ST. FRANCIS (ILL.) AT QUINCY

When: Noon Saturday

Where: QU-Stadium

Radio: ESPN 1440, wgemradio.com

Records: St. Francis — 3-6, (2-3 in Mid-States Football Association Midwest Division). Quincy — 2-7 (1-4 in MSFA Midwest).

Coaches: St. Francis — Mike Uremovich (20-36 at St. Francis, fifth season; 189-81-1, 28th season). Quincy — Bill Terlisner (41-65 at Quincy, 10th season; overall, same).

Last meeting: Oct. 25, 2008 — St. Francis 20, QU 17. Gannon Novak returned a kickoff 87 yards to set up a short touchdown run by Javon Stewart early in the fourth quarter and the host Saints held on for the win. QU kicker Alex Beard had a 48-yard field goal blocked with just under six minutes to play.

All-time series: St. Francis leads 4-3.

As the fans see it: According to those registered for the "Are You Smarter Than The Sports Guys?" contest, 55 percent favor St. Francis.

Challenge for Hawks' defense: The Hawks have been susceptible to the passing game all season. The Saints will certainly push the Hawks' defense to the limit with its aerial attack. Quarterback John Goolsby is one of the best in the MSFA with 20 touchdown passes and 2,042 yards passing.

The Saints have the fifth-highest passing attack in the MSFA with 232.1 yards per game. Goolsby has six 200-yard passing games, but was limited to just 13 yards in last week's 19-0 win at Waldorf.

The Hawks' defense is ranked 13th in the 16-team MSFA, allowing 219.8 yards passing per game. QU has allowed five 200-yard games to opponents, including a season-worst 493 in a 51-0 loss at St. Xavier. Goolsby is third in the league in passing behind leader Anthony Kropp of St. Xavier.

Not-so-friendly confines: This is the Hawks' last chance to get a win at QU-Stadium. The Hawks are 0-4 this season at home. The team is 24-22 at home during Terlisner's career. The team hasn't gone winless at home for an entire season since the 1997 team went 0-5 during an 0-10 campaign.

— Don O'Brien