Saint Francis (1-4 / 0-2 NEC) vs. Robert Morris (1-3 / 1-0 NEC) Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa. Radio: WPIT-AM 730 (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Audio on the internet (live and archived) at: www.rmucolonials.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team returns home to Joe Walton Stadium for the first time in over a month Saturday to host in-state rival Saint Francis as part of the University’s Homecoming festivities in the first home night game in school history. The Colonials are coming off a 23-20 victory @ Monmouth (10/1) in their 2011 Northeast Conference opener, which helped RMU improve to 14-5-1 (.725) all-time when playing after a bye week and 10-6 (.625) in NEC openers. Junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair finished 18-for-24 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawks, including a 21-yard touchdown strike to senior tight end Shadrae King with 5:15 to play that proved to be the game-winning score. King tied a career high with nine receptions against Monmouth, compiling 104 receiving yards and two touchdowns. For those efforts he was tabbed the NEC Offensive Player of the Week (10/3) and the National Tight of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards (10/3). RMU returns to the road after hosting the Red Flash, traveling to Albany, N.Y., for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against Albany at University Field. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - RMU earned its first victory of the 2011 season with a 23-20 win @ Monmouth (10/1) in come-from-behind fashion. Trailing, 20-17, in the fourth quarter, junior quarterback engineered a nine-play, 79-yard drive, the longest touchdown drive of the season for Robert Morris, and capped it with a 21-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Shadrae King. Sinclair finished 4-for-5 passing for 68 yards during the decisive drive, marking the third time in his career Sinclair has led the Colonials on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. That total is tied for third in school history for fourth-quarter comebacks with former Colonial Drew Geyer (2002-05) and trailing only former Colonials Erik Cwalinski (2005-08) and Tim Levcik (1998-2001). Cwalinski engineered five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter during his career, while Levcik posted four. Saturday’s Opponent - Saint Francis is one of just three opponents Robert Morris has faced in each of the first 17 years the Colonials have fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Central Connecticut State and Wagner. All-time the Colonials are 14-2-1 (.853) against the Red Flash and enter Saturday’s game on a five-game winning streak against Saint Francis. In last season’s matchup the Colonials scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to break open a tight game en route to a 35-14 victory. For more information on the all-time series against Saint Francis, including last year’s game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. Robert Morris 2011 Quick Outs - RMU was picked third in the 2011 Northeast Conference preseason coaches poll, trailing only preseason favorite Central Connecticut State and Duquesne ... The Blue Devils earned five first-place votes in the NEC preseason coaches poll, the Dukes garnered two while RMU and Bryant each finished with one ... Senior tight end Shadrae King has caught at least one pass in 23 straight games dating back to the 2009 campaign, a school record ... King also owns 115 career receptions, a new Robert Morris school record ... Junior defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof is RMU’s active leader in tackles (97), tackles for loss (17) and sacks (11) ... Nearhoof is just three tackles shy of 100 for his career and needs just half a sack to move into the top 10 all-time at Robert Morris ... A total of 16 Colonials have earned their first career start through the first four games of the 2011 campaign.
2011 Schedule Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19
DAYTON L, 13-19 @ No. 21 Liberty L, 7-38 @ Morgan State L, 12-13 @ Monmouth * W, 23-20 SAINT FRANCIS * # 7 p.m. @ Albany * 1 p.m. BRYANT * ^ Noon SACRED HEART * Noon @ Central Conn. State * Noon WAGNER * $ Noon @ Duquesne * Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; ^ Hall of Fame Day; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost ............................ 9 / 15 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 6 / 5 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 3 / 8 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ............ 0 / 2 Letterwinners Returning / Lost .............. 36 / 22 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost .......... 6 / 5 LT - A.J. Dalton .................................. 6-5, 285, So. C - Logan Miles .................................. 6-2, 290, Sr. RG - Brad Rodgers ............................ 6-2, 305, Sr. TE - Shadrae King ............................. 6-3, 225, Sr. QB - Jeff Sinclair ............................ 6-3, 190, Jr. FL - Anthony Coleman ................... 5-11, 200, Sr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 3 / 8 LE - Nolan Nearhoof ......................... 6-2, 280, Jr. RE - Steve Mitchell ............................ 6-2, 250, Jr. OLB - Brad Banas ............................... 6-1, 220, Jr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 0 / 2
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