Notre Dame (Ohio) (1-1) @ Robert Morris (0-2) Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 at 3:00 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 this Saturday, Sept. 19, as it hosts Notre Dame (Ohio) at 3:00 p.m. at Joe Walton Stadium as part of the University’s Homecoming weekend. The Colonials are coming off a valiant setback at nationally ranked Youngstown State as RMU took the four-time national champion Penguins into overtime. Notre Dame has scored 40+ points in each of its first two games after reaching at least 35 points seven times last year. Redshirt senior captain Mike Stojkovic was selected Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday, marking the eighth time the Colonials claimed NEC defensive honors in back-to-back weeks. RMU ranks among the top 25 nationally in a number of defensive categories in the early going. The Colonials will look to secure their first win of the campaign this weekend after suffering a pair of tight, tough losses. RMU will make its longest trip of the season next weekend as it faces nationally ranked South Dakota State Saturday, Sept. 26, a contest which will be the Colonials’ final action before commencing NEC play. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - When Robert Morris takes the field Saturday against Notre Dame (Ohio), it will be doing so as part of the University’s Homecoming festivities. That fact should bode well for RMU as the Colonials are 15-6 (.714) all-time in games played as a part of Homecoming. This will be the second straight daytime kickoff on Homecoming for Robert Morris after it played at night each of the three prior years. Although RMU has been successful overall on Homecoming, the Colonials have actually dropped contests on this celebratory occasion in each of the past two years. However, the last time RMU played a new foe on Homecoming came three years ago, and things ended well for Colonial fans. Greg Langer (2009-12) hit a 33-yard field goal in the final 30 seconds to give the hosts a 31-28 victory over Lafayette. Robert Morris jumped out of the gates, erupting to a 28-7 lead fewer than 23 minutes into that contest. Saturday's Opponent - Saturday’s game between Robert Morris and Notre Dame (Ohio) marks the inaugural meeting between the two programs. Robert Morris owns a record of 19-14-1 (.574) when facing off with an opponent for the first time. Notre Dame 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 the sixth consecutive season in which RMU has played at least one new opponent. It is also the second of three straight games against first-time foes. Of RMU’s previous 34 games against a first-time opponent, 16 have come at home. In those games, RMU is 12-4 (.750). On This Date (Sept. 19) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played only once on September 19, and it came up seven points short. Like this Saturday, that contest was a home, non-conference tilt that was RMU’s third game of the season. The only year the Colonials played on this date was in 2009 when RMU hosted Dayton, its most frequent non-conference opponent. The Colonials intercepted the Flyers on the game’s opening drive and used a short field to turn the pick into a touchdown drive. Dayton then took control as it scored 21 straight points, spanning halftime, to take a two-possession lead. Robert Morris made it interesting with a touchdown with under three minutes to go in the fourth as Sherrod Evers (2006; 2008-09) hauled in a 25-yard catch. The Flyers would run out the clock by picking up a pair of first downs. Alex DiMichele (2008-10) had a strong game in defeat for the Colonials as he contributed 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and an interception. Myles Russ (2007-10) added 87 rushing yards.
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) # 3 p.m. @ #7 South Dakota State 6 p.m. @ Wagner * Noon SACRED HEART * Noon DUQUESNE * 6 p.m. @ 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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