Sacred Heart (2-2 / 0-0) @ Robert Morris (2-3 / 1-0) Saturday, Oct. 10, 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: ESPN3 Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team continues Northeast Conference play this Saturday, Oct. 10, as it returns home for the first time in three weeks to face defending cochampion Sacred Heart at Noon at Joe Walton Stadium. RMU is coming off a last-second victory in its league opener at Wagner as the Colonials claimed a battle of field goals. Sacred Heart will be opening the defense of its NEC crown this Saturday as it had a bye last weekend. RMU linebacker Mike Stojkovic and placekicker Connor Shennan collected defensive and special teams honors, respectively, in the league’s weekly release Monday, giving the Colonials a NEC-best seven awards this season. Tyler Brown became just the second true freshman quarterback at RMU, and the first since 1994, to lead a Colonial team on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter in last week’s win. Brown came on in relief when classmate Reid McCoy was forced from the game due to injury. RMU will enjoy its lone bye of the season next weekend before remaining at home Saturday, Oct. 24, for the annual clash with county rival Duquesne. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Saturday’s contest is part of the conference’s broadcast package and will be featured on ESPN3. That fact should bode well for the Colonials based on recent history. Robert Morris is 7-3 (.700) in its last 10 games that have been broadcast by the NEC, including 5-1 (.833) at home. The Colonials have averaged 21.40 points per game in these 10 affairs while allowing 15.60 points per game over this span, including yielding only 12.33 at home. Since the 2005 season, Robert Morris is 9-6 (.600) when featured on a NEC broadcast, including 6-3 (.667) at Joe Walton Stadium. Robert Morris has faced eight different opponents in this time. In fact, Sacred Heart is the only current NEC member that RMU has not faced in a game broadcast by the league. Duquesne is the most frequent opponent that Robert Morris has matched up with on league broadcasts, with five games between the teams put on air since 2006. Saturday's Opponent - Robert Morris has faced Sacred Heart in each of the past 17 seasons, and the series is quite even with the Pioneers holding a slim 9-8 edge. In each of the past two matchups, Sacred Heart has jumped out to a first-quarter lead and never trailed en route to a victory. In the last two Colonial victories in the series (2010, 2012), RMU scored in the final minute to turn a deficit into a lead. In the last three meetings, RMU has scored 41 of its 59 points against the Pioneers in the fourth quarter. For more information on the all-time series against Sacred Heart, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Oct. 10) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played twice before on October 10 and came up short on both occasions. The first time the Colonials competed on this date came in 1998 at home as RMU met Valparaiso for the first time in program history. After a scoreless first quarter, the Crusaders used two touchdown passes, sandwiched around the first rushing touchdown of Tim Levcik’s (1998-2001) career to take a 13-7 lead into the break. A touchdown pass by Levcik and a Jeff Carlo (1998-2001) field goal in the third quarter put the Colonials on top after three. Valparaiso would have the last laugh as a 14-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter gave the Crusaders a 19-17 victory. Robert Morris outgained Valparaiso but was done in by three turnovers. Archie Wannamaker (1996-98) had a game-high 122 rushing yards on just 18 carries, averaging nearly 7.0 yards per rush. Murray Poole (1996-98, 2000) led all players with 12 tackles while Matt Grayson (1998-2001) forced two fumbles.
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 * 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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