Robert Morris (1-3 / 0-1) @ Saint Francis (2-3 / 1-1) Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 at Noon DeGol Field (3,500) - Loretto, Pa.
Radio: WPIT-AM 730 (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Live Video on the internet at: www.necfrontrow.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team will look for its second straight win this Saturday, Oct. 6, at Noon as the Colonials travel east to take on in-state rival Saint Francis at DeGol Field in the first of seven-consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) matchups to close the regular season. RMU is coming off of a thrilling, 31-28, victory in the program’s inaugural meeting with Lafayette last Saturday. The Leopards came into the game 3-0 and receiving votes nationally, but Greg Langer’s 33-yard field goal with 19 seconds left set the final margin. Marcelis Branch was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week after tallying 15 tackles and forcing two turnovers. The Colonials finished with 386 yards of total offense and won on Homecoming for the 14th time in their past 18 tries. RMU also moved to 67-4 alltime when scoring 30+ points. RMU enters Saturday’s action having won six straight over Saint Francis. After facing the Red Flash, RMU will remain on the road as it makes the trek to Bryant Saturday, Oct. 13, before returning home to meet Central Connecticut State the following week. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Senior Jeff Sinclair posted a career-high 285 yards of total offense in last Saturday’s win over Lafayette as he threw for 201 yards and ran for 84 more. It ranked as one of the top 10 highest such totals in program history and marked the highest single-game total in that category since Drew Geyer (2002-05) posted 313 yards of total offense Oct. 29, 2005. The fact that Robert Morris came out victorious after Sinclair’s effort should come as no surprise as RMU improved to 5-1 (.833) all-time when Sinclair accounts for at least 240 yards of total offense. The Colonials have scored at least 30 points in five of those six games, averaging 33 points per outing. One of the more memorable such games in which Sinclair excelled was Sept. 18, 2010 when RMU stunned No. 15 Liberty, 30-23, behind 253 yards of Sinclair's total offense. RMU’s single-game record for total offense is 429, set by Rich Demaio (2000-03). Saturday’s Opponent - Saint Francis is one of just three opponents Robert Morris faced in each of the first 18 years the Colonials fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Central Connecticut State and Wagner. All-time the Colonials are 15-2-1 (.861) against the Red Flash and enter Saturday’s game on a six-game winning streak against Saint Francis. RMU won the 2011 meeting, which was the first-ever home night game in program history, by jumping out to a 35-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 45-14 win. For more information on the all-time series against Saint Francis, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Oct. 6) in Robert Morris Football History - The only game in program history in which Robert Morris did not played on a Saturday came on Oct. 6, 1995 when the Colonials traveled to Gannon for a Friday night kickoff in Erie, Pa. Despite having advantages in passing yards, total yards of offense, turnover margin, time of possession and third-down conversion percentage, RMU dropped an exciting, 30-29, decision to the Golden Knights. Gannon jumped out to a 16-3 halftime advantage and extended its cushion to 30-10 early in the fourth quarter. However, the Colonials came storming back, scoring three touchdowns in a span of 6:24. At the time, with no overtime in NCAA football, the Colonials elected to go for the lead with a two-point conversion with 1:28 remaining, but their pass attempt fell incomplete. Tim Hall (1994-95) rushed for 126 yards on 20 carries while Andy Scruggs (1994-95) threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Nate List (1994-97) led the defensive effort with 11 tackles.
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 L, 0-52 ALBANY * L, 10-35 @ Dayton L, 14-20 LAFAYETTE # W, 31-28 @ Saint Francis * Noon @ Bryant * 1 p.m. CENTRAL CONN. STATE * ^ Noon @ Wagner * 1 p.m. DUQUESNE * 3:30 p.m. @ Sacred Heart * Noon MONMOUTH * $ 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.