Duquesne (3-2 / 1-0) @ Robert Morris (2-3 / 0-0) Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa.
Radio: ESPN 970 AM (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Audio on the internet at: www.970espn.com / Live Video: www.necfrontrow.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team returns home after an absence of more than a month this Saturday, Oct. 19, at 6:00 p.m. as the Colonials host local rival Duquesne in their Northeast Conference (NEC) opener at Joe Walton Stadium. After finishing their non-conference slate two weeks ago at Monmouth with a setback, RMU enjoyed its final bye week of the season leading up to its meeting with the Dukes. Saturday’s game comes on Homecoming weekend at Robert Morris and will be the third home night game in school history with the first two coming each of the last two years. Junior cornerback Antwan Eddie missed the Monmouth game due to injury but his 22.4 punt return average continues to lead the nation at the FCS level. Redshirt senior linebacker Mike Cook paces the NEC and sits third nationally in tackles per game, averaging 11.8 stops per outing. RMU will close the season by alternating home games with road contests beginning with Saturday’s matchup with the Dukes. It will be in action next Saturday, Oct. 26, when it travels to defending NEC champion Wagner. Quick Stat of the Evening - When Robert Morris takes the field Saturday against Duquesne, it will be doing so as part of the University’s Homecoming festivities. That fact should bode well for RMU as the Colonials have won 14 of their past 18 games played as a part of Homecoming. In each of the past two years, Robert Morris has hosted a night game on Homecoming, resulting in two successful evenings for a pair of standing-room-only home crowds. In the 2011 Homecoming game (10/8), the Colonials put on a show for their fans, running out to a big halftime lead en route to a 45-14 victory over Saint Francis. The second go-round of a home night game (9/29/12) was much closer but just as rewarding for Robert Morris. Greg Langer (2009-12) hit a 33-yard field goal in the final half-minute to give the hosts a 31-28 victory. RMU has come out of the gates fired up in these two previous night games as it scored a combined 63 points in the first half. Saturday's Opponent - This will be the 15th overall meeting between Robert Morris and Duquesne and the 11th consecutive year that the schools have met. The series is knotted at seven wins apiece with home turf being a crucial factor in the series. The home side has won in 11 of the previous 14 matchups. In last year’s meeting, Jeff Sinclair (2009-12) hit Duane Mitchell with a 41-yard strike in the fourth quarter to turn a 13-10 deficit into a 17-13 lead. The RMU defense had a big red zone stand to finish off the win. For more information on the all-time series against Duquesne, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Oct. 19) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has never played on October 19 in its previous 19 seasons. However, recent history bodes well for RMU as the Colonials have won eight of their last 10 home games within the month of October. In these 10 games, the Colonials have scored 284 points while holding their opposition to a combined 167, including posting two shutouts in this time span. Of the eight wins in this stretch, two came over Duquesne. The Colonials topped the Dukes, 34-11, in October 2010 as a stout Colonial defense, led by Alex DiMichele’s (2008-10) game-high 13 tackles, held the visitors to just 191 yards of total offense. Both Myles Russ (2007-10) and Jeff Sinclair (2009-12) ran for two touchdowns with the latter also throwing for a score. The other victory over Duquesne in that span came in 2008 when RMU rallied from an early 13-3 deficit. With the score deadlocked late in the contest, Erik Cwalinski (2005-08) hit Regis Flowers (2006-08) for the game-winning score.
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 * # 6 p.m. @ Wagner * Noon BRYANT * Noon @ 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