Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET
Venue: DeGol Field, Loretto, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: NEC Front Row
Weather Forecast (Loretto, PA)
Temperature: ~71°F (22°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Partly cloudy, light winds (5–7 mph)
Impact: Favorable for both passing and rushing attacks; minimal weather disruption expected.
Injury Report
Delaware State:
No major injuries reported entering game week. QB Kaiden Bennett and RB Marquis Gillis are both healthy and expected to start.
Saint Francis (PA):
QB Nick Whitfield Jr. is available despite recent struggles with turnovers.
WR corps is intact, though depth remains thin after preseason knocks.
(Injury reports at FCS level are less formalized, but no confirmed absences have been announced.)
Key Player Matchups
QB Kaiden Bennett (DSU) vs. LB corps of SFU
Bennett has thrown for 493 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, while also rushing for 169 yards and 5 TDs. His dual-threat ability will test Saint Francis’ discipline.
RB Marquis Gillis (DSU) vs. DL of SFU
Gillis is averaging 99.7 rushing yards per game. If he establishes the ground game, Delaware State controls tempo.
QB Nick Whitfield Jr. (SFU) vs. DSU Secondary
Whitfield has struggled (306 yards, 0 TD, 3 INTs). He must protect the ball against a Hornets defense that thrives on mistakes.
WR Lukas Gilland (SFU) vs. DSU Corners
Gilland leads SFU with 71 receiving yards. He’ll need to stretch the field to open up short-yardage plays.
Recent Team Form
Delaware State Hornets (1-2)
8/28/25: Lost @ Delaware, 35–17
2024 season ended with 5 straight losses, including blowouts vs. NCCU and Howard.
Offense showing life behind Bennett and Gillis, but defense remains inconsistent.
Saint Francis Red Flash (0-3)
8/28/25: Lost @ Louisiana-Monroe, 29–0
9/6/25: Lost @ Buffalo, 45–6
9/13/25: Lost @ Central Connecticut, 31–7
Offense has scored just 13 points in three games. Defense has been overwhelmed early.
Series History
Delaware State and Saint Francis have met sparingly in modern FCS play.
Saint Francis holds a narrow edge in recent meetings, but the programs rarely cross paths.
This is the first matchup at DeGol Field in several years, giving SFU a home-field boost.
Betting Trends
Delaware State:
2–8 ATS in last 10 games dating back to 2024.
Overs hit in 6 of last 9 games.
Saint Francis:
3–7 ATS in last 10 games.
Unders hit in 5 of last 7 games due to offensive struggles.
Head-to-Head: Limited data; no recent ATS history between these programs.
Historical Betting Results
Delaware State has been a fade team in recent years, struggling to cover spreads against both FCS and FBS opponents.
Saint Francis has been slightly more reliable at home, but their offense has consistently underperformed against the number.
Historically, matchups between MEAC and NEC teams trend toward low-scoring, defensive battles, often cashing the under.
Game Odds
Delaware State Hornets – 3.5
Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash 44.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
