GAME THREE
VS MALONE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS 9.24.16 | 7:00 P.M. MOON TOWNSHIP, PA | JOE WALTON STADIUM (3,000) WATCH: NECFrontRow.com RADIO: ESPN 970 AM / WBGG 106.3 FM 4Chris Shovlin, Play by Play, & Brian Cleary, Analyst STREAMING: NECFrontRow.com; ESPNPgh.iHeart.com (audio only) LIVE STATS: RMUColonials.com TWITTER: @RMUFootball #ColonialPride #FL1GH7SCHOOL
CAPSULE
MUSKET SHOTS
After spending the last two weekends in the Buckeye State, Robert Morris University returns to Joe Walton Stadium to host another Ohio-based team in Malone University in a 7:00 p.m. game Saturday, Sept. 24. The Colonials come in seeking their first victory of the season while the Pioneers have suffered back-to-back losses after opening the year with a win against Taylor University (Ind).
4RB Sam Woods 52-yard TD pass to WR Eldin Anu vs. Youngstown State was first passing TD by a non-quarterback in team history 4It was also the longest play from scrimmage by the team this season 4Freshman LB Gee Stanley is 3rd in FCS averaging 1.5 sacks/game 4RMU is 13th in FCS with four interceptions 4LB Adam Wollet is 44th nationally averaging 9.7 tackles 4The Colonials 32.3 yard kickoff return average is fourth in the nation 4Dante Satcher opened the season with a schoolrecord 99 yard kickoff return 4RMU is 14th in the nation in red zone defense at 57.1% (allowed eight scores on 14 trips) 4Defense is 16th nationally with 3.0 sacks/game 4On offense in week one, nine players, including six freshman, made their first career start 4RMU was picked sixth in the 2016 NEC Football Coaches Preseason Poll 4Sophomore WR Kyle Buss was a Preseason AllNEC First Team selection 4Seniors Marcelis Branch (DB) and Andy Smigiera (DB) were Preseason All-NEC picks on defense 4The defense ranked in FCS top 25 in 3rd down defense, 4th down defense, passing yards allowed, passing efficiency defense, sacks, tackles for loss and total defense 4Special teams accounted for three touchdowns in 2015 (kick return, punt return, blocked punt return) 4Head coach John Banaszak boasts a 43-29 carrer record in six seasons, 5-20 in his third season at RMU
VS. MALONE 4This is the inaugural meeting between the Colonials and Pioneers 4Malone is the seventh different Division II opponent that RMU will take on joining Alderson Broaddus, C.W. Post, Mercyhurst, Gannon, New Haven and Notre Dame (Ohio) 4RMU is 7-5 against DII programs 4RMU is 17-10 overall against non-Division I competition
ABOUT THE PIONEERS 4Malone is 1-2 enter Saturday’s game 4They opened the season with 39-33 OT win against Taylor University 4The Pioneers have lost their last two games - on the road at Truman State and home vs. Notre Dame (Ohio) 4The Pioneers are averaging 410.3 yards of offense, 202.7 rushing and 207.7 passing 4Matt Blasiole is rushing for 132.3 yards/game 4QB John Iacucci is 46-86 for 623 yards, two TDs and one interception 4WR Ashton Dulin is their top receiver at 17 receptions, 15.8/catch and 89.3/game 4The Pioneers give up 430.3 yards per game 4LB Keith Williams is the leading tackler (31) 4DB Daniel Tepe has two interceptions
WHO WAS ROBERT MORRIS? The “Financier of the American Revolution,” he isn’t as famous as his friend George Washington, but without Robert Morris, the American colonies’ bold attempt to throw off British rule never could have succeeded. Born in 1734 in Liverpool, England, Robert Morris sailed to the United States with his father when he was 14 years old. Morris became a partner at the importexport firm of Willing & Morris where he made his millions. After, he became the spokesman for opposition to the Stamp Act, smuggled arms for the new American army and navy, signed the Declaration of Independence, secured financing — often using his personal credit — to fight the Revolutionary War and served as a Pennsylvania state senator. He died in Philadelphia on May 8, 1806. 2016 R O B ER T M O R R I S FO O T B A LL
2016 SCHEDULE Overall: 0-3 NEC:0-0
Home: 0-1 Away 0-2
09/01 09/10 09/17 09/24 10/01 10/08
ALDERSON BROADDUS L, 7-14 Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium @ Dayton L, 0-13 Dayton, Ohio | Welcome Stadium @ Youngstown State L, 6-38 Youngstown, Ohio | Stambaugh Stadium MALONE 7:00 p.m. Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium @ Liberty 7:00 p.m. Lynchburg, Va. | Williams Stadium SAINT FRANCIS U * 3:00 p.m. Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium
10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Rooney Field @ Sacred Heart * Noon Fairfield, Conn. | Campus Field CENTRAL CONNECTICUT * Noon Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium @ Bryant * Noon Smithfield, R.I. | Bulldog Stadium WAGNER * Noon Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium
10/15 @ Duquesne *
7:00 p.m.
COACHING STAFF Head Coach John Banszak (E. Michigan ’75) 3rd season as HC; 14th season at RMU Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator Scott Farison (Mercyhurst ’01) 14th season at RMU Offensive Coordinator Mike Miller (Clarion ’92) First season at OC; 4th season at RMU Offensive Line: Drew Richardson Secondary: Bill Hurley Tight Ends: Pat Shepard Running Backs: Myles Russ Defensive Line: Cornelius Coleman Receivers: Nick McVay Safeties: Mike Brown Linebackers: Alex DiMichele