East Tennessee State (1-7) @ Robert Morris (2-6) Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 at Noon 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 for its non-conference finale this Saturday, Nov. 7, as it meets a first-time foe by hosting East Tennessee State at Noon at Joe Walton Stadium. RMU was deadlocked at the half last week at Central Connecticut State, but the Colonials ran out of steam and fell on the road. The Buccaneers are coming off a 42-9 victory over Warner a week ago. Robert Morris will be the second Northeast Conference school that East Tennessee State has faced this season as the Bucs hosted Saint Francis to begin October. Wide receiver Kyle Buss earned a weekly NEC honor this week, giving Robert Morris a league-leading nine weekly awards this season. Perhaps more impressively, Robert Morris has tied a school record, which had not been achieved since 1997, in having seven distinct studentathletes honored with weekly accolades in a year. Entering the final month of the season, the Colonials rank among the top 30 nationally in both rushing and passing defense. RMU will make the short jaunt east to play Saint Francis next Saturday in what will be the Colonials’ road finale. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Redshirt freshman Kyle Buss earned weekly recognition from multiple sources this week. He was named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week and was also tabbed Honorable Mention National Freshman Player of the Week by STATS. Buss caught eight passes for 160 yards last Saturday at Central Connecticut. The 160 receiving yards represented a new RMU freshman record and ranks as the sixth-highest figure in single-game RMU history and the best such mark by a Colonial in over eight years. His 160 receiving yards are the highest single-game figure by a NEC non-senior this season and the most by any NEC rookie since at least 2007. With his performance Saturday, Buss tied the single-season freshman reception record at RMU, as he now has 34 grabs on the campaign. Buss currently ranks third among FCS freshmen in receiving yards (523) this season. The RMU rookie record for a season is 624. Saturday's Opponent - Saturday’s game between Robert Morris and East Tennessee State marks the inaugural meeting between the two programs. Robert Morris owns a record of 20-15-1 (.569) when facing off with an opponent for the first time. East Tennessee State is one of four new programs on RMU’s schedule this year, the most new foes the Colonials have faced since their inaugural season. This is also the sixth consecutive season in which RMU has played at least one new opponent. Of RMU’s previous 36 games against a first-time opponent, 17 have come at home. In those games, RMU is 13-4 (.765), and it has won three straight such outings. On This Date (Nov. 7) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played on two prior occasions on this date, and it came away a winner both times. Unlike this week, both of those affairs were non-conference contests played on the road. The first time RMU competed on this date came in 1998 at Saint Francis. The Red Flash struck first with a field goal, but their advantage would be short-lived. Tim Levcik (1998-2001) threw one touchdown in the first and another in the second quarter to stake the guests to a 14-3 lead at the break. The rookie quarterback threw for three more scores in the second 30 minutes, finishing with a RMU rookie record five overall, to lead the Colonials to a comfortable 35-3 victory. Robert Morris dominated the contest, outgaining the Red Flash 414-185, as it also held a +2 margin in turnovers. Donald Dorsey (1998-99) ran for 100 yards on just 10 carries and also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass. John O’Connell (1995-98) posted two interceptions and a fumble recovery in his final NEC game.
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 * L, 0-34 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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