Robert Morris (2-5 / 1-2) @ Central Connecticut State (3-5 / 2-1) Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 at Noon Arute Field (5,500) - New Britain, Conn. Radio: ESPN 970 AM (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Spencer Kowitz - color) Audio on the internet at: www.970espn.com / Live Video: www.espn3.com
Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team hits the road for the first time in nearly a month this Saturday, Oct. 31, as it continues Northeast Conference play by traveling to Central Connecticut State at Noon at Arute Field. RMU held a halftime lead against Duquesne last week but was unable to maintain its momentum after intermission and dropped a nine-point decision. The Blue Devils are tied for first place in the league after winning their past two league matchups with Bryant and Sacred Heart. Saturday’s game will air on ESPN3 as part of the league’s broadcast package. The Colonials are 9-7 (.563) all-time when featured on a NEC broadcast but have lost three straight affairs in this role. This past Monday was the first of the season in which no Colonial was honored by the league after RMU had played the Saturday prior. Nevertheless, Robert Morris still has amassed a league-leading eight weekly honors thus far this season. RMU will return home next weekend for a rare November, non-conference contest, as the Colonials play East Tennessee State for the first time in program history. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - While Robert Morris ranks among the top 25 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 128.7 yards per game on the ground, that only begins to tell the story. RMU has allowed only five rushing touchdowns thus far in 2015, the lowest mark in the Northeast Conference. The Colonials are on pace to yield fewer than nine rushing scores for only the third time in program history. Robert Morris has allowed an average of 3.01 yards per rush this season—the Colonials have finished under 3.0 in this category only twice in program history. RMU has held four of its seven foes under a 3.0 mark this season with two of the three outliers being nationally ranked teams. The most notable fact about RMU’s rush defense so far might be that it has held every opponent below its season average for yards per carry. In fact, the Colonials have limited three foes more than one full yard below their average in that category. Saturday's Opponent - Central Connecticut State is one of just three opponents Robert Morris faced in each of the first 21 years the Colonials fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Saint Francis and Wagner. All-time the Colonials are 16-5 (.762) against the Blue Devils. The home team has won nine of the past 10 games in the series with the exception being the last time the teams met in Connecticut in 2013. RMU used fourth quarter comebacks to down CCSU in 2012 and 2014. 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 (Oct. 31) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has competed only once on Halloween, and it came away victorious. Like this Saturday, that game was also against a league foe from Connecticut, but it came in the confines of Joe Walton Stadium. RMU and Sacred Heart played through a light rain six years ago on this date, and offense was hard to come by. After a scoreless first quarter, RMU took the lead 70 seconds before the half on a Garrett Clawson (2008-09) field goal. Clawson would tack on a 35-yard field goal in both the third and fourth quarters to give the hosts a two-possession edge. That would prove to be vital as the Pioneers broke the shutout attempt by using a long kickoff return to launch a short touchdown drive. RMU ran out the final 5:20 with 12 straight rushes. Raphael Johnson (2007-10) rushed for a career-high 115 yards, including 42 on the final drive. Michael Landers (2007-10), Elias Navarro (2007-10) and Chris Roberts (2008-10) all intercepted passes in the win.
2015 Schedule Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21
DAYTON L, 24-27 @ #17 Youngstown St. L, 14-21 (OT) NOTRE DAME (Ohio) # W, 35-24 @ #6 South Dakota State L, 10-34 @ Wagner * W, 9-6 SACRED HEART * L, 13-26 DUQUESNE * L, 7-16 @ Central Conn. State * Noon EAST TENNESSEE STATE Noon @ Saint Francis * Noon BRYANT * $ Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost ........................... 15 / 9 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 8 / 3 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 7 / 4 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 0 / 2 Letterwinners Returning / Lost ............. 38 / 16 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 8 / 3 LT - Blake Chambliss ................. (6-5, 300, R-So.) LG - Max Robertson ....................... (6-4, 325, Sr.) C - Nick Faraci ............................ (6-3, 290, R-Sr.) RG - Josh Thiel ............................. (6-3, 300, R-Jr.) QB - Derik Abbott .......................... (5-11, 195, Sr.) RB - Rameses Owens .................... (6-2, 230, So.) WR - Sean Gavin .......................... (6-0, 175, R-Jr.) WR - Nic Lamica ........................ (6-4, 220, R-So.) Defensive Starters Returning / Lost .......... 7 / 4 DE - Forrest Mason .................... (6-3, 280, R-Sr.) DE - Austin Trgovcich ................. (6-2, 260, R-Jr.) OLB - Jimmy Masson ...................... (6-0, 200, Jr.) ILB - Mike Stojkovic ................... (6-3, 240, R-Sr.) ILB - Jake Tkach .......................... (6-0, 235, R-Sr.) SS - Sam Woods .......................... (6-0, 190, R-So.) WS - Andy Smigiera ........................ (6-1, 205, Jr.) Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 0 / 2 For the latest information on Robert Morris University football, including news, stats, records and videos, please visit:
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