the right sideline and recovered at the Robert Morris 31-yard line. The Red Flash got a field goal off the opening drive to take a 3-0 lead.
 
After exchanging punts, Ryan Richards, Jr., picked off a pass and raced 50 yards to the Red Flash 15-yard line. The offense cashed in on the field possession, scoring four plays later when Jimmy Walker found Tim Vecchio in the right corner of the endzone to put the Colonials on top, 7-3, after Nick Bisceglia hit the extra point.
 
The Colonials were driving again late in the first quarter and had possession at the Red Flash five-yard line. When Walker tried to connect on a short slant, defensive lineman Louie Gartner leaped up, intercepted the pass and rambled 93 yards for a score. The touchdown put the Red Flash back on top where they would stay. Nick Rinella returned a punt 35 yards early in the second quarter to make it 17-7 at the half.
 
Eric Bofenkamp's second field goal of the game was a 39-yarder at the 5:46 mark of the third quarter. A snap out of the back of the endzone on a Colonials punt attempt led to two points for the Red Flash on a safety. Rinella then took a direct snap and rambled around the right end for a 49-yard rushing score with 1:39 in the third. On Saint Francis' next drive, Bear Fenimore found Lewis for 60 yards which set up a one-yard dive Avery Miliner that pushed the margin to 36-7 early in the fourth quarter.
 
The Colonials remain on the road for the second consecutive week when they travel to Wagner for a Noon game against Seahawks on Saturday, November 4.