Monmouth (4-5 / 3-3) @ Robert Morris (4-6 / 3-4) Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at Noon Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa.
Radio: WLFP-AM 1550 (Adam Gusky - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Live Video: www.rmucolonials.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team will play its 2012 season finale against Monmouth this Saturday, Nov. 17, at Noon at Joe Walton Stadium. Robert Morris won its second straight game, and third in four outings, last weekend at Sacred Heart as the Colonials scored the game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in regulation. RMU had trailed 17-6 with fewer than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter but posted two scoring drives of more than 75 yards to come away with a thrilling victory. The Robert Morris defense allowed just one offensive touchdown, which came on a mere 41-yard drive. Senior weak safety Cameron Chadwick was selected as the Northeast Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week after the victory as he posted nine tackles and a pair of interceptions. Brad Banas and Nolan Nearhoof recently were selected as Capital One Academic All-District First Team, becoming the first male student-athletes from any Robert Morris sport to earn that award in three straight years. As is tradition, the Colonials will recognize each of their seniors in a brief ceremony prior to kickoff. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - In this past Saturday’s 21-17 victory at Sacred Heart, Robert Morris posted its most thrilling comeback of the season, but it was far from the first one. RMU scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute after it had trailed, 17-6, with fewer than 10 minutes remaining. It marked the third time this season that the Colonials posted a come-frombehind win and tallied the winning score in the fourth quarter. RMU rallied from a 31-23 deficit against Central Connecticut State to win 37-31 and fell behind Duquesne, 13-10, before rallying for a 17-13 win. The 2012 season marks just the second time in program history in which RMU has won at least three games in which it trailed during the fourth quarter. The other similar season was 2000 as RMU posted three such wins en route to its perfect 10-0 campaign. Amazingly, in both seasons, the three comeback wins came within a four-week stretch. Saturday’s Opponent - Robert Morris has met Monmouth in 17 of its previous 18 seasons of existence with the lone exception being 2001. The Colonials hold a 10-7 (.588) edge in the alltime series. RMU won six of the first eight meetings, with the two losses coming by a combined four points, before dropping five of the next six matchups. However, the Colonials have turned it around recently by winning each of the past three meetings with the Hawks despite scoring no more than 23 points in any of those games. For more information on the all-time series against Monmouth, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Nov. 17) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris will be venturing into new waters as it will be playing on November 17 for the first time in program history when it takes the field against Monmouth. However, the Colonials have played in late November before and have experienced a good deal of success. RMU is 8-5 (.615) all-time in program history when it plays Nov. 15 or later in the month. One of those eight wins came against Monmouth as the Colonials downed the Hawks, 23-9, on the strength of a defense that allowed just 192 yards of total offense while forcing four turnovers (11/21/09--the latest date the Colonials have ever played a regular-season contest). Amazingly, only two of those 13 games have come at home. RMU is a perfect 2-0 in those contests, outscoring its opponents by a combined margin of 85-25. Saturday’s game will not only mark the latest date that the program has ever hosted a game at Joe Walton Stadium, but the furthest into November that RMU has hosted a contest since 1999.
2012 Schedule Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17
@ #2 North Dakota State ALBANY * @ Dayton LAFAYETTE # @ Saint Francis * @ Bryant * CENTRAL CONN. ST. * ^ @ Wagner * DUQUESNE * @ Sacred Heart * MONMOUTH * $
L, 0-52 L, 10-35 L, 14-20 W, 31-28 L, 3-10 L, 35-38 W, 37-31 L, 13-23 W, 17-13 W, 21-17 Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; ^ Hall of Fame Day; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost ............................ 17 / 7 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 7 / 4 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 8 / 3 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ............ 2 / 0 Letterwinners Returning / Lost .............. 39 / 14 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost .......... 7 / 4 LT - A.J. Dalton .................................. 6-4, 300, Jr. LG - Vince Mongelluzzo .................. 6-3, 265, Jr. RT - Nate Hargraves ........................ 6-4, 275, Sr. QB - Jeff Sinclair ............................ 6-3, 210, Sr. FB - Nick Groat ............................ 5-11, 220, Sr. HB - Deontae Howard ...................... 5-8, 185, Jr. SE - Donte Jeter .............................. 6-1, 160, Jr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 8 / 3 LE - Nolan Nearhoof ......................... 6-2, 250, Sr. NG - Farren Mason ....................... 5-11, 285, R-Sr. RE - Steve Mitchell ............................ 6-1, 265, Sr. OLB - Brad Banas ............................... 6-2, 235, Sr. ILB - Kyle Cooper ............................... 6-0, 230, Sr. OLB - Andrew Douglass .................... 6-1, 230, Sr. SS - D.J. Myers ............................... 5-11, 185, Jr. WS - Cameron Chadwick .................. 6-1, 205, Sr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 2 / 0 PK - Greg Langer ............................ 5-7, 165, Sr. P - Tony LaMancusa ................... 5-10, 190, So.