The Sports Network Tabs Saint Francis’ Caputo and Palko as Nation’s No. 1 Division I-AA Wide Receiver Tandem
LORETTO, Pa. (June 15, 2006) – The college football season is still more than two months away, but the preseason accolades are already beginning to roll in for Saint Francis senior wide receivers Michael Caputo (Bethel Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle) and Luke Palko (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny).
The Sports Network has named Caputo and Palko as the No. 1 wide receiver tandem in the country, and the same publication has ranked Caputo as the No. 6 wide receiver overall with Palko coming in at No. 18.
In a story posted on the publication’s website, The Sports Network’s Matt Dougherty points out the single-season and career accomplishments of the two Red Flash receivers. Caputo and Palko combined to catch 177 passes in 2005, which was just six shy of the Division I-AA single-season mark set by Jerry Rice and Joe Thomas for Mississippi Valley State in 1984. The story goes on to say that “Caputo and Palko should etch their names on the career list for receiving duos. With 391 total receptions, the pair is just 30 away from breaking the I-AA record of 420, which was set by Darrell Colbert and Donald Narcisse of Texas Southern from 1983-86. Caputo and Palko also have 4,452 combined yards, and are very much in range of the mark of 5,806 held by Eastern Illinois’ Roy Banks and Cal Pierce (1983-86).”
Caputo, in coming in as The Sports Network’s No. 6 wide receiver in Division I-AA, led all I-AA receivers with 92 receptions, and was third in the nation with 1,433 yards, and tied for fifth nationally with 12 touchdowns to lead a Saint Francis offense that finished as one of the best through the air in 2005. The receptions and yardage totals broke Saint Francis and Northeast Conference records. Caputo notched a career day with 14 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns in a game at Sacred Heart, and the yardage total held up as the top mark in Division I football in 2005. Caputo enters his senior season with 182 receptions, 2,607 yards and 23 touchdowns during his career, which puts him in very elite company. Caputo is fourth among active receivers in catches, second behind New Hampshire’s David Ball in yardage, and third in touchdowns. Caputo has caught at least one pass in 14 straight games, and has caught at least one pass in 30 of 32 career games.
Palko pulled down a career high 85 catches in 2005, and is second to Ball among I-AA receivers with 209 career catches. He has caught at least two passes in all 32 games during his career. Also an outstanding student, Palko was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team selection last season. He also serves as the President of Saint Francis’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Saint Francis begins its season with a 1 p.m. tilt against Saint Peter’s on Sept. 2, at DeGol Field. Single-game, season and group ticket packages are now on sale for the 2006 Red Flash football season. Season tickets to all six home games will cost $30 for adults, and $12 for students. Single-game tickets will be $7 for adults, and $4 for students. Single-game group tickets will be $3 for adults, and $2 for students. Group tickets are available in groups of 15 or more. To purchase tickets, fans can call Director of External Affairs for Athletics, Jim Brazill, at 814-472-2774, or mail checks payable to Saint Francis University, c/o Jim Brazill, 145 Stokes Athletics Center, Loretto, Pa. 15940. Be sure to indicate what tickets you are ordering.