LORETTO, Pa. (May 2, 2007) – Saint Francis University head football coach Dave Opfar announced the names of 20 incoming student-athletes who will play for the Red Flash in the fall of 2007. The class is regarded as Opfar’s best recruiting class in his five years under the direction of the Red Flash.

The following student-athletes have either signed a national letter of intent, have been offered grant in aid, or will be preferred walk-ons in August: OL Christopher Buzas (Erie, Pa. / Erie Cathedral Prep), RB/LB Layton Dunn (Duquesne, Pa. / Duquesne), RB/LB Tyler Gillmen (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone), WR/FS Jordan Harper (McKeesport, Pa. / McKeesport), Robert Horne (Baltimore, Md. / Loyola Blakefield), RB/LB Scott Lewis (South Fork, Pa. / Bishop McCort), OL Adam Lino (Kaneohe, Hawaii / Kamehameha), RB/DB Kori Lopati (West Jordan, Utah / Highland), LB/FB Matthew Parker (Darlington, Pa. / Blackhawk), OL Nick Peterson (Canyon County, Calif. / Canyon), DB/RB Brent Sanders (Pasadena, Md. / Severna Park), LB/FB Ryan Shepard (Kittanning, Pa. / Kittanning), QB Colton Sipe (Hummelstown, Pa. / Lower Dauphin) and TE/HB/OLB Ryan Zarnich (Rochester, Pa. / Rochester).

“I am very excited to have this entire class of talented football players join our program,” said Opfar. “We feel that we have several players that can make an immediate impact in 2007, and others in this class have a chance to help build upon the foundation that we have on campus. Our overall team depth has gotten better each year, and our assistant coaches deserve much of the credit for the hard work that they continue to put in year-in and year-out.”

Christopher Buzas is a 6-1, 270-pound offensive lineman out of Erie Cathedral Prep, where he lettered for three years under head coach Don Holl. Buzas was a 2005 and 2006 First Team All-Region Offensive standout, as well as a 2006 First Team All-Region Defensive selection. An Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News Second Team All-State Offensive Lineman, Buzas helped lead the Ramblers to an 11-2 record, a Region 6 title, District 10 title and appearances in the Pennsylvania Western Semifinals in 2005 and 2006. He is a member of the National Honor Society. Buzas plans to study Biology at Saint Francis.

Layton Dunn hails from Duquesne High School, which is the same high school that produced Todd Harris (Duquesne, Pa. / Duquesne), Saint Francis’ all-time leading rusher. At 5-10, 225-pounds, Dunn ran for 2,169 yards during his senior season while playing for head coach Pat Monroe. He was a first team all-conference and first team all-state running back while leading the Dukes to a 14-1 record and a WPIAL championship. Dunn lettered four years in basketball and football at Duquesne. He plans to major in Physical Education at Saint Francis.

Tyler Gillmen lettered for three years in baseball and football at Tyrone Area High School, where he helped the Golden Eagles’ football squad to a 34-4 record and the 2004 District 6 championship. Under the guidance of head coach John Franco, Gillmen was a First Team running back and linebacker in the Mountain Athletic Conference. He was also a First Team second baseman in the MAC, and a First Team Altoona Mirror second baseman. During his senior season, Gillmen ran for 918 yards and 14 touchdowns on 133 carries. He averaged 91.8 yards per game, and also pulled in 13 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he had one interception and one fumble return for a touchdown. Gillmen is a CPFCA Scholar-Athlete, and received the Legion Leadership Award. He plans to major in Physician Assistant at Saint Francis.

Jordan Harper is 6-3, 195-pound wide receiver/free safety out of McKeesport High School, where he played for head coach George Smith. Harper helped lead the Tigers to an 8-3 record in 2006, and a WPIAL and state title in 2005. He was third on the team in tackles and led the team in interceptions during his senior campaign. An athletic player, Harper also lettered two seasons in basketball.

Robert Horne played for head coach Brian Abbott at Loyola Blakefield High School in Baltimore, Md., where he was an all-county defensive back, MIAA First Defensive Team, and a Baltimore Touchdown Club honoree. During the 2006 season, Horne had eight interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, 65 tackles, and 14 pass deflections. He also lettered in basketball, and was named to the Baltimore Catholic League’s Third Team. Horne plans to major in Physical Therapy.

The 5-11, 200-pound ScottLewis won’t travel very far to play collegiate football as he lettered three years for head coach Kenneth Salem at nearby Bishop McCort High School. While leading the Crushers to an 11-2 record, and Laurel Highlands and District 5-6 championships, Lewis was named the 2006 Johnstown Tribune-Democrat Defensive Player-of-the-Year, as well as a Laurel Highlands All-Star. As a sophomore, he was a 2004 Johnstown Tribune-Democrat Second Team selection before making the jump to the first team in 2005 and 2006. He was also the SAFCA Defensive MVP in 2005. Lewis is Bishop McCort’s all-time leading tackler, and stands fourth on the school’s all-time rushing yards list (2,310). He has had two great uncles, Michael Terek (Class of 1953) and David Chaney (Class of 1970), who received degrees from Saint Francis. Lewis plans to study Secondary Education/History at the University.

Adam Lino (6-4, 310) comes to Saint Francis all the way from Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he played for Kamehameha head coach Kanani Souza. Lino lettered four years in football, and helped the Warriors to an 8-3 mark in 2006, and an ILH state championship in 2004. He received the Outstanding Tackle Award, and attended the Just Win Camp. Lino is also an honor roll student, as well as a Who’s Who Among American High School Students Alumni. He plans to study History at Saint Francis.

Kori Lopati is a 5-11, 190-pound running back/defensive back from Highland High School, where he played for head coach Brody Benson. Lopati was an All-Region selection in 2005 and 2006, including a first team selection this past season when he was also named the Best Defensive Back. Lopati helped the Rams to a 12-3 record, a regional championship and the Class AAAA runner-up. He led Highland in tackles with 108, including eight for a loss of 25 yards, and added two sacks, six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and nine pass break-ups. Lopati will study Pre-Law at Saint Francis.

A highly regarded linebacker under Joe Hamilton at Blackhawk High School, MatthewParker (6-1, 210 pounds) was named to the Fab22 WPIAL and Fab22 West teams in 2006 while leading the Cougars to an 11-2 record and a conference title. In addition to being named an All-Conference fullback and linebacker, he was a First Team All-Pennnsylvania selection. An Honor Roll student, Parker plans to study Business and Communications/Business Management at Saint Francis.

Nick Peterson is a 6-2, 275-pound center out of Canyon County, Calif., where he played for head coach Harry Welch. Peterson helped lead the Cowboys to a combined 25-3 record the past two seasons, including the 2006 state title. He was a 2005 and 2006 all-league selection, and an all-state honoree in 2006. He also received mention on the 2005 and 2006 All-CLF. Peterson also competes on Canyon’s track & field team, and owns the school’s power clean record at 325 pounds. Peterson will major in Business Management at Saint Francis.

Brent Sanders is a 5-8, 180-pound defensive back/running back out of Severna Park High School, where he played under the guidance of head coach J.P. Hines. Sanders helped lead the Falcons to a 9-3 record this past season when he was an All-Maryland Honorable Mention selection. He was also an honoree as All-Metro Second Team and All-County First Team. Sanders plans to study Marketing at Saint Francis.

A two-year team co-captain, RyanShepard lettered four years in football and three years in track at Kittanning High School, where he played linebacker and fullback for head coach Sam Panchik. He helped lead the Wildcats to an 8-1 mark in 2006, and into the playoffs three out of four years. Listed at 6-0, 220-pounds, Shepard ran for 1,101 yards on 131 carries during his senior campaign. He was First Team All-Conference two seasons as a linebacker and running back, and was named the Defensive MVP by coaches at the AIC Conference this past year. Shepard plans to study Secondary Education at Saint Francis.

Colton Sipe played quarterback for head coach Rob Klock at Lower Dauphin High School, where he completed 86-of-167 pass attempts for 1,318 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior season. Sipe led the Falcons to a 7-4 record during their first season competing at the Class AAAA level. He was a recipient of  his Lower Dauphin’s “Will To Win” award, and was a Mid-Penn Conference Second Team honoree. Sipe, who was a team co-captain, is an honor roll student and a D.A.R.E Representative, and is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society.

The 6-4, 230-pound RyanZarnich helped lead Rochester Area to a cumulative 45-9 record during  his four years on head coach Gene Matsook’s squad. He helped the Rams to a WPIAL Championship and a PIAA runner-up finish in 2004, before leading them to a pair of WPIAL runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, he was first team all-conference and second team all-state as a linebacker. Zarnich was second-team all-state as a tight end in 2005, and an honorable mention as linebacker. He also received honorable mention as a tight end in 2004. During his career, he had 220 tackles, three interceptions, two and a half sacks, and two force fumbles. He also caught 14 passes for 211 yards and five touchdowns. Zarnich, who is an honor roll student, plans to study Elementary Education at Saint Francis.

Other local players who have been accepted at Saint Francis University, and plan to continue their football careers with the Red Flash include: DL Alen Averi (Central Cambria), LB Joseph Fabie (Bishop Guilfoyle), WR Jacob Librizzi (Bishop Guilfoyle), FB David Murphy (Portage), QB Ben Wolford (Portage) and WR Richard Yon (Altoona).

Saint Francis is coming off a 3-8 season, including a 2-5 mark in the Northeast Conference. The Red Flash will open the 2007 campaign with a home contest against Saint Peter’s at 1 p.m. on Sept. 1.