Robert Morris (4-4 / 2-1) @ Central Connecticut State (4-5 / 2-1) Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 at Noon Arute Field (5,500) - New Britain, Conn. Radio: ESPN 970 AM (Adam Gusky - play-by-play & Spencer Kowitz - color) Audio on the internet at: www.970espn.com / Live Video: www.necfrontrow.com
Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team heads to New England for its fourth Northeast Conference (NEC) contest this Saturday, Nov. 9, at Noon as the Colonials take on Central Connecticut State at Arute Field. RMU posted its second straight league win last week as it led from start to finish and cruised to a 24-3 victory over Bryant. In addition to a strong effort by the RMU defense, junior Duane Mitchell caught three touchdowns. Antwan Eddie contributed two interceptions and bottled up the NEC’s top receiving threat en route to weekly defensive honors from the league, his fourth NEC award of 2013. The win helped keep Robert Morris within the thick of the NEC race. Central Connecticut State currently controls its own destiny in the conference and will claim the league’s automatic playoff berth if it wins out. Eddie remains second in the nation at the FCS level in punt return average (17.7). RMU has two tilts remaining after the Blue Devils, each against league foes, and will return home next Saturday, Nov. 16, as it hosts Sacred Heart in what will be Joe Walton’s final regular-season home game. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - One of the key factors that has helped Robert Morris to victories in each of the past two weeks has been its ability to force turnovers. RMU notched three (all interceptions) in a victory at defending NEC champion Wagner Oct. 26 and then forced four more (three interceptions, one fumble recovery) in a win over Bryant last weekend. With these two wins, Robert Morris is now 8-1 (.889) in its past nine games in which it forces at least three turnovers, including 3-0 (1.000) this season. Over this stretch of games, the Colonials have averaged 29 points per game while allowing a mere 12.78 points per contest. RMU has also won nine of its last 10 NEC games in which it forces at least three turnovers. On the other end of the spectrum, Robert Morris’ ball security was important to last week’s win as RMU did not commit a single turnover. RMU has now won seven straight games when it does not have a turnover. Saturday's Opponent - Central Connecticut State is one of just three opponents Robert Morris faced in each of the first 19 years the Colonials fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Saint Francis and Wagner. All-time the Colonials are 14-5 (.737) against the Blue Devils, but the home team has won each of the past eight games in the series. RMU scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes in last year’s meeting with CCSU to come from behind and claim a 37-31 victory in Pennsylvania. For more information on the all-time series against Central Connecticut State, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Nov. 9) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played twice before on November 9, and both contests have been road conference games. RMU won its first-ever game on Nov. 9 at Saint Francis. The contest was RMU’s final NEC game in the league’s inaugural season and helped the Colonials claim a share of the conference championship. Robert Morris almost missed out on the title, though, as it trailed the Red Flash by 12 points in the fourth quarter on a cold afternoon in Loretto, Pa. After an early field goal put RMU on top, Saint Francis scored 15 straight points to take control. A Tai Alli (1995-97) rush with just over 10 minutes left pulled the Colonials within one possession, but they still trailed entering the final five minutes. Jake Newman (1994-97) would direct his second career game-winning drive, which was capped off when he hit DeLonte Perkins (1995-97) with a 15-yard scoring strike. Chris Longo’s (199598) extra point proved to be the difference in a 16-15 victory.
2013 Schedule Aug. 29 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23
@ #19 Eastern Kentucky L, 6-38 MORGAN STATE W, 31-14 DAYTON L, 14-21 @ VMI W, 37-31 (2 OT) @ Monmouth L, 9-35 DUQUESNE * # L, 20-21 @ Wagner * W, 17-13 BRYANT * W, 24-3 @ Central Conn. State * Noon SACRED HEART * ^ $ Noon @ Saint Francis * Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; ^ Hall of Fame Day; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost .......................... 14 / 10 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 7 / 4 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 6 / 5 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ............. 1 / 1 Letterwinners Returning / Lost .............. 34 / 21 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 7 / 4 LT - A.J. Dalton .................................. 6-4, 280, Sr. LG - Max Robertson ......................... 6-3, 305, So. C - Nick Faraci .................................... 6-2, 275, Jr. RG - Vince Mongelluzzo .................... 6-3, 265, Sr. HB - Evan Taylor .............................. 5-10, 180, Sr. FL - Duane Mitchell ............................ 6-1, 210, Jr. SE - Donte Jeter .................................. 6-1, 160, Sr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 6 / 5 NG - Farren Mason ....................... 5-11, 285, R-Sr. OLB - Mark Centofanti ...................... 6-1, 240, Sr. ILB - Mike Cook .............................. 6-0, 235, R-Sr. CB - Antwan Eddie ............................ 5-10, 180, Jr. CB - Marcelis Branch ....................... 5-11, 180, So. SS - D.J. Myers ................................... 5-11, 185, Sr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 1 / 1 P - Tony LaMancusa ......................... 5-10, 200, Jr. For the latest information on Robert Morris University football, including news, stats, records and videos, please visit:
www.rmucolonials.com